Although Acadia is dazzling in summer, the park's beauty flourishes throughout the year. By land and by sea there is no such thing as an off-season at Acadia.

Prak Programs: Perhaps the best way to appreciate the park is in the company of a park ranger while enjoying one of the many guided group tours offered during the summer and fall months. Park rangers can help you better "read" the landscape, from its natural history, to the imprint man has left upon the land. Join a park ranger for a nature walk, a bridges tour, an evening star watch or a lecture about the park's geology. There are nature walks for children as well as ranger-led hikes up several mountains. For organized group tours, ask about the "Discover the Nature of Acadia" program. Please call (207) 288-3338 for more information. Some programs require reservations (no earlier than one week in advance). Check at Hulls Cove Visitor Center for current programs and schedules.

Amphitheater Programs: In the evening, Acadia's two campgrounds present free programs in their centrally located amphitheaters. Programs span a wide range of natural and cultural history topics (ideal for families). You do not have to be staying at the campgrounds to attend.

Bicycling: The only tough part about being a cyclist at Acadia is trying to decide which of the many roads to explore. Although Park Loop Road is open to cyclists, most opt, instead, for the carriage roads which are closed to auto traffic and offer a whole new look at Acadia. Many carriage roads are also ideal for wheelchair users. The roads, which wind through the eastern half of the island, are lined with broken stone and some sections are more suitable for mountain bikes than racing ones. Bikes are not allowed on hiking trails or off of designated roads. For more information, please pick up a copy of a park map. Bicycle guides are available for a fee at Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Bicycles can be rented in Bar Harbor. Please call Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce at (207) 288-5103 for more information.

Bird-Watching: Sieur de Monts Spring, Ship Harbor and Wonderland trails are all favorite bird-watching spots, as are the summits of Cadillac and Beech mountains during the fall hawk migration. Ask at a park visitor center about ranger-led hawk watching. Birding is at its peak from late May through September, but there is never a shortage of birds at Acadia.

Boat Cruises: Some of the best views of Acadia are to be had from the ocean. Out on the open waters of Frenchman Bay, gazing back at Acadia's granite headlands, you'll understand why French explorer Samuel Champlain named the island l'Isles des Monts-déserts, or Islands of the Barren Mountains. A cruise is also an opportunity to learn about Acadia's marine life, from lobsters to harbor seals to pelagic birds. Dress warmly and bring along a pair of binoculars. Available cruises include two park ranger-led nature cruises and trips to park-owned islands. Contact the cruise lines listed below or check at a visitor center for details and options. Many other cruises-whale watches, deep-sea fishing and lobster fishing-are also available through local charter boat companies. For more information on whale watching, please call the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Co. at (207) 288-2336 or visit www.whalesrus.com.

Islesford Historical Cruise: This three-hour cruise includes some of Somes Sound and a stop at Little Cranberry Island's Islesford Historical Museum. Its collection documents Mount Desert Island's fishing and seafaring heritage. Please call (207) 276-5352 for more information.

Schooner Cruise: Set sail on a four-masted schooner for a cruise along the rocky coastline of Acadia. Please call Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce at (207) 288-5103 for more information.

Fishing: Fishing is allowed on all of Acadia's ponds and lakes, although the Tarn, located at the foot of Dorr Mountain, is limited to senior citizens and children under 16. Land-locked salmon and brook trout can be caught in the larger lakes. A state fishing license is required for freshwater fishing, but not for ocean fishing. Please see Park Regulations for more information.

Horseback Riding: For park visitors traveling with their own horses, Acadia's carriage roads make ideal riding trails. For additional information, please see Carriage Roads.

Kayaking: Whether you are a novice or a skilled paddler, you can enjoy sea-kayaking in the waters around Mount Desert Island. Guided tours of varying lengths are offered, including overnight camping trips to remote island campsites. Please call Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce at (207) 288-5103 for more information.

The Nature Center is located near Abbe Museum. It has several natural history exhibits, guidebooks and brochures. Children (as well as adults) are encouraged to record wildlife sightings in the center's logbook. Open weekends in May and daily from mid-June through late September.

Little Cranberry Island has fascinating exhibits about New England's maritime history. It is open daily from mid-June through September. Please call (207) 288-3338 for more information.

Lifelike exhibits of animals native to Mount Desert Island (and the surrounding waters) are mounted at the College of the Atlantic's Natural History Museum, located on Route 3 in Bar Harbor. Children will enjoy the hands-on discovery room and summer field studies programs. Please call (207) 288-5395 or (207) 288-5015 for more information.

Birds of a different feather can be found at the Wendell Gilley Museum, located on Route 102 in the town of Southwest Harbor (on the west side of Mount Desert Island). This small gem of a gallery features exhibitions and demonstrations on the Down East art of bird wood-carving. Gilley, a Southwest Harbor native, gained a national reputation for his exquisite wood carvings. It is open from May to December. Please call (207) 244-7555 for more information.

The Mount Desert Oceanarium on Clark Point Road in Southwest Harbor has more than 20 tanks brimming with sea cucumbers, moon snails, horseshoe crabs and more. The Oceanarium Lobster Museum on Route 3 in Bar Harbor focuses on the lobstering industry. Please call (207) 244-7330 for more information.

The Thomas Bay Marsh Walk takes you over the salt marsh to a two-deck viewing tower with a telescope for observing a rich variety of birds and aquatic animals.

You'll find picnic areas at Thompson Island, Bear Brook, Fabbri, Seawall and Pretty Marsh on Mount Desert Island and at Frazer Point on the Schoodic Peninsula. Each has picnic tables, fire grills, water fountains (except Seawall) and rest rooms. Picnicking is permitted elsewhere in the park, provided visitors observe Acadia's carry-in, carry-out policy.

Rock Climbing: This adventurous sport is increasing in popularity at Acadia. Mount Desert offers lofty challenges for individuals or groups. You can climb Otter Cliffs, 60-foot rocky sea cliffs overlooking the ocean, or the South Wall of Mount Champlain, a 200-foot scaling up a granite mountain face. There are no outfitters in the park, but you can hire a guide. Please call the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce at (207) 288-5103 for more information.

Self-Guided Tours: Eastern National has prepared a cassette tape tour of Acadia National Park. The 56-mile driving tour (which can take between four and six hours to complete) covers the entire Park Loop Road, as well as Sargent Drive along lovely Somes Sound. Scenic points of interest are highlighted and the park's natural and cultural history is explained. The tape may be rented or purchased at the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. Please call (207) 288-4988 for more information.

Fall is foliage season at Acadia and a great time to tour the park. The weather, of course, has the final say when it comes to timing and intensity-warm days and cold nights make for a quicker color change and more brilliant reds, oranges and yellows. Generally, the leaves are at their peak during the first two weeks of October. The Maine Department of Conservation issues weekly foliage reports between mid-September and mid-October, describing the amount of color and leaf fall in seven separate regions of the state. Acadia is part of Zone 2. Please call (800) 533-9595 for more information.

Swimming: Swimming is permitted at Sand Beach (saltwater) and Echo Lake (freshwater). Ocean temperatures average an invigorating 55°F to 60°F. Both beaches have lifeguards on duty during the summer.