After a leisurely lunch in Winter Harbor, we crossed onto the Schoodic Peninsula to explore the quieter side of Acadia National Park. Unlike the busy roads around Bar Harbor, Schoodic offered a slower pace, with rugged granite shoreline, crashing surf, and wide-open views of the Atlantic.

We followed the Schoodic Loop Road, stopping often to photograph the coastline as waves pounded against the rocks. The cool breeze, the sound of the surf, and the absence of crowds made it easy to linger at each overlook and simply take in the landscape.

Before heading back, we stopped at Winter Harbor Provisions to pick up a few local ingredients for dinner. That evening’s meal—shrimp, smoked sausage, mushrooms, onions, and pasta with a locally inspired sauce and Calabrian chili crisp—was the perfect way to end a day spent exploring one of Acadia’s quieter corners.