August 6, 2008, 4:00 pm
Friends of mine from New York have taken their two boys, 8 and 11, out of school for a year to travel the world. Since their dad is the former publisher of National Geographic Kids, they have a pretty wonderful itinerary. I’m pleased to say that Acadia National Park was their second stop, and after two days younger son Stefan asked his parents if they could just stay on Mount Desert Island for the rest of the year.
Stefan may have a future himself in travel publishing. Even at his age, he concurs with the editors of Travel and Leisure and Conde Nast Traveler who consistently rank Mount Desert Island as one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Its rocky coastline, boreal forests, spectacular fiord, and multitude of mountains apparently hold appeal for every age.
My daughter started visiting Acadia National Park regularly at the age of 14. She liked kayaking and the hikes with rock scrambling a lot. But what she loved was the rock climbing. Having grown up on New York City’s rock climbing walls, she felt comfortable with a 60-foot cliff and loved the fact that at its base was the pounding surf. Booking in advance for a climb or two with Acadia Mountain Guides became a standard part of our vacation planning.
Here are 22 great things to do with your kids if you visit Acadia National Park this summer.
