Woodstock, Vermont seems like a town right out of a hallmark movie! It’s one of the coziest places I’ve ever visited, especially during the fall season. Patrick and I had the opportunity to visit this past fall while traveling through Vermont and we had such a fun time strolling around this area for an afternoon. Here are some of my tips and favorite spots:
How to Plan a Trip to Woodstock
Woodstock, Vermont is a small town that offers local shops, restaurants, covered bridges, and the perfect place to soak in the fall foliage. That being said, I would recommend combining a trip to Woodstock with another nearby Vermont town. We visited Woodstock and Stowe within the same trip which was ideal and gave us more site seeing and activities to enjoy.
Best Things to do in Woodstock
Stroll the shops! We had so much fun going in and out of the local shops within the town. Some of our favorites:
Woody’s Mercantile
Vermont Flannel Co.
Yankee bookshop
F.H. Gillingham & Sons
Encore Designer consignment
Clover gift shop
Enjoy delicious food. Woodstock has a few great food and coffee options! Here were some of our favorites:
Soulfully good cafe- this was closed when we visited but we’ve heard great things about it!
Village Butcher shop- delicious deli sandwiches and quick to go meals
Visit a covered bridge. Woodstock is known for some of their covered bridges! You can drive under the bridges or walk along the side.
Middle covered bridge
Taftsville covered bridge
Lincoln covered bridge
Check out the Woodstock Inn. This is a famous hotel right in the heart of Woodstock. The public is welcome to their restaurant and to walk around the grounds. If you’re able to stay here, I imagine it would be a wonderful experience!
Walk to Pleasant Street. This street captures so much charm Woodstock offers and it feels like you’re walking on the set of a hallmark movie. The homes are also so fun to look at and imagine what life here would be like. Keep your eye out for one house on Pleasant street that has become well known during the fall for simply placing little pumpkins along the fence line. It makes for a really sweet view and picture!
Enjoy a maple creemee! Woodstock scoops has amazing ice cream and they are famous for maple creemees. A creemee is essentially soft serve and is a popular treat in this area. I would highly recommend trying while passing through!
Stop by a maple syrup farm. Sugarbush farms has become a famous spot in Woodstock for their tours of maple syrup and cheese making. We didn’t have a chance to do this but I’ve heard such great things about this farm it seems worth recommending!
Middle covered bridgeWoodstock scoopsMaple syrup heavenShopping in woodstockMon Vert cafeDowntown WoodstockDowntown woodstockMiddle covered bridgeShops downtownYankee bookshopFall foliage in woodstockPumpkins on Pleasant St. Yankee bookshopSelecting some maple syrup goods from F.H. Gillingham & Sons general store
National park travel has become such an important part of my life and easily my favorite kind of travel. There are currently 63 established national parks in the United States and each year, there are new rules, permits, reservations, and important information you need to know before visiting. Gone are the days of spontaneously showing up to some popular parks and having an impromptu trip. Planning is required to ensure your trip is what you hope and expect it to be! I created this guide, similar to last year’s with important information about certain national parks you may need to know before visiting.
Reservation vs. Park Pass
Many national parks require a park pass to access the park and are typically valid for 7 days. This is still needed on top of any reservation or permit required. I would recommend looking at your desired national park’s website to make sure a park pass is required or not, however, this can be purchased when entering the park. The main difference between the two is a reservation or permit that is required needs to be purchased in advance before trip dates. The entrance kiosks and visitor’s centers will not sell these types of reservations in person.
Types Of Reservations That May Be Required
It’s important to check on park’s websites when and what kind of reservations may be required. Typically, these kinds of reservations are specifically required during peak seasons (summer-fall).
Timed entry. These kind of reservations are becoming more and more popular amongst certain national parks. Although it’s an additional step and hassle in some way, I do believe these are actually helpful in reducing the amount of crowds during certain times of day. It also just helps everyone enjoy and protect the park in the best way! These kind of reservations may give you access to one section of the park, the entirety of the park, a road within the park, etc, depending on the park. If you aren’t able to access a timed entry reservation (if you’re planning a last minute visit) there are ways around this. If the time slot is 6am-4pm, that means if you enter the park BEFORE 6am, you’ll be able to get in. However, if you leave the park at any point before 4pm, you won’t be able to get back in until after 4pm. Similarly, you could access the park after 4pm. I touch on more tips on what to do if you don’t secure a timed entry reservation later in this post.
Vehicle reservation. This kind of reservation varies depending on the park and again, the purpose is to limit the amount of cars gathering in one area or section of the park. For example, in Glacier national park, a vehicle reservation is required to access the ‘going to the sun road’ during certain times of day and seasons.
