It's Holiday Break from School. Christmas has passed, along with all of my ideas to keep my little one busy. What do you do when you need some entertainment for a 4 year old but also really want some delicious cheese and to see some cute animals? Head on over to Pineland Farms.

The first thing you'll notice as you enter Pineland Farms is the pure magnitude of it. Their land is massive and houses many different companies and operations. As you drive past the adorable market where you know the best goodies are kept, head on up the hill until you reach the barns. 

Once we arrived, we popped in to check in at The Smokehouse (their welcome center - you can make a 2 hour reservation online to have access to wander the farm on a self guided tour.) We were given a map (and an adorable kid's map as well) to help us chart our course. 

We started at the various dairy and cow barns. We visited with the little calfs and eventually made our way over to the dairy barn - pretty fascinating stuff and woah those guys are huge! We ventured up to the poultry barn (where I made friends with one extra noisy chicken) and the goat/pig barn. Our little one got to feed the pigs and I contemplated whether or not I could have a pig as a pet.

After visiting with all of the farm friends, we drove back down to the market to grab lunch. Once we entered and I saw just how much deliciousness was surrounding me, I proceeded to buy MANY (many many many) things that I do not need. Except for this ridiculously delicious Chocolate Peanut Butter spread that was 100% necessary.

You can make your own sandwich (with their homemade cheese, of course) and stock up on groceries (or things you don't really need like I decided on.) We ordered some sandwiches and snacks and hopped back into the car for the new normal during COVID times: car lunch.

You can make an entire day out of your visit here. There is plenty of room for the littles to run, education to be had and plenty of unnecessary (necessary) treats for adults to purchase.

I debated which category to place this post under - drinks or eats. As the name suggests, Maine Beer Co is celebrated for their craft brews, but I often choose to head there for their wood fired pizzas. Give me one of their Lunch IPA's and a Bacon Sprout pie and... leave me alone to enjoy.

Their brewery and tasting room in Freeport is...massive. Truly, it's so spacious, but somehow remains extremely welcoming. They upped their game as well in their patio seating during COVID and the flow indoors and outdoors is top notch.

I also usually leave muttering to my husband about how kind and awesome the waitstaff was. Seriously, every time. They are unwaveringly friendly and helpful, even during the most trying year of them all (peace out, 2020!) It's easy to make an online reservation and the speed at which they get your food/beer on your table after ordering is some sort of magic. Speedy magicians, I tell ya.

Ooooooo, guys. This place takes my breath away. Every. Single. Time.

While this is a state park, you (and everyone else) are coming here for the extensive and wide sandy beaches - which is super rare in Maine. We aren't lacking for rocky coastlines and adorable tucked in coves, but large beaches like the ones at Reid State Park cannot be found everywhere in our great state. Taking advantage of Mile Beach & Half Mile Beach are families, groups of friends and surfers. Lots of surfers flock here for some pretty fantastic waves.

The trails are open year round and dogs are allowed in off season (October-March.) Head to the top of Griffith Head (a rocky headland at the end of the beach) to take in views of lighthouses on Seguin Island, a scattering of islands and a general sweeping, gorgeous view of the beach and beyond.

We easily could have spent an entire day here with our family. Our kiddo was happily occupied by some fairy houses that were built on the beach and I stole a golden 10 minutes perched on Griffith Head to breathe the ocean air. Bring lunch, bring the family and watch the surfers catch some waves.

A 1.7 mile trail loop along a stream that ends at a waterfall? Oh, and a 1947 Plymouth along the route? Sign me up.

We explored on a cold January afternoon. I can't imagine what this would look like on a beautiful summer day - we shall be back. It's a moderate walk/hike that is both dog and kiddo friendly, and there is plenty to keep the little ones entertained. We threw rocks along the frozen stream and marveled at them gliding across the ice and sat for a few (welcomed) peaceful moments at the waterfall that came crashing down amongst the icicles that had formed. ​The trail is filled with a mix of hemlock, pine and beech and it's remarkably quiet. It's an excellent place to catch your breath and reflect. 

And when the land was donated - so was the 1947 Plymouth parked towards the beginning of the trail. What an exciting find for a 4 year old. And let's be honest, her parents too.

To me, Thompson's Point is an experience. On any given day, it's pretty much guaranteed that there will be something creative, delicious or downright fun on their event calendar. Not to mention, the new Children's Museum & Theatre is currently being built there and it just so happens to be across from Bissell Brothers. These people know what they are doing for weary parents.

While it's hard to narrow down my favorite events that I have attended at Thompson's Point, I am going to try to highlight just three. But I encourage you to bookmark their event calendar and make it to as many things as possible!

Makers Markets
I've been to a handful of these pre-COVID and a bunch during COVID outdoors. No matter the season, the space, etc. I look forward to these events so much. I put them on my calendar months in advance and most of the presents I give to people come from a Marker's Market made by local Maine Makers. And duh, of course, I always end up with some goodies for myself. Last time I walked away with some incredible macrame plant hangers, hot pepper jelly and so much more! And a double bonus of the markets: there are always delicious food trucks and a bar. Score.

Concerts
The best concert I have ever attended was Lake Street Dive at Thompson's Point. It was a glorious summer evening, I stuffed my face with Mr. Tuna hand rolls and danced the night away. During COVID times, Thompson's Point quickly adapted and rolled out a Summer Concert Series with immense safety measures put into place.

Summer Sunsets
If I have to choose just one experience that I have had at Thompson's Point to be the winner of all winners, this would be it. To my family, Thursday nights in the summer means Summer Sunsets at the Point. We've told pretty much everyone we know about it because it's that much fun. Live music, food trucks lining the perimeter, a bar and fun activities for the kiddos (pre-COVID included balloon animals, face painting, etc.) It's dog friendly and uber kid friendly. Bring a blanket, an appetite and snuggle up to watch an incredible sunset with your favorite people.

There are only a couple places in the Old Port that I find myself continually tucking into for beers. Obviously, there are lots of options for drinks and eats in the Old Port, but chances are, you'll only find me at the same few. And one of those is The Thirsty Pig.

They were already pandemic proof because of their killer back deck situation. Give me a sunny day, a Substance Ale in hand and one (okay, probably two, you got me) of their Pub Pretzels and they may have to ask me to leave. Honestly, it doesn't even have to be sunny, just give me a couple hours free day or night and I'll be here.

