New England Road Trip

A 9-day adventure by Kelli Read more

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Trip start
July 26, 2017
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Tuesday, July 25, 2017
☁️ 15 °C
Altitude: 43 ft
United States Pemberton Square 42.360069, -71.06005142°21’36” N 71°3’36” W
Boston, Massachusetts
July 25, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
We had a day planned in Boston before setting off on our road trip through Maine. No trip to Boston would be complete without a trip to Quincy Market. The amount of food in this place is overwhelming. I had my eye on one thing and didn’t deviate...Buffalo Chicken Macaroni and Cheese. OMG it was amazing!

After stuffing ourselves full of food, we walked around Christopher Columbus Park and enjoyed the scenic harbor.

Next up was Old South Church, one of the oldest churches in the US. The architecture was stunning.
We wandered through Boston Common, posed with some frogs and encountered some very friendly squirrels.

We found ourselves at Fenway Park before finding the only REI in Boston!

A quick stop at our hotel before heading to dinner. A friend recommended Giacomos in the South End. I ordered the special of the day - Basil Pesto Ravioli. It was delicious!

We didn’t want the day to end so made the trek across the river to see Harvard. I think we automatically got smarter just by walking around the campus. Instead of a nightcap, we got ice cream at one of the local creameries.

Last stop of the night was Harvard Bridge where we witnessed a gorgeous sunset. Great way to end the day!Read more
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Day 1
Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 9:00 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 43 ft
United States Pemberton Square 42.360069, -71.06005142°21’36” N 71°3’36” W
Boston
July 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
We had a few hours to kill before picking up our rental car. We packed up and headed to a local coffee house for breakfast.

On our walk to getting the car, we were lucky enough to pass Granary Burying Ground, the final resting place of several historical figures. Most noteably is Paul Revere. Placing a penny on his grave supposedly brings good luck. My personal favorite was John Hancock’s tombstone. It made me chuckle!

We finally made it to the rental car location. I couldn’t resist a photo in front of the Piperi sign. Back to the room to pack up before heading north. Goodbye Boston! We will be back!Read more
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Day 1
Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 56 ft
United States North Church of Portsmouth 43.076768, -70.75655543°4’36” N 70°45’24” W
Portsmouth
July 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
The next stop on our road trip was Portsmouth, New Hampshire! We almost skipped this little town, but we ended up stopping based on a recommendation from my sister. I am so glad we did!

We had an awesome lunch at a cute little brewery in town. It was the best fried pork tenderloin sandwich that I have ever eaten!

Afterwards, we spent about an hour popping in and out of the local stores. I even came across a Wyland wall! This one needs a bit of work to restore it to its original beauty. Portsmouth was great! So glad we stopped here on our way to Maine!Read more
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Day 1
Wednesday, July 26, 2017 at 2:00 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 20 ft
United States Fort McClary State Park 43.081974, -70.7094843°4’55” N 70°42’34” W
Fort McClary State Historic Site
July 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
We took the scenic route into Maine and stopped at Fort McClary State Historic Site. This little fortification was used throughout the 19th century to protect the harbor in Portsmouth. It was small in size but big on views. It was our first taste of the Maine coastline.

We couldn’t resist exploring the fort sitting on top of the hill! One of my favorite pictures taken was the views seen through the windows.

This little place was a great introduction to Maine!Read more
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Day 1
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 46 ft
United States Yorks Wild Kingdom 43.183964, -70.60773543°11’2” N 70°36’28” W
Cape Neddick Lighthouse
July 26, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Our next destination was the scenic Cape Neddick Lighthouse. This is an American icon, and a classic example of a lighthouse. The Voyager spacecraft actually carries a photo of this lighthouse as an example of Earth’s most prominent structures!
Unfortunately, the island is inaccessible to the public. We still enjoyed the scenic views from the coastline. The photo opportunities were endless.

After soaking in this majestic sight, we travelled into Kennebunkport to find a highly rated ice cream shop. The Goat Cheese Blackberry Chambord was worth the trip!Read more
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Day 2
Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 7:00 AM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 98 ft
United States Oak Hill 43.595891, -70.32563343°35’45” N 70°19’32” W
The Holy Donut
July 27, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
My donut obsession had us stopping at The Holy Donut for breakfast. Luckily, it was only a few minutes from our campground. Their claim to fame is the potato donut. I chose a blueberry one with a sugary, lemon glaze. It provided the bit of energy I needed to make the 3+ hour drive to Acadia National Park!Read more
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Day 2
Thursday, July 27, 2017 at 11:00 AM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 43 ft
United States Eckankar-The Religious Light Church 44.801602, -68.77133444°48’6” N 68°46’17” W
Lumberjack Man
July 27, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
We took the fast track to Acadia by way of I-95 and Bangor, Maine. The only point of interest in that town is the Paul Bunyan statue. Apparently, Minnesota and Maine fight for the honor of being the birthplace of this mythical figure! Who doesn’t love a lumberjack man?!?Read more
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Day 2
Thursday, July 27, 2017
🌫 17 °C
Altitude: 95 ft
United States Sand Point 44.436947, -68.27069944°26’13” N 68°16’15” W
Acadia Camp Life
July 27, 2017 in the United States ⋅ 🌫 17 °C
Our accommodations for our two nights in Acadia involved a Kingdom 6 and an oceanfront campsite.
I loved this campground. It was quiet and offered clean, hot showers and laundry services. It was also pretty incredible watching sunset from your tent at night and waking up to ocean views every morning!Read more
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Day 3
Friday, July 28, 2017 at 8:30 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 331 ft
United States Enoch Mountain 44.339955, -68.18892944°20’24” N 68°11’20” W
Beehive Trail
July 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
We were up bright and early to ensure we had no issues finding parking at our first destination. I chose the Beehive Trail because it was not recommended for people who feared heights. This hike required you to use handrails and ladders before reaching the summit. Once at the top, you are rewarded with gorgeous views of Sand Beach and the surrounding area.

