"A Comforting Sound When The Lights Are Down"

I had always heard from family & friends that Maine was THE State to explore, should I plan on going to the northeast.

It wasn't that I was purposefully ignoring them, I just didn't have the appropriate window of time I thought a visit would warrant.  I'm glad I waited until I had more time, because Maine  is quite possibly, the most beautiful State I've ever seen.  My girlfriend and I sketched out an itinerary that included renting a car and tacking on as many miles as possible over the course of 1 week.

We flew into Bangor (which on a side-note, is a charming little international airport and extremely accommodating for travelers) and found the car rental counter about 100 feet from our terminal.  Quick in and out, we hopped in our SUV and dashed 40 miles towards the coast, until we reached Acadia National Park.

Acadia featured a wonderment of woodlands, mountains, pines, lakes, ponds and beaches.  26 mountains in total are highlighted by Cadillac Mountain, the tallest along the entire eastern coastline.

Jordan Pond was one of our favorite stops along the way inside the park.  Away from the coast, this pond and it's majestic surroundings boasted an eerily-silent tranquility that made us feel like the only people on the planet for a few minutes.

The Atlantic Ocean was an absolute marvel to look down on, high up in the mountains of the park.  I feel like the Pacific Ocean usually basks in the limelight when it comes to 'Oceans' for it's brilliant blue color and how it compliments with the CA coastline/lifestyle.  I would fervently argue that the Atlantic offered more raw, explosive beauty, especially from this vantage point.  

Day 2 we began to venture down Hwy 1 towards our next stop, Portland, ME.  I don't think we could've chosen a better time of year (early October); Time of the year was ideal - leaves had fully peaked in their vividness, the air was crisp, and just warm enough to not feel rushed while outside.

Two Light towers that really stood out were Pemaquid and Nubble.  Pemaquid was built in 1827 and Nubble in 1874; both were incredible to see and offer great visitor's information to really understand their history and how they operated 100+ years ago.  MUST SEE

Continuing down Hwy 1 we made our next stop in Portland.  (Nubble was after Portland, to the South) There for only 15 minutes, this town quickly grew close to my heart.  We had an AirBnB in a guest house downtown so we were right in the thick of everything.  Amazing views outwardly to the ocean were complimented with buzzing restaurants, markets, and entertainment.  A lot of the area gave off a Seattle-market vibe, but with less foot traffic and a more neighborly demeanor.

Then the seafood came.  So fresh.  I do love Pacific seafood, but the Atlantic lobster rolls and oysters just hit different.  My lady isn't the largest seafood fan, so I got to double-down on my seafood experience.

Another surprise of the food I wasn't privy to were the potato donuts.  Might sound weird, but trust me, you have to try one.  We specifically hit up The Holy Donut, which had a line about 20 minutes deep, but completely worth the wait.  The recipe has been around since 1937, and I don't think we ever found out why they used potatoes, but its popularity amongst the population hasn't ceased.

After leaving Portland we hooked around through Portsmouth, New Hampshire and decided to hoof through White Mountain National Forest.  The journey provided extra scenery taking Hwy 112 up through Rochester.  If weren't for some of the green foliage, the trees looked like they were on fire with bright orange and yellow hues.

We made one last pit stop at the Flume Gorge.  Part of Franconia State Park, the gorge featured enormous granite walls that look like God himself carved.  Sometime after the granite fractures were formed, they were accompanied by dikes of basalt.  Much of this had eroded over time from frost and water.

As quickly as we arrived, our time in Maine / New Hampshire had come to a close.  I can say with full confidence, we will be going back soon.  Until then...I'm comin' home, baby.

 TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

• Acadia National Park
• Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park
• Scenic Drive Down Hwy 1
• Downtown Portland
• The Holy Donut
• Nubble Lighthouse
• Scenic Drive up Hwy 112 from Portsmouth
• White Mountain National Forest
• Flume Gorge

RECOMMENDATIONS

• If you fly to Bangor and intend to drive for several days--there's a Dollar Tree near the Bangor airport.  Stock up on water, first aid, snacks, etc.
• Sunscreen - lots of it
• Beware of your surroundings, lots of jagged terrain up high in Acadia
• Bring appropriate rain gear