Where to Go for the Eastern US Long Weekend? ⛰️ Acadia National Park

For international students/workers in the US, here’s a perfect long weekend getaway recommendation: Acadia National Park in Maine It’s about a 9-hour drive from New York. Setting aside 2-3 days to explore is more than enough—you can even head there for Labor Day! ⛰️ Must-Visit Attractions Beehive Trail: A hike where you’ll scramble up using both hands and feet. It’s a loop trail, so once you start climbing, you have to keep going (the narrow paths mean there’s a line of people following behind). The whole hike takes about 2 hours. The views from the top are unbeatable—but if you’re afraid of heights or easily scared, think twice before taking this on! 🧗♂️ Cadillac Mountain: Requires an extra ticket. I couldn’t get up early for sunrise, so I went for sunset instead—and it was beautiful! You can see the entire panorama of Acadia from the top. Everyone sat quietly on the hillside and watched the 30-minute sunset; it was so healing. 🌅 Jordan Pond: A large water source protection area with flat trails, making the walk very easy. If you’re tired from hiking Beehive Trail, this is a great spot to relax and take a stroll. 💧 Japanese Garden: A small, delicate Japanese-style garden. You can walk through it in 30 minutes, and there’s no admission fee—perfect for a quick, peaceful stop. 🌸 Bar Harbor Town: Filled with small shops where you can wander slowly. Save this for your last day to pick up souvenirs for friends and family! 🛍️ 🍴 Food Recommendations Lobster Roll: Highly recommend the one from Frenchman! While wandering around the town, I found a small shop that only sells lobster rolls—and surprisingly, it has a 5.0 rating on Google. Total hidden gem! 🦞 Bar Harbor Lobster Pound: Another local favorite for lobster. A huge steamed lobster costs just $30—super satisfying! I devoured a whole plate of lobster nachos too. Ice Cream: Try Jordan Pond’s Ice Cream—their blueberry, mango, peach, and strawberry flavors are all delicious. Perfect for cooling down after a day of hiking! 🍦 Brunch Café: At Acadia Perk, their blueberry latte is a must-try; the chocolate latte from Choco-Latte is also amazing. Great for a cozy morning pick-me-up. ☕ Bonus! Momo‘s Cheesecake: A 24/7 cheesecake shop with no staff—you just help yourself! There are so many flavors to choose from, and you pay on the honor system. It’s so cool! It’s about a 20-minute drive from the park. 🧀 🏨 Accommodation Book in advance—this is a must! Staying in Bar Harbor is ideal; it’s well-located, and most attractions are about a 20-minute drive away. #USNationalParks #InternationalStudents #NorthAmericanLife #RoadTrip #SummerTravel #Acadia #USTravel #Maine