Explore the best of Acadia National Park with Kids!
THE ULTIMATE PARENT’S GUIDE
Visit the Acadia National Park with Kids
Fun Facts
Interesting Things To Know About Acadia National Park
- Acadia National Park is the first national park east of the Mississippi River!
- WOW! The park has over 45 miles of special crushed-rock carriage roads that were a gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr.!
- HOLY COW! Cadillac Mountain in Acadia is the first place in the United States to see the sunrise for about half the year!
- SUPER COOL! The park is home to over 40 different species of wild mammals, including cute little red squirrels that make chattering sounds like tiny alarm clocks!
- AMAZING! The waves at Thunder Hole can splash up to 40 feet high – that’s taller than three giraffes stacked on top of each other!
Must-Visit Spots
Where To Go At Acadia National Park with kids
SAND BEACH Get Ready for the SAND BEACH : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This natural sandy beach tucked between granite mountains offers a perfect introduction to the Maine coast with gentle waves, fascinating tide pools, and plenty of space for play and exploration.
INTERESTING FACT! The sand here isn’t just regular sand – it’s made mostly of tiny broken seashells that have been crushed by waves over thousands of years!
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a “Beach Detective Journal” – Help your child collect and draw different types of shells, seaweed, and beach treasures (but remember to leave them for others to enjoy after observing).
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: Why do you think the water feels so cold even on a hot summer day?
DISCUSS: The water at Sand Beach stays around 55°F (13°C) even in the middle of summer – that’s as cold as keeping your hand in the refrigerator!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The Gulf of Maine is home to special cold-water currents that keep the water chilly. These cold waters are perfect for seals, whales, and special fish that like cold temperatures. The cold water also brings lots of food for sea creatures, making it like a giant underwater buffet! Just like we wear warm clothes in winter, the animals here have special adaptations like thick fur or blubber to stay warm.
ASK YOUR KIDS: What do you think made all these tiny tide pools in the rocks?
DISCUSS: These natural pools are actually like tiny oceans that get filled up and emptied twice every day with the tides!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Each tide pool is like a miniature underwater city where sea creatures live. When the tide goes out, these pools become safe havens for small creatures like periwinkle snails, hermit crabs, and sea stars. Some animals stick themselves to rocks to stay safe, while others hide under seaweed. It’s like they’re playing an endless game of hide and seek with the waves!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find three different colors of seashells
HINT: Look in the wrack line (where the waves leave seaweed and shells) for the best treasures
OBJECTIVE: Spot a seagull doing something funny
HINT: Watch the seagulls near people eating – they’re quite the entertainers!
JORDAN POND HOUSE AND GROUNDS Get Ready for the JORDAN POND HOUSE AND GROUNDS : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? A perfect spot for young children to experience Acadia’s beauty with easy walking paths, wildlife viewing, and famous popovers (warm, puffy bread treats) on the lawn.
INTERESTING FACT! The crystal-clear pond is so clean you can see down 45 feet – that’s as deep as a 4-story building is tall!
COOL ACTIVITY! “Nature’s Mirror Game” – Find a spot where the mountains reflect in the pond and play a matching game, pointing out what looks the same in the water as above it.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you were a beaver building a home here, where would you build it and why?
DISCUSS: Beavers are nature’s engineers who can cut down trees with their teeth and build dams that can be longer than a school bus!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Beavers are amazing architects who create their homes (called lodges) with underwater entrances to stay safe from predators. They use their flat tails like a built-in toolbox – it works as a rudder when swimming, a prop to stand on while cutting trees, and even as an alarm system by slapping the water to warn other beavers of danger. The ponds they create become homes for frogs, ducks, and even help prevent flooding – it’s like they’re nature’s park rangers!
ASK YOUR KIDS: Why do you think the mountains around Jordan Pond are called ‘The Bubbles’?
DISCUSS: These round mountains were shaped by giant ice sheets that moved across the land during the last ice age, smoothing them like giant ice cream scoops!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Imagine an ice sheet taller than 100 houses stacked on top of each other, slowly moving across the land like a very slow bulldozer. As it moved, it rounded off the mountains and carved out the pond. The ice was so heavy it could pick up huge boulders and move them around like toys. Today, you can still find these “glacier erratics” – giant rocks that look like they were dropped from the sky but were actually carried here by ice thousands of years ago!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find a rock that sparkles in the sunlight
HINT: Look for pink granite rocks near the path – they contain bits of mica that shine like glitter
OBJECTIVE: Spot three different types of birds
HINT: Look both on the pond and in the trees around the lawn area
THUNDER HOLE Get Ready for the THUNDER HOLE : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? Experience nature’s exciting show where waves crash into a cave creating a booming sound like thunder!
INTERESTING FACT! The boom can be so loud it sounds like a clap of thunder, and water can shoot up to 40 feet high – that’s taller than a house!
