Articles

The Open Road: Maine

July 9, 2026

This week: Acadia National Park, Maine

Yael Dorfman

If Tennessee isn’t on your radar this summer—too quirky, too fast-paced, too hot, too deep South, or maybe you’ve been there already!—try planning a trip in the opposite direction. New England is another trip that’s been on the upswing in frum-travel popularity for entirely different reasons: It’s more reserved than southern states, yet it’s loaded with plenty of diverse opportunities (and cooler weather) for virtually every type of traveler and family.

Our ultimate destination will be Acadia National Park, one of the country’s top 10 most visited parks. Its immediate surrounding are less action-packed than the Smokies, but the drive to and from Maine is generously peppered with great places to stop for a few hours or a few days.

Ready to go?

Know before you go

Distance/time from Lakewood: approximately 540 miles/9–10 hours nonstop

Suggested length of visit: you can see Acadia in 1–2 days, but hiking and nature enthusiasts will want to spend 3–4 days; allow time for travel stops.

Age range: activities for all ages

Closest airport: Hancock County-Bar Harbor Airport (limited flights; Bangor International Airport is an hour away with more options)

Main tourist areas (to search for lodging): Bar Harbor (more convenient) or Southwest Harbor/Manset (quieter, more scenic)

Jewish infrastructure: Chabad of Bangor (approximately 1 hour drive). Kosher food is limited; contact Chabad if you’d like to order meals in advance. Visit chabadbangor.com or call 207-650-7223.

Additionally, Chabad of Portland (approximately 2 hours, 50 minutes from Acadia, on the way to/from Lakewood) offers Shabbos meals and accommodations. Visit chabadofmaine.com or call 207-871-8947.

Stops along the way

On this trip, the journey may be just as exciting as the final destination. The route passes through several beautiful New England states and sites for a quick stop or an overnight rest.

Climb, zip, and play at It Adventure Ropes Course in New Haven, Connecticut (bonus: not far from kosher food and minyanim). Located inside a massive furniture store, It is the world’s largest indoor ropes course with climbing walls, zip lines, and a little-kid area.
Travel back in time at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Explore the immersive replica village from the 1830s, complete with historic buildings, working shops, a farm, and live demonstrations by well-versed people in full period costume. It’s a fun and authentic experience with hands-on learning.

Spend a day in Newport, Rhode Island. The scenic seaside town is packed with interesting activities to appeal to every family member.

Tour Touro Synagogue, the oldest shul in the USA.

- Check out one of the opulent waterfront mansions once occupied by America’s wealthiest families: the Breakers, Rosecliff, the Elms, and Marble House are popular choices.
- Walk along the Cliff Walk, a free 3.5-mile path along the shore with views of the ocean and the mansions. (Caution: Most of the walk is paved and easy, but some sections aren’t suitable for everyone.)
- Ride along a historic railroad aboard Rail Explorers, easy-to-pedal tandem and quad bikes retrofitted to travel on old train tracks along Narragansett Bay. The terrain is flat and easy for all ages, with 90-minute, 6-mile tours.
- Visit the Newport Car Museum, a private collection of over 100 classic automobiles of all types; a fairly quick stop for the car enthusiast.

New Hampshire is teeming with beautiful natural stops. In addition to the more well-known attractions like Clark’s Trading Post, Story Land, Flume Gorge, and Mt. Washington, there are hidden gems near the state’s border with Maine.
- - See a submarine in its entirety. The USS Albacore is a historic research submarine that’s been parked in a dry basin so that youcan see all of it, inside and out; look through the periscope, check out the bunk rooms, and explore the control room.

Take a trip downriver with the Saco River Tubing Center. Tube, kayak, or canoe in the calm, shallow river, perfect for beginners, while the more adventurous can get their thrills on several rope swings along the river.

