When I was a kid, I wanted to live in Maine, and this year I took one step toward that dream by finally visiting Acadia National Park. To get acclimated from the Midwest to the North Atlantic coast, we rented a kayak to paddle at the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on the border of Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
Afterwards, we stopped to hike a loop trail through the woods and salt marsh of the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in southern Maine. The Pink Lady's Slippers were blooming.
After a lovely backyard lobster dinner with Deb and Gary, the parents of a neighbor, we drove to Stonington and took a ferry to Isle au Haut. We rented bikes for the day and explored the island. I had a lobster roll for lunch on National Lobster Day with a tremendous view!
On a nicely paved road, it would have been possible to speed past the smaller stuff. Since the road at southern end of Isle au Haut has alternating boulders and pot holes, I discovered a Dragon's Mouth Orchid in a high-quality bog during a pit stop.
I don't think you're allowed to visit Maine without seeing a lighthouse. Here's the Bass Harbor Head lighthouse.
When the weather turns nasty and the sea starts churning, you can see why lighthouses helped save so many lives. I really like a stormy day, preferrably from the safety of solid ground.
My relatives from Connecticut came up to Acadia for the weekend. We went hiking, sightseeing, and paddled on Father's Day. We saw some harbor seals from our kayaks. I love the view of the coast from the water.
Here's a video postcard I made of this trip to Acadia and beyond.
