Before we get to Portland the L.L. Bean store lured us to its doors
This place is no joke. It is like the Disney World of retail. Store after store, parking lots marked so you can recall what lot you parked in. Serious business I didn’t expect in Freeport, Maine. It was worth the stop just to get a photo with the duck boot truck! L.L. Bean Flagship Store 95 Main St., Freeport, Me
Passing through Portland
What a cool city! We were only here for two days but I would definitely return to check out more. It is a big small city, enough going on to satisfy your metro fix but small enough to explore and get places quickly. Our stay consisted of visiting relatives, eating yummy food and taking advantage of the swimming pool at our hotel. The biggest deal (besides the enormous pizza you will see pictures of) was Lennox had his hair not only cut but styled into an amazing fade by undoubtedly the best barber in town. He looks about 2 years older but we all love his smooth do. He said he feels like a teddy bear because his hair is soooooo soft. Momentum Barbershop
As for the pizza, I have never in my entire life seen such enormous pizza and it’s actually light, fluffy, crispy, everything great about pizza giganticized! Soooooo yummy! Slab Sicilian Street Food
Acadia National Park – where you step into a world and it becomes hard to believe the beauty around you exists on our planet
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I don’t know which turn it was but suddenly my breath was taken away. Looking around I saw the most beautiful landscapes surrounding me, ocean waves splashing, rock formations floating on the horizon, glistening sun shining across the water. Wow! my desire to move within this spectacular landscape was only squashed slightly by my fear of a child falling over the cliffs into the ocean. This was the time of balancing awe with anxiety both worthy of a moment. Nature’s masterpiece before my eyes, pictures don’t do it justice, the amazement of this park is an experience everyone should place on their bucket list. Beautiful nature, Maine at its finest. In love!
Low tide…..LOVE
running from waves is so much fun
Who knew our days would be scheduled around low tide, and finding the prime spot for tide pooling. Yes, as the tide goes out it leaves behind pools of water, big enough for your kids to get 100% soaked from head to toe, but safe enough they won’t get taken out to sea. In these pools are creatures…. yes creatures of many kinds, anemones, sea stars, crabs, hermit crabs, the list goes on. The kids love turning over every rock and searching for whatever life they can find. I will admit I do as well. The ocean is amazing and I’m so glad they can experience this and be fascinated by it.
Hike up Mt. Acadia
Finding a “family hike” can be challenging, steep cliffs and our four year old cause too much anxiety to make it worth while and our 9, 7 and 4 year old, although strong, don’t have the endurance for long hikes.
Mt. Acadia was perfect, it was just the right amount of challenge with a spectacular reward at the top that even left the kids in awe. A combination of trail and rock climbing led to spectacular ocean views. We all felt accomplished on the summit and by the end of the trail the little legs were tired, which makes for a good nights rest!
Short but steep
taking in the view
Sienna a happy hiker
break for gymnastics
more gymnastics
working on her Junior Ranger Badge
keep it up hikers
Sisters
up and down the rocks
sliding on rocks = holes in pants
made it!!!
Rare full family photo
more mountain photos
king of the mountain
Making mom nervous near the edge
more nervous
3rd child must be held
summit smile
Down…Down…Down
and we have a tired guy
Sunrise….on Cadillic Mountain
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Supposedly the first ray of sunlight in the United States shows on Cadillac Mountain. This creates a pilgrimage to the top every morning which of course requires very early rising. Only a few mildly insane people would wake their sleeping children up at 5:30am and this is evidence we qualify. Pajamas and all we ventured around and around the mountain curves to the top where we met many others seeking the same rays. The anticipation abounded but fog crushed many morning dreams. Although we waited on the slippery rock lit up in a eerie haze, the sun dispersed behind the thick blanket leaving a mountain full of disappointed people. We did however enjoy a great game of hide and seek with our camouflaged creature and a early start to a great day in Acadia National Park.
Junior Ranger – MADNESS
from above
looking down into the bay
We discovered the kids could earn a Junior Ranger badge while at Acadia National Park. What a great way to supplement homeschooling! We picked up the books and started working away. Of course one requirement is to attend a specified program, which at this time of year were a bit limited. Just before leaving the park for our next destination we made a mad dash up Beech Mountain to the Fire Station where the kids interviewed a ranger!!! They summoned up their courage to climb 40 feet up into the fire station where they met Dusty the ranger who’s favorite thing about Acadia was meeting all the people who come to visit. Such a great experience and with that they fulfilled all the requirements to become Junior Rangers. We reported to ranger headquarters where Colette, Sienna and Lennox were sworn in as Junior Rangers! So proud of their hard work.
Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound
Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound
Lobsters for all
boiling pots!
Tags making sure you get the lobster you grabbed
Yes, delicious
Ouch! it got him
Watch out for claws!
Maine is the land of the lobster! Being from the Mid-West we think of lobster as a food you eat in an elegant fancy-pants restaurant only when you are choosing the most expensive item on the menu. Well in Maine lobster is like a hot dog stand, shacks serving the finest catch are everywhere. Fresh probably means caught earlier that day and you can tell. Its a little weird to fish an animal from water knowing that 5 feet away steaming pots await its demise, but it’s also an experience not to be passed up. Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound right outside of Acadia provided our lobster indulgence and it was nothing but sweet satisfaction. Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound 1237 Bar Harbor Rd., Trenton, Maine 04605
