Morse Mountain - Seawall Beach

We had a great day exploring this conservation area owned by Bates College. We ended up walking about 7 miles by the end of the day. The "trail" to the beach (which is a private gravel road) is about 2 miles one way, and the beach is a few miles long. Morse Mountain itself isn't much of a mountain, but it's a short hike to the top, so I would say it's worth it. We aren't big beach people, but we fell in love with Seawall Beach. The sand is super fine so it feels amazing walking barefoot. Also there weren't many people there, so we really got to enjoy it.

Learn more about the trail and beach

View from the top of Morse

I love how the sand makes this look like a blurry picture.

Sand dune

Where the river meets the sea, so cool!

Two Lights State Park

I love Two Lights State Park, It has an abundance of rocks to climb over and sit on and watch the waves roll in. Eric and I came here on our second date and shared our first kiss :-)

 Learn More About Two Lights State Park

Mount Blue State Park & Tumbledown Mountain

Tumbledown is Eric's favorite mountain so we went up to Mount Blue State Park and camped for the weekend. He wanted to go up the Loop Trail as he'd never been before. It was tough! I was fighting off bronchitis at the time so I think it was harder than normal. Be advised though, if you do choose to go up this way, you will basically be rock climbing, not hiking, part of the way. We recommend parking at the brook trail head and descending that trail. You will have to walk up the road to reach the trailhead for the Loop Trail but it was better walking to up the road at the beginning of the hike then having to do it at the end when you're tired and hungry.

Halfway up Tumbledown via the Loop Trail

Tumbledown Mountain Trails

If you run into this, you've lost the trail. We somehow climbed up and down this ridiculous thing. Oops

Made it to the top!

Pond on top of the mountain

View from the beach at Mt. Blue State Park

 

Acadia National Park

 Our first camping trip together, we stayed at Quietside Campground in Tremont, on the west side of Mount Desert Island. It's cheaper than most (all?) campgrounds on the island and has showers unlike the park run campgrounds. The sites all have platforms and are relatively private.

We hiked up Sargent Mountain, the second highest peak in the park via the trail at this link Maine Trail Finder Trail Description, The rest of our time on the island was spent exploring Asticou Azalea Gardens, Echo Lake Beach, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, and drove around the eastern side of the island stopping in Bar Harbor, Seal Harbor, and discovered an overlook off Cooksey Drive.

Asticou Azalea Gardens, Northeast Harbor, ME

Echo Lake Beach

Beech Cliffs at Echo Lake

We went swimming while people looked on in coats and hats

One of the prettiest trails I've been on, only wish we took this trail straight up to Sargent instead of circling to include Parkman, Bald, and Gilmore.

Pictures really don't do the trail justice.

Parkman Mountain

Looking over at Bald Peak

2nd Peak of the day

3rd Peak of the day

4th and final peak of the day, Sargent Mountain! Elevation 1373'

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Why I love the Acadia coastline

Bar Harbor

Seal Harbor 

Cooksey Drive Overlook