Moon Acadia National Park (Moon Handbooks) - Softcover

Nangle, Hilary

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1631210238 ISBN 13: 9781631210235

Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing, 2015

Synopsis

This full-color guide includes vibrant photos and easy-to-use maps to help you on your trip.

Moon Handbooks give you the tools to make your own choices.

• Can’t-miss sights, activities, restaurants, and accommodations, marked with M
  
• Suggestions on how to plan a trip that’s perfect for you, including:
  
  • The Best of Zion & Bryce
    
  • Red Rocks Road Trip
    
  • Avoiding the Crowds
    
  • Ancient Rock Art
    
  • Best Day Hikes
    
  • Fun for All and All for Fun
    
  • Hoodoos and Views
  
  44 detailed and easy-to-use maps
  The firsthand experience and unique perspective of authors W. C. McRae and Judy Jewell
  

About this title

About the Author

Despite brief out-of-state interludes for college, grad school, and a stint as a ski bum, Hilary Nangle has never been able to resist the lure of her home state. She grew up on Maine’s coast, spending much of each winter skiing in the western mountains. Her sense of wanderlust was ignited when she became a whitewater-rafting guide on the Kennebec River, which gave her a chance to explore the central and northern regions of the state. When she tired of her parents asking when she was going to get a real job, she drew on her writing skills and began seeking out editorial work. She started out editing pro ski tour publications, and then became a managing editor for a food trade publication and a features editor for a daily newspaper. She currently works as a freelance writer and editor.

Hilary never tires of exploring Maine, always seeking out the offbeat and quirky, and rarely resisting the invitation of a backroad. To her husband’s dismay, she inherited her grandmother’s shopping gene and can’t pass a used-book store, artisans’ gallery, or antiques shop without browsing. She’s equally curious about food and has never met a lobster she didn’t like. Hilary still divides her year between the coast and the mountains, residing with her husband, photographer Tom Nangle, and two oversized dogs, all of whom share her passions for long walks and Maine-made ice cream.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From Moon Acadia National Park

Mount Desert Island has been luring visitors since French explorers first answered the island’s siren song in 1604. Raw, remote, and seductive, it dangles like a pendant into the Atlantic, flashing its voluptuous profile to passing navigators and mainland drivers. Although only 15 miles from north to south and 12 miles from west to east, the island is home to about 30,000 of Acadia National Park’s roughly 46,000 acres. It’s a miniature masterpiece, a gem of a natural and cultural resource that’s laced with hiking trails and carriage roads, etched by a craggy coastline, sprinkled with ponds, and lorded over by bald peaks. Here are the sights and activities you can’t miss if you’re after the true Acadia experience.

Park Ranger Programs: Join one of the numerous programs, from guided hikes and photography tours to natural history programs and children’s activities, offered daily by park rangers.

Park Loop Road: If you do nothing else on Mount Desert Island, drive this magnificent road that takes in many of Acadia National Park’s highlights.

Sieur de Monts Spring: This lovely oasis is home to the Wild Gardens of Acadia, the Acadia Nature Center, the Sweet Waters of Acadia spring, and the original Abbe Museum, as well as the base for hiking Dorr Mountain.

Sand Beach: Spread a blanket on one of the few beaches in this part of Maine.

Thunder Hole: Time your visit right to see the tide surge and explode through this geological formation.

Jordan Pond House: Come for tea, popovers, and ice cream on the lawn, but allow time to walk or ride the carriage roads or explore the nature trail.

Cadillac Mountain: Acadia’s prime feature is the highest point on the eastern seaboard, allegedly where the sun’s first rays land. Drive, bike, or hike to the 1,530-foot summit for stunning views.

Carriage Roads: Fifty-seven miles of meandering crushed-stone paths crossing 17 handsome stone bridges welcome walkers, bikers, horseback riders, snowshoers, and crosscountry skiers.

Eagle Lake:A mountain backdrop and undeveloped shores contribute to Eagle Lake’s popularity. A small-boat launch and a carriage road make it easy to explore.

Gorham Mountain Trail: This trail requires a minimum amount of effort to produce maximum rewards. It’s an excellent family hike—kids love the Cadillac Cliffs.


Slightly more than 2,366 of Acadia National Park’s acres are on the mainland Schoodic Peninsula—the rest are all on islands, including Mount Desert. World-class scenery and the relative lack of congestion, even at the height of summer, make Schoodic a special Acadia destination. Here are the most unique treasures you’ll find in this section of the park.

Schoodic Point: Surf crashes against slabs of pink granite on the remote tip of the Schoodic Peninsula.

Schoodic Loop: Drive around the tip of the peninsula if you must, but a better way to see it is on a bicycle.

Donnell Pond Public Reserved Land: A treasure for outdoors enthusiasts, this reserve includes mountains to hike and ponds to paddle and fish, plus sandy beaches and backwoods campsites.

Petit Manan Point: Birds, birds, birds, as well as easy hiking with great views are your rewards for visiting this part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge.

Schoodic Head Loop: Although you can drive almost to the summit, it’s far more rewarding—and peaceful—to hike it.

Hancock and Sullivan Gallery Tour: Talented artists and artisans are plentiful here. Visiting their off-the-beaten-path shops and studios is a perfect way to explore the region and score some great souvenirs.

Edition details

• Publisher: Avalon Travel Publishing
• Publication date: 2015
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1631210238
• ISBN 13: 9781631210235
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 5
• Number of pages: 320