Hiking permit. This kind of reservation is required when hiking certain trails that are typically more popular. For example, Angel’s landing in Zion national park now requires a permit to complete the entire hike.
Parks that Require Reservations
*as of January 2025*
Acadia National Park, Maine– requires a vehicle reservation to access Cadillac mountain if visiting between May-October. This reservation costs $6 and can be purchased on the park’s website. The park hasn’t officially released 2025 dates required for this permit, but I’m sure they will soon. Check out my blog post about Acadia National park here for more information on the park.
Arches National Park, Utah– requires a timed entry reservation (7am-4pm) between April-October. This year the park is not requiring tickets during some days between July and August. Tickets will be required from 7 am to 4 pm each day between April 1 – July 6 and August 28 – October 31, 2025. This reservation costs $2 per vehicle. Learn more on the park’s website. Check out my blog post about Arches National park here for more information on the park.
Glacier National Park, Montana– requires a vehicle reservation (7am-3pm) in various areas.
Due to Glacier’s popularity, the park has split the major areas of the park into three sections that ALL require reservations if you plan to visit. Reservations can be made four months before your trip dates and booking will become available starting February 12th, 2025 for this year. All sections require a reservation between the hours of 7am-3pm during June 13-September 28 time frame. The sections within the park that all need a reservation include:
Going to the sun Road
North Fork
Many Glacier
keep in mind, if you plan to visit all three areas of glacier, you may need three different types of reservation tickets. Check out my blog post about Glacier National park here for more information on the park.
Haleakala National Park, Hawaii– requires a vehicle reservation (3am-7am) that costs $1 per vehicle to watch the sun rise above the clouds at Haleakala Summit. Learn more on the park’s website.
Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado-requires a timed entry ticket from May through October. RMNP has split the timed entry tickets into two sections:
Bear Lake corridor, timed entry reservation required to access the bear lake trails + access to the rest of the park, costs $2. Timed entry from 5am-6pm.
Rest of the park, timed entry reservation for the Rocky Mountains national park, excluding the bear lake trail area, costs $2. Timed entry from 9am-2pm. Check out my blog post about RMNP here for more information on the park.
Shenandoah National Park, Virginia– requires a day use hiking permit if you plan to hike ‘Old Rag trail’ which is one the most popular hikes in the park. Reservations are required from March-November and costs $1 (each person is required to have a ticket). Learn more on the park’s website. Check out my blog post about Shenandoah National park here for more information on the park.
Yosemite National Park, California– the park has changed it’s requirements each year and as of right now, Yosemite hasn’t released the requirements for entrance reservations or permits needed during peak season. I will be sure to update this post when any news is posted. Patrick and I plan to visit Yosemite this year so I will definitely need to have reservation information before visiting! The park has released other types of reservations that are required:
Horsetail Fall reservation– ticketed entry during the months of February on the weekends of February 8–9, February 15–17, and February 22–23, 2025. Note, this reservation is only required if you plan to visit on the listed days in February. This is a big attraction during the month of February in the park, so the reservations are listed for the weekends. However, if you plan to visit the park during these weekend dates even without going to Horsetail falls, you still need this reservation ticket. This reservation costs $2 and is per vehicle. Purchase tickets on the park’s website.
Half Dome hiking permit– this popular trail now requires a permit to hike as an attempt to reduce crowds. Learn more about how to obtain a permit through the park’s lottery system here.
Zion National Park, Utah– requires hiking permits for these trails; Angel’s Landing, the Subway, and the Narrows from top-down.
Angel’s Landing– the park now requires a permit to hike the entirety of this trail (without a permit you can hike all the way to “scout lookout” point). Similarly to Yosemite, permits are selected by a lottery system. It costs $6 to apply and if selected it’s $3 per person to hike this trail. Learn more on the park’s website. Be sure to figure out when the time period is to apply for the permit through the lottery that lines up with your trip dates.
The Subway- this hike requires a permit if you plan to hike it between the months of April-October and is selected through a lottery system as well. Learn more here.
The Narrows from top down– the narrows is one of the most incredible hiking experiences within the park! Many visitors hike this from the bottom up (I did!) but if you wish to hike the trail from the top down (16 miles total), you’ll need a wilderness permit. Learn more here. Check out my blog post about Zion National park here for more information on the park.