COOL ACTIVITY! “Wave Timer” – Count the seconds between big waves and try to predict when the next big splash will come.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: What do you think makes the thunder sound in Thunder Hole?
DISCUSS: The thunder sound happens when waves trap air in the cave and squeeze it out, like when you pop a balloon!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Think of Thunder Hole like a giant musical instrument played by the ocean. When waves rush in, they push air into the cave just like blowing into a trumpet. As the cave gets fuller, the air gets squeezed tighter and tighter until – BOOM! – it bursts out through a small hole at the top. The size of the boom depends on how much water goes in and how high the tide is. It’s nature’s way of playing drums!
ASK YOUR KIDS: Why do you think the rocks around Thunder Hole are different colors?
DISCUSS: The dark stripe on the rocks shows where high tide reaches, like a bathtub ring in nature!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The rocks tell us stories about the ocean’s daily routine. The dark zone is where algae grows in the splash zone, creating a natural line that shows where waves usually reach. Below this line, you might see barnacles and seaweed that need to be underwater most of the time. Above it, you’ll find tough lichens that can survive with just occasional splashes. It’s like the rocks are wearing different colored clothes for different jobs!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Listen for different sounds the waves make and count how many different ones you hear
HINT: Sometimes it’s a splash, sometimes a boom, and sometimes a gurgle
OBJECTIVE: Find a safe spot to feel the ocean spray on your face
HINT: Stand back from the railing on windy days and wait for a big splash
WILD GARDENS OF ACADIA Get Ready for the WILD GARDENS OF ACADIA : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This magical garden showcases all of Acadia’s different environments in one easy-to-explore space, perfect for little legs and curious minds.
INTERESTING FACT! The garden has over 400 plants that are native to Acadia, all labeled and arranged in different habitat areas like a living museum!
COOL ACTIVITY! “Plant Detective” – Give your child a simple nature scavenger hunt to find different colored flowers, leaves of different shapes, or plants of different sizes.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: If you were a butterfly, which flowers would you visit first and why?
DISCUSS: Butterflies can taste with their feet, so they land on flowers to check if they’re good to eat!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Just like we have favorite foods, butterflies are picky eaters too! They look for bright colors that signal sweet nectar, just like how we might look for our favorite cereal box at the store. Some flowers even have special landing pads for butterflies, like tiny airport runways. And get this – butterflies can see colors we can’t even imagine, including ultraviolet patterns on flowers that are invisible to our eyes. It’s like they have super-vision goggles!
ASK YOUR KIDS: Why do you think some plants grow in boggy areas while others prefer rocky spots?
DISCUSS: Plants are like people – they have favorite places to live! Some love wet feet (like in bogs), while others prefer to perch on rocks like mountain climbers.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Think of the garden’s different areas like different neighborhoods. Bog plants have special “snorkel roots” that help them breathe in wet soil. Mountain plants are tough and small, helping them survive strong winds – like wearing a warm coat all the time. Forest plants have learned to grow in shade, catching whatever sunlight sneaks through the tree branches. Some plants even help each other out, like good neighbors sharing supplies!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find three plants with funny or interesting names
HINT: Look for signs with names like “Sheep Laurel” or “Bladder Campion”
OBJECTIVE: Spot a plant that looks like it could be from a fairy tale
HINT: Look for unusual shapes or colors, especially in the woodland garden
CARRIAGE ROADS (NEAR JORDAN POND) Get Ready for the CARRIAGE ROADS (NEAR JORDAN POND) : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? These car-free paths are perfect for young explorers, featuring beautiful stone bridges, gentle grades, and plenty of wildlife viewing opportunities.
INTERESTING FACT! The roads were built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. who was so careful about the design that he laid out the roads himself using bread crumbs to mark the perfect path!
COOL ACTIVITY! “Bridge Counter’s Club” – Count the beautiful stone bridges you can spot along your walk and make up stories about the trolls who might live under them.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: How do you think they built these huge stone bridges without modern machines?
DISCUSS: Each stone in these bridges was carefully shaped by hand using simple tools, like putting together a giant puzzle!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: These bridges were built almost 100 years ago using horses and hand tools. The stones were cut from nearby quarries and moved using wooden rollers and pulleys. Workers had to be as careful as artists, fitting each stone perfectly with its neighbors. Some of the bridges took over a year to build – that’s longer than it takes to build many modern skyscrapers! The bridges were built so well that they’re still standing strong today, even after millions of feet have walked over them.
ASK YOUR KIDS: If these paths could talk, what stories do you think they would tell about all the animals that use them?
