Yes, originating in NJ. Funnily enough, my parents are at the Red Lion this week, taking in some shows at Tanglewood.
I think we have tentatively landed on a plan that has us doing one long day of driving the day before we’re due in Acadia, leaving just after morning rush hour on a Tuesday, and arriving in Augusta in time to grab dinner and a snooze at a hotel. Any good restaurants in the area? Then, doing the last bit of driving the very early the next morning in time to enjoy a full day in the park, where we have camping reservations Wednesday until Saturday. We’re likely going to depart Maine a day earlier than planned and make a stop in MA or southern VT for an overnight and hopefully a nice long bike ride before doing the last leg of the drive home later in the evening to hopefully miss some of the weekend traffic.
I appreciate all of the suggestions, they really helped me think through what to do.
I noticed that you are bringing bikes. There is a beautiful rail trail in the Berkshires, mostly paved, running between Lanesborough (off Rte 8) and Adams, called the Ashuwillticook. You can begin at either end or at selected points along the way, so you have a range of places to stay from the North Adam’s/Williamstown area with all their museums to the Pittsfield area to the south. It runs briefly through town - but off road - in Adams, then through a forested area, followed by a long stretch along a couple of long narrow lakes with lots of beautiful flora and fauna. It is 12.7 miles long, so potential a 25 mile trip if you go both ways. Easy biking, pretty flat with no long inclines. My wife and I loved it!
The Hallowell area (adjacent to Augusta) has some charm and a couple of cute eateries (some more pub-ish) and will be close to wherever you land in Augusta. There are lots of places in and closer to Waterville, but really, I doubt you’ll want to make that extra drive by the time you get to Augusta.
Hallowell was the setting for The Frozen River, if you read it.
Any specific recommendations for things we should not miss in Acadia? We are currently planning on biking the carriage roads, hiking around Jordan Pond, and I have a permit to drive up Cadillac Mt. in time for sunrise one morning.
At Jordan’s Pond eat popovers at the restaurant (you may need a reservation for that). In Bar Harbor itself - walk the Shore Path and walk out on the bar (during low tide).
Our favorite place to eat in Bar Harbor is Paddy’s Irish Pub & Restaurant. Everything they make is good, have eaten there many times, they often have live music in the evenings.
Get out of touristy & crowded Bar Harbor. Drive over to either Northeast Harbor or Southwest Harbor, across the bay from each other, for restaurants, cruises, and gorgeous scenery. Classic New England fishing/boating villages.
In the middle of the island is Acadia Repertory Company, delightful summer stock theater. Nothing better on a cool summer evening.
At Bar Harbor, you are at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy with the treaters tidal swings in the world. The tides affect Bar Harbor as well. At low tide, you can walk out to Bar Island across dry (?) land. Just don’t forget to return before the tide comes rushing back in. Haha. You do have a few hours.
I’d recommend doing one of the hikes that has an ocean view. It’s quite special to summit and have that view. One of the nice thing about Acadia is that the hikes are generally short so you can do one in a few hours (vs a full day commitment). I second the recommendation to go over to Southwest Harbor. Great place to get lobster at the pier.
I like @Bill_Marsh 's suggestion to drive to the quiet side of the island. If you have time, I highly recommend a visit to the Thuya Garden. The garden is beautiful and there is an old hunting lodge there. https://www.gardenpreserve.org/thuya-garden
Also, I would look for carriage roads farther from town, if possible. Tourists tend to congregate near town. Although lately, the whole area has seemed crowded.
I agree with @kiddie about popovers at Jordan’s Pond, but you’ll definitely need a reservation. We had to do it in person, but maybe it changed?
I would recommend taking a free bus to Jordan’s Pond - the parking is a nightmare these days. Don’t park illegally, even if you see a lot of other people doing it. Or you might end up on the Facebook page, “Welcome to Bar Harbor’s Famous Parking Show” (it’s a funny page).
In addition to Thuya Garden, there’s a beautiful garden in Seal Harbor–the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Garden. It was designed back in the 1920s by Beatrix Farrand, a famous landscape designer of the time.
Yes, that’s a nice garden, too. When azaleas are in bloom, it’s amazing. One of my favorite photos is in that garden after my son ran in the state outdoor track meet at Mt Desert High School. The rest of the family is standing up and my son is lying on the ground in front of us, he was so tired.