Mount Rainer National Park, Washington– last year the park decided to require a timed entry reservation for vehicles driving to either the Paradise Corridor and/or the Sunrise Corridor. Reservations were required each day from 7am-3pm from May through September for the Paradise Corridor and July through September for the Sunrise Corridor. Since the park tried this for the first time last year, they haven’t posted if they’ll be doing this again in 2025, I will update this post if they do. Learn more here.
It seems like more parks are trying to implement some kind of reservation system depending on the amount of crowds they see. I would recommend checking any park’s website you plan to visit prior to your trip to determine if any other decisions are made throughout the year to require reservations or permits to access areas.
National Park Checklist
Keep up to date with tracking what national parks you’ve visited! Download my free national park checklist below. I created two versions, horizontal and vertical PDF’s.
If you don’t get a reservation or if you missed your window to purchase one, here are a few options to still be able to access reserved areas of the park:
Book the reservations as soon as you are able. On the park’s websites, there will be a time when you are able to book. Some parks allow you to book a couple months in advance, and if you miss out, they reopen more reservations 1-2 days before your visit for an additional chance. It can definitely be stressful so I recommend logging on to purchase tickets as soon as the window opens (for example, most tickets become available on the park’s website at 10am EST).
Book a campground. If you book a reservation for a campground within the park, the park counts this as your reservation for timed entry or vehicle reservations, depending on the park. Be sure to check exceptions to purchasing reservation tickets if you are camping in the park. Also note, your campground reservation will only serve as a reservation ticket if the dates you plan to access the park and stay at the campground are the same. (i.e., if you camp one night and move to a hotel, you’ll need a reservation ticket to assess specific areas the days/nights you’re at the hotel and no longer camping).
Enter the park outside the required time. If you can’t purchase timed entry tickets, find ways to experience the park outside of the timed restrictions (i.e., if timed entry reservations start at 6am, enter the park BEFORE 6am). Just keep in mind if you leave the park before the reservation time frame is finished, you won’t be able to go back in until after the time restriction ends. (i.e., if you leave the park at 12pm, and the time restriction ends at 3pm, you won’t be able to go back into that area of the park until AFTER 3pm).
Do some research to determine which areas, activities, and hikes you may want to do that require reservations.
Keep in mind, when timed entry reservation periods end, there are crowds trying to access the park, arrive early in kiosk lines to ensure you don’t have to spend too much time stuck in line.
This past fall, Patrick and I went on a two week road trip through various areas of New England. The trip ended with some time in Maine where we first explored Acadia national park and then made our way down the coast to visit various coastal towns. The best part about this area of Maine is that these small coastal towns are all within a short drive from each other so it’s possible to pick a home base and make some day trips. Patrick and I fell in love with this area of Maine and enjoyed about three days exploring various little towns, eating amazing lobster, enjoying sunsets at gorgeous lighthouses, and to top off our time in Maine, we left engaged! Here’s a quick guide to a few of our favorite towns along the coast of Maine.
Portland, ME
Portland is a major stop when traveling through this area of Maine. We had a half day here and mostly strolled around the main areas of downtown going in and out of shops and enjoying some of the best lobster we’ve ever had! Some of our favorite stops:
Food
Portland Lobster Co. Hands down the best lobster roll we tried the entire trip! We liked it so much we went twice! If lobster isn’t your thing, they also have some other menu items but I’d recommend at least trying some of their lobster to say you did in Maine!
Holy Donut. This is an iconic spot in Portland! They are famous for their potato style donuts and typically have a line of people waiting throughout the day to try a donut. We were skeptical of a potato style donut but it was AMAZING! Definitely worth a stop! We went to the main location downtown on Commercial street but they have a couple locations scattered throughout the city. They close once donuts for the day are sold out so be sure to get there early if possible!
Shops
Soleil. This is a french inspired store with sweet decor and home gifts. Inside there’s also one of Portland’s “mini print vending machines” where you can put in some quarters and receive a small print created by a local artist.
There’s too many souvenir shops along commercial street in Portland but I’d recommend walking along and going in and out of some unique shops.
Activities
Portland Head lighthouse. A must see while visiting Portland! This is about 25-30 minutes outside of the downtown area but worth the drive, especially at sunset! This was definitely the most beautiful lighthouse we saw during the trip. Keep in mind, when we visited there was a gate in place that blocked access to the rocks around the lighthouse. While researching this spot, on social media it appeared that visitors could sit on the rocks and take photos with a closer view but this was not the case when we visited October 2024. This may be a temporary thing in the colder months but wanted to share.
Stroll around downtown! Portland seemed like a typical busy city with lots to do and see. We enjoyed walking down commercial and wharf street.