DISCUSS: These paths are like animal highways – deer, foxes, and even porcupines use them as easy routes through the forest!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: At night, when all the people have gone home, these paths become busy with wildlife. Deer leave special hoof prints that look like heart shapes in soft ground. Foxes trot along looking for mice in the grass edges. In winter, you can sometimes see animal tracks in the snow telling stories of midnight adventures. Some animals, like porcupines, even help maintain the paths by eating plants that try to grow over them – they’re like nature’s gardeners!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find three different types of animal signs (tracks, chewed leaves, etc.)
HINT: Look carefully at the path edges and in soft dirt for footprints
OBJECTIVE: Count how many different bridge arches you can spot
HINT: Some bridges have more than one arch – look from different angles!
Other Nearby Points of Interest
Other great things to do near Acadia National Park with kids
BEFORE YOU LEAVE – Make sure to check out more of what this area has to offer! Here are a few nearby spots that we think you’ll love just as much as the Acadia National Park:
Mount Desert Oceanarium: Get up close with touch tanks full of sea creatures and learn about Maine’s famous lobsters!
Diver Ed’s Dive-In Theater: Watch as Diver Ed explores the ocean floor and brings up cool creatures for kids to see and sometimes touch.
Abbe Museum: Discover the fascinating culture and history of Maine’s Native Wabanaki peoples through kid-friendly exhibits and storytelling.
Read before you go
To make your visit even more exciting, check out these age-appropriate books:
- Who Lives in Acadia National Park? by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent – A perfect picture book introducing young children to the park’s wildlife.
- A is for Acadia by Richard Bingham – An alphabet book featuring the park’s natural wonders and wildlife.
- The Night Sky: A Glow-in-the-Dark Guide to Acadia’s Constellations – Great for kids interested in stargazing at the park.
- Acadia’s Carriage Roads by Robert Thayer – A picture-filled book about the history of the park’s famous paths.
Fun Facts
Interesting Things To Know About Acadia National Park
- Acadia National Park is the first national park established east of the Mississippi River and receives over 4 million visitors annually!
- WOW! The park’s forests were almost completely destroyed by a massive fire in 1947 that burned for 10 days straight – but nature bounced back, and now you can still see evidence of the fire’s impact on some of the trees!
- HOLY COW! Peregrine falcons dive at speeds of up to 240 mph in the park – that’s faster than a race car! They nest on the cliff faces and have made an amazing comeback from near extinction.
- SUPER COOL! The park has over 120 miles of hiking trails, and some of them were originally created by Native Americans over 10,000 years ago!
- AMAZING! The park is home to one of the largest collections of historic “cairns” (rock trail markers) in North America – some dating back to the 1800s!
Must-Visit Spots
Where To Go At Acadia National Park with kids
THUNDER HOLE Get Ready for the THUNDER HOLE : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This natural inlet creates an incredible thunderous boom when waves crash into the underwater cave, sometimes shooting water up to 40 feet high!
INTERESTING FACT! The thunderous sound occurs because air trapped in the cave gets compressed by incoming waves and then explosively releases – like a natural percussion instrument!
COOL ACTIVITY! Time the waves! Create a wave journal and record the time between the biggest “thunders.” Try to predict when the next big boom will happen based on your observations.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think some waves make louder sounds than others?”
DISCUSS: The loudest recorded thunder clap at Thunder Hole registered at 120 decibels – as loud as a rock concert!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The size of waves depends on three main factors: wind speed, wind duration, and the distance wind travels over water (called fetch). Bigger waves typically create louder sounds because they push more air into the cave. During storms at sea, waves can travel thousands of miles before reaching Thunder Hole. The best time to hear Thunder Hole’s impressive display is 2-3 hours before high tide when waves are moderate – not too small to be quiet, but not too dangerous to approach.
ASK YOUR KIDS: “If you could design your own natural musical instrument using water, what would it be like?”
DISCUSS: Nature creates other musical features around the world, like the Sea Organ in Croatia that uses wave action to create music through tubes under marble steps.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Sound in nature often comes from energy transfer – just like Thunder Hole transfers wave energy into sound energy. Similar phenomena occur in geysers, blowholes, and even in ice caves. The Native Americans called this area “Moose-a-luk,” meaning “place of crashing waves,” and used the sounds to navigate in foggy conditions. Today, scientists study these natural acoustics to better understand wave patterns and climate change impacts on our coastlines.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the exact spot where the viewing rail makes a sharp turn – this is the best location to feel the spray!
HINT: Look for worn spots on the railing where thousands of visitors have held on tight.
OBJECTIVE: Locate three different types of seaweed around Thunder Hole.
HINT: Check both the rocks and the splash zone, but remember to never climb on wet rocks.
CADILLAC MOUNTAIN SUMMIT Get Ready for the CADILLAC MOUNTAIN SUMMIT : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? As the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard, you’ll be among the first people in the United States to see the sunrise! Plus, you can see for miles in every direction, including spectacular views of Mount Desert Island and the Porcupine Islands.
