THE GREAT OUTDOORS NATIONAL PARKS TO PUT ON YOUR BUCKET LIST BY JEFFREY JAMES KEYES
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AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2020
METROSOURCE.COM
ACADIA NATIONAL PARK MAINE Considered the “crown jewel of the North Atlantic Coast,” Acadia National Park is home to some of the most gorgeous landscapes of the Eastern Seaboard. The park itself features over 47,000 acres with 158 miles of hiking trails. Roughly 3.5 million visitors make the trek to Acadia each year, and while many will be social distancing this year, there’s plenty to see and do in the park. Some of the most popular hiking trails in Acadia National Park include Champlain Mountain and Beehive Loop Trail, Bubble Rock, Gorham Mountain Trail, and the Great Head Trail. If you’re looking for a hike with a view, plan on exploring the Cadillac Summit trail, offering views of Bar Harbor, Frenchman Bay, and the islands. Go back in time by taking a horsedrawn carriage ride (Victorian gowns are optional) through the park, offered from May through October. There are 45 miles of car-free roads that will lead you through some of the best parts of the park. After your carriage ride, plan on stopping at the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, marking the entrance to Bass Harbor on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island. This lighthouse, constructed in the 1800’s, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and belongs to the U.S. Coast Guard. Looking for a place to propose? Look no further. Think of the Instagram photos!
THIS PAGE: PHOTOS BY MICHAEL WESTMAN
A DAY TRIP OR WEEKEND EXCURSION TO ONE OF THE MANY NATIONAL PARKS can be just the remedy for anxiety or that stir craziness you might be feeling for much of this past year. The National Park System features 419 national park sites across the United States. Founded in 1916, when President Woodrow Wilson signed the “Organic Act” creating the National Park Service, the federal bureau in the Department of the Interior has expanded across over 85 million acres in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and US territories. Key details and local information about all 419 national park sites can be found on their website at www.nps.gov. The National Park Service is committed to telling all Americans’ stories and in addition to their own rich history many of the parks have their own unique LGBTQIA+ heritage and history. Stonewall National Monument, located in Greenwich Village, New York City, for instance, became a National Park in 2016. We went through the expansive list of stunning and notable parks and chose five to add to your bucket list for whenever you are ready and able to head out into the great outdoors.