Take a walk down Wharf street. This is a popular street in the heart of downtown with lots of amazing restaurants. The street is well known for it’s cobblestone and moss covered buildings.
Take a boating tour. We didn’t do this, but we saw lots of signs about boating tours which may have been fun if we had more time.
Portland Head lighthouseHoly donutsSoleilLobster rolls at Portland Lobster co.Sunset at Portland Head lighthousePortland lobster
Kennebuckport, ME
When we were planning this road trip, we weren’t planning to stay in Kennebuckport or pass through it. However, we had a last minute change to our itinerary because we decided we’d rather have an airbnb instead of camp the last few nights of the trip so I quickly found us a cute spot to stay and it ended up being in Kennebuckport. We were so happy this came to be! Kennebuckport is such a charming coastal town. It gives that small town feel where all the locals know each other, everyone walks to work, and there’s only small businesses in town. I’d definitely recommended stopping or staying in Kennebuckport if you’re driving down the coast. Some of our favorite stops:
Food
Dock Square coffee house. We started our morning here one day and loved the coffee! It’s also just a sweet little coffee shop right in the heart of town.
Mornings in Paris. This is another popular coffee shop in town, we didn’t stop here but our airbnb host left us some coffee to use from this shop and it was really good as well!
H.B. Provisions. This is a great stop for anything you may need while passing through. There’s food, groceries, drinks, souvenirs, etc. We stopped here one morning for a breakfast sandwich before exploring and it was great!
Roma Pizza. We picked up a pizza from here quickly after our drive in from Acadia and it was delicious!
Alisson’s restaurant. We had dinner here after getting engaged and it was so tasty! They have a little bit of everything on the menu.
Shops
Scalawags Pet Boutique. This was such a cute pet shop! We found so many great souvineers to bring home to our fur babies.
Too Cool t shirt store. A great place to find souvenirs for yourself or loved ones.
Mountain Tops. Another great souvenir shop.
Any shops along dock square or ocean ave are worth stopping by!
Dock square coffeeDowntown scenes in KennebuckportDowntown KennebuckportInside shops within KennebuckportDowntown KennebuckportDowntown KennebuckportDowntown KennebuckportShops near dock square
Ogunquit, ME
Ogunquit was a stop along the road trip I was excited about because I had seen some many other blog posts and photos highlighting the town’s beauty. It’s another charming coastal town with such a special feeling. We enjoyed spending an afternoon here walking around and soaking in more incredible Maine views. In the future, I’d love to visit this area again and stay overnight. If you’re visiting as a day trip like we did, keep in mind, parking can be a bit pricey. Our favorite stops:
Food
Foot Bridge Lobster. This was the only place we tried while visiting and we weren’t too impressed with their lobster rolls. There was several other little restaurants in town though so it seems like there are plenty of options!
Shops
Maine Originals. This was a cute souvenir and apparel store!
Nothing Better than Doing Nothing. Another great souvenir shop.
Dock Square Clothiers. A nice place to find a t-shirt or sweatshirt souvenir to bring home.
Perkins Cove Pottery shop. This was a sweet shop with handmade pottery done by a local artist.
Activities
Marginal Way. This is one of the top things to do in Ogunquit! Marginal way is a paved trail that goes along the coast line providing stunning views of the ocean and town.
Perkins Cove. This is a charming area in Ogunquit where most stores are located. It’s also a very picturesque area in town. You are able to drive through here but it seems mostly for foot traffic.
Walk along the Perkins Cove drawbridge. This is right near Perkins cove and visitors can actually push a button to open the bridge for taller boats to pass through.
Views along marginal wayPerkins cove viewsMarginal wayPerkins covePerkin’s cove drawbridgeViews from the drawbridgeFoot bridge lobster
York, ME
York was another last minute stop. We had some down time and we saw York was only 20 minutes away from Ogunquit and we decided to make the drive there for sunset. York ended up being one of my favorite stops because of the memories made here. One of the main things do to in York in visit Nubble lighthouse, it’s the heart of the town. We decided to spend sunset here and it was one of the most beautiful sunsets I’d ever seen. As the sun was setting, Patrick and I set up our tripod to take some videos and photos together, as we always do when traveling together, and to my surprise Patrick ended up proposing! It was such a beautiful moment and I couldn’t have asked for a better sunset and evening. York is a place I’ll cherish forever because of this incredible moment.
Since we were only in York for a couple of hours, the only thing I can really recommend is going to Nubble lighthouse for sunset! There is a sweet gift shop right near the lighthouse with bathrooms, souvenirs, and information about the town. While driving through the town, it seems like a sweet area with lots of activities especially available during the warmer months of the year.
