I'm many things, but I've never been a hiker.
This isn't to say I don't enjoy the outdoors — I love nothing more than a beach day spent in the sun with a good book and a quick dip in the ocean. A walk through the woods, however, usually isn't my speed.
So, when my boyfriend and I decided to plan a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine, in the summer of last year, I was skeptical about visiting Acadia National Park. Still, Acadia is one of the area's main attractions, so we knew we had to check it out.
To my surprise, the three-day trip changed my perspective on the outdoors. I didn't become a hiking aficionado overnight, but the scenery was beautiful, and I could've easily stayed longer.
Although we had a great time, we definitely made some mistakes as total national-park newbies — and next time we visit Acadia, we'll do a lot of things differently.
I wish we'd packed better for the weather and terrain.
When we visited last June, I packed lots of shorts, tank tops, and my brand-new Hokas.
However, I quickly realized that layers would have been much more ideal for the changing and sometimes unpredictable weather in northern Maine.
Our days started off cool but then turned muggy, especially when working up a sweat hiking.
My sneakers weren't optimal, either. After a few slips and near-falls on the park's muddy grounds and wet rocks, my boyfriend and I both agreed that we should've stopped at the store downtown for a pair of real hiking shoes with better grip.
We should have made reservations for restaurants and certain landmarks.
We arrived at Acadia National Park with a set itinerary, but we didn't realize how many restaurants — and even activities — required reservations.
One of our bucket-list items was watching the sunrise at the scenic Cadillac Mountain. While eating dinner at a restaurant, though, our server explained that we'd need a vehicle reservation to drive to the mountain.
A quick Google search taught us that, unfortunately, there were no available slots to watch the sunrise during our three-day trip.
Luckily, we were able to book a time to see the sunset, but catching the sunrise at Cadillac Mountain will be a top priority on our next trip.
We hadn't made a reservation to visit the historic Jordan Pond House, either. When we stopped by after a 3-mile hike, we were told we'd have to wait over an hour to be seated.
As excited as we were to enjoy some popovers and tea with a view of the pond and mountains, we just couldn't wait to eat, and ended up going elsewhere.
Next time, we'll check out some of the less-crowded trails.
As first-time visitors, we made it to many of Acadia's famous, tourist-loved spots: Cadillac Mountain, Jordan Pond, Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, and Bar Island.
Although the views were stunning and well worth the hype, these places were all quite crowded, making it tough to find parking.
When visiting the quieter Gorham Trail, however, we were able to soak in the nature around us. We only saw a few other hikers as we trekked to the summit.
Now that we've visited all the big names in Acadia, we know that next time, we'll try to find some secluded spots for picnics, as well as some more advanced hikes with fewer travelers.
We should have stayed for more than three days.
Our biggest regret is not spending more time exploring the park and all of its beauty.
We saw and did a lot in three days, but there's still more we wish we could have explored, like Schoodic Peninsula and Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.
Our national-park trip may have been spontaneous and out of my comfort zone, but it surprised me.
Despite our mishaps, regrets, and bona fide tourist moments, my boyfriend and I left Acadia already talking about going back — and luckily, we now know a lot about how to make our next visit smoother.
This story was originally published on July 23, 2025, and most recently updated on June 25, 2026.
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Morgan Rizzo is a contributing writer for Business Insider covering travel, lifestyle, and education. Her most recent works can also be found in Travel + Leisure and AAA Network. She graduated from Salve Regina University with a degree in English Communications and Creative Writing & Publishing.
