What Acadia National Park Made Me Realize
Cadillac Mountain.
Its the first place in the United States to see the sun rise each morning.
Sure, I had seen my fair share of sunrises before. This one was different. Fifteen hundred feet above the ground, above the fog, and above the water, I witnessed the sun break the horizon.
It was one of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had.
I was the first person, in the entirety of the United States, to be witnessing this. The ocean was masqueraded by what looked like a sea of clouds, only to be interrupted by the occasional island or mountain. The small coastal town of Bar Harbor illuminated the silhouette of the valley that stretched out beneath us. Truly a remarkable sight.
Me and two friends had decided that we wanted to take a three day excursion to Acadia National Park in Maine, and escape the familiarity of our day-to-day lives. Having very little knowledge of what to expect, other than second hand testimonials of the beautiful and serene scenery that awaited us, we set off.
One of the strongest emotions a person can feel is total and utter awe. Something so powerful and singular that it completely removes that person from whatever they were occupied with, and leaves them completely speechless.
And Acadia did just that to me.
It is difficult for me to describe just how incredible of a place this was.
Between the endless mountains ready to be climbed, the plethora of naturally carved sea caves,or the sheer beauty of the ocean side harbors scattered around the island, I was graced with the opportunity to experience so many unique things.
The aforementioned Cadillac mountain offers an unmatched view of the surrounding landscape and breathtaking sunrises and sunsets. With hiking trails, road access, and plenty of places to enjoy an incredible view, it goes without saying this is one of the main attractions that Acadia has to offer.
The natural coastal rock formations that have been carved away by the sea offer unique spots to explore the weird geometry of Acadia. Places like Thunder Hole give you an impression to just how powerful and relentless the sea can be.
The Beehive, Gorham, North and South Bubble, among many others, offer a plethora of hiking trails linking one after another. Avid hikers have the opportunity to summit each one of these mountains, enjoy the view, and then head off to the next.
But out of everything Acadia has to offer, the one thing that truly left me with a sense of shock and awe was the night time sky. Acadia National Park is secluded enough that it offers an incredible view of the stars. From the top of Cadillac Mountain, I was able to see more than I had ever seen before. The Milky way was visible in detail to the naked eye. The sky seemed like it was full of light each night we went out. For me, moments like this are what truly make you feel alive.
Acadia National Park has become one the best destinations I have ever been to. Not because of the incredible hospitality. Not because of the miles of beaches. But because of the pure beauty it offers.
So often we get caught up in the rush of our everyday life, that we forget to stop and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds us all. I firmly believe that every person should wake up to witness the sun rise at least once.
The reality is some people will go through the entirety of their lives with out ever seeing something so simple, yet so beautiful. That is tragic.
And that is the lesson that I took home from Acadia.
Make time in your life to appreciate the world we have around us. It truly is one of the greatest blessings that we have in life.
You will begin to look at the world around you in a different light, if you only take a moment to stop and enjoy the view.
Explore the World. Explore Yourself.
43.1340° N, 70.9264° W
