Traveling with My Pup | Acadia National Park

Kona is 9 years old now, so I decided to take her on a longer trip to soak up the last bits of summer. Acadia is hands down the most dog-friendly national park out there—and from New York, there are plenty of ways to get there. This time, we opted to take the Acela to Boston first, then rent a car and drive to Bangor, which is about an hour away from Acadia. Compared to Bar Harbor, Bangor isn’t really a tourist spot—but it has affordable Airbnbs that are perfect for working (since I needed to keep up with work during the week). Shopping and grabbing meals are also super convenient here. This setup let us work midweek and explore the park on weekends—it was a great balance! We spent three days in Acadia, and here are my top dog-friendly trails to recommend: 1️⃣ Jordan Pond & Bubble Rock These two spots are close to each other, so you can combine them into one hike. We started with the Jordan Pond Loop, then detoured to the northern trail of Bubble Rock to hike up and see that famous “boulder.” After that, we headed back down to finish the other half of the loop. The lake water is crystal clear and the scenery is like a painting—Kona led the way the whole time, trotting along happily. 🐾 2️⃣ Cadillac Mountain Acadia’s iconic spot—you must reserve a time slot in advance. You can drive all the way up to the summit. It’s windy at the top, but the view of the mountains and sea is absolutely stunning. Kona was such a good sport, striking poses for us so we could capture her “pup life” photos. 📸 3️⃣ Gorham Trail Compared to the first two, this one offers both great scenery and a bit of a challenge. The trail is dotted with rocks and has relatively steep sections—ideal for dogs with good jumping ability and stamina. 🪨 4️⃣ Ocean Path Trail A gentle, long trail that runs along the coast. Every now and then, there are little side paths with steps leading down to the beach—perfect for stopping to let your pup sniff the sea air. 🌊 5️⃣ Ship Harbor / Wonderland Trail Two relatively easy trails, both by the ocean. They’re great for taking a slow stroll with your dog, watching the waves crash against the shore—such a cozy, laid-back vibe. By the end of the trip, Kona was out exploring and hiking every day, having the time of her life. As soon as we got home, she’d crash into a deep sleep. Overall, Maine feels so relaxed—slow-paced, and almost everyone there loves dogs. Traveling with Kona was totally stress-free; instead, we got so many smiles and kind gestures along the way. 😊 Food Recommendations Jordan Pond Ice Cream: Their blueberry ice cream is chef’s kiss (YYDS)! It’s creamy with a hint of milk, not too sweet, and you can see big chunks of blueberries in every bite. 🍦 Galyn’s: The lobster and fish here are super fresh—great if you want a proper sit-down meal. 🦞 Thurston’s Lobster Pond: A famous little lobster spot near the coast. You can enjoy your lobster while taking in the view—it’s such a nice experience. Bar Harbor Lobster Pond: If you love Cajun flavors, don’t miss their Cajun-style grilled lobster and seafood platters. 🦞🥘 #HikingWithDog #AcadiaGuide