INTERESTING FACT! The mountain was named after Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, a French explorer who later founded Detroit. The summit’s pink granite rocks are over 420 million years old!
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a 360-degree panorama drawing or photo series. Mark the compass directions and identify different landforms you can see from each direction.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think Cadillac Mountain is often covered in clouds even when the rest of the park is clear?”
DISCUSS: When warm air rises and meets the cool mountain top, it creates its own weather system called “orographic lifting,” making clouds form right before your eyes!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Mountains create their own microclimates, acting like natural weather machines. The temperature at the summit can be up to 10 degrees cooler than at the base. This temperature difference affects plant life too – that’s why you’ll see different types of plants at different elevations. The summit is home to rare arctic-alpine plants that survived from the last ice age, making it like a living museum of prehistoric plant life. These hardy plants can survive extreme winds, cold temperatures, and thin soil conditions that would kill most other plants.
ASK YOUR KIDS: “If you could travel back in time to when these rocks were formed, what do you think you would see?”
DISCUSS: The pink granite beneath your feet was once molten magma deep within the Earth, and it took millions of years of erosion to expose it!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The rocks tell an amazing story of Earth’s history. During the last ice age, massive glaciers over a mile thick covered this entire area, slowly scraping and sculpting the landscape. As they moved, they carried enormous boulders (called glacial erratics) and deposited them across the park. The scratches you can see on some rocks (called glacial striations) are like fingerprints left behind by these ancient ice giants. The same forces that created these mountains are still at work today, though much slower – the Atlantic Ocean is actually getting wider by about the width of your thumbnail each year!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find a glacial erratic (a boulder that looks different from the pink granite around it).
HINT: Look for rocks that seem “out of place” – they might be darker or a completely different color from the surrounding pink granite.
OBJECTIVE: Locate three different types of lichen on the rocks and compare their colors and patterns.
HINT: Look for patches that are orange, gray, or green growing on the granite surfaces.
JORDAN POND AND NATURE TRAIL Get Ready for the JORDAN POND AND NATURE TRAIL : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This crystal-clear glacial pond is so pure you can see down 45 feet! The famous “Bubbles” (two rounded mountains) create a perfect backdrop for one of the most photographed scenes in Acadia.
INTERESTING FACT! The pond is a public water supply and was carved by a glacier over 12,000 years ago. It’s one of the clearest lakes in Maine because it’s fed entirely by underground springs!
COOL ACTIVITY! Do the “Bubble Rock Challenge” – find a safe spot to take a photo that makes it look like you’re holding up or pushing the precariously balanced boulder on South Bubble mountain.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “How do you think the water stays so incredibly clear here when other ponds are usually murky?”
DISCUSS: Jordan Pond’s water is so pure that scientists use it as a baseline to study water quality in other lakes across New England!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The pond’s clarity comes from a perfect natural filtration system. The surrounding mountains act like a giant funnel, directing rainwater through layers of granite and soil that filter out impurities. No motorized boats are allowed on the pond, preventing oil and gas contamination. The pond’s depth and cold temperature (it rarely gets above 60°F) prevent algae growth. Indigenous peoples called this area “Bubble Pond” not for the mountains, but for the bubbling springs beneath the surface that feed the pond with crystal-clear water.
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think the mountains here are called ‘The Bubbles,’ and what might have created their round shape?”
DISCUSS: The Bubbles were actually shaped by glaciers that rounded them like giant sandpaper, creating what geologists call “roche moutonnée” or “sheep-back rocks”!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: These mountains tell the story of an epic battle between rock and ice. During the last ice age, massive glaciers moved over these mountains, grinding down their sharp edges. The side facing the direction the glacier came from (the stoss side) got smoothed and rounded, while the opposite side (the lee side) remained steeper and rougher. This process created hundreds of these rounded mountains across New England, but The Bubbles are among the most perfect examples. Native American legends say these mountains were formed when a giant was playing with bubbles that turned to stone!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find and identify three different types of evergreen trees along the pond’s edge.
HINT: Look for differences in needle arrangement and cone shapes – you might spot spruce, fir, and pine.
OBJECTIVE: Locate evidence of beaver activity around the pond.
HINT: Check the shoreline for chewed trees or fallen logs with tooth marks.
SAND BEACH AND OCEAN PATH Get Ready for the SAND BEACH AND OCEAN PATH : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This unique beach is one of the few cold-water shell-based sand beaches in the world! The sand is made up of tiny fragments of shells and sea creatures crushed by powerful waves.
INTERESTING FACT! Despite being a beach, the water rarely gets above 55°F (13°C) even in summer. That’s because the cold Labrador Current flows right past the beach!
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a sand composition study! Collect a small sample of sand and use a magnifying glass to identify different components – look for pink shell fragments, sea urchin spines, and bits of granite.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think this beach has such different sand from other beaches you’ve visited?”