Activities
Watch sunset at Nubble light house. Since we were only here for a brief amount of time, this is my only recommendation! It was a stunning place to view the sun setting.
Getting engaged at Nubble lighthouseSurprise proposal
It’s hard to believe today is the last day of 2024! I’m definitely one of those people that enjoys new years and finds some magic in making new goals and resolutions. To me, it’s a nice way to reflect and take some time to be intentional with a new year to come. I’ve made a small list of a few simple things you can do to prepare for a new year.
Wishing you all a magical 2025! ✨
Create a vision board for the new year. I love doing this at the start of every year. As a visual person, I enjoy having something to look at and be reminded of goals and things I’m looking forward to in the year. The last two years, I’ve attached a collection of photos as a “vision board” on my journal and I love having this to see everyday!
Make a list of goals. For the last few years, I’ve made a small list of things I’d like to attract and attempt each year. It’s easy at the start of a year to get carried away with writing so many things to try and do in one year. I’d recommend reflecting on a few things you’d like to see happen within the year so there’s not added pressure.
Organize or declutter a space. After the holidays, it’s a great time to go through some things while putting away holiday decor. Going into the new year with a refreshed home is a great way to start a year!
If goals aren’t your thing, make a bucket list for the year or a list of fun things you want to remember to do this year.
Start a new journal or planner. This is a great way to have a place to put your thoughts and plans throughout the year.
Reflect on this year. Sometimes it’s easy to feel like you didn’t do or accomplish much in a year when time seems to move so fast. Taking some time to reflect on the small wins and memories is a great way to enter a new year with gratitude.
I created a 2025 dream and goal planning page, similar to last year’s that I’ll personally be using and wanted to share for anyone else interested. I typically write anything that comes to mind that I hope to achieve or strive for in the new year, even if it feels a little ambiguous at first! That’s what dreaming and goal planning is all about :)
It’s the coziest time of the year again! The holidays bring so much joy and warmth, especially into the home. It’s a time of year where it seems like things speed up and slow down at the same time. This is my favorite time of year to make my home extra cozy with holiday decor, layers, lots of textiles, and holiday scents.
I’ve talked about hygge a lot this year and tried to be intentional with incorporating important elements of hygee, such as, candles, textiles, seasonal elements, layers, and cozy corners into my home.
Similarly to last year, this holiday season I focused on ways to incorporate crafts and handmade decor touches. I love creating and collecting things for the home around the holidays that feel crafted and provide a nostalgic touch.
I wanted to share some simple steps for two of my favorite “diy” elements around this time of year, an orange garland and a simmer pot.
dried orange garland
thinly slice 1-2 oranges (1 is plenty for one garland)
dry each slice with a paper towel to remove some moisture
place orange slices on a baking pan
bake at 200 degrees for 3-4 hours checking occassionally to flip
oranges will be done once slightly brown or harden
winter simmer pot
add water to a pot or dutch oven
cut and add 1 thinly sliced orange
cut and add 1 thinly sliced apple
2-3 cinnamon sticks
sprinkle of cloves or nutmeg
splash of vanilla extract
add a handful of cranberries
for an extra touch, add rosemary or pine
bring pot to a boil and lower to simmer for 30+ minutes
wishing you all happy holidays! x
christmas tree & wrappings this yearView of living area from the dining roomChristmas stockingsLiving room viewThe coziest cornerChristmas inspired breakfastWrapping giftsEnjoying morning coffeeReading nook, Christmas inspiredMantle displayDIY ornaments with leftover fabric materialHoliday simmer pot
Acadia national park is one of the most magical national parks I’ve been to yet. I had the opportunity to visit during the fall time and the fall foliage enhanced the beauty of the park. Acadia is located nearby Bar Harbor, Maine and it provides stunning mountain, coastal, lake views and scenery. Here’s a guide to things I’d recommend doing on a trip to Acadia.
Things to Know About Acadia
🎟 The park requires a park fee. It’s $35 for a 7 day period. I’d highly recommend purchasing the America the Beautiful pass if you plan to visit multiple national parks at once. The annual pass is $80 and gets you into national parks around the country for a year!
🦞 The closest town to the park is Bar Harbor and when I say close, I mean very close! Bar Harbor is about 15 minutes away (or less) from popular spots in the national park. The proximity is so convenient and it was so nice having lodging and eating options close by.
