During the last two years, there has been a renewed interest in the United States National Park Service and parks. Many people have decided to forgo their lavish vacations due to the down turn in the economy and re-introduce their families and self into what the natural wonder and beauty of the United States has to offer. Like so many others, Acadia National Park is located off the beaten path but allows its visitors to see mountains bordering the Atlantic Coast, which is possible no where in the US but the state of Maine. Acadia National Park has activities that are fun for everyone in the family such as hiking, fishing, bird watching, kayaking, and other outdoor activities.
History
Acadia National Park territory was home to the Wabanaki people, a Native American tribe that used the area for their livelihood. These people used this land until progress began to move Europeans up the eastern seaboard. The park was commissioned by the National Park Service for monument status of the structure Sieur de Monts and would eventually become a national park in the year of 1919. Over the years, the park has seen millions of visitors and is considered one of the most beautiful parks on the East Coast. Although it has had many visitors since its national park status, proper resource management has Acadia National Park touted as one of the most well preserved pieces of public property in America. With the help of one of the wealthiest and most influential men in the United States by the name of John Rockefeller Jr., the park got funding to create a number of trails through the park, which gave access to some of the most secluded areas of this land. These trails would eventually lead to bridges, side trails, and two lodges most of which are all still functional of the present. In the late 1940’s the park underwent some physical changes due to a forest fire that swept through the park. During a year of little rain, fires took to the forests of Maine where they would eventually set their sites on Acadia National Park. The fires were eventually managed and once more the Rockefeller family would assist in the park’s comeback. Some have even suggested that this natural fire created even more diversification in the park, further enhancing its natural beauty.
Visiting the Park
There are many places where the average person can visit Acadia National Park, one being the ever famous Thunder Hole. Thunder Hole is a hole in cliff rock created by the upward pressure of the ocean. During high tide, water will force its way under the cliff and upwards through the hole in the rocks, which creates an explosion of water through the hole. New restrictions have been placed on the proximity of visitors to Thunder Hole due to an accident in 2009 where some visitors were swept away by excessive tides from a lingering hurricane far off the coast. With such extensive trails throughout the park, almost every place is accessible to those whom have no restrictions. There are a number of handicapped friendly trails and areas, and many people are simply content to embark on a leisurely drive through the park itself.
Area
The park consists of a number of different habitats such as woodlands, lakes, the Atlantic Ocean, and a series of islands that make up a small island chain. These islands, mainland, and woodlands encompass over 47000 acres of prime habitat for thousands of animal species. Visitors can expect to see all types of small wildlife such as otter, squirrel, and other vermin along with the possibility of moose, deer, and even the elusive black bear. Along with its extensive wildlife and island chains, it is also said that Acadia National Park has the only fjord in the United States.