​​The other amazing thing about the back deck is that if you didn't know it existed you wouldn't be able to see it from Exchange Street (which is the main street in the Old Port that is usually crowded with folks looking for an exact spot - like the one I secure at The Thirsty Pig - to nosh and drink a perfectly beautiful Saturday away.) I very rarely can't find a spot. And best of all, we always roll as a family of three and we've always felt totally welcome with our kid. She happily munches on hot dogs and sings along to whatever tunes they are playing.

Find your way to The Thirsty Pig's back deck. But don't take my spot.

Before I moved to Maine, I can freely say that I unabashedly stalked The Well at Jordan's Farm. The farm, the food, the private dining gazebos, the pick your own flowers - all of it extremely stalk worthy. It was the first place I wanted to eat when we moved here and as it always goes - life gets in the way (cancelled babysitters, not able to grab a res and oh you know, a pandemic.)

But this summer, we finally made it. And during what was proving to be one of the worst/weirdest summers to date (thanks, 2020) - the dinner we had at The Well was truly one of my absolute favorite memories not just of this summer, but of our time in Maine. They are pandemic proof - the dining is already out on their beautiful farm and the gazebos and picnics table are not only more than properly distanced, they sit amongst their wild flowers grown on their property. While we snagged one of their picnic tables, booking a private gazebo it at the top of my to do list for next summer.

Chef Jason William's food is made with local ingredients, some of which you can see a short distance away in their garden. It's bright, fresh and delicious. You can tell the amount of planning, the inspiration and the deep love of the ingredients that is in every dish.

I always try to wrap up early and efficiently during COVID times so the waitstaff has plenty of time to clean up and prep if they have another seating. But this was a hard reservation to leave. It felt like a beautiful dream in an otherwise chaotic world. We felt safe, had a chance to really connect with each other and to feel, dare I say, normal.

It exceeded my stalking expectations. Thank you, thank you, thank you to the entire team.

There's something about Harpswell that gets me every time. You can be driving along on a sweet little road, jamming to tunes and then you turn a corner - and BAM - the ocean appears. There's three islands that are connected by bridges, Sebascodegan Island, Orr's Island and Bailey Island and every time I reach one of these bridges it's like the first time all over again. All of the roads wind and curve without any straightaways to be found, are dotted with lobster shacks and when you least expect it, a shimmering ocean view.

The Skolfield Shores Preserve walk showcases this essence of Harpswell and the history of this walk is something to marvel at pre-walk. Also, the parking lot to the trail sits next to this sweet seaside shanty (I mean. c'mon!)

​There's a wooded walk that leads you to a salt marsh and more than 4,000 feet of shoreline on Middle Bay Cove. Fairy Houses are hidden throughout and there's some impressive "rooty beauty" - a term I am hoping catches on. One trail leads to a turn of the century boathouse at the shore.

A 1 mile trail that will take you longer to complete than you might expect - who can resist finding horseshoe crabs and sifting through the broken shells of those that recently feasted?

I basically planned an entire adventure day for my family that centered around making sure I could eat pizza and drink beer at Odd Alewives. We went on a beautiful hike at La Verna Preserve, but even while I sat searching for sea creatures perched on a cliff next to the ocean, I was daydreaming about the fire pit I had reserved (and the s'mores kit I also reserved unbeknownst to the rest of my fam.) Somehow, I had never been to the brewery even though it was bolded and triple underlined on my must do adventure list for quite sometime.

Happy to say, it didn't disappoint. And I mean, c'mon, the layout, the barn where you order drinks, the whole freaking thing is just, dare I say, ADORABLE. It's this sweet little farm with knockout wood fired pizzas and crave worthy brews.

And they've got the COVID thing down. It's basically the dream setup. Reserve a fire pit according to your bubble size ahead of time and you are kept toasty warm, safe and full. Pups are also welcome.

We ordered the meat special pizza and the three cheese for our kiddo. I could eat the meat special pizza for the rest of my life and be pretty okay with it. The Odd Pip and Odd Friend were our beers of choice and when it came time for round two, we stuck with the same because we enjoyed them that much. And I won the day when I opened up the S'Mores Kit to reveal to my fam (also available to pre-order so it's ready on arrival!) 

So, pro tip: get in some "exercise" so you can have a perfect excuse to eat meat special pizzas and eat s'mores for lunch at Odd Alewives. 

Highly recommend completing this walk and then scooting over to Odd Alewives Farm Brewery for a pint and a wood fired pizza.

​If you're local to Maine and need a reliable contractor, get in line. If you're local to Maine and need a night or two away from your house after a year of quarantine, that line is also long.

...But, okay, I have a secret. I have both a reliable (and kind, knowledgable, shows-up-when-he-says-he-is-going-to) contractor who happens to own one of the best AirBnBs close to downtown Portland. We are currently putting on an addition to our house, and as it became clear we would definitely need to scoot for a few months to give them the space they need to complete the job, we started to search for some places to stay. After mentioning to our contractor that we just weren't seeing what we wanted in a rental for the period we needed, he casually mentioned he had a unit close to downtown that we were welcome to stay at if needed.

He's so nice that he doesn't even mention his unit in fear that people will feel pressured to take it when he's completing a project. And while I am hesitant to share my secret wealth of both a friendly contractor who completes jobs on schedule and who owns a gorgeous unit that he takes meticulous care of - here we are, friends.

Eleftherios ("Lefty") owns Ethos Carpentry and his AirBnB is in the beautiful, family-friendly Oakdale Neighborhood. You can drive to the Old Port in 5 Minutes, or take a pleasant 1.5 mile walk through Deering Oaks Park (and probably walk through an awesome Farmers Market) to get yourself downtown. But the best part of this neighborhood is you don't have to head downtown - some of my favorite spots in the city are not only in the Oakdale neighborhood, but about a 1 minute walk from Lefty's unit.

