Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Sand Beach is part of Acadia National Park (ANP) on Mount Desert Island's Eastern Shore and among the most popular ocean-swimming beaches in all of Maine. While cozy in size at about 300 yards long, Sand Beach's soft sand cove is offset by its immediately surrounding rocky mountains and pine forests. The sand itself is composed largely of shell fragments, pounded down to silky grain and amassed into shore form by the ocean surf. This scenery, sand and surf collectively draw MDI dwellers in droves, and particularly in peak season set Sand Beach's trendy social scene as well. ANP staffs lifeguards at the beach for summer, but this measure is essentially precaution given the sea's relatively calm tide. The frigid saltwater is the real element to be braved here; Sand Beach's ocean temperature rarely warms beyond 55 degrees Fahrenheit, so swimmers be forewarned.
The second of Acadia National Park's distinctive swimming beaches, Echo Lake Beach offers a wholly contrasted experience to that of Sand Beach. This beach sits on the Park's Southern Shore and within MDI's Southwest Harbor, the area of the island endeared as its "quiet" side, relative to the Eastern part's touristy hustle and flow. The Echo Lake Beach experience reflects Its shore community's tranquil character, which contributes to its regard (and careful preservation) as MDI's most idyllic freshwater swimming enclave. Echo Lake itself is scenic and serene, and in summer often a glassy calm; the lake's waters, notably warmer than Sand Beach's ocean, are generally at temperatures comfortable for all-day swimming. Granite cliffs of MDI's Beech Mountain scale the beach's coast like fortress walls and effect a transportive sense of seclusion.
Seal Harbor is a chic and quaint seaside village in MDI's Southeastern part. Most typically known as an elite resort community for affluent summering guests, Seal Harbor is also, somewhat ironically, home to one of MDI's few and finest open public beaches. The Seal Harbor Beach is a sandy and spacious ocean-side shoreline, with a ripply surf and frontal harbor views of the palatial yachts offshore. Seal Harbor presents to the public full and entirely free access to its beach property, located right in the village's center. Yet, despite its open door policy, and happily for locals and regulars, Seal Harbor Beach has largely slid under the radar of MDI's tourism mainstream. The beach's relative tourist grid discreetness in effect preserves its aura of Seal Harbor's exclusivity, and makes it a prime alternative to crowded Sand Beach for folks who value peace, quiet and personal space.
Hadley Point Beach is a public ocean beach off the downtown district coast of Bar Harbor, MDI's biggest and liveliest town. Through the warmer months, Hadley Point is a locus of sand and sea activity, and a choice visit for families and outdoor adventure enthusiasts. Summer patrons make a full day of it here, complete with beachfront barbecuing and picnicking, courtesy of Hadley Point's provided stone grilling pits and picnic tables. This beach's waters are conducive at once not only to safe swimming, but also all levels of kayaking and canoeing and even sailing; indeed, Hadley Point's open docks and boat ramps make it a favorite MDI launching pad both for manual and wind boats as well as power vessels. Bring your kids, kites, coolers and, last but not least, your dog (albeit leashed): Hadley Point also ranks proudly among Maine's most pet-friendly beaches.