Our Maine Attraction

Our trip to Maine had one main focus: a grand family vacation. While always planning trips internationally or over oceans, we wanted to find a good-ole-fashion East Coast adventure for our mid-western counterparts (i.e. parents) that was more accessible. And let’s be very clear here — Maine is Maine. It is a gem in our country, tucked away with promises of beautiful foliage and lobster pounds at every corner. It has a beauty that makes you yearn for the New England sort of life with cozy (albeit oppressive) Winters, dramatic Falls, and refreshing Summers. This was our second time in Maine, and we know it will not be our last.

Under Canvas is a glamping company that we used in Zion National Park. We were so excited to share this with our family, and it turned out to be the quiet, sweet escape that we hoped for. Right on the rocky shoreline, our tent had views of the water, while also being only 20 minutes away from Bar Harbor. Even though we had an interesting few days trying to figure out how to shower with one hand on a lever, we had hot water and a fireplace, so we could not complain for the few things ways we had to “rough it” at our “glamp” site.

The very first morning after we arrived, I came down with a sickness. Jamie and her parents left me and Lemon on beaches while they hiked mountains, but luckily I was able to rally for the stunning bike ride through Acadia National Park, a day in Camden, and other small hikes along the coast line and on Cadillac Mountain. My personal love for Acadia are the carriage roads that intersect most corners of the national park. Within a handful of hours, you can traverse most of the island and see views of the ocean, stop at sleepy lakes, cross over stone bridges, and pass by jutting rocks known as “Rockefellar’s Teeth.” We spent one day just riding the park, and even Jim enjoyed himself once he gave in to the power of the electric bike. Jane, of course, was the fastest of us all.

While the bike ride was a particular favorite event, Jane and Jim may remember another event vividly in the years to come: it was on this trip that we revealed to them that we are going to have a baby. Using the canvas of the tent, we set up a projector and played for them a video of our journey. Even after saying we are having a baby (at least 15 times), Jane asked, “you’re not messing with me, are you?” as tears streamed down her face. It continued to feel more and more real as we facetimed with both of my parents, and they discovered the happy news.

Cadillac Mountain

Camden is a small town that boasts of cute shops, sail boat rides, and cafes over waterways. We loved walking around and seeing the small parks and quaint hotels. Lemon did her first sail boat ride, and we saw the rolling hillsides of Maine raise behind church steeples and lighthouses. Jim enjoyed the sea captain’s recommendations for the local bars, while Jane got the unique experience of decapitating a lobster for her dinner.