Maine: How We Spent Our Time
Cities are near and dear to our hearts. Some of our favorite travels ever are visiting Toronto and NYC, for example. We love big buildings, the endless yummy food options, the hustle and bustle. We love cities so much that we bring four little kids to them even though cities are not always large-family friendly.
This pandemic has brought a pivot for the Hundt family. Where we'd normally research a tip to Boston, Washington DC, Charleston, or Madison. We are now looking for teeny tiny towns and a lot of land to roam free and away from people.
The need for social distance and being able to wander around together isolated and safe is what sprung our trip to Montana where we stayed in a town of less than 300 people. It was one of my favorite trips we've ever taken. A hustle/bustle travel gal always on the go go go is slowly becoming a hiker who takes her time ;)
Landing on Maine
Learning from home and working from home has brought a silver lining in this pandemic of having freedom of travel. We can do school from anywhere. We can work from home from anywhere. As we talked about a possible fall trip, we began looking into states with safe Covid-19 procedures and restrictions and a place where we could wander outdoors for endless hours of social distance, middle-of-nowhere fun.
We landed on Maine.
Oh Maine...
It had always been on our travel bucket list, especially during the fall. However, before the pandemic hit, I would've never thought it would be one of our next travel destinations. Someday in the way-off future, for sure, but never soon... never now.
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| Our view on Alamoosook Lake |
We found an absolutely stunning AirBnb- a little renovated cottage way more than 100 years old in this teeny town of Orland, on a secluded lake, on eight acres of forest land, near Acadia National Park. It also had great internet ;)
Off we went for another over night road trip!
Maine was full of water- ocean, rivers, lakes, and ponds just everywhere. Each town that we drove through or visited was quaint, old, clean, and extremely charming. The outside adventures we had at playgrounds, in the woods, along the rocky shoreline were endless. Here are some favorites...
Penobscot and Bucksport, Maine
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| Penobscot Bridge on the Penobscot River |
- Fort Point State Park
- Fort Knox
- Trails
- Walked along old railroad tracks that hugged the waterfront
- Ice Cream at the Dairy Port and Carrier's Mainely Lobster
- Lobster, pizza, and Chinese food from yummy restaurants
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| Sunset on the Penobscot River |
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park was the number 1 thing we wanted to see in Maine so that helped focus our adventures and location. Thankfully, we were only 45 minutes away from the park on a stunning drive along the ocean. We went to Acadia three different times and had three very different experiences.
The first day we visited, we drove around Park Loop Road. Our first stop was Sand Beach. It was gorgeous and peaceful. The ocean waves were huge and loud, the sand was soft, and to the left and right were giant rocks, cliffs, and trees. Our boys spent time running close to the water and then running away from it as the waves rolled in. I could've watched them do that all day. Next we went to Otter Cliffs and climbed and climbed and climbed on the huge rocks. I've mentioned this before, but #hundboysx4 LOVE rocks- they love to throw them, skip them, climb on them, and generally just be near them. This spot was probably one of their favorite things they've ever done.
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| Sand Beach |
We finished off our first adventures by climbing up the North Bubble. We didn't really know what we were getting ourselves into, but as we kept climbing we surely realized this hike would be no joke. Thank GOODNESS we finally bought hiking boots! We let several groups pass us on the way up and we were not the fastest. One of the groups was a few woman in their 20s and one of the girls said she really wants kids someday, but was feeling like she wasn't anywhere near ready because she wanted to keep being able to explore the world and go on hikes like this. We inspired her to think she could make this part of her future family and that was great to hear :) The view was spectacular and boys were so proud of themselves that they had stuck with it.
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| We made it to the top! We all survived! |
Our last stop at Acadia National Park was the Schoodic Penninsula. Here we spent a good chunk of time walking in the woods. There was also more giant cliff rock climbing to be had. Spending time just listening to the ocean was good for all our souls.
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| All my guys and the Schoodic Peninsula |
#DayTripping to Ellsworth, Bangor, Belfast, and Portland, Maine
#Halfdozenhundts love a good day trip and we did that plenty while adventuring in Maine. There were several awesome spots within two hours of where we were staying in Orland and we really tried to take advantage of the close proximity and absolutely perfect weather we had to see as much as we possibly good. Each of these cities was adorable, clean, charming, historical, and filled with outdoor fun for us. |
| A sweet playground in Belfast |
We loved the adorable downtown in Ellsworth filled with white string lights and quaint patios. Bangor had some charming gems including a water fall and the house of Stephen King. Belfast's art scene captured us and that town provided us with the BEST FUDGE we've ever had. Hands down. Finally, we stopped in Portland on our way home and it did not disappoint. We loved its park way up on a hill overlooking the ocean, the downtown filled with unique eats and art galleries, and the breathtaking Portland Head Light.
To say Maine stole our hearts would be an understatement. I seem to say that in every new state we adventure around, but I'm telling the truth every time. We can't wait to go back someday.
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| Portland Head Light |
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