We Might Not Be Back: Relaxing in Maine

Maine was our break from the crazy. We stayed in central Maine surrounded by trees and without cell service. This short respite may be the only reason we lasted through the full two weeks. However it may have been better placed at the very end of our journey. Perhaps if we'd ended here then we'd have returned home more refreshed. Mental note for next time to end with R&R not the most fast paced stop.

Our primary goal while in Maine was to see Acadia. I’d hoped to also fit in what would’ve been a three hour drive to Baxter State Park to see where the Appalachian Trail ends, however the weather didn’t cooperate. We made it to Acadia on two out of three of our full days. The colors, the rocks, the oceans, and the lakes en route to the park and inside it all make for beautiful driving and hiking.

On our first visit we drove up to Cadillac Mountain. We were told the mountain was a must see, but a ranger suggested we save hiking for a less crowded trail. We instead hiked Homan Path, which ultimately led us to the top of Dorr Mountain. We were all pretty proud of ourselves for making it to the top. The girls were channeling their inner American Ninja Warrior (that seems to be the only summer TV show available in hotels that’s appropriate for for kids). After that we checked off all the must see spots with a drive around the park loop road. In an effort to complete as many essential Maine activities as possible in our first 24 hours in the state, we stopped for fresh lobster at Young’s. Our children were disgusted that we ate something they’d recently seen swimming. I pointed out multiple times that they eat meat and shouldn’t be so judgey. They were having none of it.
The next day the weather was a little suspect, so we took a quick and traumatic kayak ride first thing in the morning. The initial placing of ourselves in the kayak left one child slightly hysterical for the entire trip. The other child is lucky not to have a concussion from my unfortunate paddling skills. We promised them a trip to the doll circus to make up for it.
Little did we know the awesomeness we were about the encounter. How there has not been a travel show special about this place I don’t understand. The Bryant Stove Works is the quirkiest place I’ve ever been, and we are people who routinely visit a nun doll museum. Their main business is of course selling stoves, but in a part of the building they house a doll circus and collections of calliopes. You walk into a back room and flip a switch and everything comes to life. It is complete sensory overload. The moving parts and music were both terrifying and fascinating. The room is on a timer and the girls begged to have it restarted after the 15 minutes were up, but we instead moved on to the calliope room (a natural progression when in a stove shop). The calliope room was overflowing with player pianos, calliopes, and old cars among other things. You were allowed to play them and flip switches and it was fantastic! I cannot think of a better place to spend a rainy afternoon.
The last day we went back to Acadia to do the bubble rock trail. After our hike we found our way to Atlantic Brewing Company for blueberry soda and blueberry beer. I then insisted we head for the Penobscot Observatory and Ft. Knox. Sadly it was a little overcast or the views and pictures from this part of the day would be better. Finally it was time to call it quits and pack up. We had an early departure planned for the next day to connect with family and check out geometric shaped rocks and hunt for sea glass. We will be back to Maine someday for sure!