At the end of the street sits Rose Foods. It'd be criminal for you to visit Portland and not get a bagel and schmear from this spot. And it just so happens, my other favorite breakfast spot (when I've decided to pretend to be healthy for one full day) is Blake Orchard which is a 1/2 mile walk away. And the food mecca just goes on and on - there's Woodford Food & Beverage (get the burger), Bird & Co (any and all of the tacos) and my most favorite sandwich of all time (turkey with hots) at a true locals joint, The Local Press, is less than a mile down the road.

And you'll just need to cross Forest Ave and walk 5 minutes to be at one of the best walks in Portland - the Back Cove trail. A 4 mile loop with perfect views of the city.

We chose the second floor unit as it had everything we needed for a family of 3. Secretly, I dreamed about staying in The Loft by myself (listen, Moms need breaks, people!) but alas. And I have to say, these pictures don't really do it justice for how much space you actually get. These units are extremely spacious and gives every member of your family plenty of breathing room.

Lefty gutted and renovated these units and put a tremendous amount of love into each of them. When looking for a spot to stay, or a person to call to complete your dream home job, I'd start here.

I got so much work done while staying at The Francis. When I woke up after a comfy night's sleep, I made myself some coffee (thank you, Tandem Bakery and thank you to my 4 year old that has ingrained in me a 6AM wake-up no matter what day of the week it is/where I am/my desire to sleep in.) I hopped back into bed, hot joe in hand and opened my computer to knock out some emails and writing. 

The hotel is the perfect place to "work from home." Or WFH (work from hotel), if you will. It's so quiet and just a dream of an atmosphere to get your creative juices flowing. Strong coffee, strong internet, great natural light beaming in, perfection. 

Upon reaching inbox zero (which hasn't happened in, oh, a decade) I got a text from the front desk that said "Good morning! Your Tandem B&B is just outside your door when you are ready for it, enjoy!" But you can't ever really be ready for something of this caliber:

But let's rewind. Before I even got to the hotel, about two hours before check-in, I received a most welcomed email: "​Good afternoon! This is The Francis Hotel letting you know your room is ready when you are. See you soon!" How great is that? Ever get to your destination, bags in tow, wishing you could drop everything off and get situated before heading out to explore? I love that The Francis does this. Of course, it may not always be possible on their end, but what a great way to make your guests feel welcome and give them the chance to kickstart their getaway even earlier than expected. And for this Momma, ready for a getaway night, I took full advantage and scooted over early. 

The Francis is locally owned and operated and you feel that the second you step in. You get the privacy you'd expect from a hotel, but the warm, fuzzy, family feeling you get at a small Inn. With 15 rooms, it's the perfect size to blend the best parts of both a luxury hotel and cozy, charming B&B. 

And the room. Oh, the room. It's spacious, flooded with great light, impeccably clean and updated with modern amenities all while keeping the charm of the historic mansion that The Francis is housed in. And check out those high ceilings.

It's easy to take a peak on google maps and see just how well situated The Francis is. But if you've never been to Portland, you may not realize just how convenient it actually is. It's a straight shoot directly to the Casco Bay Bridge which transports you - in mere minutes - to South Portland and Cape Elizabeth, home to the famous Portland Head Light, Fort Williams and incredible beaches. Not only can you walk to the Old Port from The Francis, but some of the best restaurants are a stone's throw away. I took a 5 minute walk and grabbed takeout from Empire Chinese Kitchen - and you may be thinking, on her night away she got Chinese takeout? Wow, she's wild. But if you know, you know. Empire isn't just any restaurant. For one, there's the garlic green beans, and the soup dumplings, not to mention the duck fried rice...okay, I digress. But the fact that you can just stroll over to this Portland icon and walk back to your room and your pork belly buns are still warm, that's major points in my book.

Dear Aragosta,

When we arrived on Friday night, the sun had already set. As we drove down the winding road to check in and find our cottage for the weekend, a family of deer stopped us in our tracks as they dashed in front of the car. Our little one in the back seat took a lot of pleasure knowing there were, in fact, deer on Deer Isle. A little magic, I thought, to kick off our weekend. 

It was late and dark. The only thing visible were the twinkling lights shimmering off of the restaurant as we made our way to check-in. We had no idea what surrounded us and wouldn't until the morning. 

We found our cabin and husband, kid and pup in tow we hurried in to check out our digs for the weekend. The kiddo found children's books piled next to the bunk beds and she happily occupied herself for a few minutes while we unloaded the car. Clearly, a little sprinkling of magic from another fellow parent. Thank you.

We poured wine, made a fire and tucked in for the evening. 

We knew it would be rainy for most of the weekend, and there was a small two hour window in the morning before the clouds would set it. We threw on our boots and layers and made our way to the Barred Island Preserve trail. As we discussed the fairies that clearly inhabited the woods, the smell of pine and the moss covered ground guided us to the ocean. I fell behind for a second and for the first time since the pandemic started, I finally took a big, deep breath. When we circled back to Aragosta, it was only then that we were able to take in the magic for the first time of what you have created.

I bet you didn't know that collecting buoys is our favorite activity to do as a family. But yet there were tons scattered along the shore that day. 

I bet you didn't know that my husband hoped breakfast would be pancakes with blueberries. Magic, my daughter said as we carved into big stacks of them.

I bet you didn't know that after a day of exploring Deer Isle, our family of three took a two hour nap together snuggled in bed with a warm fire glowing next to us and the soundtrack of rain outside. Our daughter hasn't napped in years. 

And I bet you didn't know that it was my husband's birthday and the dinner was probably the best meal we've ever had. And the pasta you created from scratch and on the spot, just for our little lady who dressed up in her fanciest dress and impressed your kind staff with her best manners all evening, she deemed "the best pasta in the world." You didn't make us feel guilty for bringing our best pal with us and that dinner is a memory that we'll always cherish.

Thanks for the magic, Aragosta. See you next year. 

Tenants Harbor is a neighborhood in St. George Maine that feels like a tiny slice of summer heaven. It has a tiny downtown with a couple restaurants and stores that feels like a secret hideaway tucked along the shore. 

On our way to Tenants Harbor, we stopped at the Maine State Prison Showroom. The Maine State Prison Showroom, is in fact, a shop with hand crafted wood items all made by Maine prisoners. The people checking you out after finding some items to take home with you, are likely prison guards (or sometimes prisoners who are there working for the day, I've heard.) The Maine State Prison Showroom's mission is to not only give these prisoners a skill but it is also helping them with their reentry into society. Maine’s department of corrections places 10% of inmate wages into a savings account that they have access to when released.

