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James Kaiser Reveals the Best of Acadia National Park
Maine Native Releases New Edition of Bestselling Guidebook

Ten years ago, James Kaiser was a recent college graduate with no job and no job prospects. But he had an idea. "I wanted to write and publish a guidebook to Mount Desert Island," he says. The island, home to Acadia National Park, is the most popular destination in Maine. Kaiser grew up near Mount Desert Island, and he spent his childhood summers exploring the park. "I know exactly where to find the best of everything," he says.

In 2000, Kaiser self-published Acadia: The Complete Guide. "The first edition wasn't particularly attractive," he admits, "but it was filled with great insider tips, and it sold very well." He updated the book in 2005, improving the layout with maps and color photos, and it soon became the bestselling guide to Acadia. This spring, Kaiser is releasing the latest edition of Acadia: The Complete Guide which offers fully updated travel information, new photos, and expanded chapters on the island's history, wildlife and geology.

Since publishing his first Acadia guidebook, Kaiser has gone on to write successful guidebooks to some of America's most popular national parks, including Grand Canyon and Yosemite. But Acadia, he says, is unique. "At most national parks, you have amazing outdoor scenery, but there's not much in the way of human culture. Acadia is one of America's most beautiful national parks, but there are also these terrific coastal towns right outside the park. You've got your pick of fabulous hotels and restaurants."

Knowing where to go for lobster, in Kaiser's opinion, is essential. "The best, freshest lobster is always served at low-key lobster shacks that are a bit out of the way," he reveals. "I cringe whenever I see someone wander into a touristy restaurant with a giant sign out front that says 'Lobster Dinner.' That's the worst place to eat lobster!"

So what does Kaiser love most about Mount Desert Island? "The hiking," he says. "The island is home to more than a dozen mountain peaks, and they offer some of the best coastal hikes in America. On a clear day, the views over the Gulf of Maine are incredible. You can see offshore islands, lighthouses, sailboats. It's like a dream." Acadia National Park also offers biking, rock climbing, and sea kayaking. "If you like the outdoors," says Kaiser, "you could easily spend a month here and not run out of things to do."

Best of all, many of the island's top attractions are also the least expensive. "You don't have to spend a lot of money to enjoy Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park," concludes Kaiser. "You just need to plan your trip wisely."

 

Acadia: The Complete Guide
By James Kaiser
Destination Press
ISBN: 978-0-9825172-0-8
$22.95

 

Bio: James Kaiser is an award-winning travel writer and photographer. When not trotting the globe on assignment, he writes guidebooks to U.S. national parks. In 2005 his book, Grand Canyon: The Complete Guide, won the Benjamin Franklin Award for Best Full- Color Travel Guide and the Independent Publisher Award for Best Travel Guide. In 2006 he was a photographer for Yahoo! Sports at the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

 

Download High Resolution Publicity Photos of James Kaiser

James taking photos in Acadia National Park

 

Suggested Interview Questions

1. James, you're an author, photographer, and publisher. Which of those roles means the most to you, and why?

2. What inspired you to create Acadia: The Complete Guide?

3. When did you first discover Acadia National Park, and how did you get to know it?

4. What do you like best about Acadia?

5. Besides Acadia, what else is there to see on Mount Desert Island?

6. For those who aren't fond of outdoor sports, or who have perhaps aged out of hiking and other physical activities, what might be attractive about an Acadia vacation?

7. To what extent is Acadia family-friendly, and on the other hand, does it offer anything in particular for adults who are traveling without children?

8. How much does it cost to spend, say, a week in Acadia, and how does that compare to other vacation spots on the Eastern Seaboard?

9. As someone who grew up near Mount Desert Island, can you describe the locals?

10. What's the most interesting historical note you've discovered about Mount Desert Island?

11. How's the shopping in Acadia, and what would you tell bargain hunters to look for?

12. What's the best piece of advice you can offer about buying a lobster roll on Mount Desert Island, and can you describe the perfect lobster roll?