DISCUSS: About 70% of the sand here is made from broken shells and sea creatures, while most beaches are made primarily from eroded rocks!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: This beach is like nature’s recycling center. When sea creatures die, their shells get crushed by powerful waves against the rocky coast. It takes thousands of years to create just a small amount of this special sand. The pink and white colors come from crushed shells, while the darker specks are fragments of local rocks. The beach is constantly changing – winter storms can remove up to three feet of sand, which gets replaced during calmer summer months. Scientists estimate that some of the sand grains you’re walking on might be hundreds or even thousands of years old!
ASK YOUR KIDS: “If you could design the perfect tide pool creature to survive in these cold waters, what adaptations would it have?”
DISCUSS: Some tide pool creatures here can survive temperature changes of up to 20°F in a single day as tides move in and out!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The tide pools here are like natural survival training grounds. Animals living in them must deal with crashing waves, changing temperatures, and predators. Periwinkle snails create a trap door called an operculum to seal themselves inside their shells when the tide goes out, preventing them from drying up. Sea stars can regrow lost arms and some even have a special antifreeze in their blood! Barnacles lie on their backs and kick food into their mouths with their feet, and can close up tight for up to six hours when exposed to air.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find five different colors of sand and create a color palette in your notebook.
HINT: Look in different areas of the beach – newly deposited sand near the water’s edge often has different colors than older sand higher up.
OBJECTIVE: Locate three different types of seaweed in the tide pools.
HINT: Look for green, brown, and red varieties – each type lives at different depths in the pools.
CARRIAGE ROADS AND STONE BRIDGES Get Ready for the CARRIAGE ROADS AND STONE BRIDGES : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? These historic roads are like stepping into a time machine! Built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. between 1913-1940, they feature 17 stunning stone bridges, each uniquely designed to blend with the landscape.
INTERESTING FACT! The roads were built using techniques from ancient Roman roads – no mortar was used in the bridges, just perfectly cut stones that lock together like a giant puzzle!
COOL ACTIVITY! Become a “Bridge Detective” – sketch the unique features of each bridge you encounter and try to spot the craftsmen’s marks carved into the stones.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “How do you think they built these massive bridges without any cement or modern machinery?”
DISCUSS: Each stone was cut so precisely that when placed together, the weight of the stones actually makes the bridge stronger over time – just like a Roman arch!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: These bridges are engineering marvels that use principles discovered over 2,000 years ago. The stones are cut in a special wedge shape called a “voussoir,” and the center stone (the “keystone”) locks everything in place. The bridges were built from the outside in, using wooden frameworks called “centerings” that were removed once the keystone was placed. Some stones weigh over 1,000 pounds – as heavy as a small car! The builders used simple machines like pulleys, levers, and inclined planes to move these massive stones, proving that sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think Rockefeller made the roads curve and wind through the landscape instead of building straight paths?”
DISCUSS: The roads were designed to reveal new views around each bend, creating what Rockefeller called “picture windows” into nature!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Rockefeller was one of America’s first environmental designers. He carefully planned each curve to protect trees, showcase views, and manage water runoff. The roads were built with a special crown (raised center) that helps water flow off to the sides, preventing erosion. The broken stone road surface acts like a natural filter, cleaning rainwater before it reaches streams. Native plants were used to stabilize the roadsides, and local granite was quarried to ensure the bridges matched the surrounding landscape. Even today, modern road builders study these techniques for environmentally-friendly construction.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find and sketch three different bridge designs – look for differences in their arches and stonework patterns.
HINT: Each bridge was designed to fit its specific location – some have multiple arches, while others have unique decorative elements.
OBJECTIVE: Locate a craftsman’s mark carved into the stone.
HINT: Look for small symbols or initials on the larger stones, especially near the base of the bridges.
OBJECTIVE:
HINT: Look for granite coping stones along the road edges that protected carriages from going off the road.
Other Nearby Points of Interest
Other great things to do near Acadia National Park
BEFORE YOU LEAVE – Make sure to check out more of what this area has to offer! Here are a few nearby spots that we think you’ll love just as much as the Acadia National Park:
Mount Desert Oceanarium: Get up close with Maine’s marine life in touch tanks and learn about lobster fishing through hands-on exhibits – perfect for young scientists!
Abbe Museum: Discover the fascinating history and culture of Maine’s Native Wabanaki peoples through interactive exhibits and authentic artifacts. The museum offers special programs for kids to learn traditional crafts and stories.
Diver Ed’s Dive-In Theater: Join Diver Ed on a real-time underwater adventure! Watch on a big screen as Ed dives beneath the boat and brings up amazing sea creatures for you to hold and examine.