Although it was rated as difficult, we had no issues with this trail. I loved all the climbing!Read more
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Day 3
Friday, July 28, 2017 at 10:30 AM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 144 ft
United States Sand Beach 44.329659, -68.17840644°19’47” N 68°10’42” W
Great Head Trail
July 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
After the Beehive Trail, we headed over to the Great Head Trail which was a short walk away. This hike was totally different. It was a leisurely walk along the cliffs with views at every turn. This trail was way more scenic than the first and was definitely my favorite that we did in Acadia.Read more
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Day 3
Friday, July 28, 2017 at 11:00 AM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 20 ft
United States Sand Beach 44.329464, -68.18353344°19’46” N 68°11’1” W
Sand Beach
July 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
We couldn’t resist the opportunity to head back to Sand Beach to soak in the sun and the gorgeous landscape. The back of the beach provided spectacular views of the Beehive Trail that we did earlier that morning.

All that hiking warranted a little bit of beach time rest and relaxation. The water looked so inviting. Looks were deceiving. The sign posted as you entered the beach area welcomed visitors to 56 degree water!

Did that stop us from going in? No way...it was something we had to cross off our list experiences. Yes, it was freezing!Read more
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Day 3
Friday, July 28, 2017 at 2:00 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 341 ft
United States Jordan Pond 44.331142, -68.25452444°19’52” N 68°15’16” W
Jordan Pond
July 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
Next on the Acadia National Park tour was a visit to Jordan Pond. This place was packed, and we got lucky that we found a parking spot realtively quickly.

The hike was a 3.5 mile loop around a scenic pond. Very easy walk with little to no topography change. We stopped along the way to take photos and enjoy the views.

I couldn’t resist the opportunity to go rock hopping. I made it to the big boulder without falling into water!

At the end of the hike, we stopped at the Jordan Pond House where we enjoyed their famous popovers and jam while overlooking the lake. They were delicious!Read more
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Day 3
Friday, July 28, 2017 at 7:00 PM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 56 ft
United States Emery Cove 44.432465, -68.29649444°25’57” N 68°17’47” W
Acadia Camp Life - Part 2
July 28, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
After a long day exploring Acadia, we headed back to our campsite. I relaxed by the water in my hammock, watching as the sun slowly started falling from the sky.

Our last night in Acadia was celebrated with a spectacular, cloud filled sunset.Read more
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Day 4
Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 7:00 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 1,079 ft
United States The Whitecap 44.359842, -68.23130544°21’35” N 68°13’53” W
Cadillac Mountain
July 29, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
One thing that all of the Acadia travel blogs recommend is hiking Cadillac Mountain at sunrise. With an elevation of 1,530 feet, its summit is the highes around.

There are two ways to do this. The first is to do the 7+ mile loop, starting early enough to make sure that you get to the summit in plenty of time to see the sun rise. The second is to drive to the top of the mountain and walk the short distance to secure your front row seat to what is considered to be the nation’s first sunrise.

We opted to take the easy way and got up super early to make sure we found the best spot to witness the event. We were joined with dozens of other people with the same idea!

We waited around for over 30 minutes. Thankfully, we dressed warm and brought a blanket. It was way colder than we thought!

Afterwards, we headed into Bar Harbor for a quick breakfast at Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast before starting our drive Southto Portland.Read more
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Day 4
Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 8:30 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 246 ft
United States Fort Knox State Historic Site 44.565292, -68.8075344°33’55” N 68°48’27” W
Penobscot Narrows Bridge
July 29, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
We made a quick pit stop at Fort Knox State Historic Park on our way out of Acadia. The big attraction here is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. The observation tower at the top wasn’t open when we got there so we settled for a few photos before continuing on our journey.

We had a little run in with the police not too long after we left the park. It was early in the morning, and they wanted to make sure my legal pass wasn’t done under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It took some convincing, especially since I had no idea if we were headed to Rockport or Rockland. The officer didn’t appreciate our idea of a road trip!

After we were left off with a warning, we stopped in a small little town to collect sea glass and stretch our legs.

