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For Kids

Children are natural adventurers – and Acadia is made for exploration. With thousands of acres to investigate, the Park provides the perfect antidote to TV and videogames. Choose an age-appropriate hike along the shoreline. Kneel down next to a tidal pool and thrill at the world of life – from crabs and starfish to shrimp and periwinkles – and you’ll see hours pass like minutes.

For maximum impact, nothing entertains a restless kid like well-timed visit to thunder hole. A trip to Cadillac Mountain to witness the first sunrise in the U.S. becomes a lifelong memory – and provides juicy bragging rights back home.

With their well-maintained surfaces and gentle terrain, the carriage paths make bike touring an instant favorite. Frequent stops along the way reveal worlds of life – from curious squirrels to salamanders to the occasional grazing deer. As a special treat, horse-drawn carriage rides take kids back to the days when John Rockefeller and his guests toured the island – the old-fashioned way.

To burn off excess energy, an afternoon of hiking, bouldering or swimming – or all three – ensures a good night’s sleep. Be sure to keep your eyes out for blueberries along the trail. The wild ones really do taste better.

After a day in the Park, kids will jump at the chance for a game of miniature golf, croquet or badminton at one of the Island’s popular stops.

Like their parents, kids also love to camp, and the Park provides abundant opportunity. Wander through Blackwoods or Seawall Campground with your children, and enjoy a cookout by the sea. The seagulls will be only too glad to join you.

For a different perspective, be sure to climb aboard one of the island’s many tour boats. A cruise around the Park gives a sense of its history. What you and your kids see from the deck looks a lot like it did when Samuel de Champlain first broke the horizon in the fall of 1604. 

Kid-Friendly Events

  • National Junior Ranger Day – April
  • Earth Day Roadside Cleanup – April
  • Family Fun Day – July 11, 2010
  • National Trails Day – June 5, 2010
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