Here are some great stories of Acadia, along with some odd facts...
Acadia has a rich history. And we have a rich patchwork of memories from our 6 trips there too, which have become part of our family history. On this page, we thought we'd share some stories and the odd fact or two about the park and the surrounding area that we've picked up through the years.
We thought we'd set up this lighthearted section of our site to share some of those stories with you... and to give you an opportunity to share some of your Acadia stories with us and our readers too.
Odd Facts
Here are some interesting – and sometimes odd – facts about Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park...
Do you know how, in the beginning days of the island, local fishermen would tell if they were close to shore in heavy fogs? They would throw a potato out as far as they could and if it made a splash they knew they were far from shore. However, if a dull thud followed the toss, they knew they must turn their boat immediately or hit land.
Do you know how the hundreds of fisherman on the island distinguish their traps from others? Each fisherman has a unique buoy color scheme. When gazing out into Frenchman's Bay, you will noticed the rainbow of colors. Some buoys are one solid color while others are striped with two or three colors.
Watch out for the disappearing sand bar! At low tide, there's a wide bar of sand that stretches from the shoreline across to Bar Island. There is about 6 hours between low tide and high tide, and at high tide, the bar is completely submerged. Our whale watch captain told us a tale about a tourist who stupidly parked his brand new Jeep Wrangler on the bar while he went exploring. Imagine his horror when he returned a couple of hours later to see his Jeep washing out to sea! It's also possible to walk over and then get stranded on Bar Island until the next low tide. We never wanted to chance it.
Southwest Harbor enjoys a ranking as one of the top 10 commercial fishing harbors in Maine. It's not just about the many yachts and sailing vessels you see in the lovely harbor.
Bass Harbor Lighthouse has been guiding mariners since 1858 & the light has never been turned off since that time! Be sure to make at least a quick visit to this lighthouse part of your Acadia itinerary. It's a lovely sight.
Sand Beach is made up mostly of crushed seashells & skeletons of sea urchins and the water is rarely warmer than 55 degrees. The "sand" is softer than you think, and the water is every bit as cold as you might think... even on the hottest summer days!
Between 1916 to 1921, seven major motion pictures were filmed on Mount Desert Island. Sand Beach & Thurston's Lobster Pound were featured in the more recent The Cider House Rules. And a book I just read by Kim Stanley Robinson (Sixty Days and Counting) also had a pivotal scene set at Long Pond on Mount Desert Island.
The peak of Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the US to see the rays of the sun! Be sure to catch a sunrise at least one morning during your Acadia vacation.
Skylands, a summer estate that is located in Seal Harbor, was built in 1925 by Henry Ford's son. Today the opulent home is owned by happy homemaker Martha Stewart.
The coast of Maine is believed to have formed roughly 550 million years ago on an ancient continent called Avalonia. Check out early history page for more info on the island.
Mount Desert Island measures 107.77 square miles & holds the title of 3rd largest island off the coast of the continental U.S. And, if the rocky coast of Maine was stretched out, it would reach from the northern most tip of Maine to the tip of Florida!
"I'm making an avalanche out of myself!" ~Jenn, Age 8, when climbing down rocky side of South Bubble
"My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing." ~Aldous Huxley
"Perhaps the truth depends on a walk around the lake." ~Wallace Stevens
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." ~John Muir
"Thoughts come clearly while one walks." ~Thomas Mann
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." ~John Muir
"Above all, do not lose your desire to walk. Every day I walk myself into a state of well-being and walk away from every illness. I have walked myself into my best thoughts, and I know of no thought so burdensome that one cannot walk away from it." ~Soren Kierkegaard
"Walks. The body advances, while the mind flutters around it like a bird." ~Jules Renard
Our Stories of Acadia
What do you get when you throw three clumsy, crazy women into a national park? A ton of crazy stories. Over the years we've hiked some great trails, made some great memories and created some even better stories. We are now sharing our stories with you. Feel free to laugh out loud while reading, we sure did.
Do you have a favorite family story that took place at Acadia or in the Bar Harbor/Mt. Desert Island area? We'd love to publish your Acadia stories here too, so if you have one to tell, you can use the form below to send us your information. You don't have to give us your name and email unless you want to. :)
Basically anything that is a fond memory or an adventure is fair game here. We're looking for input from others about what makes Acadia so special for them...
Have A Great Story About Acadia?
Do you have a great story about Acadia National Park or your vacation on Mt. Desert Island? Share it with the readers of Discover-Acadia.com, won't you?
The girls & I have lots of stories, but it would be nice to hear about other's experiences too...
