Redwood Creek: Top 25 Picnic Destinations

		ACADIA NATIONAL PARK: Relics and Rocky Coastlines
		THE SETTING People come to Maine to unwind, and that's just what Acadia National Park is all about. Some 5,000 years ago humans first roamed the pristine land and rocky coastlines that are now Acadia. Located in Bar Harbor, Maine, the park encompasses some 48,000 acres of granite-domed mountains, woods, ocean shoreline, lakes and ponds. Such diverse types of habitat make Acadia a haven for wildlife and plants. Visitors can explore the rugged beauty of Mount Desert Island from two distinct road systems, a 60-mile network of carriage roads and a motor-road system, both funded by John D. Rockefeller Jr. Picnic areas are scattered around the park, but you'll find some of the best at Bear Brook, where you can lunch in a quiet wooded area, at Fabbri, near the rocky shore of the ocean, or on Thompson Island, which has beautiful ocean views. As an ultra-romantic option, you might want to find a secluded spot on the rocks of the shore, on Sand Beach, or on top of a mountain at the end of a remote hiking trail.
		WHAT TO SEE AND DO The first national park established in the east, Acadia offers outdoor enthusiasts plenty of options, including kayaking, swimming, fishing and boating. Rock climbers can scale Otter, a 60-foot rocky sea cliff overlooking the ocean, or the South Wall of Mount Champlain, a 200-foot ascent up a granite mountain face. Acadia's 45 miles of carriage roads are ideal for biking, walking and hiking; more than 115 miles of trails offer spectacular ocean and woodland views. Camping is available year round at Blackwoods and Seawall campgrounds, and no visit to the park is complete without some wildlife viewing. The best time to see beavers is at dusk when they come out to forage and cut trees - your best bet is to catch them at Beaver Dam Pond, near the Bear Brook picnic area. For a closer look at Acadia's wildlife, visit one of the three nearby museums and the aquarium.
		HOT TIPS In the summer, take the Island Explorer shuttle bus to reach your favorite hiking trail or carriage road. By automobile visitors can drive the 27-mile Park Loop Road, which includes views of some of the most dramatic scenery along the eastern seaboard. A variety of Ranger-led programs -- bird walks, boat cruises, evening slide programs, mountain hikes, stargazing and nature walks -- are available from late May to mid-October. Check signs at Ranger Stations for road and trail closings. Food may be purchased in nearby island towns. Picnicking that involves the use of grills or camp stoves is permitted only in designated picnic areas.
		PHOTO OPS The park is chock full of photogenic sites, including 26 mountains, several bridges and 22 lakes and ponds. Photography buffs won't want to miss Carriage and Bubble Pond bridges, the Cadillac and Champlain Mountains, and Double Deck Road on Ocean Drive. Don't pass up a shot of Great Head, the highest headland on the Atlantic Coast, as well as photos of the lush Spruce Forest. If you're visiting the park in the fall, be sure to photograph the colorful foliage in Upper Hadlock Pond and Parkman Mountain. if you're lucky, some of the 270 species of birds -- as well as the bats, coyotes, red squirrels and other native mammals that lurk in the park - may be willing to pose for a picture.
		LOCAL SPECIALTIES Maine is known for lobster and other sea-dwelling fare, so be sure to stock your basket with some seafood specialty.