🏕 There are four established campgrounds within the park. I’d suggest making a reservation well in advance if you plan to camp, typically reservations open 6 months before your trip date, however, Acadia’s reservation period opens 2 months before your trip dates. We stayed at Blackwoods campground which is the most conveniently located campground in the park if you plan to visit major spots inside the park and Bar Harbor. Be sure to research on where in the park you’d like to be, the campgrounds are spread across the entire park. There are also no showers within the campgrounds so be prepared to find a way to shower elsewhere if needed. While we were staying at Blackwoods campground, there was a nearby shower house that is open 24 hours to the public. It’s located at 14 Otter Creek Drive.
Aside from campgrounds, there are plenty of hotels and lodging options inside Bar Harbor. It seems like a popular area, so I’d also recommend booking accommodations in advance if possible, especially if you plan to visit during the summer or fall time.
🌊 The park loop road is the scenic road that connects major highlights and viewing points of the park. Keep in mind, there is an area on the road that’s one way only so if you miss your stop, you’ll have to go around the loop again.
Best Things to Do in Acadia
Go on a Hiking Adventure
Acadia has so many incredible hikes! They are known for three hikes that require use of a ladder or iron rods to complete the hike. Although this may seem a little intimidating, it added such a fun element to a hike we’ve never experienced before. Here are some hikes I’d recommend adding to your list:
Jordan Pond path. This is an easy 3 mile loop trail near the Jordan Pond restaurant. This trail offers beautiful views of the “bubble” rocks from a distance as you walk along the perimeter of Jordan pond.
South Bubble trail. This was our favorite hike in the park! It’s a fairly easy to moderate 1.4 mile hike that brings you to the top of the south bubble rock. There are a few ways to complete this hike, we started at the bubbles parking lot and followed signs for the south bubble rock.
Beehive trail. The beehive is one of Acadia’s three iron rod/ladder trails. The beehive is considered the second most challenging as most of the hike requires use of the iron rods to hike to the top of the beehive summit. This trail is short and steep, only 1.4 miles to the top of the summit. If you are scared of heights, I’d reconsider completing this hike. Luckily, you can still hike to the summit by taking the Bowl trail which avoids the iron rods but still brings you to the top view point. If you do hike with the rods, I’d recommend going down the Bowl trail to make it a loop so you don’t have to use the rods on the way down. We really enjoyed this hike because it gave us such a different experience. Keep in mind, this is the park’s most popular hike so plan to hike early if visiting during busy season. We started around 7:00am on a weekday and by the time we were finished, there were so many people!
Beech Cliff Ladders trail. This is the third hike included in the ladder/iron rods collection and the least challenging. This is a 1.8 mile hike that is another short and steep trail with four ladders. This was such an enjoyable hike and it was on the quieter side of the park so we were one of the only couples there. The top view point gives you an incredible view of echo lake. For this trail, we parked at the echo lake parking lot. On the hike down, we took the Canada Cliffs trail to make this a loop and it was also easier to hike down without ladders.
Ocean Path trail. This isn’t technically a hike but this trail is along the park loop road and it provides stunning views of the ocean and the mountains of Acadia. I’d recommend walking along parts of it to experience a different perspective of the park.
Drive to Cadillac Mountain
This is a must do while visiting the park. Cadillac mountain is the highest point in the park and there’s 360 views of the park, Bar Harbor, and other coastal parts of Maine. Keep in mind, during peak seasons, the park requires reservation tickets to limit the amount of crowds at a time. I’d recommend making a reservation for sunrise because during certain seasons, Cadillac mountain is the first point on the eastern coast that sees the sunrise. We were planning to visit during sunrise one day during our trip but unfortunately it rained so we rescheduled for a different day in the morning which was still beautiful!
Explore Bar Harbor
As I’ve mentioned, Bar Harbor is an amazing Maine town! I’d take some time exploring the streets, shops, and restaurants. We spent several afternoons here shopping around for souvenirs and trying different restaurants. If you’re a camper like us, we were also able to do laundry in town which was helpful. Here are a few of my favorite spots in town I’d recommend:
Acadia Perk coffee ☕️
Cafe This Way (such great breakfast!)
Mount Desert Island ice cream 🫐 (be sure to try blueberry ice cream, a Maine must have)
Side Street Cafe 🥞
Cool As A Moose store (great place for shirt souvenirs)
Bark Harbor pet supply
In The Woods store 🌲
Christmas Vacation Shop (a great spot to find an ornament souvenir)
The Acadia Country Store
Frenchman Bay Lobster Rolls 🦞
Drive the Park Loop Road
As I’ve mentioned, this a beautiful scenic road! There’s a lot of trails and spots along the road so you’ll likely drive along this at some point. I’d recommend spending time at Otter cliffs, Thunder Hole, and Sand Beach which are all located off the scenic road.
