Anyone close to me can confirm that I am far from an outdoor enthusiast. However, a couple of friends were eager to see leaf peeping at Acadia National Park. After researching some photos online, I was sold on the adventure, and borrowed a pair of hiking boots for this 3-day trip. While I won’t recap every detail, I am excited to share a concise photo diary, along with what I packed to build a stylish hiking outfit that is also practical!
What to Pack for a Short Hiking Trip
As a novice hiker, the last thing I wanted to do was buy new clothes that I would get dirty or only wear once. Luckily, one of my good friends is the same shoe size as me, and kindly let me borrow her hiking boots! One pricy problem solved. The weather was still mild in October, so I packed clothes that could be easily mix and matched, and layered. Also, socks! It was the only ‘new’ thing I invested in for this trip, but turned out to be so worth it.
Here are the pieces I packed to create a stylish hiking outfit that were practical too!
- Lightweight Puffer Jacket: I am wearing Bernardo – sustainable, machine-washable, and beautifully designed!
- Layering cardigan: Wearing the Athleta Pranayama Wrap. Super comfy and has pockets too!
- Moisture wicking top: You can find a variety of short and long sleeve styles at Athleta
- Hiking Socks: Made such a difference for me, especially since hiking boots can feel rough and cut into the back of your feet! The pair I linked has merino wool, so it feels less damp when you sweat, but keeps you warm during temperature dips in the evening.
- Yoga/Hiking Pants: Yoga pants are not ideal for intense, rugged hikes but worked for a first-timer like me who avoided the strenuous paths. Generally, you will want actual hiking pants. They are specially designed with fabrics that are abrasion-resistant.
- Sunglasses Link my Quay ones that I always wear.
- Backpack (linking MZ Wallace): Really handy if you need to shed any layers during the day (See prior reviews of my MZ Wallace Backpack HERE)
- Duffel Bag: Wearing the Travel Jimmy and received compliments at the airport 🙂
Planning Your Perfect Fall Getaway to Acadia National Park
Many argue that fall is one of the most beautiful seasons to visit Acadia, so if you are planning to make the trip, definitely research the dates for peak foliage. They change each year. (Maine Foliage Tracker) We visited the third week of October, and caught the foliage just in time! To get there from NYC, we took a flight to Bangor, Maine and then drove to Bar Harbor (~1 hour).
You will need to purchase a park entrance pass, and if you are visiting Cadillac Mountain (a must-see!) during the ‘peak’, you will also need a vehicle reservation. Planning our visit was pretty straight-forward, and here are the sites we enjoyed:
- Cadillac Mountain: This beautiful summit receives the first sunrise in the US for half of the year! If you are not an early riser, I highly recommend coming for sunset. It gets very cold, so bundle up.
- Thunder Hole: Natural inlet where ocean meets stone – if you stick around, you may get a good splash!
- Hiking: Jordan Pond (moderate), Beehive (hard), Bowl Trail (takes you to the Beehive summit, and a more moderate hike but still strenuous), The Bubbles (moderate / hard)
Places to Eat in Bar Harbor, Maine
One thing I should have prepared for is the shortage of restaurants in the fall and winter. Many places will close down for the season. That combined with the influx of visitors for the fall foliage meant that restaurants were even more packed than usual. If you can, make a reservation ahead of time for the weekends!
Some of the most popular places we ate at were along the Main Street, but we also stumbled upon some great roadside finds:
- Galyn’s: A family-run restaurant with a good selection of steak, seafood, and vegetarian options. I loved their seafood fettucine, and this place was one of the pricier spots we ate at.
- Side Street Cafe: Famous for their mac-and-cheese. Menu is pretty extensive, and has more casual options like salads, sandwiches, and soups.
- Smokey’s BBQ & Lobster Pound: So hungry just thinking about their Lobster + BBQ Combo!
- Jordan’s Restaurant: Another cozy, family-run business with really great blueberry pancakes.
Stylish Hiking Outfit for Acadia National Park
If you are planning to make a trip someday, I hope you found some of these suggestions (both fashion and food) helpful! Traveling there from NYC, I felt that 3-days was sufficient and was able to pack lightly for the adventure.
