by Amy | Jun 7, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
We split our Maine vacation into three big chunks. After our day in Portsmouth we drove to Boothbay Harbor, where we would spend the first phase of our trip.
Boothbay is an active fishing community. Like a lot of coastal Maine villages, Boothbay stays pretty quiet in the months and days before Memorial Day. Then, suddenly it blows up into a bustling “summer town,” filled with tourists, as well as folks coming up to spend the warm months in their quaint summer cottages.
Derek and I were in Boothbay in the days just before the holiday, and happened to be there during unseasonalbly chilly weather. This meant we pretty much had the run of the place. We stayed three nights at Captain Sawyer’s Place, an sea captain’s home built in the 1800’s. Now it functions as a bed and breakfast…and it looks pretty darn sweet.
The room was comfortable, and we were the only occupants two of our three nights. Staying at Captain Sawyer’s felt like staying over with an older relative that you don’t know very well. Kim, the owner, was eager to help us decide on fun things to do, since the town was not officially “open for the season.” She also made the most amazing breakfasts. We were so full every morning we usually didn’t eat lunch until around 2pm.
Our first day in Boothbay was well spent. We started by heading to the Coastal Main Botanical Gardens. I was a little skeptical at first, since I felt like it might be boring, or {heaven forbid} an old person’s activity. But Kim insisted that it was amazing. So we went.
It was a great choice. Our visit to the garden stands out as one of my absolute favorite activities of our whole ten day trip. It’s that great.
The gardens are wonderfully laid out and accessible to everyone. Even people with a bad back. The day we visited, there was a huge field trip going on. Kids were spilling out of the specially designed “Children’s Garden” into whimsical tree houses, fairy woods, and other pathways. We overheard more than one kid turn to a friend and say, “This place is awesome!” I couldn’t agree more.
The Coastal Botanical Gardens own 250 acres. That’s a lot of space. You are free to walk to the more distant parts of the exhibits…or {if your back has issues and you have a husband who insists you “take it easy”} you can hitch a ride on one of their shuttles.
After the gardens, we took a drive down the coast to Pemaquid Point to see what the Internet told me was one of Maine’s most idyllic lighthouses.
On the way, we stopped so Derek could eat Maine’s #1 lobster roll from Red’s Eats. I had chicken fingers. I don’t like sea food. Don’t judge me.
The lighthouse at Pemaquid Point was idyllic, as promised. And again, on a cold, rainy May afternoon we were pretty much the only visitors. The older men working at the site as museum docents and guides were helpful and glad to tell us all about lobster traps, the specially cut glass that helps a small bulb power a huge lighthouse beacon, and life as a light keeper.
I love talking to locals. And these men were definitely local. They told us the best places to eat, complimented our trip plan when we told them that we were heading to Acadia then up to Moosehead Lake. “That’s the way to do Maine. If you’ve only got 10 days, that’s the way to do it.”
On our way back to Boothbay, Derek spotted a sign for another historic fort—so obviously, we had to stop. It’s Fort William Henry…in case any of you are interested. Click the photo for more on that.
The next day, we decided to get a look at Boothbay Harbor, from the harbor. During the high tourist season all kinds of water cruises leave the bay. You can ride a wind jammer, go on a puffin cruise, or take chartered fishing trips. But before Memorial Day, your options are limited. The only boat running was a ferry going from Boothbay Harbor to Squirrel Island. Not easily downed, we bought passage and rode along.
The captain told us that the trip would mostly serve to ferry folks to the island that were coming out for the weekend to open up their summer cottages. As we waited to leave, we watched as grills, pool toys, luggage, and lawn furniture was loaded onto the boat. Soon people filed in too. They all seemed to know each other and eagerly chattered away about how excited they were for another summer. How they were just chomping at the bit to get back to the cottage.
Now, let me just say, this word “cottage” should be taken lightly. Very lightly. These cottages that lined the shore could swallow up my little Practically Canadian home and still have 1500 square feet to spare. In some cases, the wrap around porches alone probably held the same square footage as the main level of our house. It was wild.
