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Experience the Magic of Maine
Growing up in Colorado, Texas, and Michigan, Maine always seemed like a far away place to me. However, after moving to the East Coast, I developed a desire to explore its coastlines. So, I decided to embark on a road trip to experience this beauty firsthand.
In 2011, I purchased a motorhome with the intention of traveling through the US National Parks. At the time, my boyfriend, who is now my husband, gifted me a book that has since led to countless adventures. This book is ideal for anyone who enjoys road trips, as it provides information on where to stop and the best scenic spots to visit along the way. I really can’t recommend it enough!
Starting our Journey at Bar Harbor on Mt Desert Island
Our journey began in Bar Harbor on Mt. Desert Island. The picture above doesn’t do justice to how adorable this town is. The maple and blueberry coffee for sale in the coffee shops is so delicious that I brought home a bag to savor the taste and memory of our trip.
Be sure to check out the low tide times and walk across to Bar Island. For 1.5 hours before and after low tide, a gravel bar is exposed connecting the town of Bar Harbor and Bar Island. We did almost get caught marooned on the island by the tide coming in, but it was fun to beat the water as it began to rise.
Check out the low tide and high tide details before heading over. Bar Island Trail
Acadia National Park is also located on Mt. Desert Island. It’s only a 15-minute drive, but once you hit Park Loop, south of Bar Harbor, you’re in for a one-way 20-mile road around the Island and Acadia. To drive all the way around Mt. Desert Island it is 70 miles in total. The traffic moves slowly because most people are there to enjoy the breathtaking view.
Cadillac Mountain
Cadillac Mountain towers above Maine at its highest point on the Eastern Coast. On the day of our visit, we had some fog and light showers, which is actually pretty typical weather. (So, don’t forget your raincoats!) We hiked up to the tippy-top, and from the views that we could see, it was spectacular. We always travel with our bicycles and found Acadia to be absolutely stunning for a bicycle ride.
Jordan Pond House
While in Acadia you will see signs for Jordan Pond House. Make sure to stop by the famous historic tea house and restaurant to order a basket of popovers. This really was a fun experience and the popovers were super delicious, served alongside honey and jams.
Best Place to Get Lobster Rolls
Before leaving Bar Harbor don’t forget to stop by C-Rays which was highly recommend by local Bar Harborites. Let me tell you their lobster rolls were absolutely to die for, and no one in my family was disappointed when we left.
Heading South Down the Coast
The second part of our journey was down the Coast of Maine starting at Ellsworth, home of the flagship store for L.L. Bean. We went into the store to check it out just for fun. Making our way down the coast and to all of the scenic points is almost 300 miles.
Camden
Camden is my second favorite town in Maine and it is extremely adorable, Bar Harbor being my first. We had the most delicious lobster dinner right in the harbor at sunset and even saw a seal swimming through all the anchored sail boats.
Just south of Camden is Rockport: the home of the famous seal named Andre. In the park there you will find a statue dedicated to this adorable seal. (If you have never seen the movie Andre you are definitely missing out, it’s a true story and unforgettable.) I re-watched this movie with my daughter and she fell in love, so we had to visit.
Port Clyde and the Marshall Point Lighthouse
We drove down to Port Clyde, which is the tiny quaint town on a peninsula and then took a bicycle ride down to Marshall Point Lighthouse. I would absolutely recommend you bicycle to the lighthouse, the road flows along with the sea. Do not miss stopping by this beautiful point.
Fun Fact: This lighthouse is also featured in the move Forrest Gump. The scene shows Forrest running to the end of the pier pictured above.
Boothbay Harbor
Boothbay Harbor was the last stop on our coastal Maine tour. The quaint town of Boothbay is adorable and there are many lovely shops to spend the day checking out. Do not miss out on this cute town if you have time, even if you just want to stop for lunch.
Boothbay has the most gorgeous Botanical Gardens I have ever seen. I am a huge fan of visiting botanical gardens and this one does NOT disappoint. We spent half of the day wandering through the different trails. Of note: Maine is famous for “fairy houses” in the forest, and these gardens are full of them! Also, the giant forest troll sculptures add a bit of whimsy to the whole affair too.
Where to Stay
During our trip we were pulling our travel trailer. We stayed at three very lovely campgrounds, but our absolute favorite was the one in Rockport listed below.
- Bar Harbor – Timberland Acres RV Park
- Rockport – Sea Swell Megunticook Campground
- Boothbay Harbor – Shore Hills and Campground
No camper, no problem – Check out great hotel rates in Maine here
And Now for a History Deep Dive….
The history of Maine is far from dull and is, in fact, incredibly interesting, with a story that is as fascinating as that of any other state. However, the history prior to the territory becoming the twenty-third state on March 15, 1820, did not come without its challenges.
Maine was originally home to the Algonquian speaking Natives. Unfortunately, when European settlers arrived, about ninety percent of these natives fell victim to foreign diseases. The French settlers are the first to arrive in the Acadia in 1604. From 1615 to 1675, Maine became a hotly contested battleground for its abundant resources between the French, English, and Native populations.
Royal Patents
Initially Maine was given a special status as a Royal Patent (A legal right given to an individual as an exclusive right or privilege) by Charles I. After the Revolutionary War, many English Loyalists who were proprietors (those awarded land by the King) of Maine left to go back to England. The legal right of the land was no longer owned by England and the proprietors lost their right to own it.
Major General Henry Knox, known as the first Secretary of War under George Washington during the American Revolution, would petition to inherit the land owned by his wife’s family who had gone back to England after the war.
Normally, the loyalist land of Maine should have been confiscated by Massachusetts. However, Knox’s plan was to have the patents/land ownership transferred to him through legislation. His plan was to make his fortune by selling small plots to settlers. Thus, he brought in a large number of laborers to Thomaston to build up the community. Most of these laborers were veterans of the American Revolution from New England. (1)
After the war, the Continental Army promised land to these veterans, and the people of New England were not happy to find out that the land promised was located in Ohio. This was too far and expensive to move for those who were already struggling financially. As an alternative, many of the New England Revolutionary War veterans believed that Maine was the cheapest and closest place for them to establish themselves.
Land and Liberty for Revolutionary Veterans
Land and Liberty were inseparable for these veterans, and ultimately it represented independence to them. They believed land was the way for them to provide for their families and make a good living. However, Knox and the other proprietors were unsuccessful in their attempts to sell plots to these veterans. Instead, the veterans banded together in several different extreme situations to scare Knox and proprietors off!
In 1805, the people of Maine ousted Knox from the Massachusetts legislature in the voting polls. The veterans of the American Revolution became a force to recon with and ultimately won their liberty (and land!) in the end. (2)
Sources
(1). https://www.britannica.com/place/Maine-state/Health-and-welfare