Next stop...Rockland!Read more
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Day 4
Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 12:00 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 62 ft
United States Ingraham Hill 44.09065, -69.11008244°5’26” N 69°6’36” W
Rockland, Maine
July 29, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
We arrived in Rockland around 11:00am. This sleepy town is well-known for its quaint boutiques and art galleries. We did check out one of the other big attractions, the Project Puffin Visitor Center. This was a small museum that gives you a quick lesson on Maine’s endangered sea birds.

We grabbed lunch at the Brass Compass Cafe, home to the famous Lobster Club Sandwich! The Bobby Flay Throwdow Winner was a must-try for Rick!

We were in no hurry to get to our next destination so decided to explore the beach. We spent over an hour searching for sea glass and enjoying the sunshine. The Maine coastline is beautiful!Read more
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Day 4
Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 5:00 PM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 256 ft
United States Procks Ledge 44.088139, -69.39411244°5’17” N 69°23’39” W
Tops'l Farm Retreat
July 29, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Our accommodation for the evening included a real bed! Tops’l Farm is a rustic retreat in a small Maine town that’s nestled between a river and the ocean. This is glamping at its best! Our tent had two single beds, solar lantern, bedside tables and water pitchers that were filled and ready for your arrival.

The bathhouse was awesome! Cedar planks and upscale bath products made you feel like you were in a 5 star hotel. They even had a hairdryer!

The phone charging stations nearby were a nice touch. They thought of everything. It would be nice to have something similar closer to DC.

Dinner was at an iconic pit stop on Route 1, Moody’s Diner. The food was mediocre but it was fun knowing that you were eating in a place that has been serving tourists food since 1927. We did try one of their famous Whoopie Pies. I was skeptical but, it was actually really good.

We headed back camp and spent some time relaxing around the fire before heading to bed.Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, July 30, 2017 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 22 °C
Altitude: 66 ft
United States Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library 43.851646, -69.6279643°51’6” N 69°37’41” W
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
July 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
Today’s big activity was whale watching in Boothbay Harbor. We got into town a little early and had the opportunity to walk around before heading to the boat. The streets were lined with touristy shops and waterside restaurants. We enjoyed lunch overlooking the ocean at McSeagull’s. Food was ok but the views more than made up for it!

After lunch, we headed down to the boat to begin our whale-watching adventure. The ride out of the harbor was gorgeous. The coast was littered with the cutest beach bungalows. We also passed two picture perfect lighthouses.

It didn’t take long for the captain to find the first whale. We followed this poor guy around for about an hour waiting for him to surface for air.

By the end of the trip, we had seen two different species of whales, sea turtles, dolphins and sea lions! Well worth the investment.

We were both in love with this town, so we decided to stay a little longer and explore the shops. I definitely could see myself living here!Read more
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Day 5
Sunday, July 30, 2017 at 5:00 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 131 ft
United States Wolf Neck 43.82118, -70.09248843°49’16” N 70°5’33” W
Wolfe's Neck Campground
July 30, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
It was hard to leave Boothbay Harbor but our evening’s accommodations were over an hour away. This would be our last night in a campground, and we were more than ready to be done with the rafts we were using for mattresses.

Wolfe’s Neck Campground came highly recommended. It’s located on a working farm and offers oceanfront campsites, kayak rentals and more.

The best part about this place was the Farm Cafe which surprisingly served really good food. I ordered the hummus plate...it was better than expected!

Our last night camping wouldn’t have been complete without sitting by the fire as the sun set.Read more
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Day 7
Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 62 ft
United States Merrill Memorial Library 43.800906, -70.18749843°48’3” N 70°11’15” W
Portland Bound
August 1, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
We were both ready to pack up the tent and head towards Portland where there was a hot shower and comfortable bed.

We had a minor fender bender in the campground parking lot which put us slightly behind schedule.

We still found a few hours to stop in Freeport and visit the original LL Bean Store before heading south.

A quick detour in Yarmouth for lunch where we discovered Clayton’s Cafe. This unassuming roadside sandwich shop served up the most amazing buffalo chicken corn chowder. I still dream about that soup!

We were exhausted by the time we reached Portland. We grabbed dinner at a small gastropub before settling in for the night. Having an actual bed to sleep on was great!Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 43 ft
United States Portland Community Based Outpatient Clinic 43.660572, -70.24981743°39’38” N 70°14’59” W
Portland, Maine
August 2, 2017 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Our final day has arrived! We had a day to spend in Portland before heading home to Virginia. I couldn’t pass up another opportunity for a Holy Donut. I went with that maple bacon one and was definitely not disappointed!

We spent a few hours exploring the shops before heading to a nearby beach. Of course, we couldn’t resist stopping to see one more Maine lighthouse. I’m glad we did. This one was one of the more picturesque ones we saw.

A few hours of rest and relaxation on the beach was just what we needed after the last few days of adventures.

Goodbye New England! Can’t wait to come back again soon.Read more
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Trip end
August 3, 2017