Maine (sweetheart time cont.)

After we left Boston, we drove up the coast of Maine.  I don't really know why, but I have always wanted to go there.  I don't know what I expected, but it was different than I had imagined.  I loved it!  It was such a great mixture of water and forest.  It had a "wilder" feel than I expected.  I loved how it was so much more its own place than a lot of areas in the United States.  It was more regionalized and didn't have as much of the national chain feel.

Our "home" base was Portland and then we drove all the other places and back.  We never drove farther than 2 or 3 hours away at a time.  Portland's downtown was so cute.  Old, worn-out cobblestones and brick buildings.  I don't know why I didn't take any pictures.  The only one I have is taken through the window of our hotel room - kind of towards the harbor.

We enjoyed ourselves by going to several different lighthouses.  This one was in Portland.  We saw it on Mother's Day and had our first lobster roll outside of it in a little shack.  The wind was so cold!

We climbed around a little bit down below but didn't get wet.  I took a picture of this because it was so interesting.  This rock was everywhere and it looked like wood.  It was really weird.  There was a sign where a boat crashed on these rocks on Christmas Eve in 1886.  It was a great day!  We wandered around the cute downtown of Portland and then went back to the hotel to wait for Taylor's Mother's Day call!  We got to talk to him for 1 1/2 hours - it was so awesome!  We called at the kids at home and did a conference call with all of them.  It was so good to talk to Taylor.  It was the best Mother's Day present ever and he sounded great!

Here are a couple of other lighthouses that we were able to see as we drove around the coast of Maine.

This is the same one as above, but I put another picture to show that it was out on a rock and they don't let you across because it's too dangerous.

One day as we drove up the coast to Camden, I took several pictures of cute old houses (so many turned into bed and breakfasts) and the quaint towns we passed along the way.

This is kind of an ugly picture, but note the old Rexall sign.  Just like we grew up with!

Camden was so cute, but oh so cold that day.  We drove up to a look-out and thought we were going to freeze to death!  I don't know that I've ever felt the wind so cold :)

My camera was zoomed as far as it would go for this picture from the lookout.

I had no idea that there were so many little islands and peninsulas in Maine.  If you look at a map close up it is amazing.  These all were taken at the top of the lookout.

We ate at so many amazing little places on the whole trip - we ate too well!  I think we had some type of seafood almost every meal!  It was awesome!  We had lobster rolls (which we had never had before and now I will crave forever), clam strips, clam chowder, lobster and more lobster rolls :) 

We loved Kennebunkport and Ogunquit.  Here are some pictures in Ogunquit

We were determined to find the little covered bridges that New England is famous for.  Sadly, there aren't that many left.  Yay for Brad who searched out and found this little bridge!  It was so beautiful there.

I loved this little platform with the rope swing!

We ended up the trip by stopping in Salem, Massachusetts on our way to the airport.  It was where they had they witch trials and then the Bewitched TV show was filmed there.  We were surprised to learn that all of the accused were killed within just a 2 or 3 month span.  

Wow!  What a wonderful trip we had!  I guess we are getting old, because we enjoyed the boring stuff...all the history, the driving, the lighthouses, etc.  It was such a relaxing get-away!  We love traveling so much and it was so great to see some new parts of the country that we hadn't ever seen.  I fell in love with both of them - but I think especially Maine.  I can't wait to go back someday and do the fall tour.  Until then, we will be dreaming of the lobster rolls :)

Sweetheart Time (Boston)

Back in early May, I was lucky enough to get away for a week with my sweetheart! Yay for American Express and Delta points! We managed to fly and stay for free. All we had to pay for was food and a rental car for a few days.

We flew to Boston and spent a few days there. It was so great to see all the historical sights from our country's early history! The first day we walked all along the Freedom Trail. It was so cool to walk through Battery Park,

and follow the little brick trail as it took is through the city. We got to see some really cool old churches that our early leaders attended. 

We got to see Paul Revere's home and some really awesome old cemeteries.

The North Church where the lanterns were hung was huge!  I always pictured it much smaller and not as majestic.

Brad had me take a picture where he thought that Nic Cage might be hiding at the end of National Treasure!

That evening we ate at the oldest tavern in America called "A Bell in the Hand" or something like that. I really enjoyed just wandering around all day!

On our 2nd day, we rented a car and went to Bunker Hill and climbed to the top.  I was pretty proud of myself with my bad knee . . . it was hard.

Then we went to see the USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides". 

After we were done there we drove to Cape Cod.  It was fun, but it didn't look anything like expected - I don't really know what I expected though:)  It was a fun day and we ate great seafood.

 

A lobster trap

The next day, we checked out of the hotel and drove over to tour Lexington and Concord. We found the temple and of course it was beautiful.  We didn't stay long because it was raining.

Concord was absolutely gorgeous! It was one of the cutest towns I have ever seen. But like a dummy, I didn't take any pictures :( We got some sandwiches and sat out on an old bench to eat them. Then we went along the trail where the British army marched and watched a movie at the visitors center that explained things really well. It was so green and quiet.

We spent some quiet time on the bridge where the first battle started. Brad and I both commented on the feeling of sacredness we felt there. It was quiet and beautiful and the perfect place to reflect on the greatness and sacrifices of our forefathers. I am so grateful that they let themselves be led by God.

We were also fortunate enough to go to Louisa May Alcotts house and Walden Pond. It rained off and on all day.  Everywhere we went I was struck by how green, lovely, peaceful and quiet it was.

Look at this crazy cool barn of Louisa's!

There were little walking trails by the homes.

I loved Boston!  I am so glad that we finally got to spend some time there.  I would go back in a heartbeat.  I would love to see it in the Autumn.    (to be continued)