Spend Time at Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
This beautiful lighthouse is located in the Southwest harbor area of the park, about 20 minutes from the Bar Harbor area. This lighthouse is a must see while visiting the park. I’d recommend walking down to the rocks to get a great photo and view point of the lighthouse.
Visit the Jordan Pond Resturant
An iconic activity in the park is to have lunch at the Jordan Pond house restaurant and to try their famous popovers. This was on our bucket list while visiting, however, we didn’t have a reservation so the wait time was too long for us the day we tried. If you’re serious about trying a popover, I would recommend making a reservation or being prepared to wait for a while. The restaurant is beautiful and it’s surrounded by gorgeous Acadia views.
Acadia Tips
Be sure to make reservations for any necessary areas of the park. Right now, it seems like Cadillac mountain is the only requirement during busy season.
Book overnight accommodations as far in advance as possible to ensure you have a place to sleep. Acadia is a popular national park that draws a lot of attention so it’s helpful to book in advance when possible.
Entering the park, photo taken at the hulls cove visitor’s center signBass Harbor lighthouseExploring otter cliffsViews from south bubble rockThunder holeBeech ladder cliffs trailBeech cliff ladders trailTop of south bubble rockExploring downtown Bar HarborShops in downtown Bar HarborBeech cliff ladders trailViews along Jordan Pond pathBeehive trail iron rodsViews from the top of Beehive trailCadillac mountain viewsA foggy afternoon on the south bubble rock
The fall season is the perfect time to engage in cozy activities and embrace the slowness the season will bring. Fall always seems like the perfect transition phase to prep ourselves and our homes for the slower months ahead. I always look forward to this time of year and I believe that’s due to all the warm and cozy activities this season can bring. If you need a reminder of what Hygge is it’s a danish term which simply means making things more cozy and homey. I have enjoyed embracing this notion each season but I’m especially excited to incorporate hygge into my life this autumn season.
Hygge Inspiration to Incorporate this Autumn
Spend time outside to enjoy the fall foliage or engage in fall activities
Craft something for the home (garlands, wreaths, etc)
Gather pumpkins at a patch or stand
Enjoy pumpkin or apple flavored treats
Make a fall simmer pot
Create cozy corners at home
Create a fall bucket list
Plan a weekend getaway to enjoy the foliage someplace else
Bake some fall inspired treats
apple picking is one of my favorite fall activities Fall activities outsideHomemade breakfasts at homeCrafts for the homeVisiting pumpkin standsDIY pumpkin socksCozy cornersGathering pumpkinsAutumn simmer potSpotting leaves on a walkApple picking date
The coziest time of year is almost officially here! It’s hard to believe it’s nearly time to welcome the autumn season. Every year I look forward to embracing this season; it’s so warm, cozy, and inviting. This autumn season, I want to focus on ways to incorporate the warmth the season brings into my home and experience all of my favorite autumn activities.
Autumn Bucket list
Decorate my home with autumn touches 🍂
Drink hot apple cider
Visit a pumpkin patch 🎃
Go fall camping
Visit a fall inspired destination 🧦
Paint or carve pumpkins
Go apple picking
Have a pumpkin spice latte ☕️
Bake fall inspired treats
Enjoy pumpkin waffles
Take a scenic drive to enjoy the changing leaves 🍁
Try a new soup recipe
Enjoy a fall inspired simmer pot
Craft fall decor for my home
Autumn simmer potrecipe:
add water to a pot or dutch oven
cut and add 1-2 thinly sliced apples
cut and add 1 thinly sliced orange
2-3 cinnamon sticks
anise stars for garnish
sprinkle of nutmeg
sprinkle of cloves
bring pot to a boil and lower to simmer for 30+ minutes
Patrick and I recently spent a long weekend in the Great Smoky Mountains national park. This was our second time visiting the park and it was just as magical as we remembered it being three years ago. This trip was special because it’s the first time we’ve gotten to revisit a national park we’ve already been to and we were celebrating my birthday. This trip, we were able to do and see a lot more compared to our first trip in the park. Here’s a weekend guide to the park based on some things we did:
Things to Know About the Smoky Mountains
It is FREE to enter the Great Smoky Mountains national park, which is such a plus for visitors!
As of last year, the park requires a parking pass if you plan to park your car anywhere inside the park for longer than 15 minutes. There are a few parking pass options you can select. For a one day pass it’s $5, for a weekly pass it’s $15. There are kiosks in several areas of the park where you can purchase a parking pass which takes card only. It’s also possible to purchase a pass online before visiting the park.
