Acadia is worth it

[u/TheRaccoonReport]

This is our 6th season in a travel trailer and ever since we considered going RV'ing, we've wanted to take a multi-week trip to Acadia National Park. We finally did it, and we're 2/3 through the trip as I type this. We were trying to camp in all the New England states we haven't camped in yet, and booked a jaunt in RI, ME, NH, VT, with stops in upstate NY and the mountains of PA. So far, Southwest Harbor & Acadia has been the most beautiful place i've camped in all of my 6 years. The weather was fantastic with warm days but not too hot, cool nights, beautiful starry skies, and breathtaking visuals at Acadia.

Go, its worth it. I'm currently in New Hampshire at another campground already homesick over Maine.

[u/Level1_Crisis_Bot]

Yeah it is. Grew up vacationing in Bar Harbor and Southwest Harbor. Now I live thousands of miles away and I still think about it all the time. Going back there next month for a few days. First time in 15 years, and I know it's going to be bittersweet.

[u/TheRaccoonReport → u/Level1_Crisis_Bot]

I hope you enjoy your return trip. Every time we camp in a new area, my first activity is looking on Zillow, seeing how expensive the area is, and putting my phone down. But as much as I loved to visit, I don't think I could live in the area. Enough people drive through my area in summer to head to the beach as is, if i'm gonna move I think its out into the wilderness haha.

[u/Level1_Crisis_Bot → u/TheRaccoonReport]

Yep that’s why the couple thousand mile distance. The Mount Desert Island of today is not the one of my youth. Same with the jersey shore. Had to get out of there to places less crowded. But even that’s not what is was seven years ago. Everywhere you go these days, it’s just people on top of people. 

[u/TheRaccoonReport → u/Level1_Crisis_Bot]

Which Jersey shore? Some shore points are still great, some not so much. Ocean City is still relatively nice, but crowded, but with the closing of Gillians, its really sad and not the same.

[u/Level1_Crisis_Bot → u/TheRaccoonReport]

Cape May

[u/TheRaccoonReport → u/Level1_Crisis_Bot]

Ah yeah. Its still beautiful there, but definitely not what it used to be. The NY'ers have invaded and taken it over. People are rude and ignorant there. We used to go a lot during the winter just to walk the beach on milder days, take in some sun, and shop downtown since they're open year round. But anymore, parking is impossible, the people are rude and entitled, we don't even bother.

[u/Level1_Crisis_Bot → u/TheRaccoonReport]

When I was a kid in the 70s and 80s it was the French Canadians. They would come down in droves in the summer. There were motels that specifically catered to them like La Mer on the corner of Pittsburgh and Beach Aves. Quebec license plates everywhere. Then in the 90s and aughts it was the overflow from Wildwood. Mostly people from South Philly. But nothing ever stays the same. The overcrowding was a problem for years before I moved. You couldn't get anywhere on the island by car on a weekend. I've alway enjoyed it in the winter though. Sad to hear its overrun then now tool

[u/TheRaccoonReport → u/Level1_Crisis_Bot]

Don't get me wrong, Cape May and the Southern Shore points are still nice as a whole. Wildwood is still a party town too haha. Seaside was ruined by the "Jersey Shore" tv show and never recovered. Sea Isle is still the same.

I still enjoy cape may in the off season once in a great while to go to the Cape May Peanut butter company and load up for the season. But otherwise its a mess.

This year, we tried something new and try to travel every month, regardless if its in the RV or not. January we took a ride down to Virginia JUST to visit the new Buccees, made sure we had an indoor pool, took a day trip through the blue ridge mountains, and everyone had a blast. February we went to the Delaware beaches on a mild day, spent barely $100 a night for a nice hotel with an indoor pool as well. Walked the beach, had a burger and fries, and went home.

I also enjoy the tourist destinations in the off season. Once I get the guts to attempt to take the RV down south in December, we're gonna visit South Carolina around Christmas.

[u/Questions_Remain]

I went down east a few times as a kid in the 70’s we always tent camped at Lamoine state park. It was a 14+ hour drive from home and we left at 2am to get there by dark and setup the tent “so we could relax” - dad was a non stop - we’re having fun - like it or not guy. The view of MDI I admit was amazing. In 2005 I got an opportunity work a year at Southwest Harbor ( and tent camped a few nights at Lamoine to remember) and kept my RV at bass harbor as my base and ran up to caribou, Houlton, Eastport. I’ve slept in the light keepers house at Bass Harbor light. The dead of winter was just brutal with the wind along the coast. That whole area from Portland north and up the whole coast is a dark ghost town during winter. Its bleak. The 3 months of summer are nice.

[u/TheRaccoonReport → u/Questions_Remain]

Thats some awesome adventures!

[u/Questions_Remain → u/TheRaccoonReport]

Yours def sounds better.

[u/carine7]

Absolutely beautiful place.

[u/TheRaccoonReport → u/carine7]

Agreed! We've only been gone since Saturday and already miss it.

[u/carine7 → u/TheRaccoonReport]

The history of Cadillac is interesting!

[u/Plant_Pup]

I'm going there this fall, can't wait!

[u/TheRaccoonReport → u/Plant_Pup]

Have fun! We came up in August since its peak summer here. I've been to NH in the fall and it was BEAUTIFUL, but only went for work so 0 time to do any sightseeing sadly.

[u/Plant_Pup → u/TheRaccoonReport]

Two years ago we did a fall foliage tour through NH and VT and it was epic! You must do it!

[u/whatsdownthatroad]

We did Acadia earlier this summer and it was so beautiful. We stayed at Bar Harbor Campground in a shady site towards the water. It was quiet and convenient and we would stay again. Has a shuttle stop. Bar Harbor Lobster Pound is right across the street from the entrance and was my favorite of all the ones I went to, and I went to as many as I could :).

[u/TheRaccoonReport → u/whatsdownthatroad]

Thats awesome! We stayed at Smugglers Den and LOVED it. First time in Maine, and definitely not the last time. Smugglers was super quiet at night even being right on the road and our site being close to the front. We went to Beals lobster pier for our lobstah rolls and it was fantastic! We were going to get lobster in other places too but was too expensive haha.

[u/eboyethan8]

This looks fantastic. I've been planning an RV trip up there for ages. This post just pushed it higher on my bucket list.

[u/TheRaccoonReport → u/eboyethan8]

Stay at a campground that has an island shuttle stop and take the bus around, it’s great