A Mini New England Road trip:
3 States, a Few Bucket List Items, and a National Park

WHEN IN MAINE…
LIGHTHOUSES, LUPINES
AND LOBSTERS

What is it that makes New England so unique? Is it really that charming? The answer is yes- and if you haven’t been, there are so many experiences unique to this area, that it should be on your bucket list.

If you’ve been following my adventures for a while now, you know I am passionate about exploring all the beauty our country has to offer. I’m on a mission: trying to visit all 50 states and all of the National Parks in the United States. 

We flew into Boston and drove all the way to Maine. Just driving along US1 and I95N, you get to see how vast this country is.  

PORTSMOUTH:
CHARMING COASTAL SCENERY
WITH A UNIQUE DOWNTOWN SCENE

Our first stop once we left the airport was Portsmouth. Founded in 1623, Portsmouth’s downtown is super cute. The museums and art community honor its maritime past, while the culinary scene is vibrant and diverse. This is the type of place where the food is amazing, each store is inviting in its own way, and you just want to enter and explore each one.

We found some specialty shops, and all the stores have creative signs beckoning you to come in and meet the people inside. This is the perfect place to stop along the way up to Maine.

CAPE ELIZABETH:
THE PERFECT WELCOME TO MAINE

After Portsmouth, New Hampshire, once you drive into Maine, the vibe absolutely changes- it’s quiet, and the air is crisp. We checked into the Inn By the Sea- and it is exactly what you would think- an inn by the sea overlooking the Atlantic Ocean- set on a state park called Crescent Beach with a field you can go strawberry picking at right next to it! From here it’s a lovely and short walk to the beach. The ocean is freezing! 

Some Maine fun facts: whoopie pies are sold everywhere, blueberries are abundant (and delish!), and everywhere you look, the lupines (that remind me of lavender) blanket everything in the most delicate purple.

I love lighthouses, and the Northeast has so many! Portland Head Light is a stunning lighthouse (one of the oldest in the US) set on Fort Williams Park. Locals and tourists alike are out enjoying the weather and the surroundings. The views are stunning with waves crashing against the rugged cliffs. As we enjoyed the view from one of Maine’s 65 lighthouses, I could fully appreciate the reason so many of them dot the coast here-- these jagged shores posed a major challenge to seafarers, especially at night, and each lighthouse signaled the mouth of a harbor.

LL BEAN FLAGSHIP STORE

For me, visiting LL Bean was one more bucket list item for this trip. You have to experience it to understand.  Located in Freeport, Maine, this is not just a store. It’s like walking into a compound where you could survive just fine if you got locked in. There are concerts, exercise classes, you can set up shooting lessons, archery lessons, and more in the store. It is an outdoor store where you name it, they have it, and it can all be personalized too! There are massive fish tanks, taxidermy displayed for educational purposes, and displays of LL Bean history throughout the store. 

Fun fact: The LL Bean headquarters are here, they even have their own zip code, and one of the stores is actually open 24 hours.

On our way up to Acadia, we took a detour to visit the State Capitol building– it’s super exciting for kids (especially those in elementary school) to visit these sites, as they learn civics. We hit the road again and the drive through Maine is just gorgeous. Road trips offer the unique opportunity to take these kinds of detours so don’t miss your chance!

ACADIA NATIONAL PARK:
BUCKET LIST ITEM NUMBER 2
ON THIS TRIP!

On my quest to visit all of the US National Parks, this next stop had me super excited! Acadia is so diverse in terms of vegetation, landscapes, and animal species. There is so much to see, unlike other National Parks we have been to: explore the shoreline (both freshwater and salt!), hike for miles across diverse terrain, drive through it, take a horse and carriage ride, kayak or canoe, or join a ranger-led activity. 

There are more than 20 named summits within Acadia National Park, and Cadillac Mountain is only one of them. This spot is the first place the sun rises over the United States every morning from March to October. It is also the highest point (1530 feet) on the eastern seaboard. If you can, add this to your must-do list.

Then, Sand Beach offered us a completely different view of Acadia. This is the longest stretch of beach at Acadia and, although the water can be freezing cold, people here love it!  The lichen and moss covering the rocks give each one a unique colorful pattern. There is no soil covering the rock here, but rather a predecessor to it.

Thunder Hole is a 5 minute drive away (or a 20 minute hike). Here we watched the waves crashing against the rocks and walked down lots of easy stairs to an incredible lookout - it was a bit slippery at the end but well worth traversing.

A scenic drive got us to Jordan Pond. This was carved out by glaciers, resulting in a superb view of the deepest and second-largest lake at Acadia. Spots like this are just a reminder of how important it is to drive slowly, focus on the journey, and get out often to see everything around you!

OGUNQUIT: A QUINTESSENTIAL NEW ENGLAND TOWN

Have you ever heard of this town? It was named “beautiful place by the sea” by the Algonquin Indians for its three miles of beach, considered one of the nicest shorelines in the US! I promise it is not to be missed. 

Off the coast of York sits a little island that is home to the Nubble Lighthouse. It is picturesque, and one of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States. The white tower and red-roofed keeper's house, creates a quintessential New England coastal scene. 

The downtown area is adorable. We first explored the town by foot and then watched it all along the cliffs by boat. Our options were a regular boat, or a lobstering boat tour.  My thought process was: when in Maine, lobstering is the way to go. This boat tour should have been on the bucket list all along! We knew very little about lobstering, and it was very interesting to learn about the entire process: everything from the traps, to the actual crustacean. Plus my kids loved taking turns driving the boat and even playing with the lobsters. Talk about New England charm!

BOSTON:
MORE THAN JUST
CANNOLIS AND BASEBALL

Boston is a special city. Its New England cobblestone streets, colonial architecture and gas-lit lantern neighborhoods intertwine with the cosmopolitan city it has become. It has impressive public parks, so much history, countless museums, so many colleges, thrilling sporting events and multiple areas to explore.

But besides just visiting the aquarium, science museum, and Faneuil Hall- here is where I encourage you to take your explorations further.

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum was designed to resemble a 15th-century Venetian palace, complete with manicured gardens, and the art pieces are arranged in a way that feels intimate. The pieces displayed are from various countries and periods of time. It’s actually the site of the greatest art heist of all time (still unsolved!).

The Freedom Trail will take you along the most significant historical sites of Boston, driving home just how significant this area was in the establishment of the US. It offers an immersive experience that brings to life the pivotal event of the American Revolution.

The Boston Tea Party Museum was awesome.  Just like my younger ones got excited to visit the capitol of Maine, my high schoolers were super excited to visit and participate in the events that took place here. The guides here are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable. For that reason, we knew taking one of the famous Duck Tours here was a must.

Duck Tours were not invented in Boston but they are definitely a staple in the tourism industry. There are about 28 “ducks'' around the Boston area right now and each one takes its job seriously. The tour takes you through the history of this important city, to its fashionable streets and other major points of interest. Then it's off to the Charles River for a scenic offshore ride to view Boston and Cambridge from the other side.

As kids get older, coordinating summer vacations becomes harder and harder. 6 nights as a whole were all we were able to muster together. We made the best of it, packed our days with the stuff memories are made of, and created an absolutely unforgettable trip. This summer so far, I got to check New Hampshire and Maine off the list, and one National Park too—Acadia! I can’t wait to show you what else happens in the next 2 summer months…