Family Vacation 2023: Massachusetts and Maine

 We have survived re-entry and are settling into the new school year with our 4th and 7th graders.  Next weekend, I'm planning to post Sarah's birthday photos.  But for now, I want to share all the highlights of our family vacation to New England.  It was my first time in that part of the country and it exceeded all my expectations.  The weather, the food, the people, and the charm were above and beyond. Here are the photos.....

We started our vacation by flying into Boston and renting a car for the one-hour drive to Dartmouth, MA, an idyllic seaside town where Peter's best friend from flight school lives with his family.  Within an hour of arriving at their house, we were out on their boat, headed to.....

this deserted island.  It is across from Martha's Vinyard and owned by the Forbes Family.  In the summers, they allow locals to anchor their boats and use the island.  

The girls had a blast after they acclimated to the cold water.  

The water was crystal clear.  So gorgeous.  

Mr. Matt let SA drive the boat on the way home.  She was delighted.

The next morning we said goodbye to Dartmouth and headed back to Boston for a couple of day of sightseeing.  First stop, Fenway.  

Peter has wanted to show us Boston for years and it did not disappoint.

That first day we strolled around some of the famous sights.

Like this statue of Paul Revere.

We stayed across the harbor from downtown which meant we took this free ferry twice a day. We loved seeing the city skyline from the water.  

Day 2 started at the very cool and very crowded New England Aquariam.  

Afterwards, we had lunch reservations at one of Boston's most beloved restuarants, a cuban place called Mariel.

The food and service were amazing and it was a great break from the crowds. 

After lunch we set off for some more historic sight seeing, including the site of the Boston Massacre. 

Susannah is our resident Revolutionary War scholar and loved giving us extra tidbits of trivia as we toured. 

We checked out this old graveyard in the center of the old city where several famous leaders were buried, including Sam Adams. 

We also walked through the beautiful and expansive Boston Common.

Then it was time for our Duck Boat tour.  

Susannah got to drive the duck boat when we were in the Charles River.

We took one last stroll along Freedom Trial as we headed to dinner. 

We were still full from lunch so our dinner was more like dessert.  :)  

We headed back across to our hotel and took in this view for one last time.  Tomorrow--Maine! 

After a 4 hour drive and a stop at the grocery store, we pulled up to our house for the week.  

The view was absolutely amazing.  Everyday we saw seals and otters.  

And the stars at night were like nothing I've ever seen before.  

We spent our first morning playing in the harbor with the kayaks and paddleboard Peter rented.  

The water was COLD, so balance on the paddleboard was key.  

It was so beautiful, we kept saying we felt like we were in a screen saver.  

That afternoon, we headed out for our first hike in Acadia!  

We stayed on the less popular Schoodic Penisula side of Acadia National Park, so we enjoyed quiet, peaceful hiking trails.  

The mixture of beautiful forests with ocean views makes Acadia a unique and breathtaking place to hike.  

Soaking in the fresh cool air.  

A day of paddleboarding and hiking could only be topped off with a lobster roll and sweet potato fries.  The food in New England definitely did not disappoint. 

Our second full day, we headed inland to climb another mountain with beautiful summit view. 

And adventurous trails. 

The tough climb ended at this gorgeous mountain lake which felt great on our tired feet.  

Next stop was this adorable lunch place right on the water where you can watch the lobster boats that caught your lunch.  

Dessert was, hands down, the best blueberry pie I've ever eaten. 

The next day was rainy, so the guys headed out to buy lobsters fresh off of the boat for a home cooked feast that evening. 

It was delish!  

The next day we had reservations to drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain in the more popular section of Acadia. 

The wind at the top was chilly, but the views were more than worth it. 

My favorite travel companion

Christmas card ready

After a picnic at the top of Cadillac Mountian, we headed to a trial head to summit one of Cadillac's neighbors. 

Acadia is known for it's ladder trails so we were excited to check them out on this trail.  

It was a slog to the top, but totally worth it once you made it.  

After our hike, we met up with the Aikens in Bar Harbor and had dinner together.  

It was such a bonus to have a mid-week reunion.  

The next morning Susannah and I headed back to the Schoodic Penisula to squeeze in one more hike.  

She was the best hiking partner.  We rocked it.  

And then rewarded ourselves with this amazing softserve.  

Our last full day we had ferry tickets to head back to Bar Harbor for some souvenir shopping.  

The wildlife and scenary on the ferry were absolutely glorious.  We saw a bald eagle take flight and I almost cried it was so beautiful. 

We spent some time in a few shops. 

And picked out our souvenirs of choice.  (Or Halloween costumes)

Then we met back up with the Aikens at an adorable historic inn that had live music and an outdoor bar on their front lawn.  

It was the perfect way to spend our last afternoon.  

The ferry ride back was beautiful.

Peter and SA spent the rest of the evening fishing. 

The next morning we were sad to say goodbye to this amazing place, but we left with full hearts.  

And now we are back in the swing of work and school.  We hope all of you are having smooth re-entry.  We love and miss you all!