One year ago today, I married Brett, the kindest and most supportive human in the universe. We took a week long trip up to Maine during the summer solstice and visited several fantastic places. In honor of our first wedding anniversary, I figured I’d share some of our trip highlights in case anyone is planning to travel to Maine this summer (or anytime).
Let’s start with a quick background story and I’ll make it short and sweet; I rarely leave New England. Our Christmas ornaments will tell you that without me needing to say a word. When we travel, I love to collect ornaments from “all the places” we go. Every Christmas Brett and I laugh because when we unfold the tissue paper that protects our ornaments, they reveal that the only place we actually travel to is Maine. Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Bar Harbor, Freeport, and so on. If it’s coastal Maine, we’ve got an ornament for it. So, it was only right that we got married there.
Let the recap begin.
First stop: Freeport, MAINE
We left Rhode Island late morning and headed straight to Maine Brewing Company in Freeport. If you haven’t been, you must go. It has evolved from a small tasting room to a large capacity brewery with great food, cool apparel, and fantastic beer. I thoroughly enjoyed the Woods & Waters IPA. Good vibes all around here.
Kicking off our wedding vacation at Maine Brewing Company (Freeport, ME).
A Cedar Waxwing munching on some berries at the brewery.
The Woods and Waters theme seemed to follow us everywhere we went, including Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park, which is also in Freeport. At over 200 acres, this gorgeous preserve boasts a variety of ecosystems including a salt marsh estuary, rocky shorelines, and pine and hemlock forests.
Welcome to Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park!
Pure tranquility.
This super territorial (and adorable) Red Squirrel followed us through the woods for a bit.
After a couple of beers and a hike, we definitely had built up an appetite. But there was no question as to where we were headed…forget being Vacationland, Maine is lobsterland. If you love lobster right off the boat, Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company is the place for you. You can actually sit at a picnic table here and watch the fisherman come in with their catch.
A lobster roll and fries from Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster Company.
While in Freeport, I recommend stopping at the L.L. Bean, Patagonia, and North Face outlets. You can find really good deals on some great gear for all your seasonal and hiking needs. After walking around town and doing some shopping, we ended our day in Freeport at the super cute and delicious Tuscan Bistro, known for their incredible pizza and delicious drinks.
Onward.
Second stop: Boothbay harbor, maine
When Brett and I decided that we were going to elope, I started scouting out all-inclusive elopement packages. Basically, the packages that streamline everything from the flowers to the officiant to the photography. In my research, I came across a place called Linekin Bay Resort in Boothbay Harbor, ME.
In the months leading up to our elopement, Brett and I would laugh because we really had no idea what we were getting into. Fast forward to June, as soon as we pulled down the dirt road to the Linekin Bay Resort, our expectations had been exceeded.
Remember the Woods and Waters theme I mentioned earlier? It followed us here too. Linekin Bay Resort is nestled on 20-acres of land and it offers all of the amenities including kayaks, canoes, paddleboards, a heated ocean front pool, a dock you can swim off of, fishing equipment, sailboats, tennis, basketball, baseball, volleyball, a firepit, and so much more. In addition, the resort has an awesome bar and restaurant. You don’t even have to leave!
Our “Hideaway” cabin that overlooked the bay.
View from the cabin at sunrise.
During our stay, we met Jim and Gerri, two locals who made our wedding trip pure magic. They took us under their wing as if we were long time friends. I will be forever grateful for them. The day before our wedding they took us on a boat trip all around the bay. Did I say it was magical? I’m seriously tearing up as I write this and remember how much joy these two people brought us.
Gerri, Jim, and me.
Brett and me in front of the Cuckolds Lighthouse in Boothbay Harbor, ME. Strange name for a lighthouse, but there’s some history to it.
Jim and Gerri brought us to view a Bald Eagle nest with her eaglets (below). It was the first time I was able to photograph an eagle.
Remember the Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz also known as actress Margaret Hamilton? She lived here. Read about it.
We saw so much more including additional lighthouses, birds, and boats. It was fantastic!
The Linekin Bay resort is a walkable distance to downtown Boothbay Harbor. If my memory serves me correctly, it was about a two mile walk with beautiful views. A few recommended downtown spots include McSeagulls Restaurant, Footbridge Brewery, and Boathouse Bistro.
A delicious beer served by the great folks of Footbridge Brewery.
Okay, enough with the beer. Let’s fast forward to our wedding day. Brett and I were married at Linekin Bay Resort on June 24, 2021. It was a super emotional and amazing day. Perfect weather, perfect day, perfect everything.
Just married! June 24, 2021.
Strawberry Moon, June 24, 2021.
THIrd stop: bar harbor, MAINE
The day after our wedding we left Boothbay Harbor to head up to Bar Harbor for our next adventure. When we visit Bar Harbor, we like to keep it real swanky and stay at the famous Bar Harbor Inn & Spa which overlooks the Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands. It’s stunning.
We checked in and immediately headed to Atlantic Brewing Company (Midtown) for some beer flights and absolutely delicious pretzels. Put this on your must visit list.
Brett enjoying a beer flight at Atlantic Brewing Company in Bar Harbor.
After we finished our flights, we headed a few doors down to Fogtown Brewing for yet another flight and a couple seltzer cocktails.
A seltzer cocktail at Fogtown Brewing in Bar Harbor.
While we love downtown Bar Harbor, the real reason for visiting this area is Acadia National Park. If you have never visited this pristine, protected area of the Atlantic coast please put it on your bucket list. It takes my breath away every single time. There’s something about the ocean meeting the mountains, it’s just incredibly humbling.
When we first arrived the park was packed; cars and humans everywhere. I immediately went into flight mode and I believe I actually asked Brett if we could leave as I felt slightly overwhelmed. He requested my patience (ha!) and found us a beautiful off-the-beaten-path trail that we spent hours exploring and only passed a handful of people.
Birding in Acadia National Park.
Brett running down rock stairs and making me nervous 🤪
A foggy and beautiful mountain side.
In our hiking glory!
Pictures simply do not do Acadia National Park justice. It’s just beautiful. I wish I could remember the name of the trail we found, but I’m not sure it even had a name.
Following our journey through the woods, we headed back to town and cozied up at the Cottage Street Pub, a hole in the wall tiny bar with some absolutely glorious craft cocktails.
Yes, that is a sorbet martini.
IN Closing
I could relive this trip to the beautiful state of Maine a million times over. Happy Anniversary, Brett. You are, quite literally, the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
Cheers!
