Originally posted in 2012, I decided to edit and share again. We all have our favorite vacation destination. Ours is New England, specifically we LOVE Maine! In the early to mid 80s, DH got interested in New England. It took us five years before we actually moved from wishful thinking to actually doing anything about it. June 1988 we celebrated our 10th anniversary and we wanted an extraordinary vacation. We committed ourselves in April of that year to visit the Pine Tree State with our 11-month old baby girl, DD#1.
Our destination was Boothbay Harbor, Maine but we planned to visit nearby states. We drove nearly non-stop, except for filling the tank and bathroom stops, the entire 2,000 miles. We capitalized on our time when not on the road ~ diaper changes, got snacks out, breast-fed, swapped drivers, … “How did DD#1 do on the long trip,” you ask. She did beautifully!
We crossed the Maine state line 18-hours after leaving Knoxville. We stopped at the Welcome Center and I’ll never forget that moment. The woodsy pine smell filled my nostrils and the gentle waves of the morning fog rolling in made me feel like I was in a story tale. The nippy air felt more like fall than early June. Unprepared for the temperature change, I left Knoxville 90º conditions wearing only shorts and a t-shirt. but I did pack accordingly for Maine’s unpredictable weather swings and despite the chill against my skin it was exhilarating…almost breath-taking.
Arriving in Boothbay Harbor a couple of hours later, entering the quaint seaside village transported us into another world. The absences of city noise was almost deafening, but the peacefulness engulfed my soul with a relaxing sense. Our hotel was right on the harbor and the ocean was literally under us. We had a spacious corner room with windows on both sides with two king size beds. Exhausted, we collapsed into bed for a few hours. I count myself blessed that our baby girl who slept most of the 20+ hours trip; rested quietly beside me until I got up refreshed.
We spent the next 9-days eating blueberry pancakes for breakfast and fresh coastal seafood for dinner, scouting and visiting lighthouses, a day trips to Bar Harbor to visit Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor or Mt. Washington Inn in New Hampshire, and having ice cream at the world famous Ben & Jerry’s in Vermont. This was the first of three trips to Maine. We returned in 1997 on business and again in 2004 for our 20th anniversary; all as nice as the first. In fact, when we talk sometimes about our next vacation we speak of going back to The Pine Tree state, our favorite vacation destination. Who knows… maybe next time, we’ll get to see the ever elusive moose.
What’s your favorite vacation spot?
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*none of these images belong to me. they are on loan from various internet sources*