​Most of what you will find in the showroom are hand crafted wood items. The quality is unreal. I left with a bag full of goodies and my daughter brought home a doll's house. 

​Goodies in tow, we made our way to Ancho Honey for a grilled cheese. With a sign that proudly boasts "Carryout before it was cool" - Ancho Honey takes pre-made, prepared foods to the next level. COVID friendly before we needed COVID friendly. Beyond the pre-made meals on the inside that you can quickly grab and take home to feed the fam, they have a take-out window that during the day you can get any grilled cheese you could possibly imagine (take it from me: The Brie and Blue is the way to go!) and dinner specials every Thursday/Friday night from 4-7PM.

​We then made the 10 minute drive down to the beautiful Marshall Point Lighthouse. I wouldn't say I am a huge lighthouse fanatic, but this one is definitely one to add to the visit list in Maine. There's plenty of space for the littles to roam, and a museum that we didn't check out (thanks, COVID!) but looked pretty adorable from the outside. We were lucky to visit on a bright, sunny day and spent over an hour just hanging out on the rocks and letting the little one find some fun shells. 

After some mainstream, touristy lighthouse viewing (sometimes you just have to do it, ya know?) we made our way to a secret old granite quarry that I found through some heavy digging. A water filled quarry in St. George, known to locals as Long Cove Quarry, attracts families, teenagers enjoying a hot summer day with pals and artists who like to decorate the surrounding rocks. If you look closely at the rocks, you'll see teenagers dotting the edges swinging from rope swings and taunting each other to make the jump. People casually float in tubes and noodles (noted for next time, you really need some sort of swimming raft to truly enjoy the quarry as there's no beach, of course, to casually make your way in) and music plays from various devices throughout. I have to say, it was even cooler than I thought it was going to be. Next time: swimmies for the little one, tubes for us.

After the quarry, we decided to make our way back to Portland. Of course, just as we got on the road, we didn't want our adventure to end. So, naturally, tacos were next. Right off the highway on US1 sits El Jefe Taco Bar in Freeport. Their outside setup pretty much is what your COVID dreams are made of. There's an outside bar, plenty of spaced seating, it's kiddo and dog friendly and plenty of space to comfortably move about without having to interact with anyone. Yes, that is rosé in a plastic cup.

​We finished our day eating our weight in chips and guac. 

Sitting down and looking at our summer calendar had me feeling a little down. Normally, our summer calendar would be filled with friends visiting us to get in some quality Maine summer time, family trips, etc. Obviously, this summer is pretty different and our (obvious) focus is staying safe and healthy, and doing the same for our family and friends. 

We've always tossed around the idea of renting an Airstream and taking our daughter on a massive adventure. And we figured this summer was the perfect time to do it. However, we condensed our adventure to a long weekend and made sure to stay in state. 

We rented a 2015 Airstream Interstate from Outdoorsy and did a pickup in York, Maine from the awesome owner, Gregory. Booking through Outdoorsy was almost too easy and the pickup from Gregory was equally seamless. The Airstream was spotless and he made sure to help these newbies understand the ins and outs of the vehicle. The bed is a Queen size bed (tight, but was totally fine for the three of us) and there is a bathroom on board - an antsy 4 year old kid's dream.

So, he handed over the keys....and we were off. 

​​We made the drive from York to Moosehead Lake. We rented a camping site from Moosehead Family Campground, a no-frills, simple campground that is family run that had hook-ups for the RV. It was about a 5 minute drive from the bottom of the lake. The thing that is so incredible about this place - and really all campgrounds I looked at in this area - is how affordable they are. I really had no idea what to expect. The sites range from $20-$40/night. There were people camping, RVing and a mix of both - and it was more than worth the price, in my opinion. We were greeted by rabbit friends every morning and it was totally quiet at night.

We arrived around dinner time so immediately plugged our RV in and made the walk over to The Farm at Moosehead. That is the other awesome thing about this campground - they are only about a 1 minute walk to this particular restaurant and then about a 5 minute drive to the rest of downtown.

I had read about their wood fired pizzas, BBQ and their beautiful little farm. We ordered a pizza from the sweet couple/owners who greeted us and made our way to an outside picnic table overlooking the farm. They encouraged our daughter to greet all of the animals before dinner came and she happily took them up on this. We met baby pigs, baby rabbits, many chickens and more. If you ask Harper what her favorite part of the entire Airstream adventure was, she will tell you it was meeting the animals our first night. And the food was delicious (get the cheesecake if they have it, trust me.)

After our bellies were full and Harper pretty much kissed every animal goodbye, we raced to Lily Bay State Park to catch the sunset. And man, I was so glad we did. Lily Bay is a gem of a state park that sits on Moosehead Lake with plenty of trails to explore, campsites, playgrounds, a beach - it goes on and on.

The next day I had one major thing on my mind: Moose. Here's the thing I've learned about Moose. Unless you are on, like, a "Moose Safari" with one of those companies - you'll never see them when you want to see them. If you actively go searching for them, at least for me, they decide it's a good day to stay to themselves. One day, I'll learn this lesson and be more carefree in my moose searches. 

However, we'll save that lesson for another day. I had searched and searched to find a bog that would almost guarantee a Moose sighting. The Lazy Tom Bog, located just past the town of Kokadijo (where their welcome sign proudly boasts: "Population: Not Many") is a Moose hotspot. So, after stuffing some breakfast in our face we made the drive from the campground. It's a beautiful drive, but once you pass Kokadijo, the road turns to rough dirt/rocks, so make sure you have a car that can handle it.

When we arrived, we parked just to the right of the bridge and walked down to the water. Pretty, but we didn't see a Moose. So, we walked back up to the top of the bridge where we found two other people on the search as well. Once they saw us, they said "Wow! You were so close to him!" WHAT?! Apparently, a Moose had been watching us directly across the bog but scurried off before we could see him. Oooooooof.

After waiting (im)patiently in the hopes to see another moose (alas) we carried on for our next adventure. After having lunch in the RV (I mean, the convenience of it all is insane!) we headed to hike Mount Kineo.