Read before you go
To make your visit even more exciting, check out these age-appropriate books:
- “Who Pooped in the Park? Acadia National Park” by Gary D. Robson (A fun way to learn about wildlife through animal signs)
- “Acadia’s Carriage Roads” by Robert Thayer (Excellent photos and history of the park’s famous roads)
- “The Kid’s Guide to Acadia National Park” by Herbert Dunn (Written specifically for young explorers)
- – Download the free “Acadia Junior Ranger” activity book from the NPS website
- – Check out the “Acadia for Kids” section on nps.gov/acad
- – Watch the “Science Behind Acadia” video series on the Friends of Acadia YouTube channel
Fun Facts
Interesting Things To Know About Acadia National Park
- Acadia National Park is the first national park established east of the Mississippi River and receives over 4 million visitors annually!
- WOW! The park’s forests were almost completely destroyed by a massive fire in 1947 that burned for 10 days straight – but nature bounced back, and now you can still see evidence of the fire’s impact on some of the trees!
- HOLY COW! Peregrine falcons dive at speeds of up to 240 mph in the park – that’s faster than a race car! They nest on the cliff faces and have made an amazing comeback from near extinction.
- SUPER COOL! The park has over 120 miles of hiking trails, and some of them were originally created by Native Americans over 10,000 years ago!
- AMAZING! The park is home to one of the largest collections of historic “cairns” (rock trail markers) in North America – some dating back to the 1800s!
Must-Visit Spots
Where To Go At Acadia National Park with kids
THUNDER HOLE Get Ready for the THUNDER HOLE : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This natural inlet creates an incredible thunderous boom when waves crash into the underwater cave, sometimes shooting water up to 40 feet high!
INTERESTING FACT! The thunderous sound occurs because air trapped in the cave gets compressed by incoming waves and then explosively releases – like a natural percussion instrument!
COOL ACTIVITY! Time the waves! Create a wave journal and record the time between the biggest “thunders.” Try to predict when the next big boom will happen based on your observations.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think some waves make louder sounds than others?”
DISCUSS: The loudest recorded thunder clap at Thunder Hole registered at 120 decibels – as loud as a rock concert!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The size of waves depends on three main factors: wind speed, wind duration, and the distance wind travels over water (called fetch). Bigger waves typically create louder sounds because they push more air into the cave. During storms at sea, waves can travel thousands of miles before reaching Thunder Hole. The best time to hear Thunder Hole’s impressive display is 2-3 hours before high tide when waves are moderate – not too small to be quiet, but not too dangerous to approach.
ASK YOUR KIDS: “If you could design your own natural musical instrument using water, what would it be like?”
DISCUSS: Nature creates other musical features around the world, like the Sea Organ in Croatia that uses wave action to create music through tubes under marble steps.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Sound in nature often comes from energy transfer – just like Thunder Hole transfers wave energy into sound energy. Similar phenomena occur in geysers, blowholes, and even in ice caves. The Native Americans called this area “Moose-a-luk,” meaning “place of crashing waves,” and used the sounds to navigate in foggy conditions. Today, scientists study these natural acoustics to better understand wave patterns and climate change impacts on our coastlines.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find the exact spot where the viewing rail makes a sharp turn – this is the best location to feel the spray!
HINT: Look for worn spots on the railing where thousands of visitors have held on tight.
OBJECTIVE: Locate three different types of seaweed around Thunder Hole.
HINT: Check both the rocks and the splash zone, but remember to never climb on wet rocks.
CADILLAC MOUNTAIN SUMMIT Get Ready for the CADILLAC MOUNTAIN SUMMIT : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? As the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard, you’ll be among the first people in the United States to see the sunrise! Plus, you can see for miles in every direction, including spectacular views of Mount Desert Island and the Porcupine Islands.
INTERESTING FACT! The mountain was named after Antoine Laumet de La Mothe, sieur de Cadillac, a French explorer who later founded Detroit. The summit’s pink granite rocks are over 420 million years old!
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a 360-degree panorama drawing or photo series. Mark the compass directions and identify different landforms you can see from each direction.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think Cadillac Mountain is often covered in clouds even when the rest of the park is clear?”
DISCUSS: When warm air rises and meets the cool mountain top, it creates its own weather system called “orographic lifting,” making clouds form right before your eyes!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Mountains create their own microclimates, acting like natural weather machines. The temperature at the summit can be up to 10 degrees cooler than at the base. This temperature difference affects plant life too – that’s why you’ll see different types of plants at different elevations. The summit is home to rare arctic-alpine plants that survived from the last ice age, making it like a living museum of prehistoric plant life. These hardy plants can survive extreme winds, cold temperatures, and thin soil conditions that would kill most other plants.
ASK YOUR KIDS: “If you could travel back in time to when these rocks were formed, what do you think you would see?”
