Acadia National Park is a hyper-realized encapsulation of the state of Maine’s signature beauty. The park is a hybrid of wilderness and beach, and activities include swimming, birding, boating, tidepooling, fishing, camping, hiking, and cycling. Nineteenth century gentry cultivated Mount Desert Island as an expansive wilderness escape, and forty-five miles of carriage paths weave through the 47,000-acre park, for casual walkers, distance hikers, skiers, and cyclists. All 125 miles of hiking and walking trails are aptly classified, either as Very Easy, Easy, Moderate, or Strenuous.

Spotlights, Parks & Points

“In 2017, when I hiked from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail at the age of 70, I fell down more times than I had fallen when I was a toddler learning to walk. I also spent more time alone than I ever had before.”

Writing, John Stifler

Boston is the one of the birthplaces of the nation, home to a crucible of events that transfigured the colonies into the states, and formed the origin of the country we have today. It's a great city to explore, as you can see so much in a short amount of time. Many of its historical sites are centrally located in the city core. For the sites in Boston proper, walk or take the T or car services like Uber or Lyft to the sites; on Day 3, a one-day car rental is recommended, and a car is also needed for our suggested extensions out to Cape Cod National Seashore and Lowell National Historical Park.

Spotlights, Parks & Points

This essay explores Reid State Park in Maine.

I was hired as a laborer just out of high school at Reid State Park on the Seguinland Road in Georgetown, Maine. It's Maine's first state-owned saltwater beach and spans roughly 770 acres. To get there, you travel down Route 127, thirteen miles from Route 1. I used to tell friends, "After the Bath Bridge, hang a right at the Dairy Queen and you'll see salt marshes, cemeteries, the Georgetown Pottery Store and the General Store. If you miss the turn off at Flag Rock, you will end up at the wharf, one of the best spots for lobsters and steamers and grilled haddock sandwiches."

Essays, Stephanie Paterson