Explore Kittery, Maine, the state’s oldest town. Check out Fort McClary, a 275-year-old fort that’s fun to wander around; shop at Kittery Premium Outlets or Kittery Trading Post, a giant sporting goods store; relax at quiet waterfront spots like Seapoint Beach; and watch the center-lift drawbridge on Memorial Bridge.

The Maine attraction

Take a day or two to check out Portland and nearby areas before heading up to Acadia.

View the city from both land and sea aboard an amphibious “duck boat.”
Explore the waterfront Old Port, a quaint, cobblestoned historic district.
Visit America’s oldest lighthouse, Portland Head Light, or the Goat Island Light near Kennebunkport.
Tour the Victorian-era Victoria Mansion.
Take a ferry to the Casco Bay Islands and rent bikes or a golf cart.
Stop in at the LL Bean flagship store in Freeport; it’s open 24/7!

Acadia National Park

Acadia is renowned for its largely untouched beauty and incredible views. You can experience it by shuttle, car, bike, foot, boat, and even horse-drawn carriage!

Due to its popularity, the park can be crowded. To avoid overcrowded parking, ride the free Island Explorer, a shuttle that travels to and from hotels and popular attractions, including hiking trails, beaches, shops, and carriage roads. Check out the routes before you go to see where you can visit without worrying about finding a spot.

The park’s most-visited areas are easily accessible by driving the Park Loop Road, a 27-mile road that starts at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center (though you can access it at various points of the park) and hits most of the landmarks. Be aware that several sections are one-way. Print a map ahead of time or get one at the visitor’s center.

The must-see sites and sights of Acadia include:

Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the United States. The view from the summit is spectacular and it’s the first place in the US to see the sunrise, making it a popular early-morning destination. It’s accessible by car (but not by Island Explorer, though there are commercial shuttles from Bar Harbor), but vehicle reservations are required (buy in advance at recreation.gov).

Thunder Hole is a small inlet where the incoming waves trap air and produce dramatic spray and a thundering roar. Visit an hour or two before high tide for the loudest display.
Sand Beach, located an easy 1.7-mile hike from Thunder Hole, is one of the only sandy beaches in the park (most are rocky). It offers beautiful views of the surrounding granite cliffs.

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse is probably the lighthouse that you’ve seen in any “iconic” picture of Maine. Located on the southwest side of the park, it’s especially popular at sunset, so plan your trip accordingly. Take the stairs down to the water to capture that iconic image.

Bar Island Land Bridge only appears one and a half hours before and after low tide; the rest of the time it’s underwater. When it’s dry, walk from Bar Harbor to Bar Island and check out the tide pools as you go (just make sure to go back before the tide comes in!).

Hiking trails abound at varying levels of difficulty. Some popular trails include the easy 4.4-mile Ocean Path, which passes Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs; moderate 1.5-mile Flying Mountain loop with views of the Cranberry Islands and Somes Sount; and the challenging Beehive Trail and Precipice Trail, which feature ladders and iron rungs to ascend.
The historic Carriage Roads crisscross the park and are paved and smooth, perfect for walking, biking (bring your own or rent regular or electric bikes in Bar Harbor), and horse-drawn carriage rides (provided by Acadia by Carriage).
Discover sea creatures in shallow tide pools throughout the park. View snails, crabs, urchins, barnacles, and sea stars at low tide along Ship Harbor Trail, Wonderland Trail, and Ocean Path. You may also spot beavers near the Jordan Pond Trail and the Witch Pond Carriage Road.

Try a different viewpoint aboard a boat. Whale watching and sunset cruises depart Bar Harbor throughout the day, and you can watch lobster fishermen bring their hauls to shore.

Stargaze on a clear night; Sand Beach, Ocean Path, and Otter Cliffs offer incredible views of the unpolluted night sky.
Visit museums and landmarks in Bangor when you’re ready for a change of scenery. The Maine Discovery Museum is the largest children’s museum north of Boston; the Cole Land Transportation Museum displays a collection of vehicles, including military vehicles; and the 31-foot-high Paul Bunyan statue is a quick photo op.