Independence Day Weekend in Maine

Independence Day Weekend in Maine

• 7.06.2009

We celebrated our 4th of July weekend in Maine! It feels like we've been gone a week. We had a ton of fun! It took us 25 minutes to pack up the car and hit the open road on Friday afternoon when Bron got home from work. Just the two of us on another adventure!

We're cheap, so we camped out near Searsport, Maine at a place that was literally right on the beach! How cool is that? The coast was socked in with thick fog Friday night and Saturday morning. It burned off Saturday afternoon, but rained heavily all Saturday evening and through the night. Thankfully, everything inside our little tent stayed nice and dry. But we didn't let a little weather stop us from having the time of our lives.

Saturday morning our first stop was to Acadia National Park. It's definitely worth seeing; amazing rocky beaches, animals, and scenery!

The Foggy Coast

Enjoying the Sand at the Beach

(Please excuse the greasy camping hair and no makeup)

Jordon Pond

View from the Top of Cadillac Mountain, Highest Elevation

Later that afternoon we stopped for ice cream and hit up the Penobscot Observatory. The observatory is a glass enclosed room at the top of a bridge tower. It's over 50 stories above the water! Wow! We could see for miles.

View from Top

Next to visit was the original Fort Knox. Construction began pre-civil war in 1844 to protect the Penobscot Bay. It never saw any battles though. Bron was like a kid in a candy store. He was thrilled to see all the ancient cannons and be inside the old rooms and dark hallways. He was constantly analyzing possible war time tactics. It really is something you have to see and experience for yourself.

Fort Knox

"The Ditch"

How to Snipe the Enemy

Seafood is part of the experience when visiting coastal Maine. We asked the locals for restaurant suggestions and ended up eating in these hole-in-the-wall-places with absolutely the best seafood for the best prices! Can't beat that! We feasted on lobster, crab, shrimp, clams, scallops, and haddock. Oh, yum!

Lobster

You're not supposed to play with your food!

Lobster, 10 Minutes Dead

As Fresh as Seafood Gets

Haddock, Shrimp, and Sweet Potato Fries

Sunday the weather was gorgeous, warm, and sunny. We packed up our gear that morning and launched out to see lighthouses down the coast. But first we stopped in Camden, Maine so Bron could drool over the sailboats. His dream now is to own a two-mast ship someday. We'll retire and sail around the world. Sounds like a plan, doesn't it? I'm all for it! While in Camden we toured a ship called the Mary Day.

Lighthouses are so quaint and serene. There's something peaceful about them. I wish I could live near one. We visited Owls Head Light, Portland Head Light, and Pemaquid Point Light. The latter was my favorite. We spent the most time exploring the area and rocky coast there.

Pemaquid Point Light

Inside the Lighthouse

My Honey and Me at the Ocean's Edge

Sticking My Toes in the Water

It was Freezing!

Portland Head Light

Maine left a great impression. The people are friendly and down-to-earth. The coast is beautiful, relaxing, and peaceful! Citizens of Maine ought to be proud. They've got a well kept secret--at least in the summer time. Bron and I had an incredible weekend traveling and exploring! These adventures with my husband only make me love him more. The time we spend together is priceless.

P.S. On the drive home, Bron surprised me with an ice cream stop at Ben and Jerry's in New Hampshire! I think he takes pride in spoiling me.