My husband and I are older parents of a teen girl with autism. We love to travel as a family, creating trips that are that are both sensory-friendly and fun for our daughter G. Our posts give extra details about potential sensory issues at popular destinations so that you know what to expect and can prepare for it in advance.
One of our favorite places is Acadia National Park in Maine. In summer, the park offers wide open paths through tall pine forests, sparkling ocean tide pools, sunny beaches, and lots of big rocks that just need to be climbed on. It’s a great escape from the city summer heat, with temperatures in the 70’s during the day and overnight in the 50’s. In the fall, the trees begin turning color in mid-September, reaching their peak beauty in mid October, creating a stunning contrast with the blue ocean.
Less than 5 hours driving from Boston, Acadia National Park is a great three day getaway that you can take on short notice.
In This Issue
Scenic Spots in Acadia National Park
Cadillac Mountain is the highest coastal elevation on the East Coast, and its summit is a phenomenal place to see the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. You can either drive or hike to the top. If you want to drive, you will need to reserve a timed entry pass to use the Cadillac Summit Road.
30% of the Sunrise passes are available 90 days in advance, and are almost immediately taken. The remaining 70% open two days prior at exactly 10 AM Eastern Time. The fee is $6, and is separate from your National Parks Access Pass.
Sand Beach. The only saltwater swimming in the National Park, it has crystal clear blue water and pinkish sand. The sand is actually crushed seashells, and very coarse, and the water is very cold Atlantic Ocean, roughly 55 degrees in summer. It’s a beautiful place to sit and relax, or take a walk, but anyone who wants a long swim will come away unsatisfied. Bring your water shoes if you plan to get wet!
Echo Lake Beach, off Route 102, is a freshwater pond with soft sand, water temp in the 70’s, and facilities that include restrooms and changing rooms.
Parking at both of these locations is very limited. Plan to arrive early in the day or take the shuttle.
Ocean Path Trail. If you’re looking for a hike with sweeping ocean views, interesting rock formations, and a few tidal pools, this is the best Acadia has to offer.
The first part of the trail brings you from Sand Beach to Thunder Hole, where the ocean roars loudly on windy or stormy days. This .7 mile section of the path is packed gravel and easy to walk.
The second part of the trail, about 1.5 miles, takes you to Otter Point, where there are 100 foot cliffs over the ocean, and a staircase leading down to tidal pools inhabited by snails, crabs, and starfish. The path is rocky and sometimes uneven, with mostly slight inclines but a few staircases in steeper areas.
Wear good walking or hiking shoes, and allow about an hour in each direction for the full distance.
If you’re driving, and a one-way hike is more your style, drive to Otter Point, hike to Sand Beach, then take the shuttle back to your car.
Safety: The staircases have hand rails, but there is no fence or other barrier at the edges of the cliffs on this walk. The paths are set far enough away that falling from the trail itself isn’t a concern for most people.
A child who might impulsively run towards the edge should NOT walk this trail.
Reaching Sand Beach from the parking lot is easy and safe.
There are several pull-out areas on the Park Loop Road where you can safely view the Otter Cliffs without hiking.
Jordan Pond House. The lakeside restaurant is famous for its popovers served with butter and home-made jam, ice cream, or lobster.
You can sit in the formal dining room for a full meal, enjoy lighter fare at an outdoor table, or simply pop over to the popover stand for a quick bite.
Afterwards, take a walk down to Jordan Pond, a crystal clear glacier-formed lake. The 3.3 mile path around the lake is a delightful walk. The eastern side path is a flat gravel path. The western side has boardwalks through marshy areas, and one section where you’ll climb through a rocky area. Wear good walking/hiking shoes if you plan to go into this section.
Outdoor tables are almost always available, but reservations are highly recommended for the Jordan Pond indoor dining room. Click here.
The Carriage Roads. The central portion of the park is crisscrossed by a network of gravel carriage roads, perfect for biking and hiking. No cars allowed - so these roads are both safe and quiet.
For the ultimate adventure, head to Wildwood Stables and take a horse and carriage ride through the park.
