Sand Beach in Acadia National Park — Photo courtesy of jeffgunn
Situated off the coast of Maine, Mount Desert Island is an eclectic mix of landscapes. Home to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, you'll find sandy coastlines and rocky, mountainous terrain side-by-side. The MDI (Mount Desert Island), as locals call it, is also the location of Cadillac Mountain, the highest elevation on the North Atlantic Seaboard. The diversity of the territory even extends to the beaches' ever-changing coastline.
At Sand Beach, the difference between high tide and low tide can be vast. However, it doesn't seem to dampen any beach activities. The gorgeous sand is the result of shells being crushed by incoming surf, and the water only warms to a cool 55 degrees during the summer. An ideal spot to relax when temperatures peak, a lifeguard is on duty during the summer season and changing rooms/bathroom facilities are located nearby. The beach is even conveniently accessed via shuttle bus which stops there every 30 minutes during the summer.
Due to the purity of its beauty, this beach even had a starring role in the Oscar-winning film The Cider House Rules. To experience another kind of starring role, hit the beach on nights when the moon isn't out; Park Rangers offer up this oceanfront property as a supreme spot for stargazing.
