Top Things to do in DownEast and Acadia Maine
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Top 10 Budget-friendly Things to do in DownEast and Acadia Maine, DownEast and Acadia Maine
Discover the best top things to do in DownEast and Acadia Maine, United States including Mount Desert Island, Cadillac Mountain, Precipice Trail, Quoddy Head State Park, Frenchman Bay, Carriage Roads, Champlain Mountain & Beehive Loop Trail, Schoodic Point, Schoodic Peninsula, Barred Island Preserve.
Restaurants in DownEast and Acadia Maine
1. Mount Desert Island
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,891 reviews
Home to Acadia National Park, this island off the coast of Maine with its beaches, sweeping cliffs and mountains offers visitors numerous recreational activities, from hiking, biking and following nature trails to swimming, sailing and kayaking.
Reviewed By mikey605 - Sevierville, United States
So much to see and do on Mount Desert Island! Acadia National Park, Whale Watching, Scenic Charters and Tours, Beaches, Shops, Golf, Hiking, Biking, Sea Kayaking, Plane rides, glider rides, helicopter flights, mini golf, if you want to do it you will find it on MDI
2. Cadillac Mountain
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 3,467 reviews
The East Coast's highest mountain at 1,530 feet and Acadia's best known sight.
Reviewed By 866TaylorB - Chicago, United States
Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park on Maine's Mount Desert Island is, at 1, 532 feet, the highest point along the North Atlantic Seaboard and the first place in the United States to be touched by the light of a rising sun from October 7 through March 6 of each year. How's that for a notable piece of trivia? It also is the only mountain on Mount Desert Island--there are more than 20 of them--that has a road that travels all the way to the summit. The 3.5-mile road to the top opened in 1931. Cadillac Mountain is composed largely of pink granite, giving it a strong reddish appearance at sunrise or sunset. Spruce and pitch pine are the dominant trees on the mountain combined with tiny subalpine plants and wild blueberries. Views? Look in every direction. To the East, there is the Schoodic Peninsula on the mainland. There are several islands off the coast of Mount Desert Island, including Sheep Porcupine and Bald Porcupine. To the Northeast is the business district of Bar Harbor. To the North is Trenton. To the South is Islesford. To the Southwest is Southwest Harbor. To the West is Eagle Lake and Blue Hill Mountain. Yes, it is more scenic than a trip to the top of Pike's Peak in Colorado.
3. Precipice Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 251 reviews
Half-mile long trail for experienced hikers at Acadia.
Reviewed By SteelCity13 - Austin, United States
Really enjoyed the workout that I got this morning but I didnt expect to climb a mountain when I set out to do some hiking. This trail is INTENSE! Dont go if its raining or has been raining, get there early! Like 7 AM early. You dont want to do this trail when tons of people are on it. Its challenging but do able. You CANNOT be afraid of heights and do this trail. I think this trail is the craziness hike i have every done or will ever do. The one great thing about the hike is that there are metal rails everywhere to help you get up the straight up parts of the hike. If you want a challenge a big challenge then try this hike. Also remember that this hike is only one way!
4. Quoddy Head State Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 285 reviews
Spanning more than 481 acres, this scenic park offers hikers breathtaking trails that follow along rock cliffs rising 80 feet above the ocean.
Reviewed By MarjorieC332 - Wentworth, United States
Easy to get to, the Light House is lovely, Ocean views are fantastic Well worth the effort to seek it out. For those with difficulty walking the road down from the parking lot is a bit of an incline. There is limited Handicap parking right at the Light House but if you don't have a Handicap plate or pass and have bad knees or feet it may be a little bit of a challenge. Lovely Ocean Views.
5. Frenchman Bay
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 378 reviews
Reviewed By PerksAdvisor_NYC - New York City, United States
This is a great way to enjoy the power of nature of the beauty of Frenchman’s Bay which is off of Bar Harbor. Just watch the boat pass by or see the seals jumping in the water. This can be a very relaxing way to enjoy your trip to Bar Harbor. There are also many companies that will give you a Bay ride.