If you plan to stay inside the park overnight, there are a few campground options. There are 10 campgrounds located within the park:
Smokemount
Cades Cove (we stayed here one night this trip)
Elkmount
Cosby
Abrams Creek
Big Creek
Cataloochee
Deep Creek
Balsam Mountain
Look Rock
Keep in mind, the campgrounds are located in various areas of the park (the Smokies are huge!) so it’s important to pick a campground central to the area you’ll be exploring. The campgrounds don’t offer showers so also be prepared for this as well. We stayed at Cades Cove for one night this trip and enjoyed how central the location was to the cades cove scenic loop area.
If you’d rather sleep in a hotel, cabin, or another accommodation, it would be best to look in the towns surrounding the park; Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Sevierville, and Townsend. We ended up finding a cabin just outside of Gatlinburg for the remainder of our stay and it was great!
Things to do in the Smoky Mountains
Cades Cove loop. This is the top activity I’d recommend doing while visiting the park. Cades Cove offers a scenic 11 mile one way that you can drive along. There are so many pull off spots you can use to soak in the stunning views. You will definitely see wildlife here while driving through, this past trip we saw black bears from a distance but three years ago, we saw a family of black bears pretty close to the road which was incredible! This area does get crowded since it’s so accessible, so be prepared for lots of crowds and people driving slow to soak in the views and capture photos. There’s also an option to bike the loop and you can rent bikes at the convenience store before starting the loop. The Cades Cove visitor’s center is located along the loop, there are bathrooms there and a store you can stop by as well.
Newfound Gap Road. Another scenic road I’d recommend driving along is the Newfound Gap, it’s extremely scenic and also offers plenty of pull off spots. This road also takes you to popular hikes like the chimney tops trail and the alum cave trail.
Drive parts of the Blue Ridge highway. We had this on our list for the weekend, but weren’t able to fit it. The south end of the Blue Ridge highway is located close to the North Carolina part of the Smoky Mountains. It’s a long highway but worth driving along parts to soak in more mountain views!
Visit popular towns nearby. As I mentioned, the park is located around so many towns that offer lodging, restaurants, and souvenir shops. We spent some time exploring Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. I’d recommended exploring or checking out a restaurant in town. These towns are definitely overcrowded, especially in the summer time but still worth driving through.
Hike! Of course when visiting any national park, there will likely be some great hikes to try. This trip we planned for two popular hikes and I’m so glad we had the opportunity to hike these trails. Keep in mind, during the summer months, the parking lots for the trails fill up extremely quickly! We weren’t able to get to either hiking trail early in the day so we had to circle around a few times to find a parking spot. Some hikes I’d recommended adding to your list:
Laurel Falls. This is one of the most popular trails in the park and likely because it’s fairly easy to complete. Hiking to the falls is about 2.5 miles round trip. Once you get to the falls, there’s an upper and a lower area to explore. Accessing the lower falls is a bit risky so we decided to stay near the upper falls.
Alum Cave. This was our favorite hike we completed this trip! There are a few options to complete this hike. You can hike to the Arch Rock only which is about 1.4 miles one way, or you can continue and hike to the Alum Cave Bluffs which is about 2.3 miles one way. We decided to hike all the way to the bluffs and in total the hike was close to 5 miles round trip. Hiking to the bluffs was a bit challenging, and most of the hike was uphill but the views at the top made it all worth it! Another option is to continue hiking from the Bluffs all the way to Mt. LeConte, which would make the hike a total of 10 miles round trip. I’ve heard continuing on to the LeConte is stunning but very challenging.
Rainbow Falls. We completed this hike on our last visit to the park and it was stunning! I’d recommend also trying this hike if you only have time for one trail.
Abrams Falls. We wanted to hike this trail last time we visited but it was closed due to construction. It’s located within Cades Cove and also seems like an incredible hike that we want to try on our next trip!
Go Fishing. If you like to fly fish, the park has some great rivers that are easily accessible. One thing to keep in mind is you do need a Tennessee or North Carolina fishing license if you plan to fish inside the national park. Fishing licenses can be purchased online, they are not sold at any store in the park.
Views along Laurel FallsEntering the park from GatlinburgMorning coffee at campPatrick along the Alum Cave trailCelebrating my birthday at campHorses in Cades Cove!Laurel FallsCelebrating my birthday at campViews along Alum Cave trailArch Rock in Alum Cave trailBirthday celebrations at campBridge views along Alum CaveHiking along Alum CaveTop of Bluffs along Alum Cave trail
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