Coastal Maine

After leaving Mass, we briefly skirt the New Hampshire coast before making our way into the beautiful state of Maine. Highway 1 provides the perfect access to all of the little villages along this spectacular shore.





An afternoon break for a short hike along the Marginal Way in Ogunquit is the plan. We find a shore path here that rivals, if not surpasses, the Cliff Walks in Newport - hard to imagine! As the day is coming to a close, the option to stay here for the evening is overruled by our excitement of getting closer to our ultimate destination in Bar Harbor. The decision to make the evening stop in Freeport makes the most sense and we find a wonderful Hampton Inn to rest, catch up on some laundry, and awaken fresh to journey in the morning. A darling little Greek/Italian restaurant, Antonia's Pizzeria, is across the street, where we find wonderful service and delicious food.




























The morning finds us refreshed and a quick trip to L.L. Bean seems a must while here. We find a couple of lightweight vests that will come in handy with this cold weather we've been encountering in New England. The retail outlet's base operation is quite impressive.



Midway to Bar Harbor, we take a break in the adorable village of Camden and find a delightful lunch spot at The Marriner's Restaurant, which serves a halibut reuben to die for and a water view to match. When we ask Esther, our very fun server, if there is anyplace in Maine that's not beautiful, she confirms no such place exists. We stroll the little harbor and park area outside after dining before continuing our journey east.

Bar Harbor is just around the corner!!!

Salem Heritage to Rockport Harbor

The drive off the cape this morning is melancholy. Though the weather is sunny and gorgeous, the winds are too gusty for the ferry to Nantucket, as planned. We make the decision to visit historic Salem and overnight in the beautiful Rockport area before leaving Massachusetts.















Our travel time takes somewhat longer than we had anticipated, so it is later in the afternoon for our arrival into Salem than is optimal, but we make the best of our limited time, just the same. A very helpful ranger in the National Park Visitor Center arms us with a map of the Heritage Trail, pointing out some highlights for our tour. It is perfect walking weather, if a bit brisk at points along the water. There is so much more than Witch Trials that happened here and we take in the various architecture in the historic area dotting the coastline. The Friendship, a three-masted sailing vessel, presents a magnificent centerpiece along the harbor. Too late for an on board tour, but impressive anyway.





The House of the Seven Gables is equally appealing from an outside view, in remarkable shape and bordering the same waterway. The trail consists of approximately a mile path along the harbor, winding through various architectural delights. It's a splendid walk. As we come upon the oldest hotel, The Hawthorne, we veer inside for a quick peek. A very accommodating front desk clerk gives a great suggestion for a late lunch, across the street at the Old Spot. Pub style fare presents two of the best sandwiches we've ever eaten in a comfy cozy room. Very nice. We savor a couple of brew, giving our feet a respite, before heading on.

As the day fades, we take the very pretty drive into Rockport, which provides the absolute prettiest harbor we've encountered thus far. This place is the epitome of New England quaintness and, arriving as the sun sets, paints an extraordinary picture! The little village is ours to roam at this late hour and we stroll the artsy streets with wonder at each turn. It's perfect! We find wonderful lodging at the Rockport Inn and Suites, less than a mile from the waterfront and settle in.

One more beautiful spot in Mass - we really love this state!