6. Carriage Roads
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 539 reviews
Reviewed By LPLoveToTravel - Ocala, United States
The carriage road system's intent was to provide access to the inner beauty of Mount Desert Island. Designed with the natural contours of the land to minimize impact and to maximize views it's the perfect place to hike or bike ride and really enjoy the solitude of nature.
7. Champlain Mountain & Beehive Loop Trail
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 564 reviews
Reviewed By 130ashleyb - Yountville, United States
Fun hike! After reading many reviews, my husband and I took this hike on our recent trip to Acadia. We knew that we needed to get there early, and so glad we did! If you get there any later than 10am you'll be less likely to find parking and the trail starts filling up- which means you'll be hanging on the side of a mountain waiting for 200 other people to scramble up the ladders. Quick warning for the fair skinned - this trail is 75% exposed to the sun, so make sure to apply sunscreen before you go.
8. Schoodic Point
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 483 reviews
Reviewed By J6319RNdavidw - Peace Dale, United States
We always wanted to visit Schoodic Point while at Mount Desert Island and did so just recently. The weather was perfect and so were the views. We rode our bicycles around the loop road and it was spectacular. We have visited many spots along the Maine coast but I think that we have a new favorite.
9. Schoodic Peninsula
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 465 reviews
Reviewed By 70clarkek - New York, United States
Recently took a a trip out to Maine. First time being there. If you want to enjoy some truly wonder sites, without a ton of people or crowds then you should check out Schoodic for sure. During our stay, we there twice. Once during the day where the scenery and shoreline is incredible. Be sure to stop by Raven's Nest where you can get a close up (but don't get TOO close) of this beautiful sheer cliff face where it meets the water. Also make sure you take a walk on the shoreline just past Blueberry Hill so that you can hear the "applauding river rocks". If you're up for it, do yourself a favor and go back at night. Find a place to park, turn your vehicle and vehicle lights off and look up at the sky. From here the Milky Way Galaxy is visible with the naked eye. You'll be glad you went.
10. Barred Island Preserve
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 95 reviews
Reviewed By thumper1 - Massachusetts, United States
We were visiting in Brooklin and were told what a treat it was to walk to the beach at Barred Island Preserve and to arrive for low tide. There were 3 of us -- myself, my daughter, and my 4 year old granddaughter. We arrived about two hours before low tide and were just about to pull into the last parking space in the lot when my granddaughter announced she needed the potty. We left and brought her to town. When we returned the lot was full and there were three cars parked along the road. Two were in clearly marked "No Parking" zones. The third vehicle was parked in a space that was not marked and there was room enough in front of them for our car. If this was an official "no parking" zone then it needed it better signage. You would think that the town would have a larger parking area at such a beautiful and popular place. My granddaughter has short little legs and stops often so the hike took about an hour each way. It was a wonderful adventure for a little one with the tree roots in the path, the steeper spots, the big rocks, and the "bridges" over the wetter areas. She loved getting to the beach then walking the short distance to the island that gets buried in deep water at high tide. (We own property in Southern Maine so she understands about the tides.) The walk back took a little longer as we were starting to flag. We had plans for dinner in Deer Isle before heading back to Brooklin for the night. As we approached the car, I heard my daughter say, "Oh, no." I looked up and saw that some "vandals" (not exactly the word I have in mind) had covered every glass surface of my car and each of the other 5 or 6 cars that were parked on the road. Our front, back, and side windows were covered with "no parking", "okay to tow", and the symbol for no parking. My granddaughter could see we were upset and wanted to know why those people were mean to us. We knew it was not something done by someone who represented the town or who had any sort of authority -- just some bully trying to scare us. Although we were able to clean it before leaving, it left us with a bad impression of Deer Isle residents and with the decision to head back to Brooklin for dinner where we felt more welcome.
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