2017/MAY – Short roadtrip, long weekend to Bar Harbor, Maine – Acadia Provincial Park

Short roadtrip with my little weekend warriors to ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, ME.

I literally booked this little weekend getaway two days before arriving there.  As any other roadtrips or vacations, I am always a last-minute booker.  The reason has never been to catch up on last-minute deals…but only because I follow my instincts and whenever I feel the need to leave, I just leave.   Whenever I travel with the kids, I like to know at least in the morning where we’ll be crashing that same night.  It is as simple as that.  Nowadays with the smartphones and a good network coverage, finding a place to sleep is too easy to worry about… and the best things… you get the best prices too, as you can still shop and compare on a last minute trip.

So…last Wednesday,  I booked online a little cottage house/motel just by the sea in Maine, located directly in Acadia National Park.  Location Location Location!  I aimed right, it was perfect! … not more than a 5 minutes drive to get to the main little town of Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor and only a short drive from all the trails for us to explore for the next three “dodos” here on the Island.    

 

The colony motel and cottages

After driving 7 hours from Montreal to Bar Harbor, with only one small stop to fill-up the tank  ( gaz is so cheap in the US!!! 45$ to fill up my Sorento SUV tank round trip! ), the kids and I ran to the beach right just across the street to enjoy the last minutes of low-tide, enjoy the view, breathe the salty air and run on the sand and rocks!   It felt like a promising 3 days and God knows I was right!  

What a fantastic area this is! 

 

First thing first… priorities y’all!!!

Yup…that smile! It’s big!

Preteen is looking so grown-up! ouch!

The classical! Gotta jump!

The two girls are playing with the camera

My family, my precious family

not being serious… 😛

Typically Tristan !

Again… gotta jump!

Laughters… 🙂 🙂 🙂

Beautiful.. ❤

Vacation smile!

Did I mentioned that I borrowed a child for that weekend.  I had a space for her in the car and at the motel … she was helping my daughter do her luggages when I mentioned inviting her.  She didn’t hesitate!  She was sitting in the car the next morning with her passport and authorized documents and ready to go!  Aleksandra is my daughter’s best friend and she is a fantastic traveler.  She has been there to help with the meals, the luggages, groceries and everything I would ask.  Again, without hesitation.  She might have been much easier to deal with than my own kids! (lol!! )  She got here with her camera and her fantastic skills to take pictures, I cannot thank her enough for all the family pictures we got in only 4 days! 

HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP //  ACADIA NATIONAL PARK – THE BEEHIVE TRAIL

First morning is to explore the Acadia National Park.  I have read a little on some of the trails beforehand and I knew there were really fun trails for us to explore.  We stopped our choice on the Beehive Trail which, at first sight, scared the kids.  

 

Me looking up where we’re heading

You can tell the people are climbing on the steep side of this mountain

Three fantastic kids who did put their total trust in me and did not regret it.  It was a dangerous, steep hike as the kids (any human, really!) needed to be very cautious and careful.  Diligently, all three of them took that hike very seriously and were conscious of the real danger.  They listened every time I asked them to stop and waited for the others.  It was a team work but also a surpassesing oneself challenge and they showed a real passion for the adventure. It wasn’t a long trail but we worked hard in solidarity.  None of us are able to say if our heart was racing during the climb because of effort, fear or simply the adrenaline rush we were having.  One sure thing, on the top, it was… exhilaration!  Pride! Happiness! Craziness!

 

Climbing up the steps, do not look on your right, it’s a precipice !

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

Beehive Trail

The summit of beehive has such a gorgeous view, we decided to stop for a while and have a small lunch looking toward the ocean and the beach!

 

Beehive Summit

Beehive Summit

Beehive Summit

Beehive Summit

Beehive Summit

Beehive Summit

Beehive Summit

Beehive Summit

We came down using another beautiful trail, an easier one. Then we spent the rest of the afternoon at  “Sand Beach” (the beach we were looking at from the summit!! )

 

Bowl Trail

Bowl Trail

Bowl Trail

Bowl Trail

Sand Beach

Sand Beach

Sand Beach

Sand Beach

Sand Beach

After a long day, it was time for a glass of wine for mommy and a sunset! 🙂 

 

Hulls Cove

The Colony Cottages

Hulls Cove

The Colony Cottages

The Colony Cottages

BAR HARBOR TRAIL AT LOW-TIDE //  Low-tide, in Bar Harbor, means you can walk to Bar Harbor Island on your bare feet without using a boat.  From this island you have a gorgeous view of Bar Harbor marina, the sailboats and cruise boats.  This trail was fun and easy.

 

Bar Harbor Island Trail

Bar Harbor Island Trail

Bar Harbor Island Trail

Bar Harbor Island Trail

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK // OCEAN PATH

After a quick stop to the grocery store to buy us some lunch.  We went back in Acadia National Park to enjoy the Sand Beach again and play ball.  We then spent the major part of our day walking through the coastline rocks and enjoy what nature had to offer.  

 

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

Ocean Path

FUN FACTS //

• 18 000 years ago, by the end of Wisconsin Glaciation era, the leading edge of the glacier of new england melted and is the last glacier that has left the most pronounced impact on today’s landscape.   The enormous glacier sheared off the mountain tops and not they have rounded-top summits.  Not even granite (what the mountains are made of on the island) could resist the glacier and now lakes such as Jordan Pond, formed in valleys dammed by ridges of glacial debris.
• Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, at 1,530 feet (466 meters), is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard and the first place to view sunrise in the United States from October 7 through March 6.

Maryse Minville

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