Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you click a link and purchase a recommended item, I may receive a commission, although there is no additional cost to you.

There is something so quintessential about vacationing at a national park. These destinations are seemingly tailor-made for families — there’s beauty but also plenty of infrastructure and things to do, rain or shine. This summer, we spent a week in Bar Harbor, Maine, the gateway community to Acadia National Park, and had a blast!  We could easily have filled a second week with similar adventures … meaning that as soon as we were home we may have made arrangements to go back next year.

Even in such a family-friendly destination, there are a wide variety of activities and some may not be age appropriate for your particular kids. This time around, we were traveling with a newly minted one-year-old and an almost-five-year-old, so I’m going to focus on tips to entertain that toddler and pre-school crowd. There were also tons of things that we weren’t quite ready for yet, but that I know will be hits on future return visits.

Trails and Hiking
Let’s be honest, you aren’t necessarily going to summit any peaks with kids in this age group. I know because we tried doing a portion of Cadillac Mountain and made it … maybe a third of the way. It was tons of fun and absolutely worth doing. But if you’re going to do something ambitious like that, be realistic and focus on journey not destination. In general, you want to find trails with interesting or interactive scenery along the way. Short is good, too. Our absolute favorites were:

Wonderland for the tide pools and rocks to scramble on. Yes, it’ a drive from town, but it is absolutely worth it. That whole side of the island is quiet and quaint and lovely.
Sieur de Monts Spring, which was less of a hike and more of an interpretive trail and nature center. But it was shaded and fun, even if a bit crowded with folks looking for facilities.
Cadillac Summit loops, allowing us to take in some spectacular views after we drove up to the top.
The Bar that appears at low tide just off of Bridge Street is what gives the town its name. And it is absolutely cool enough to deserve that honor -- this will blow your kids' minds.

Get Out on the Water
The lobster boat tour was a highlight of the whole trip for Big Brother. There are several options that get spectacular reviews for interactivity. But the age of our youngest traveller meant we wouldn’t have been able to go on some of them, so Be sure to check policies! We went with Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company, which is better known for running whale watch tours from the same location. The shorter length and smaller boat made this a great choice for us.

(We did the whale trip too, but it was a tad too long to keep everyone’s attention the whole time. Even though when we did encounter whales everyone was thrilled! But I think a lot of little kids just wouldn’t have the attention span for it. Of course, if mom or dad really want to go, you can make it work — we resorted to some pre-downloaded videos on the trip back, and there’s no shame in it.)

Sand Beach
Plan this stop carefully because it is next to impossible to tear kids away from a beach they can dig and play. We intentionally went toward the end of the day, when constraints are focused on dinner (you could even bring a picnic to smooth that complication) and bedtime. Most folks were finishing their day at the beach, so parking was more plentiful and the setting sun was beautiful. The water is cold, but a determined and bold tyke may want to wade in, so be sure you bring bathing suits — or at least clothes you don’t mind getting wet and sandy.

Pack a Picnic
Whenever we head out for the day, we like to have a couple of PB&Js with us, plus some snacks. Don’t want anyone getting hangry! But this trip we also got some more upscale takeout and got to eat it in breathtaking surroundings, like the Seawall Picnic Area. In town the sandwiches from Peekytoe Provesions were delicious. Then there was Thurston’s Lobster Pound, to whom I am deeply grateful for facilitating delicious lobster rolls while my kids threw rocks into the ocean with not another soul in site. Pure perfection.

Get Ice Cream
I almost thought this was too obvious to list, but it’s an integral part of the summer experience.  There are plenty of options, and I’m sure all are good. But Mount Dessert Island Ice Cream is amazing.

Daybreak on the Mountain

I recognize that this isn’t for everyone. We hauled everyone up to the top of Cadillac Mountain for dawn and, to me at least, it was unforgettable. We had a couple of things going in our favor: with someone teething at the time, we were only up about an hour earlier than we would have gotten roused regardless, and we planned it for our last day so we could encourage naps in the car. The logistics may be a deal breaker for you, but don’t just dismiss the idea out of hand. Once the sun is up, you can join the throng trekking down the mountain for blueberry pancakes at Jordan’s.

Final Verdict: This national park is a winner for kids of every age. Don't think that just because they can't scale a mountain, they won't have a great time.