Last Hike, Last Laughs, Lasting Memories

June 16th, our last day in Acadia was one for the books. The Friends of Acadia group went above and beyond and organized a special Soils to Summit event for us at 8 a.m., and it was such a thoughtful way to wrap up our trip. We hiked as a group, and even though the trail had us breaking a sweat, the view at the top made every step completely worth it. Like, stop-and-stare-in-silence kind of beautiful.

What made it even more special was that we weren’t just hiking, we were giving back. It felt really meaningful to spend our last day helping out the community and environment that gave us so many amazing memories throughout the week. There’s just something about digging in the dirt and looking out over the mountains that makes you feel connected to the place, the people, and the moment.

Afterward, we had time to explore Bar Harbor one last time. It hit a little different knowing it was our final walk-through town. A few last-minute souvenir grabs may have happened.

Then we wrapped it all up with a goodbye dinner. It was bittersweet, lots of laughs, full hearts, and that quiet feeling of not wanting the night to end. Saying goodbye was hard, but the memories? So, so worth it.

Scenery, Shenanigans & Schoodic Peace

June 15th was such a good day. We kicked things off with a stop at the classic Acadia National Park sign, had to get the tourist photo, obviously. But the real moment was when Dale and I accidentally ended up in a full-on photo standoff. He was trying to take a picture of me at the same time I was trying to take a picture of him. We both had our phones up like, “Wait… are you taking a picture of me?” Total glitch-in-the-matrix moment.

Then we made our way to Frenchman Bay and Schoodic Peninsula, it was such a peaceful change of pace. It’s way quieter than the busier parts of the park, and it honestly felt like nature was just giving us a big calming hug. The boardwalk especially? So scenic. Every step felt like walking through a live postcard. It was one of those places that makes you want to slow down, breathe deeper, and just take it all in. It was quieter than the main park areas, which made it feel like our own little secret spot. The calmness there was such a nice change of pace, just pure peace and nature.

The views were so pretty it felt like we were inside a painting. Definitely one of those moments where you just breathe a little deeper and everything feels slower in the best way.

Then we ended the night with a ghost tour, one of the unexpected highlights of the trip was the ghost tour we went on and let me tell you, it started off as fun and full of laughs, but as the sun started setting and the shadows got longer... things got spooky really quick.

At first, I was walking around like, “This is so cool!” learning about haunted houses, local legends, and creepy historical facts. But then dusk hit, and suddenly every creaky sound and gust of wind felt way too personal.

Definitely had me looking over my shoulders a bit more than usual. A+ for atmosphere, though. Acadia by day is breathtaking, but by night… it definitely has a mysterious side. 👻

Adventures, Acadia, and a Side of Room Service

Saturday was really a chill day, some of the crew decided to be super ambitious and woke up ridiculously early to hike up Cadillac Mountain and catch the sunrise. Big props to them—but me? I chose to be loyal to my blanket and caught some extra ZZZs instead. Team Sleep-In was thriving, okay?

Once I emerged from my cozy cocoon, we all met up at the carriage rides, and it was genuinely such a peaceful and beautiful experience. Rolling through the forest, surrounded by nature, it felt like we were in a storybook. Very “main character in a wholesome movie” vibes.

Afterward, we headed into Bar Harbor to explore more, and let me just say… I did some damage. The shops were way too cute to resist, and yes, I spent a lot of money, but honestly? No regrets. Retail therapy hits different when you're in such a charming little town.

And the best part of the day? Libby, angel on Earth brought me dinner in bed. Like, full room service vibes but with extra love. It was such a sweet and unexpected little moment, and after a day of adventure (and spending), it was exactly what I needed. 10/10 would do it all again… maybe with a slightly stricter budget next time. Maybe.

Sunsets, Sandwiches, and Slight Hypothermia

June 13th was such a vibe. We woke up ready to take on the day and set out to explore the Seawall and Bass Harbor, home to the most iconic lighthouse in Acadia. Seriously, if lighthouses had celebrity status, that one would be on the red carpet.

Somewhere in the middle of all the scenic swooning, we met up with Friends of Acadia. Friends of Acadia are honestly such a gem of the Acadia experience. They’re the kind of people who care deeply, not just about preserving the beauty of the park, but also about building community around it. Whether it’s through conservation work, educational outreach, or just being welcoming and warm to visitors, they go above and beyond. 

And okay, can we talk about that BLT sandwich for a second? Absolute highlight of the day. I don’t know what kind of magic they put in it, but that thing was next level. The bacon was perfectly crispy, the tomato was fresh like it had just been plucked off a vine five minutes earlier, and the bread. Toasted to golden perfection. I took one bite and immediately had to pause like, “Wait… why is this sandwich changing my life right now?” Honestly, if that BLT had a fan club, I’d be president.

We headed back to Bar Harbor for a 6:15 pm sunset cruise. The views? Unreal. The photos? Let’s just say my phone was working overtime. It was gorgeous, but whew, it was cold enough to make a lobster put on a sweater. I was out there shivering like, “Did we accidentally book a cruise to the Arctic?”

All in all, it was a beautiful day of nature, new friends and good eats. 10/10, would do it all again, with an extra jacket next time.

My First Day in Acadia National Park

I woke up earlier than I meant to, my body was still adjusting to the change in time. I considered turning over and going back to sleep at first, but something seemed different. The cabin's air was chilly and still, and I felt a gentle chill as soon as I went outdoors. I could tell it was going to be a good day because of the gentle, early light in the sky. Shortly after, we left to explore Acadia National Park. The park seemed to come to life as we went farther, every sound, every breeze, every smell of damp dirt and pine. Then we discovered this small, peaceful pond. I was initially taken aback by how lush and untamed it appeared, tall grass gently swaying, yellow pond lilies blossoming like small suns, and lily pads strewn across the river. As I moved closer to take in everything, I noticed a tiny frog sitting motionless like a statue and perfectly blending in. I nearly missed it since I had been focusing on the plants. It seemed like a brief magical moment.

Libby, Kate, Mallory, Emma, and I attempted the hike together... emphasis on 'attempted' for me. Libby and Kate powered ahead like pros, while the rest of us decided to head back down. Honestly, the hike down was a little easier, but after all the slipping and sliding (thanks to my very non-hiking-approved shoes), I was beyond relieved to reach the bottom in one piece. I may not have made it all the way, but hey, I hiked in Acadia, and that totally counts!

After all that wandering, we were starving, so we stopped at a place called Travel 'in Lobster. I had no idea what to get, but the guy working there was super helpful and recommended the chicken bacon ranch wrap and wow, it hit the spot. Just warm, crispy, and flavorful. But the real surprise? I tried lobster for the first time. Kate had some leftovers, and I took a bit out of curiosity. I’m still not totally sure how I feel about it, it was buttery and soft, a little sweet but honestly, so good. I want to come back and give it a proper try next time.

So even though the hike was cut short and my shoes betrayed me, Day 1 was full of surprises, laughter, and firsts. Acadia already feels like a place I’ll keep coming back to.