Acadia National Park

When you visit Acadia National Park, you become a pioneer: Each trail leads to untamed, rocky land that is begging to be photographed. Granite cliffs with sharp edges and jutting spruce trees on top are battered by cobalt seas. At the same time that peregrine falcons are screaming down at you from the sky, harbor seals are lounging on abandoned slabs of bedrock off the coast.

The inland forests and ponds are surrounded by rocky pathways and old carriage tracks that demand to be explored. The park, which obviously caters to the usual outdoor lover, places a strong emphasis on action-packed pursuits like horseback riding, biking, hiking, and even rock climbing.

You get full access to Acadia's more than 47,000 acres, including all of its hiking routes and natural features, for a very reasonable charge. When you need a vacation from the vast outdoors, Mount Desert Island's northeastern corner holds the picturesque New England village of Bar Harbor, Maine.

Rankings:

• #3 in Best Places to Visit in October
  
• #3 in Best Places to Visit in Maine
  
• #5 in Best Maine Beaches
  
• #7 in Best Weekend Getaways in New England
  
• #8 in Best Fall Vacations
  
• #9 in Best Adventure Vacations in the U.S.
  
• #11 in Best Cheap Family Vacations

Location: Maine