Acadia 2025 Trip Days 1 & 2 :Arriving & Biking the Carriage Roads

I had 2 posts for today; I really wanted to start on our trip recap but I also didn't want to miss Marsha's 10 on the 10th link up (you can see that post here).  

I was up early last Monday all ready to go to Maine so I painted my nails while waiting and read my book. By 8:30 or so Alec, my husband, and I were on the road headed to Acadia. 


Our first stop was in Kittery, Maine where we went to the Kittery Trading Post. We mostly stopped to use the bathrooms but I did buy a new hiking backpack to use for our Montana trip. 

We then headed up to Freeport, Maine and arrived just after lunch. The LL Bean Flagship store was under construction (though it was still open) but we were hungry so we bypassed the main store to head to lunch at Linda Bean's Maine Kitchen. We sat on the top deck and had a great view of the construction. Though it was peaceful and a beautiful day. 
 

I had a feta, arugula, and strawberry grilled cheese with french fries; easily one of the best sandwiches ever


After lunch we went to the LL Bean outlet and I found some perfect sneakers for exercising and the Lindt store-- where we stocked up quite a bit on a huge variety of flavors I've never even heard of (like Tiramisu and blood orange!). 

 


We got back in the car to continue up to Southwest harbor, Maine where we were staying for the week. Along the way we snacked on our Bean Boot Crunch Popcorn mix. It was caramel popcorn with pretzels, chocolate, sprinkles and these adorable boot chocolates too. 

We checked into our room and got caught up with Dora (the host at our B&B; this is the 3rd year in a row we've stayed here). Then we walked into town and got dinner at Little Notch Bakery. I wasn't very hungry so I got a tuna panini on their homemade bread. 

The next morning we were up and dressed and ready for breakfast right at 8 when they start serving. Daniel made us the most amazing meal! A lemon curd madeline cake with fresh berries and eggs roulade with blueberry muffin and potato bake. 

 


We went to Bar Harbor and rented ebikes from Acadia Kayak & Ebike rentals and went off to explore the carriage roads. These gravel paths were built by the Rockerfeller family for their carriages and they are only open to bikes, hikers/walker, and horses. 













 

We stopped for snacks at Jordan pond house; I had a blueberry iced tea and a cinnamon bun.



 We then completed the rest of the loop trails we had been following and ended up biking 24 miles by the time we returned out bikes.

This is a trail map of all the carriage roads; we *think* we did all the yellow ones.

 





We walked through Bar harbor and got some ice cream; I tried a maple chip and cinnamon blend. The homemade ice cream was so soft and delicious. 

 


we ate our ice cream in the park

then checked out the book store; where Alec and I both bought a few books

We went back to the B&B and then then hung out on the patio for a bit before walking down to Beal's for some fresh seafood. 


I did shower and change first

 



Also from this trip:

Day 3: Cadillac and Penobscot mountains 

Days 4 & 5: Cranberry Island & heading home 

Linking up with: Thinking out Loud, Spread the Kindness,


 




Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 11, 2025 at 5:46 AM

    What a great star to your trip! Sarah @ Sunshine & Books

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maria RineerJune 11, 2025 at 6:34 AM

    You know how to "Maine" right! Love your food and nature pics- everything looks so good!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Melynda@Scratch Made Food!June 11, 2025 at 7:29 AM

    Very nice get away! I have to say, I love the bike riding pics!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM

      My son was giving us a hard time for renting ebikes since it looked so flat in each photo until I pointed out that I was taking those photos WHILE riding! It had to be flat to be one handed.

      Delete
  4. Dara @ Not In JerseyJune 11, 2025 at 8:30 AM

    My boys would definitely want to rent bikes, for me it's a little harder! I would prefer checking out the bookstore!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 11, 2025 at 3:24 PM

      I bet with the ebikes you might be okay; they told us that for a 1/2 day rental (which we didn't do!) you don't need to worry about battery life and can just keep it on the highest setting. You still have to peddle but not nearly has hard or as much. Mostly it just hurt my bum and back by the end of the day.

      Delete
  5. Nancy June 11, 2025 at 9:11 AM

    What a great trip! We stayed in that area a few years ago and loved it! Your beautiful pictures brought back so many sweet memories. Thank-you so much.
    Your summer is off to an awesome start!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM

      Thank you! It is definitely starting off right.

      Delete
  6. Kim CarberryJune 11, 2025 at 9:36 AM

    It sounds like such a great trip!
    That sandwich looks amazing! I would never have thought of putting strawberries in one.
    Oh wow! That Lindt store! I didn't know you could get so many different flavours. Yum! Cake for breakfast, what a treat!
    It looks like a great adventure on the bikes, such beautiful scenery!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 11, 2025 at 3:26 PM

      I told my son he has to bring that up as a suggestion at the restaurant where he works; it was SO good! I'm planning to get the ingredients to make it at home this week.

      Delete
  7. Michele MorinJune 11, 2025 at 10:39 AM

    So fun to read! My kids love Acadia, and we camped there last summer. I've never tried Linda Bean's restaurant, so thanks for putting it on my radar!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM

      Thank you! We had never been to Linda Bean's either but all 3 of us really enjoyed our meal a lot.

      Delete
  8. Lindsay's Sweet WorldJune 11, 2025 at 2:00 PM

    What a picturesque place! And that cinnamon bun looks delicious! One of my favorite things!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 11, 2025 at 3:27 PM

      Me too! I love cinnamon buns and just can't resist them.. especially on vacation.

      Delete
  9. Tanya June 11, 2025 at 4:23 PM

    So beautiful...I want to go back! How were the crowds? All the food looks so good, and I would have ordered the same things, especially the strawberry sandwich!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 11, 2025 at 4:35 PM

      We were only there Monday-Friday and since it's the shoulder season until mid-June the crowds weren't bad at all. The only time it felt crowded was being at/near Jordan Pond House but it was lunch time. We had zero trouble finding tons of parking in Bar Harbor all week.

      Delete
  10. Deb's WorldJune 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM

    The photos you've shared are fabulous Joanne, those carriage trails look amazing. We have similar here where trains once ran and they're now converted into trails for walker/riders/prams/mobility scooters etc, and are really safe. Looks like a great trip away.
    Deb #Teamwwwhimsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 12, 2025 at 5:38 AM

      This were literally carriage roads from the start; the Rockerfeller family built them back in the early 1900's for their horses and carriages.

      Delete
  11. Julie's Creative LifestyleJune 12, 2025 at 1:05 PM

    What a great vacation in Maine. It's so beautiful there and the food looks great.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Laura @ Our Grand LivesJune 12, 2025 at 8:56 PM

    What a glorious beginning to your getaway! Now I want to head to Acadia... pronto (and I'd order that strawberry sandwich, for sure)!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 13, 2025 at 5:09 AM

      It was so good! I'm hoping to recreate that at home this week; we just picked some fresh strawberries too.

      Delete
  13. MarshaJune 12, 2025 at 9:48 PM

    Those skies are so blue! I would love to try an e-bike some day. Those carriage trails are definitely beautiful!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sammie @ The Annoyed ThyroidJune 13, 2025 at 6:21 AM

    That scenery is amazing and the colour of that sky! You certainly did a lot of riding. All the food looks so delicious. A friend just came back from Switzerland with some Tiramisu Lindt balls, I'd never heard of them before. Did you enjoy them?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne June 13, 2025 at 1:38 PM

      I did! I thought all the new flavors we tried were pretty good.

      Delete
  15. crackercrumblifeJune 13, 2025 at 8:16 AM

    This trip looks absolutely perfect!! I love all of this, so much. We want to head to New England with Wyatt so badly! I haven't been since I was a teenager but I fell in love with it then. Everything you did looks amazing. Sigh. Lol.

    ReplyDelete

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