That day we ate lunch at the Bridge Street Cafe, where we picked our waitresses brain about this lifestyle of “summering” in Maine. She told us she was 19 and that her family had always come to their cottage for the summer for as long as she could remember. Her family lived in California, where her dad worked for IBM. During the warm months, they came to Boothbay Harbor, where he worked from home at the large cottage they had inherited. “That’s pretty much everybody’s story. The cottage was a great-grandfather’s. They family keeps coming up here, because that’s what they’ve always done,
she told us nonchalantly.
Wild.
After walking the streets of the quaint downtown, we took a drive around Southport Island to gawk at more summer homes and do a little jaw-dropping at the coastal scenes. We took a short walk along a nature preserve. We pulled off to walk a beach that looked out at another lighthouse.
When we were tired and hungry, we headed back to town to change and head to dinner. This was our anniversary and it was fabulous. That night, we ate at the Boothbay Bistro, where we were {again} among only a small handful of locals eating before the holiday rush began.
The next day we took our time heading out. I got coffee in town, we watched the boats ready for the first day of the official tourist season. Then I pulled on my purple sweatshirt and we took off toward the next phase of our adventure: Acadia National Park.
Amy
by Amy | Jun 6, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
So upon finding my suitcase was filled with a lot of purple clothing, inappropriate for the weather conditions, I did manage to dress and we spent most of the day in Portsmouth, NH.
{Image source here.}
Let me tell you, that was a majorly good decision. Portsmouth is, #1 adorable; #2 delicious; and #3 pretty darn walkable. I highly recommend that you visit. I’ll tell you how we spent the day, but I’m sure there are loads more fun things to do that we missed out on.
We started our day off at the Friendly Toast. I tried to get some photos to show you, but honestly, it was a little dim and I was way too busy nom-noming on some of the most amazing pancakes I’ve ever had.
So when you go, remember–you need to go to Portsmouth–start your day here. These beautiful photos are from their lovely website. You should go and look at their other spiffy photos. And their menu while you’re at it.
After breakfast we took a stroll around town. We didn’t make it too far though. Just a few doors down from The Toast. A little place called Diversions. AKA–our paradise.
You guys, it is a game store! Not a game store like those places that call them game stores, but really just sell Dungeons and Dragons stuff. This is a legit board game a puzzle store. It is so amazing. Games that we thought were discontinued, games that we’d never heard of, games we added to our Christmas list. We like games. And the best part of all, was that they had a big shelf with “demo games,” and tables set up. So you could try out a new game before committing to buying it.
AND–they have weekly gaming meet ups. So. Cool. We spent 90 minutes playing games and left with just one–only because we flew and didn’t have the space for more.
Next we walked the town a little more. We took a stroll through the Book Bar. Way cute and a must-stop for book lovers.
A big highlight for me was Prescott Park. Although we were there pretty early in the season, and not all the flowers were blooming it was still breathtaking. No matter how fancy my new smart-phone is, it really didn’t do it justice. And I left my “fancy” camera in the car {WHY?} So I got these photos from online sources to show you the park in all it’s glory. Click the images to see their original sources.
From Portsmouth we continued our journey, after all, we did travel east with the intention of going to Maine. We crossed over to Kittery, ME, which proved to have something for each of us. Outlets for me, since I packed like an idiot. And, historic Fort McClary for Derek. {Little did I know at this point we were embarking on a fort tour of Maine…}
Oh, and while we were doing the military history thing…we went ahead and toured the USS Albacore, a retired experimental submarine. Even though it smelled really weird, it was pretty interesting {and cheap.} I don’t know–Derek and I are easy to please, so it’s hard for us not to have a good time.
It was a great way to kick off the trip. Tomorrow I’ll tell you about our days and nights in the Boothbay Harbor region…and my new understanding of what defines a “summer cottage.” Stay tuned!
Amy
PS–looking for more fun in Portsmouth? We got some of our ideas from this article–and I’d bet the rest are just as fabulous.
by Amy | Jun 3, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Adventure
Sometimes moments in my life pass by in a blur. I remember bits and pieces of them, but the details are all foggy. Then I snap to it, look back and wonder, “What the heck was I thinking.” A moment like that pretty much kicked off my vacation just over a week ago.
The day before we left we realized that we had pretty much no clean clothes. I did laundry all day. That evening Derek folded while I I hosted a social for the spouses of Derek’s squadron. It was really fun. I love seeing all those awesome ladies. It was a paint-along party. Our art turned out lovely.
