April 16, 2015—
One of the contradictions of America’s national parks is the need for a personal vehicle to explore their pristine pleasures. Maine’s Acadia National Park has been a pioneering force in helping car-free visitors to fully experience its 49,000 ruggedly beautiful acres. The fare-free, propane-powered Island Explorer bus network gives park visitors efficient access to all the glorious nooks and crannies of Mount Desert Island from June-October, no car necessary. The Island Explorer has served as a model for other parks contemplating how the public may continue to utilize the National Park System while curtailing environmental damage.
This year, Acadia National Park is taking its forward-thinking green initiatives a step further by prohibiting private vehicles for two days. May 16 and September 26, 2015 are the scheduled dates for car-free mornings. Outdoor enthusiasts may walk, run, bike, inline skate or skateboard the Park Loop Road without having to share the thoroughfares with cars.
The park’s entrance fee will be waived on both days, so you’ll save money in addition to helping protect the park’s natural resources.
Taste of Bar Harbor
If you’re able to visit on the May 16 car-free morning, you can combine the glories of Mother Nature with delights of an edible sort with the Taste of Bar Harbor food festival. Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia and its dynamic dining scene has long been a magnet for hungry travelers. Showcasing the culinary traditions and fresh flavors of Downeast Maine, Taste of Bar Harbor runs from May 14-17, 2015. Select happenings include Dessert Night on May 14 and the Chef’s Table five-course dinner on May 16.
Local restaurants will feature special prix fixe menus for $20.15 throughout the four days, so it’s an opportunity to experience what local farm-to-table and sea-to-table eateries are doing with the windfall of fresh, local ingredients.
For more information on Bar Harbor, read Outdoor Adventures On Mount Desert Island or visit barharborinfo.com.
Photo credit: Acadia Bike
Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow Allison at @gourmetrav.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram