Maine has been the focus of my daydreams all summer, and I feel so blessed that I was able to turn those daydreams into a reality.  I spent 8 days traversing the state of Maine; I saw as much as I possibly could pack into that 8 day period.  I experienced cities, ports, and Maine’s vast wilderness.  Here is a day-by-day look at my adventures in one of my new favorite states.

Day 1 through 3: Portland and the surrounding areas

Day one was a bit of a disaster logistically.  I had the most anti-climatic start to the vacation imaginable.  With overwhelming excitement, I boarded the plane, eagerly awaiting departure.  The plane sat, and it sat, and it sat some more.  The captain gave updates every 15 minutes that we would be taking off in just a few more minutes.  In total, we were over 2 hours delayed, meaning I would definitely miss my connecting flight.  After coming to terms with the fact that I was stuck in New Jersey (take it from me, don’t drink the tap water), I was able to find a connecting flight to Portland that would get me there by the end of the day.

Day two was my chance to get out and see the city.  Portland, recently voted the best foodie city in New England, was filled with quaint store fronts, cobblestone streets, and fresh seafood.  I filled my day with a brewery tour of Allagash Brewing, eating several lobster rolls, and wandering the streets.  After spending the first half of the day in Portland, I decided to head up the coast to Freeport–home of the 24 hour L.L. Bean.

Day three I decided to head south along the coastline.  I ended up in Kennebunkport–George H.W. Bush’s summer home.  I found another lobster shack, this one running out of the corner of the local convenient store.  They didn’t offer any seating except for two Adirondack chairs located in the front of the store.  I sat there, enjoying the best lobster roll of my life, and watched as small-town life passed by.  After walking along the coastline, traversing tide pools, and having yet another lobster roll, I drove back to Portland to see the famed Bug Lighthouse.  Along the way, I also encountered Portland’s narrow-gauge railroad.

Day 4 through 6: Baxter State Park

On day four, I found myself saying goodbye to Portland as I watched its shadow disappear in my rear-view mirror.  I was headed north to Baxter State Park.  The drive took me through Bangor (where I geeked out on Stephen King’s house), and into the vast wilderness of Maine.  I started my hike at Roaring Brook Campground, and was headed to Wassataquoik Island Campground for the night–roughly 9.5 miles.  Those nine miles were the most beautiful, densely forest miles I have ever hiked.  The trail took me through dangerous river crossings, wild blueberry fields, and I even had an encounter with a moose!  In the end, the solitude I found at the island was worth all those miles.

Day five brought a surprise wake-up call when the moose decided to bugle at dawn.  Sadly, I had to pack up and leave my peaceful island.  After canoeing around for a couple of hours, I started my trek to my next destination, Wassataquoik Stream Campground.  The hike was much shorter than the previous day, totaling about 5 miles.  To my disbelief, this campsite was equally as beautiful and provided just as much solitude as the first.

The sixth day was the end of my backpacking adventure.  I woke to the moose splashing across the stream and figured that meant I should get moving as well. I hiked another 6.5 miles back to Roaring Brook Campground, and was quickly back on the road to Bar Harbor.

Day 6 1/2-7: Bar Harbor (or, as the magnet on my fridge says, Baa Ha Ba)

Bar Harbor, a touristy yet quaint town, welcomed me with the salt-air and the ocean’s breeze.  I checked out the local scene before heading to my hotel to take a much needed shower.

The seventh day was bittersweet.  I knew I had to head back to Portland in the evening in order to catch an early morning flight home the next day, so I packed as much in as I could before I had to leave.  The day started with a lobster crêpe to set the tone, and I set off to explore all that Mount Desert Island had to offer.  I walked the coastline in Bar Harbor, barely able to make out the nearby islands through the dense fog, saw the sites in Acadia National Park, and conquered my fear of heights.  The highly popular Precipice Trail–known for being a 1.5 nearly vertical climb–sent chills down my spine just thinking about it.  But, go big or go home, right?  The views from the summit were spectacular with a blanket of fog coating many of the islands.  After all was said and done and my feet were placed firmly on the ground again, I can honestly say it was my favorite, and most unique, hike that I have ever done!  Needless to say, I took the easiest way down… celebrating with some warm, lighter-than-air popovers at the Jordan Pond House.  If you are like me, you might be wondering what a popover (pronounced pop-o-vah) is.  It is a delightful treat that has a perfectly crunchy outside, a warm a airy inside, and is best enjoyed with tea.  If you want to try one, follow me here while I try to make one.

Day eight meant an early morning wake-up call to catch a flight back to Denver.  As soon as I touched ground in Colorado, I started planning my visit back!