Sensory Considerations for Acadia National Park
The overall environment here is calm, quiet, and slow paced. When you’re near the ocean, expect the regular rhythm of crashing waves, occasional fog, and the smell of salt air. The coastal areas often have a strong breeze, so bring an extra layer of clothing in case you get cold.
When you’re inland, you won’t see any moose and bears, but you do need to worry about ticks. Use bug repellent, stay out of tall grasses, and definitely check yourself and your children for ticks at the end of each day.
Bar Harbor - the Gateway to Acadia
Bar Harbor has been a favorite summer destination with the rich and famous since the 1800’s. In the Gilded Age, families like the Rockefellers, Roosevelts, Vanderbilts, Morgans and Astors kept summer “cottages” here, and bought up the surrounding land (which is now Acadia National Park) to keep commercial loggers from spoiling the pristine natural beauty of the area.
Bar Harbor’s downtown shopping district has lots of unique gift shops, restaurants, and historic buildings. At the harbor, you can take a Puffin Viewing Cruise, get on a Whale Watch Tour, or go for a peaceful sail in an old fashioned Windjammer.
We found downtown Bar Harbor to be very sensory friendly. There are always lots of people walking around, but since most take the free shuttle service from the hotel into town, there isn’t a lot of traffic and street noise.
Getting Around in Acadia National Park
Finding your way in Acadia is easy - just follow the 27 mile long Park Loop Road, and you will easily reach all of the most popular destinations. The National Park Service operates a free shuttle that runs this route all day long, or you can drive your own car.
From a sensory point of view, the shuttles are similar to a typical city bus ride. The shuttles that stop at Sand Beach and Otter Point tend to be chaotic, crowded, and loud. (Lots of people excited about the beach, with coolers, chairs, etc.) Sand Beach has very limited parking, and the lot tends to be full starting at 8 AM daily. If you can’t get a spot, you’ll need to choose between taking the shuttle or swimming back at your hotel pool.
You can drive the whole route without stopping in about an hour. If you’re a non-hiker who wants to make a lot of 10 minute photo stops, plan on 3-4 hours to make the loop. Most of the loop is one-way only, running clockwise. Maine Highway 3 is a two way road that cuts through the center in about 15 minutes - good to know if you just want to drive from one end of the park to the other without traffic.
The GuideAlong App is a great resource for any National Park Vacation. It’s a GPS enabled tour that doesn’t need cell service, and tells interesting stories about your exact location, right over your car sound system.
Where to Stay Near Acadia National Park
The great thing about National Parks is that they’re accessible for all levels of family budget. The only place to stay within Acadia National Park is at one of the National Park Service operated campgrounds. If you’re looking for a hotel or cabin, there are plenty of choices nearby.
Bar Harbor is centrally located and has a lot of hotels and dozens of restaurants. It’s a resort town with a short tourist season, so it’s pricey unless you book way in advance.
We like the Blue Nose Inn - it has both indoor and outdoor pools, and a piano bar in the main building. The Holiday Inn Resort is directly on the bay with an enormous heated outdoor pool, and accepts pets.
The Southwest Harbor area is quieter and more laid back than Bar Harbor, with a good supply of cabins and rental homes for families that need a little more space.
Your hotel dollar will go almost twice as far in the nearby city of Ellsworth, Maine, about 30 minutes from the Acadia park entrance. The historic downtown area is very walkable with craft breweries and good restaurants.
Do You Have a National Parks Access Pass?
The America the Beautiful Access Pass is a free, lifetime pass given to US citizens and permanent residents with permanent disabilities. It provides free entry to more than 2000 federal recreation sites across the US, including all national parks, wildlife refuges, and national forests.
To qualify for your pass, you need a letter from a licensed physician stating that your child has (1) a permanent disability that (2) severely limits one of more aspect of their daily life and (3) describes the nature of those limitations.
The Access Pass is available in both digital and physical format. You can order one online here. If you don’t have time to order one, physical access cards are available at the entrance gates or at the Hull’s Cove Visitor Center. They’ll ask for the doctor’s letter and a picture ID.