After everyone left I was exhausted, my back was killing me, and I was dreading the 4:45 wake up call the following morning in order to catch our 6am flight. Luckily, I have an amazing husband. All our toiletries were packed, all my laundry was folded and sitting on the bed. I just needed to pick out clothes for the trip and put them in the suitcase.
“I’m so tired. I don’t even know what the weather is going to be like. I hate packing. I have no idea what to bring. What should I bring? I can’t do this.” I whined that to Derek upon walking into our room and throwing myself down on the floor.
“Ok–ay. Well, the weather is going to be chilly. Pretty much like it’s been here the last two weeks. And–this is what you’ve worn the last two weeks. So just pack some of that.” Derek is always nice and logical. He pointed at the stack on the bed. It was a good point. There were lots of basics, solid t-shirts, a couple sweaters, a cardigan or two.
After that I don’t remember much about the rest of the night. It’s all just a blur.
The following night we stayed in Portsmouth, NH. When I got up the following morning and tried to get dressed I was shocked. Just shocked. When I looked through the suitcase I just simply could not believe what I was seeing.
Hardly any of the clothes that had been on the bed had made it into the suitcase. I had brought the appropriate number of bottoms: two pairs of jeans, two pairs of leggings and two pairs of shorts–enough for a 10 day trip. But the tops–oh, the tops. Here’s what ended up in the bag.
Okay, setting aside the fact that I packed every purple article of clothing I own–why, I have no clue–just look at what I brought. Those two, nearly identical, purple tank tops have actually been in my Good will stack. They are ratty gym tops that have stains on them. I only wear them when I am completely out of clothes…and never if I’m teaching in front of a class.
Why that dressy top? No clue. We were going to a national park. And why, oh why are there only a few things? No basic long sleeves, no cardigans, no flannel button downs. And, what did I think I would wear those purple shorts with? One of the purple tank tops? Am I Grimace from the McDonald Play Place?
I sat in front of the suitcase for a long while. Just in utter disbelief. I didn’t even bring hiking socks. WHAT? Just low cut running socks.
I just really don’t know what happened.
I got dressed. Later–again, I have a great husband–we made a pit stop at an amazing outlet mall in Kittery, ME. Old Navy and the Columbia outlet set me up with more appropriate attire for the rest of the trip, but I’m still just really unsure about how I ended up with such a poorly packed bag. So as the rest of the week goes on and I show you photos from the trip–don’t judge me. I’m wearing that purple sweatshirt in nearly every photo.
Amy
by Amy | Jun 3, 2014 | Blog, The Art of Gathering
As you know, school is wrapping up. I know of a few schools that have let out already, but most of the teachers in my life are still at work this week. So, it’s crunch time.
If you haven’t been trolling Pinterest for months to find and create a super heart-warming gift for your kids teacher {or your bestie who happens to be a teacher} don’t sweat my pet. I’ve got a couple sure-to-please ideas for you.
First of all. This is my sister. She is a kindergarten teacher and a genius with children. At field day her kids found a lonely baby duck. Which she took home to my parents. Together she and my dad managed to get it adopted by another duck family on the river they live on. Amazing.
Second. I wasn’t even going to write this post. I thought it was too late. But then she called me on Saturday, raving about an amazing gift she got from a student. She described it as the best teacher gift she’s ever gotten. Here it is.
Pretty simple. Pretty smart. Tea container, drink mix, cute cup, good magazine, pretty napkins, sunscreen. Awesome.
Just for kicks I also asked a couple of her fellow teachers what a great, last minute gift would be. Their unanamous answer: A gift card with a note from the student. It’s just that simple. Another teacher approved idea is to give something for the classroom. Some teachers have a wish list online, so ask about that. Or buy something you notice they need. I’ve yet to meet a teacher that doesn’t enjoy a good Smencil or Sharpie. Or get a classroom toy {depending on grade level, of course}. Erin replaces her stock of baby dolls every year, other classrooms may have puzzles or educational games for the kids on hand.
Here’s what they said to avoid. Figurines. Knick nacks. Used items. Bad, Dollar Tree lotion. Food flavored lollipops. {Once Erin got one that was labeled in another language, seemed to be chicken flavored. That’s real. It happened.}
Happy End of the Year!
Amy
