It’s never a good idea to give an entire state a run-down. But alas, we high-tailed it from driveway to driveway, local land trusts to National Park and made our way through a number of spots across the Maine coast. We skimmed more of the surface, covered more of the ground, yet found ourselves still weaseling into the nooks and crannies that entice and allure us. Maine felt as wild as you can find in this busy Northeast, wooded and accented with a tongue that felt as far away as it might feel to be nine states away from your starting place. Perhaps one day we will push further into the North Woods, go deeper, farther, longer, as is our ideal way to engage. But for now, Maine-in-our-van captured our hearts in so many ways.

• We stayed: driveways in Damariscotta, Nobleboro, and Blue Hill, campgrounds in Acadia National Park (Sea Wall, Schoodic (*five stars*), and the Bar Harbor KOA).
• We explored:
  • Damariscotta/Nobleboro: Pemaquid Beach, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, National Audubon Puffin Watch from Hardy Boat Cruises, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (*five stars*), Boothbay Region Land Trust at Oak Point Farm (great playground)
  • Acadia National Park: Cadillac Mountain, Park Loop Road, Sand Point, Schoodic Peninsula and Schoodic Institute (*five stars*), Jordan Pond and Bubble Rock
  • Sorrento (lovely tour of the quaint town and all its rustic Maine charm)
• We hiked:
  • Acadia: Cadillac Summit Loop Trail, portions of Sand Beach to Thunder Hole, North Bubble, low tide hike to Little Moose Island (*five stars*), Jordan Pond Loop
  • Nobleboro: Oak Point Farm Trail
• We fished: Damariscotta Lake
• We enjoyed: lobster from Shaw’s Fish and Lobster Wharf, Ginger Mousse Bakery, Oysterhead Pizza, Maine Beer Company (Little Whaleboat), Boothbay Craft Brewery (Thirsty Botanist)
• We read: Elizabeth Strout (Olive Kitterage and Oh, William!) and for the kids Burt Dow, Deep-water Man and Lost on a Mountain in Maine; and put Stephen King, Thoreau’s The Maine Woods, and The Country of Pointed Firs on the list.