To access Mount Kineo, you have to take the Golf Course Shuttle across Moosehead Lake which carries, of course, golfers but hikers as well.  I know, you are probably thinking: why would I want to hike a mountain that is located at a golf course? But Mount Kineo is a special place. The glorious mountain has incredibly beautiful, family-friendly hikes all while hosting an impeccable golf course. It's sounds strange on paper, but trust me on this one.

The hike to the summit is easy, and one that our four year old really had no trouble completing. The rewards of views at the top were enough to keep her motivated.

After this, we decided we deserved an adult beverage. We made our way to the Spotted Cat Winery. It is, indeed, as cute as it looks. We were greeted by the owners, a couple who live on the property and were treated to a wine tasting before making our purchases. They make the wine on their property and sell fun tshirts, candles and other goodies to accompany your wine purchase. PS: Get the Strawberry wine!

After a cozy night's sleep (read: Harper's arms and legs hitting me all night), we woke up and were on the road early to head to our next stop: Bar Harbor! After a stop and start 3 hour drive, we made our way to Echo Lake. It's a gorgeous lake situated on the western side of Mount Desert Island with stunning cliffs (part of Beech Mountain) that have a couple trails that lead to an impressive lookout. We spent a better part of the morning swimming and building sand castles. Bonus Points at Echo Lake (and much of Bar Harbor/MDI at that): they have parking specifically designated to RV's - score! Made parking totally painless with an oversized vehicle. 

Once again we thought: you know what we deserve, an adult beverage. That's what. We ventured to Atlantic Brewing and sat outside on their patio while Harper happily snacked. A perfect pint on a beautiful day. 

We then made our way to our campsite for the night at KOA Bar Harbor. So, I'm obviously an RV rookie - but this is a spot I would recommend to everyone, all ages. Our site was directly on the ocean, with a private beach. I literally couldn't believe it when we pulled in. Harper was a busy bee all afternoon playing at the beach, and we had to literally bribe her to make her go to dinner. We didn't partake in the many offerings at the campsite (activities for kids, bonfires, etc.) but next trip when the world is in better shape, we certainly will. Highly recommend this spot. 

After our bribes were complete, we made our way into Bar Harbor for dinner. We had reservations outside on the patio at Salt & Steel. They followed all safety protocols to a tee, and the food was top notch. We'll be back here for sure.

To finish our awesome long weekend, we raced back to our site to drink the wine we purchased from The Spotted Cat Winery, roasted Marshmellows at our private site and watched the sunset. And felt really, really grateful. 

Cape Elizabeth is a funny, beautiful hybrid of residential neighborhoods, top rated tourist attractions, a plethora of stunning beaches and secret, local favorites. All 20 minutes to downtown Portland. I could honestly plan a day in Cape Elizabeth 5 times over and not repeat anything, so narrowing it down to one day was hard!

Cape Elizabeth really is the exception to the rule when it comes to tourist attractions in Maine....like, you really should go to them. They are famous for a reason, and truly, they shouldn't be missed. I usually like to give a hard pass and avoid anything that seems too popular in any area, but after living in South Portland (the town next door to the Cape) and getting to truly immerse myself in all that the Cape offers, you've just gotta do it folks. Embrace the people (masks and six feet, guys) and play tourist here. 

However! No Adventure in my book is complete without some secrets. There are a few hidden gems that I'm going to share - and risk being vilified by my neighbors, thank you very muuuuuch - with you all. 

If I didn't live here, I'd be jealous of the below adventure. Enjoy!
​

8AM: Grab a doughnut from The Cookie Jar
Be like a local and start your day with a delicious donut and coffee from The Cookie Jar. It's pretty impossible to choose just one thing to start your day, so I won't judge, get them all. You'll need it for adventure fuel.

10AM: Walk at Two Lights Park or Secret Beach at Kettle Cove
​Kick off your Cape Adventure with a breathtaking walk at Two Lights or act like a local at Kettle Cove. Really, this is like choosing the best adventure or the best adventure - you can't go wrong!

​You will not be the only person at Two Lights (again, little touristy!) but once you get here, you'll believe me when I say this is one of the places that is worth it. The ocean crashes against the rocky landscape and trails loop and bend throughout the park. Little picnic benches are hidden throughout and it's a dog and kid lovers paradise. 

At Kettle Cove, there is the main beach (that's fairly popular in it's own right - with limited parking!) and then there is secret Kettle Cove part two. If you take the trail through the woods, steer to the right with every turn, and eventually you'll see a beach below some cliffs. Walk the little path down the cliffs and bam - you will likely have an entire beach to yourself. Half of this beach is private and half of the beach public, and all of it is pure secret only known to some locals. I think out of the ten times I have been here, there has been another human once.

12PM: Lunch at Bite Into Maine inside Fort Williams Park
Alright, this is all pretty touristy and all pretty much a must do. Fort Williams park is sprawling, with many different beautiful walks and sites to explore. There is a children's garden, playground, gorgeous ocean views and of course, Portland Head Light is here. I'll guess that you have seen a photo of this lighthouse somewhere, at some point. It's an iconic staple of Maine, and one that, even with the hoards of people, is worth checking out. You could easily spend a few hours roaming Fort Williams and still feel like you didn't get a chance to see everything.

On to lunch. If you are reading this and planning an adventure to Maine, you are likely going to ask everyone you can where you can get the best lobster roll. It's okay, I'm not judging you, I get it. And likely, everyone will have their opinion of where their favorite roll is. 

Mine is inside Fort Williams Park at a Food Truck. Bite Into Maine knows what they are doing, people. And for me, a mayo despiser, they get me. They have multiple different ways to enjoy your lobster roll, and my personal favorite is The Connecticut - warm butter poured over and ask for some chives on top as well. You can grab a roll, set up a picnic, look out at the ocean and people watch. 

3PM: Low Tide at Cliff House Beach (make sure to go low tide - move this where it fits in the schedule!)
This one might get me in trouble with the locals. But I just can't keep this little beauty a secret to ourselves! If you didn't know this was here, you'd likely never find it as it's embedded in a residential neighborhood and you only see the beauty of it when you walk down the wooden stairs to the start of the small beach. At our house, we call it "Rock Beach" as until the tide heads out, there is no beach to be found as it's covered with rocks. But at low tide, a small beach reveals itself and a few locals dot the edges of the beach. It's incredibly quiet, remarkably beautiful and you feel like you have entered a secret, private Maine cove. At this beach, we've seen every type of crustacean you can possibly imagine. 

