Glamping in Maine: Acadia National Park

Mount Desert Island (MDI) is every glamper’s dream. The dense forests, rolling green hills, picturesque lakes, and beautiful mountaintops. People travel from around the world to visit Acadia National Park, over 4 million each year. Even with all the visitors, solitude isn’t difficult to find. We went in peak season and felt like we had the carriage trails to ourselves. The park is situated on rocky cliffs, with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and rugged coastline.

MDI is also home to Bar Harbor, known as the Gateway to Acadia. Is is an incredibly charming town with locally owned shops and an impressive food scene. Whether you want to hike, shop, explore tide pools, dine on lobster, admire sunsets, or bike the carriage trails constructed by John D. Rockefeller, there is something for you and your family! 

I have compiled a list of the three A’s: Accommodations, Adventures, and Appetite!  If you have any questions about MDI or our trip please send me an email!

Accommodations

Camping is very popular in the area, but glamping is more my style, it will get you closer to nature without compromising on comfort! We stayed at Terramor, an incredible retreat that gives you an authentic, immersive experience in nature. I cannot sing Terramor’s praises enough, everything on site is done with guests in mind. Your stay is seamless and effortless, truly allowing you relax and enjoy the experience.

Terramor is one of the few glamping resorts near Acadia National Park. The resort offers everything you could ever want – from a state-of-the-art lodge with a dining hall that serves complimentary breakfast, live concerts by local musicians, yoga sessions, stargazing with telescopes, s’mores by the fire, and good vibes are the norm at Terramor. The lodge has several things for guests’ complimentary use – from yoga mats to telescopes and camping chairs. The resort also has a pool for the kiddos to splash and play, or soak in the large hot tub to relax after a day of exploring.

The safari-styled canvas tents can accommodate two or five campers, depending on which tent you select. Our tent had a private bathroom, overhead fan, space heater, WiFi, indoor shower, king bed and a set of bunk beds. Each campsite also has their own fire-pit and Adirondack chairs (with free firewood for all to use!).

We loved everything about Terramor, they have an amazing community of guests and the location cannot be beat on MDI. Our first night it was pouring rain, and the sound of that on the tent was heavenly! I would highly recommend booking in advance, as it can book up very quickly!

Adventures

Acadia National Park – Pardon me if I get long-winded, but Acadia National Park has so much to offer! First and foremost, I would suggest more than one day to explore – we took two days in the park. There is a park fee, but we had our America the Beautiful pass (highly recommend).

On our first day we e-biked on the forty-five miles of rustic carriage roads, the gift of John D. Rockefeller Jr., which weave around the mountains and valleys of Acadia National Park. We rented two e-bikes and trailers from Pedego Bar Harbor. Sarah is incredibly knowledgeable about the park and gave us several tips. The bikes were great quality, and it was the best way to see some of the lesser known parts of Acadia. The carriage roads go over and under beautiful stone bridges, through Forrests filled with beautiful trees and foliage, and there were SO many waterfalls (it felt like every 100 feet there was another waterfall). People love to hike and bike on the carriage trails, and cars are not allowed, making this an incredible quaint and private area of the park.

Our second day we explored Park Loop Road, the more trafficked areas of the park, starting at Cadillac Mountain. Now, if you are a sunrise aficionado, this is the first place the sun rises on the East Coast. However, when we visited sunrise was at 4:40 in the morning, so that was just way too early for us! You will need to make a reservation and pay a fee ($6) to drive up to the summit, this is separate from the park entry fees. We arrived around 9:45 AM and it was completely in a cloud, so there were no views but I honestly thought it felt very magical that way.

Next, we stopped at the Gardens of Acadia Park where our girls completed the Jr. Ranger program and received their badges. During our visit, one of the trails was closed due to falcons nesting. Park Rangers had telescopes setup so people could view the nest and the adults, this was an incedible learning experience. Then we made our way to Sandy Beach. Parking near Sandy Beach and Thunder Hole is chaotic to say the least, so be prepared for patience! We found a spot at Sandy Beach and began the .8 mile walk to Thunder Hole. TIP: Arrive to thunder hole two hours before high tide. This is the best time to view the “show” if you will. We arrived one hour before high tide and it was lackluster in water, but gorgeous anyway!

Sandy Beach was my kid’s favorite place, and I would recommend packing a picnic lunch and staying a while. Nestled between mountains and rocky shores, the scenery is gorgeous. But it is more than just a view, this is a place for people to swim, relax, and children to explore the rocks and tide pools teeming with wildlife.

Downtown Bar Harbor – Bar Harbor has a special charm that makes it feel as if you’ve stepped out of real life and walked into the pages of a storybook. There are bright colors, gorgeous water views, quaint shops, and a culinary scene to delight any palate. This is a great place to buy some unique souvenirs, take a whale-watching boat ride, and of course… indulge in some lobster! Parking can be a bit troubling so allot some time for that if you are driving.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse – The history of Bass Harbor Head Light dates to 1855, located within Acadia National Park in the southwest portion of MDI. I didn’t include this under Acadia because you didn’t need to pay to visit. We came at sunset and were rewarded with a vivid sky of oranges and pinks. In the parking lot (facing the water) you can go left or right. Right will take you to a beautiful water view, but you want to go left to see the lighthouse. There is a short walk which leads down onto the many granite boulders that provide a great view of the harbor side of the lighthouse. You will be climbing on some very large boulders, so be careful with the little ones!

Appetite

Jordan Pond House – It doesn’t get much more iconic than Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park. This historic must-visit stop serves tea with popovers, lobster, and everything in between. The Jordan Pond House is legendary, dating back to the 1800s, with indoor/outdoor seating overlooking the beautiful Jordan Pond and the Bubbles. The service was top notch and the food was **chef’s kiss** out of this world!

Start your culinary experience with the famous popovers (way bigger than I anticipated!) with strawberry jam and butter. I would highly recommend the lobster stew, delicious in every way and packed with lobster meat! We also devoured a lobster roll and the bison meatloaf… and I’m drooling! We completed our meal with a most impressive Popover Sunday. Just listen to it – a popover filled with local Maine ice cream, topped with dark chocolate sauce or sea salt caramel. It was pure perfection, and HUGE!

We e-biked to Jordan Pond House through the carriage trails and had a reservation (thank goodness because it is a very popular place!).

The Travelin Lobster – Right down the road from Terramor is The Travelin Lobster. This funky, fisherman-owned counter-serve stand was so delicious, we went twice! The ratings for this place are off the charts, and for good reason! If you have lobster at one location on all of MDI, go here for it. Bold claim, but you can thank me later. I had the lobster bisque in a bread bowl with a claw on top… twice. Yup, got it twice! We also got a full lobster dinner, complete with bib. They know their stuff at Travelin Lobster. My only regret is not ordering the lobster roll here, they are overflowing with meat and topped with three claws.

Mainely Meat BBQ – Located steps away from Atlantic Brewing Company, Mainley Meat BBQ is serving up award winning BBQ on MDI! There is indoor/outdoor seating and a playground for the kiddos. The food is delicious, and the staff goes out of their way to make sure you are enjoying your time and food. I would highly recommend the smoked wings and the sampler so you can try a bit of everything!

Leary’s Landing Irish Pub – Located in the heart of Bar Harbor, Leary’s is serving up hearty Irish- & New England–style dishes. The pub is warm and welcoming, and the food is on point. It is small, so make sure you have a reservation or put your name on the waitlist on their website!

Until next time…