The Explore All 50 States Project
Let's Go!
So how many of you reading this thought the Maine State Capitol Building was in Bangor....Nope, it's in Augusta, right across the parking lot from the Maine State Museum. It is very pretty from the outside, but I have to admit, my kids were pretty disappointed. The interior is quite modern and there are almost no artifacts. As you enter you are greeted by the state seal with the motto "Dirigo" which we found out … [Read more...]
So if you ask folks in Maine about the Maine State Museum they'll tell you it's just ok and a bit of a joke. I totally disagree, my kids and I loved this museum! For a little museum, they sure had a lot of cool stuff. We learned all what life is like living in Maine, Maine's brave men who fought for our country and many of the industries that Maine is well known for like logging and fishing. They have a great … [Read more...]
Lobster fishing is a pretty big deal in Maine since Lobster is one of those things Maine is most famous for. Lobster is on the menu of just about every restaurant and folks stand in lines for some of the more famous lobster roll stands. We don't eat lobster (we only eat fish with both fins and scales because of our dietary restrictions) but I still felt it would be "wicked awesome" to go lobster fishing. Online … [Read more...]
The L.L. Bean Flagship store is the "Maine" attraction in the cute little town of Freeport which is also filled with tons of outlet stores and therefore tons of shoppers. Besides the store where you can find everything you need from the coziest slippers, to kayaks and camping gear, the "campus" as it's called also hosts lots of community activities like how-to clinics and summer concerts. We were there on a rainy … [Read more...]
I was really excited to see Acadia National Park. It really is spectacular. We got there early and big mistake on our part, attempted to drive the loop instead of waiting for the visitor center to open. We drove and drove, and we didn't quite know what we should have been looking for but the scenic vistas were just breathtaking. Sadly we were a little pressed for time as we wanted to get in our blueberry … [Read more...]
The Portland Head Light is a beautiful lighthouse that sits on a hill in a very beautiful area on the Portland shore. It's a short drive from the center of town and it is totally worth seeing. There is a gift shop and a museum, so check their schedule to be sure it's open when you get there. We had to head out of town early, so sadly we missed it, but it's definitely something to see if you have the time. I … [Read more...]
One of the things Maine is famous for is wild blueberries. You can find them lots of places, and we bought jars of them at L.L.Bean in Freeport and had them shipped home. Also known as"Maine caviar" you can use them in pancakes, muffins etc. But nothing compares to picking your own blueberries right off the bush. If you happen to be in Maine in late summer mid of July through August you're in luck and you … [Read more...]
Our initial take on New Hampshire is it's very woodsy and natural. Forests are everywhere and the natural landscape is very green. Buried in little enclaves in the woods are some adorable little towns, one example is the town of Hanover which is also home to Dartmouth college. As we drove from Franconia-where the poet Robert Frost made his home, down through the White Mountains in the middle of the state, we … [Read more...]
The New Hampshire State Capitol Building felt like it met all the requirements for a state capitol but just didn't have a whole lot of personality. It does have the requisite columns and the gold dome, but inside it just felt like a plate of mashed potatoes that didn't have enough salt and pepper. One interesting fact though, is that this is the oldest statehouse in which the legislature still occupies its original … [Read more...]
Unless you are a die hard Robert Frost devotee, I am not sure I would take the time to check this out. We were intrigued because Isaac had done an extensive book report on the famous poet. I thought it would be really interesting to check out where he lived and what inspired some of his most famous poetry. Off the main highway and into the woods we drove until we arrived at the parking lot. We hiked up to the … [Read more...]