4PM: Strawberry Picking at Maxwell's Farm
Depending on season, don't sleep on the strawberry picking glory at Maxwells! This is pure family fun and these delicious little beauties are not to be missed. 

6PM: Dinner & Drinks Outside at Inn By The Sea
Okay, this place might not be a secret, but I'm not sure how many people realize that you can eat here without staying here. They have an expansive lawn setup - complete with every outside dining option you can think of (fire pit seating, adirondack chairs perfect for rosé sipping, elegant tables on their deck) and of course, inside options when we are not living in COVID times. For kids, it's dreamland. They don't have to stay strapped to their seats while they wait for dinner as they can run free in the grass and get their sillies out in the most gorgeous setting. It's never overcrowded, and it's a pretty impressive place to take people visiting: outside dining, overlooking the ocean that is kid & dog friendly? I mean, sign me up over and over again.

We actually have stayed here before, long before we were Maine residents. We came here for a "babymoon" and brought our dog with us - which is not only encouraged, but honestly, the norm at this hotel. We ordered room service every night (I ate my weight in ice cream) and they have an extensive doggy menu as well. Our pup was treated like a king. We woke up every morning to the ocean breeze and nothing but time to explore and hang. It was a dream - and I've been trying to convince my husband to stay here again ever since even though we live 7 minutes down the road. 

7PM: Walk the beach path from Inn By The Sea down to Crescent Beach
The Inn has an idyllic path that leads down to Crescent Beach (at the far end of it) which is pretty distant from where you'll find the majority of people at the main entrance of the park. Take a seat by the waves, collect some shells and think about how you'll have to thank that blogger (me) who pointed you in this direction. :)

​I couldn't tell you how I find this place. I was daydreaming and searching for a perfect getaway during COVID times, and somehow I stumbled upon this oasis on an island in Jackman, ME. A private cabin (with no electricity) on a private island with all meals included? We got our masks and we were off. 

Attean Lake Lodge is a true family business and you can read about the history here. Brad and Andrea live on the island, along with Barrett (Brad's son) and Josie (and their two sweet kiddos.) They know every guest, and if they don't, you better believe they will all introduce themselves to you to make you feel like part of the family. We were greeted by the entire family within hours of being there.

So, it became clear right away we were one of the only newcomers - and I mean this in the best way. The first woman we chatted with had been coming to Attean since 2001. Once you go, you go again. And again. 

But the website doesn't give you a whole lot of information, so it all feels a little mysterious. The address I found took you to a parking lot, and once you arrived, apparently a man named Karl would appear from his cabin, at the end of the parking lot, to greet you and get you on a boat to head to Attean. 

And when we arrived, there was in fact a little cabin at the start of the lake that indeed, housed a sweet man named Karl. Karl amused us with the history of the island, told us to keep a look out for the dog that roamed the island who loved kids and that we may have a hard time sleeping at first because it is shockingly quiet.

​We boarded a private boat that took us on a 5 minute boat ride to Attean. When we pulled up, we were shown to our private cabin. We had booked the Pound Ridge Cabin - a cabin at the farthest end of the island. I had prepped myself going in that the cabin would be pretty rustic considering there was no electricity, but it was honestly cleaner and better kept than most hotels I have stayed in. The bedrooms were simple, clean and perfect for the three of us and the hot water was much appreciated. Kerosene lamps helped light the rooms. If we didn't have our four year old running around us in circles, I would have said it was supremely romantic.

And once you are checked into your cabin....the rest of your adventure is up to you. We ran to put our bathing suits on and headed down to the beach. 

Attean serves breakfast between 8AM-9AM and dinner between 6PM-7PM. For breakfast they offer two daily specials (our first day it was Blueberry Pancakes or a Ham & Cheese Omelet) AND pretty much anything under the sun that you could possibly want otherwise (I got scrambled eggs and toast both days - super cool and original, I know.) For dinner, they provide a choice of two appetizers (first night it was chowder or a green salad), a choice of an entree (first up was Salmon or Steak) and a choice of a dessert (first night we all got the Strawberry Shortcake.) Wine and beer available at dinner. 

They provide a simple bagged lunch (in a cooler) with a canteen (filled with your choice of lemonade or iced tea) that they encourage you to take with you so you can adventure throughout the day. You can choose whichever type of sandwich you'd like with a handful of varied options each day. LOVED this. It helped remind us to get off a schedule, relax and just enjoy the day wherever it takes you. 

​​I wasn't expecting to like the food as much as I did. In particular, the baked goods were insane. Each meal they provide a basket of freshly baked goodies directly upon sitting down - blueberry muffins, homemade biscuits, etc. Always hot and fresh. 

​

​​Other than eating an insane amount of food, here are some other activities we did:

• Canoed (multiple times.) There have a massive collection of kayaks, canoes, motor boats all that guests can enjoy.
• Went looking for Moose. Sad to say, we didn't see any on this trip but the boat ride looking for them I am sure Harper will never forget.
• Followed Harper, who followed the dog, Dakota, around the island everywhere he went. She was obsessed. He is an Alaskan Malamute and is the definition of a gentle giant. Karl was right about this dog!
• Had a hard time sleeping the first night because it was so quiet. SO QUIET! It's amazing and totally insane! We are used to sounds machines, so it took us a night to adust. There is no sound except red squirrels chirping, humming birds buzzing and loons at night. Karl was right!
• Like I said, listened to Loons. Woah, those things are nuts!
• Took many walks around the island.
• Canoed to a tiny island where we decided to have lunch on Saturday. We declared it "Lunch Beach."
• Jumped off the dock and showed Harper how to cannonball. 
• Frolicked on the main beach in our PJs watching the most gorgeous sunset.
• Took a long, glorious nap on Saturday all together. Since Harper doesn't nap anymore, this was like a ridiculous type of joy I haven't had in awhile!
• Played multiple rounds of checkers. I'm mortified to say Andrew beat me all of the times.
• Spent each night telling ghost stories to Harper around kerosene lamps while drinking delicious red wine we brought. I don't remember ever doing that before. Having no electricity and no WiFi (other than in the Main Cabin where meals were - which we used to charge our phones and check in from time to time with the real world) forced us to take a step back and just connect with each other. It all sounds so cliché until you literally can't use your phone. 

