My partner and I spent 3 days exploring Acadia National Park. Next time, we'll do 4 things differently.

I’m many things, but I’ve never been a hiker.

This isn’t to say I don’t enjoy the outdoors — I love nothing more than a beach day spent in the sun with a good book and a quick dip in the ocean.

A walk through the woods, however, usually isn’t my speed.

So, when my boyfriend and I decided to plan a trip to Bar Harbor, Maine, in the summer of last year, I was skeptical about visiting Acadia National Park.

Still, Acadia is one of the area’s main attractions, so we knew we had to check it out.

To my surprise, the three-day trip changed my perspective on the outdoors.

I didn’t become a hiking aficionado overnight, but the scenery was beautiful, and I could’ve easily stayed longer.

Although we had a great time, we definitely made some mistakes as total national-park newbies — and next time we visit Acadia, we’ll do a lot of things differently.