Acadia National Park

Stretched out over most of Mount Desert Island, ACADIA NATIONAL PARK is the most visited natural place in Maine. It’s visually stunning, with all you could want in terms of mountains and lakes for secluded rambling, and wildlife such as seals, beavers and bald eagles. The two main geographical features are the narrow fjord of Somes Sound, which almost splits the island in two, and lovely Cadillac Mountain, 1530ft high, which offers tremendous ocean views. The summit can be reached either by a moderately strenuous climb or by a very leisurely drive up a low-gradient road.

The one and only sizeable beach, five miles south of Bar Harbor, is a stunner: called simply Sand Beach, it’s a gorgeous strand bounded by twin headlands, with restrooms, a car park and a few short hiking trails. The water, unfortunately, is usually arctic.