Hope to be one of those regulars. See you next Summer, Attean. 

Adventures during the time of COVID have certainly been a little different. I'm finding that I am more likely to pick a 1/2 adventure that requires a little bit longer of a drive even though my end destination is back at my house. I mean, what else do we have to do? 

We took one of my (and well, everyone else's) favorite drives on Maine's Coastal Route 1. Antique shops adorned with colorful buoys, lobster shacks and seafood restaurants not just exist in every whimsical Maine book/television show you've read/seen, they actually live on Route 1. Driving through charming Wiscasset is a personal favorite.

​We made our way to Oven's Mouth Preserve. Oven's Mouth is bound by the Back and Cross Rivers which connects the two peninsulas that form the preserve, Oven's Mouth East and West. There is a stunning bridge that connects the East to the West that our little one was thrilled to run across once we stumbled upon it. The West peninsula is heavily wooded with great hiking trails, while the East peninsula is a little over 1.5 miles and is a collection of salt marshes, easier trails and views of quiet coves. 

Our little one handled the walk with ease (only asking to be picked up for the last small stretch) and I would say this is a perfect family hike to keep everyone entertained with plenty to take in. You can cut the walk short and still experience much of what this preserve has to offer.

Yes, the water really looks like that. This incredible blue/green water flows throughout and we were successfully able to convince our daughter that 100% some magical fairies roamed these woods and controlled these waters. What else could explain it? 

Adventure begins in New Meadows River. We unpacked the car and loaded the canoe into the water in under 10 minutes. As we hopped into the canoe, a lobster fisherman was docking and a bald eagle flew directly above our heads. Maine, y'all.

​​The river was calm and sweet houses and cottages dot the edges. Everyone we passed waved and told us to enjoy our trip. We noticed almost immediately the massive amount of jellyfish floating throughout. Seriously, a wild amount. That kept Harper perfectly still in the canoe to avoid fallout, so, just a small scare tactic tip for any parents heading out on this trip. ​

My goal was to make it to Merritt Island in West Bath. Lofty dreams with a 4 year old in tow. It's an island owned by Bowdoin College that people are welcome to respectfully explore. Next time. 

​Instead, we docked our canoe at a little cove we discovered on the river and let Harper run free and get some sillies out. Shells galore for Harper to collect. 

​We are in some pretty wild times with COVID. Our adventures look a little differently lately with some new challenges and lots of hand sanitizer, but that's never stopped me before. After our beautiful canoe ride, we loaded back up and took a little drive for some appetizers and drinks to cap off a great afternoon. 

Sebasco Harbor Resort in Phippsburg was the perfect COVID solution. Their restaurant, Ledges Pub and Patio, is open to the public and not only do they have an extensive patio, but also an extensive lawn scattered with picnic tables and room to lay out blankets. We called in an order, masked up and got take-out of apps and drinks in plastic cups straight to their lawn. Harper ran free throughout the lawn and we got to enjoy a few moments by ourselves taking in some gorgeous views with a drink in hand.

I'm going to make this post short because I think this picture says all you really need to know:

That's the "Orange Flannel" breakfast sandwich made on a wood fired, Montreal style bagel that was created by Krista Kern Desjarlais. She's a James Beard Nominee and Semifinalist in the Best Chef category. Andrew told me his life was "altered" by eating it and I got actually angry when I got to the last bite.

Do a quick google on Krista and read all about her impressive accolades. I can say, having met her briefly (maybe it didn't feel brief to her, though? I fan-girled pretty hard and awkwardly) she is extremely humble, kind and gracious.

But where oh where does she go in the summer?! How can she just leave us like this after getting a bite so divine?! Oh, don't worry, more on where she ventures in the warm months in another post soon (and hint: it's just as delicious and a little more sweet.)

After you buy a million things to take home from The Purple House, your next less delicious, but equally awesome adventure awaits at Bradbury Mountain State Park. This is a relatively small mountain, and we had no problem making it to the summit with Harper. There is a playground by the parking lots that Harper was thrilled to see at the end of the hike.

​My husband and I have an affinity for visiting locations in their "off-season." Mount Snow in July? Sign us up. Kennebunkport in Winter? Sounds like a dream.

We had a weekend coming up with nothing on the books and we'd been curious about visiting Sugarloaf for awhile. I hopped on AirBnB to see if anything might be available 5 days out and was met with multiple fantastic options for all super reasonable prices. Off season, folks. 

Also, I am just going to say it now: this was our favorite adventure we've taken so far in Maine. I'll be checking myself as I write this to see if I am overly romanticizing it, but if this post sounds like a love letter to Carrabassett Valley it just might be.

We rented an apartment at Sugarloaf Mountain that was the lower level of someone's gorgeous mountain home. We were met with treats and wine when we walked in. 

But first I need to talk about the drive here. October in Maine and especially this part of Maine, was unlike anything we'd really ever seen. The rolling mountains and changing of leaves was enough to even make Harper stare out her window for the long drive and take in the ridiculous beauty around us. Okay, it's already getting mushy, don't know what to tell ya. 

​Also, if there was ever a place to see a Moose this would be the place. And just to loop you in: seeing a Moose in the wild is quite literally a bucket list item that I talk about on the regular. I'm...obsessed with them and may or may not seek out adventures that put me in a strong position to potentially see one. Though I have come up moose-less on past adventures, you can't stop me from trying.

We arrived late afternoon on Friday, unpacked a bit and made a straight away to The Rack which was a 5 minute drive down the mountain. Simple, not fussy food in a super packed restaurant. Lively, fun and very kid friendly. A true après ski bar, even during golf season.

The next day we were up and at 'em early, because you know, kids. We swung by D'Ellies, a slope side bakery with easy breakfast options (we opted for the nutritious option of a bacon, egg and cheese) and were ready to start adventuring. 