DISCUSS: The pink granite beneath your feet was once molten magma deep within the Earth, and it took millions of years of erosion to expose it!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The rocks tell an amazing story of Earth’s history. During the last ice age, massive glaciers over a mile thick covered this entire area, slowly scraping and sculpting the landscape. As they moved, they carried enormous boulders (called glacial erratics) and deposited them across the park. The scratches you can see on some rocks (called glacial striations) are like fingerprints left behind by these ancient ice giants. The same forces that created these mountains are still at work today, though much slower – the Atlantic Ocean is actually getting wider by about the width of your thumbnail each year!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find a glacial erratic (a boulder that looks different from the pink granite around it).
HINT: Look for rocks that seem “out of place” – they might be darker or a completely different color from the surrounding pink granite.
OBJECTIVE: Locate three different types of lichen on the rocks and compare their colors and patterns.
HINT: Look for patches that are orange, gray, or green growing on the granite surfaces.
JORDAN POND AND NATURE TRAIL Get Ready for the JORDAN POND AND NATURE TRAIL : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This crystal-clear glacial pond is so pure you can see down 45 feet! The famous “Bubbles” (two rounded mountains) create a perfect backdrop for one of the most photographed scenes in Acadia.
INTERESTING FACT! The pond is a public water supply and was carved by a glacier over 12,000 years ago. It’s one of the clearest lakes in Maine because it’s fed entirely by underground springs!
COOL ACTIVITY! Do the “Bubble Rock Challenge” – find a safe spot to take a photo that makes it look like you’re holding up or pushing the precariously balanced boulder on South Bubble mountain.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “How do you think the water stays so incredibly clear here when other ponds are usually murky?”
DISCUSS: Jordan Pond’s water is so pure that scientists use it as a baseline to study water quality in other lakes across New England!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The pond’s clarity comes from a perfect natural filtration system. The surrounding mountains act like a giant funnel, directing rainwater through layers of granite and soil that filter out impurities. No motorized boats are allowed on the pond, preventing oil and gas contamination. The pond’s depth and cold temperature (it rarely gets above 60°F) prevent algae growth. Indigenous peoples called this area “Bubble Pond” not for the mountains, but for the bubbling springs beneath the surface that feed the pond with crystal-clear water.
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think the mountains here are called ‘The Bubbles,’ and what might have created their round shape?”
DISCUSS: The Bubbles were actually shaped by glaciers that rounded them like giant sandpaper, creating what geologists call “roche moutonnée” or “sheep-back rocks”!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: These mountains tell the story of an epic battle between rock and ice. During the last ice age, massive glaciers moved over these mountains, grinding down their sharp edges. The side facing the direction the glacier came from (the stoss side) got smoothed and rounded, while the opposite side (the lee side) remained steeper and rougher. This process created hundreds of these rounded mountains across New England, but The Bubbles are among the most perfect examples. Native American legends say these mountains were formed when a giant was playing with bubbles that turned to stone!
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find and identify three different types of evergreen trees along the pond’s edge.
HINT: Look for differences in needle arrangement and cone shapes – you might spot spruce, fir, and pine.
OBJECTIVE: Locate evidence of beaver activity around the pond.
HINT: Check the shoreline for chewed trees or fallen logs with tooth marks.
SAND BEACH AND OCEAN PATH Get Ready for the SAND BEACH AND OCEAN PATH : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? This unique beach is one of the few cold-water shell-based sand beaches in the world! The sand is made up of tiny fragments of shells and sea creatures crushed by powerful waves.
INTERESTING FACT! Despite being a beach, the water rarely gets above 55°F (13°C) even in summer. That’s because the cold Labrador Current flows right past the beach!
COOL ACTIVITY! Create a sand composition study! Collect a small sample of sand and use a magnifying glass to identify different components – look for pink shell fragments, sea urchin spines, and bits of granite.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think this beach has such different sand from other beaches you’ve visited?”
DISCUSS: About 70% of the sand here is made from broken shells and sea creatures, while most beaches are made primarily from eroded rocks!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: This beach is like nature’s recycling center. When sea creatures die, their shells get crushed by powerful waves against the rocky coast. It takes thousands of years to create just a small amount of this special sand. The pink and white colors come from crushed shells, while the darker specks are fragments of local rocks. The beach is constantly changing – winter storms can remove up to three feet of sand, which gets replaced during calmer summer months. Scientists estimate that some of the sand grains you’re walking on might be hundreds or even thousands of years old!
ASK YOUR KIDS: “If you could design the perfect tide pool creature to survive in these cold waters, what adaptations would it have?”
DISCUSS: Some tide pool creatures here can survive temperature changes of up to 20°F in a single day as tides move in and out!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: The tide pools here are like natural survival training grounds. Animals living in them must deal with crashing waves, changing temperatures, and predators. Periwinkle snails create a trap door called an operculum to seal themselves inside their shells when the tide goes out, preventing them from drying up. Sea stars can regrow lost arms and some even have a special antifreeze in their blood! Barnacles lie on their backs and kick food into their mouths with their feet, and can close up tight for up to six hours when exposed to air.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find five different colors of sand and create a color palette in your notebook.
