Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour in Acadia National Park

As the audio guides play commentary based on your gps location, you can create your own itinerary along the tour route to match your interests and schedule.

Who doesn't love a lighthouse! Established in 1858, this is the only lighthouse on Mount Desert Island and one of the most photographed along the Maine Coast. If we can snag a parking space, let's take a walk around this handsome light and take some pics. Unfortunately, neither the tower or keeper's house are open to the public, but we can still enjoy it from the outside.

One of the high points, literally and figuratively, of our journey is Cadillac Mountain. Its 1,530-foot summit is the highest along the North Atlantic Seaboard. In the 1880s we could have ridden a cog railway to Cadillac's summit. These days, we can drive, hike, or bike - but we do need a reservation to drive our car on the Cadillac Mountain Road.

Now what is a carriage road? As the name suggests they are designed for horse-drawn carriage rides, and Acadia's 16-foot wide carriage roads are considered the best example in the country of broken stone roads. We can thank summer resident John D. Rockefeller Jr for the 45 miles of these roads within the park, and to this day we can tour Acadia's carriage roads aboard a horse-drawn carriage ride. Hiking the Carriage Road is very enjoyable and bicycles are welcome on many of them too.

Feasting on tea and popovers with jam on the lawn of the Jordan Pond House has been a tradition for more than a century. The original, rustic teahouse was built in 1947 was a treasure and built to capture the views down the length of Jordan Pond to the 'Bubbles'. If there is a wait for a table on the lawn, the nearby nature trails are highly recommended.

The 27-mile Park Loop Road around is the must-do activity for any visit to Acadia. The drive itself is picturesque, and equally importantly it connects all of the best places to see and things to do on the eastern side of the island. If you have 2 days, it's best to dedicate one full day to the Park Loop Road. A National Park pass is required and can be purchased and the Sand Beach Entrance Station or any visitor center. Just keep in mind that while there are many parking lots, parking is also permitted the right-hand lane unless posted otherwise.

Is Acadia's only "sandy" beach really sand? You'll find out - and this beach is an absolute visual gem. If you head to the beach to check out the sand, go ahead, dip your toes in the frigid water, if you dare; it rarely gets warmer than 55 degrees. And even if you're not up for a dip, this is a perfect start location to hike the Great Head for superb views, or set out on the easy Ocean Path to amazing coastline coves and cliffs.

Many of Maine's beaches are covered with cobblestones, but this coastline is unique. We can thank powerful ocean storms for creating the massive natural seawall that gives this area of the park its name. The wall comprises stone cobbles kicked up during storms, carried by waves and tides and piled on the shore. It feels far more raw and remote on this side of the island and it's a favorite area for birdwatchers, who sometimes find themselves enjoying a bonanza of interesting sightings.

Often referred to as the "Heart of Acadia", this is a great place to learn about the park's natural and cultural history. Pop into the Nature Center to learn more about the animals and plant life, or see more than 400 indigenous wildflower species at the Wild Gardens of Acadia. There's also some lovely nature strolls, a spring house, and even a small museum with an archeological artifacts dating back as far as 11,000 years.

Formed during the last glacial event, this large, deep body of water almost - almost, cuts Mount Desert Island right in half. Our drive will follow all the way around the sound and as we go we'll have many peaceful water views, hiking opportunities and visit what is claimed to be Maine's most photographed bridge.

Created by erosion and weathering, when waves enter the crevice and then the chamber, the water is sprayed up as high as 40 feet with a thunderous roar: "I am Thunder Hole!!!!" The effect is strongest within a couple of hours of high tide, and when the waves are larger.