The day started with the Little Bigelow Hike which is a family & dog friendly hike that is part of the Appalachian Trail. It was just under 45 Minutes from the AirBnB and most of the drive was on a dirt road. The parking lot to access the hike is situated directly next to Flagstaff Lake. We spent some time skipping rocks down at the water and taking in the views, and then got lost finding the entrance to the trail. Some nice folks pointed us in the right direction.

The hike was an easy, fun start to our day and I was proud of how much our little one crushed it and what a champ she was walking. And because every hike deserves a ridiculously delicious treat, we made our way back to the mountain for a brunch I was very much looking forward to. 

At Alice & Lulus, which is situated in the Sugarloaf Mountain Village, they offer a raclette cheese brunch. Like, the most insanely delicious cheese gets POURED ON TOP OF YOUR MEAL. 

As you can clearly see, I was shooting for straight health this day. 

As it wasn't their busy season and we were solo in the restaurant, we were able to chat with owner, Laura, for a bit as she happily indulged all of my prodding questions on this divine cheese and what it was like to live in Carrabbasset. She shared her love for the area and all that went into getting Alice & Lulu's open with her wife, Ciana. She basically convinced me to sell our house and move to the mountain. 

We had planned to do a chair lift ride to take in more views, but frankly, I needed a nap after this meal. If I were to do it again, I'd recommend a chair lift ride first that will then swoop you directly into the loving arms of the raclette brunch that are steps away from each other.

After my cheesy slumber and a good walk for our pup around the mountain, we packed up for another adventure before a dinner reservation. I had been scoping out the Cathedral Pines Campground in Eustis not for camping, but for the views. It was on route to dinner, and I thought it might be a quick 30 minute adventure, but we happily ended up spending over an hour on the property. 

The campsite was empty (again, off season = best season) and we were free to roam the opposite end of Flagstaff Lake from our earlier adventure. Our daughter was able to get all of her sillies out before dinner, run free through endless pine trees and delighted in discovering (and playing) on an empty playground. 

We walked the water's edge and I did my best to capture the beauty around us. 

We made a 5 minute drive to the sweetest of sweet restaurants, The Coplin Dinner House in Stratton. Chickens greeted us as they scurried throughout the property. 

The restaurant is a special gem in this area. It's in a restored 1836 Farmhouse and the entire restaurant feels inviting and warm, while also being elegant. They were kind and patient with our little one and we definitely overstayed our welcome as I just didn't want to leave. 

On Sunday, I planned for a couple quick adventures on our way back home. We made our first ever visit to Rangeley Lake and popped in and out of some stores where I bought totally unnecessary knick knacks. The little had a major meltdown in one of the stores and we were certain the town of Rangeley would ask us to leave and never return.

Though we were permitted to stay, we got the exhausted little into the car and made our way, with trinkets in tow, to a lookout spot I'd been obsessing over for quite some time. The Height of Land overlooks the entire Rangeley Lakes region and is one of those places where no picture will really do it justice.

Satisfied with a beautiful, extremely Maine weekend we started our drive home. 

But then, as the sounds of "Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood" played from the backseat of our car, it happened. If I didn't do a sufficient job of foreshadowing at the beginning of this post, I'll just say it simply here: A MOOSE. As we turned a corner down a windy mountain, A MOOSE RAN ALONGSIDE OF US. And then it suddenly stopped. Walked slowly and magnificently in front of our car, crossed the street, stood on a FREAKING PERCHED LEDGE in all of it's glory for a solid 15 seconds, and then ran off into the distance.

​With my literal jaw on the floor I managed to barely capture the one lame photo you see here:

The Willard Beach area in South Portland is the reason we decided to move to Maine. 

We rented an AirBnB in South Portland when our daughter was 6 months and invited our families to join us for a week. It was both a stone's throw to the beach and Scratch Bakery. But more on Scratch in a minute. 

We left our vacation feeling like we needed to be (and somehow were already?) part of this special community. This neighborhood and these people felt like an extended part of our family.

This area of South Portland is less than 10 minutes to the Old Port and all that downtown Portland has to offer. And while it's pretty exceptional to be that close to Portland, SoPo has it's own restaurant scene and well, it has Willard Beach. It's a beach neighborhood but without any pretension. 

We moved to the Willard Beach neighborhood in 2019 and every now and again, we look at each other and both silently agree it was the best decision (you know, besides having our daughter) that we have ever made. Often this look is with a coffee in hand, in the early mornings on the beach, watching our little one and dog chase each other in and out of the water.

I'm going to lay out what a perfect 1/2 day in the Willard Beach area could look like. This is one iteration of one of our perfect days, and I will continue to post others as this certainly doesn't scrape the service of what could be done here. And if the salty air and delicious treats make you a SoPo convert like us, I'll happily welcome you to our favorite neighborhood in the world. 

​7AM: Get your dog, kids and make your way to Scratch Bakery. Before you make your way to the delicious treats of the day, make a quick right and get yourself a Sea Salt Bagel. Grab some cream cheese out of the fridge, a coffee by the counter and head out to a picnic table out font. Nope, there are no toasters because it would be criminal to toast this thing. Savor those bites, pet a few of the dogs leashed up out front and have fun counting and reveling in the amount of people that make their way in and out while you eat your breakfast. 
8AM: Take the short walk down to Willard Beach. Dogs are allowed on the beach off leash from 7AM-9AM and 7PM-9PM during beach season. If you are a dog lover, this is paradise in the early mornings. Sea Glass hunting is prime in the early AM here, and if you encounter any red or pink pieces, let me know as we severely lacking in that color department in our collection.

9AM: Put the pooch back on a leash and take a walk to Fisherman's Point. You can access this at the south side of Willard Beach by climbing some small rock stairs. Walk in the direction of the picturesque fishing shacks that dot the edge. At Fisherman's Point, you might see a yoga class, maybe a wedding and definitely views of Portland Head Light.

10AM: Head north to take a beautiful walk along the beach on a paved trail (part of Southern Maine Community College's campus) that will lead you to Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, in operation since 1897. The walk will also wind you through Fort Preble, which was a military fort in South Portland built in 1808. Take the rocky walk out to the lighthouse and capture views of Peaks Island, Fort Gorges and more. 

And there you have a glorious, half day loop around Willard Beach. If I haven't convinced you yet, I'll give it another try soon with more SoPo location and food gems.