HINT: Look in different areas of the beach – newly deposited sand near the water’s edge often has different colors than older sand higher up.
OBJECTIVE: Locate three different types of seaweed in the tide pools.
HINT: Look for green, brown, and red varieties – each type lives at different depths in the pools.
CARRIAGE ROADS AND STONE BRIDGES Get Ready for the CARRIAGE ROADS AND STONE BRIDGES : Tips, Activities, and Fun Facts!
THINGS TO KNOW
WHY VISIT? These historic roads are like stepping into a time machine! Built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. between 1913-1940, they feature 17 stunning stone bridges, each uniquely designed to blend with the landscape.
INTERESTING FACT! The roads were built using techniques from ancient Roman roads – no mortar was used in the bridges, just perfectly cut stones that lock together like a giant puzzle!
COOL ACTIVITY! Become a “Bridge Detective” – sketch the unique features of each bridge you encounter and try to spot the craftsmen’s marks carved into the stones.
THINGS TO TALK ABOUT
ASK YOUR KIDS: “How do you think they built these massive bridges without any cement or modern machinery?”
DISCUSS: Each stone was cut so precisely that when placed together, the weight of the stones actually makes the bridge stronger over time – just like a Roman arch!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: These bridges are engineering marvels that use principles discovered over 2,000 years ago. The stones are cut in a special wedge shape called a “voussoir,” and the center stone (the “keystone”) locks everything in place. The bridges were built from the outside in, using wooden frameworks called “centerings” that were removed once the keystone was placed. Some stones weigh over 1,000 pounds – as heavy as a small car! The builders used simple machines like pulleys, levers, and inclined planes to move these massive stones, proving that sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.
ASK YOUR KIDS: “Why do you think Rockefeller made the roads curve and wind through the landscape instead of building straight paths?”
DISCUSS: The roads were designed to reveal new views around each bend, creating what Rockefeller called “picture windows” into nature!
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION: Rockefeller was one of America’s first environmental designers. He carefully planned each curve to protect trees, showcase views, and manage water runoff. The roads were built with a special crown (raised center) that helps water flow off to the sides, preventing erosion. The broken stone road surface acts like a natural filter, cleaning rainwater before it reaches streams. Native plants were used to stabilize the roadsides, and local granite was quarried to ensure the bridges matched the surrounding landscape. Even today, modern road builders study these techniques for environmentally-friendly construction.
THINGS TO FIND @ THIS SPOT
OBJECTIVE: Find and sketch three different bridge designs – look for differences in their arches and stonework patterns.
HINT: Each bridge was designed to fit its specific location – some have multiple arches, while others have unique decorative elements.
OBJECTIVE: Locate a craftsman’s mark carved into the stone.
HINT: Look for small symbols or initials on the larger stones, especially near the base of the bridges.
OBJECTIVE:
HINT: Look for granite coping stones along the road edges that protected carriages from going off the road.
Other Nearby Points of Interest
Other great things to do near Acadia National Park
BEFORE YOU LEAVE – Make sure to check out more of what this area has to offer! Here are a few nearby spots that we think you’ll love just as much as the Acadia National Park:
Mount Desert Oceanarium: Get up close with Maine’s marine life in touch tanks and learn about lobster fishing through hands-on exhibits – perfect for young scientists!
Abbe Museum: Discover the fascinating history and culture of Maine’s Native Wabanaki peoples through interactive exhibits and authentic artifacts. The museum offers special programs for kids to learn traditional crafts and stories.
Diver Ed’s Dive-In Theater: Join Diver Ed on a real-time underwater adventure! Watch on a big screen as Ed dives beneath the boat and brings up amazing sea creatures for you to hold and examine.
Read before you go
To make your visit even more exciting, check out these age-appropriate books:
- “Who Pooped in the Park? Acadia National Park” by Gary D. Robson (A fun way to learn about wildlife through animal signs)
- “Acadia’s Carriage Roads” by Robert Thayer (Excellent photos and history of the park’s famous roads)
- “The Kid’s Guide to Acadia National Park” by Herbert Dunn (Written specifically for young explorers)
- – Download the free “Acadia Junior Ranger” activity book from the NPS website
- – Check out the “Acadia for Kids” section on nps.gov/acad
- – Watch the “Science Behind Acadia” video series on the Friends of Acadia YouTube channel
LOCATION SUMMARY
Imagine stepping into a magical kingdom where the ocean meets the mountains, and every trail holds a new discovery! Acadia National Park is like nature’s greatest playground, where thundering waves crash against rocky shores and friendly chipmunks scamper across ancient granite paths. Have you ever wondered what it feels like to stand on top of mountains that touch the clouds while watching boats sail in the sparkling sea below?
MORE INFORMATION