Maine
Greetings from Vacationland (yes, that's Maine's official state slogan)! Below is the first installment of my "blog" from the road, but as I have no idea how blogging works, I ask that you simply ignore that minor technicality and enjoy the email update.
The drive north was uneventful and fast. We arrived safely into Portland, which is an interesting mix of a sleepy old American town that has seen better days and a hip downtown scene, complete with expensive boutiques (Lululemon and Whole Foods!) and art galleries. Highlights of this portion of the trip include lunch at The Lobster Shack (recommended by Adam Richman of Man v. Food) -- breathtaking views -- the Portland Children's Museum (the girls loved this place) and a ferry ride to Peaks Island, which is a must-see! We were able to bike the entire island (Sydney is a strong cyclist, you would have been proud), "swim" at the beach (seriously, this water was so cold that it felt like you were taking an ice bath), and enjoy lunch and ice cream.
The drive farther north to Bar Harbor was great. Along the way, we stopped at the outlets in Freeport Village. Surprisingly, we only hit three stores! And, even if shopping is not your thing, the LL Bean campus is a sight to behold. Who knew that folks need to be able to purchase kayaks, camping, hiking, cycling, running, swimming and ski equipment on a 24 / 7 basis?! That said, I did manage to snag the perfect backpack. A cute hand purse just doesn't cut it when you have a heavy camera and two young girls in tow!
On a more observational note, I do believe that Maine is officially the whitest (and possibly the friendliest) state I have ever visited. So, as you might imagine, we draw lots of attention. The hair and the fact that I am a woman traveling alone with kids may be contributing factors but, either way, it makes for some fun and funny moments. One notable exchange occurred during a lovely conversation with a father and daughter (he was raised in Bay Ridge and now lives in Florida, his daughter is entering 8th grade and they take an annual trip together -- awesome!) It was initiated by his saying that he had seen us three times that day. Of course, his face was new to me!
And, whoever said that Maine is only truly warm one month a year -- August -- had yet to experience the effects of global warming. The weather has been wonderful! Not the heat wave in New York, but low '90's to high '70's. Hope the streak continues!
Okay, I have to put these girls to bed (yes, there is no such thing as a proper bedtime on the road), so that's all for now. More to come, including a visit to our first national park -- Acadia -- whale watching, and our search for the ever-elusive moose! Oh, and one more thing -- by the time this trip is over, I will have officially overdosed on lobster. I have had it broiled, stuffed, on a roll (if you're curious, I think the best roll so far is in Brooklyn at The Red Hook Lobster Pound), in soup and a quesadilla! That said, I will always have room for the wok-fried lobster at Atria on the Vineyard!
Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse
Love you and miss you much!