Most teenagers dream of traveling to the beach, lounging on an extravagant cruise, a ski trip to the mountains, or Disney World for a week. In 2008, my family decided to travel to Maine. I was a little nervous at first. After all, what is there to do in Maine?
Using a tractor trailer cab to pull our fifth wheel camper, we set out for our first stop, Mount Washington, New Hampshire. For every thrill seeker, this stop is amazing. A van drives your family up a TINY one lane road to the top of the highest mountain on the East Coast! The view is amazing the entire way up, but the bumpy ride constantly reminds you that you could plummet to the bottom at any moment. After the trip back down the mountain we went to New Hampshire State Park to set up camp for the night. The park is full of beautiful scenery. It is a great spot to take pictures.
The following morning we got up extremely early and set out for Eastport, Maine. Our campsite was right next to the water and we could see Canada across the way. There is a wondrous natural whirlpool in the water that was visible from the campsite. It was entertaining to watch the ducks sit atop the water as they were pushed by the whirlpool. One night while eating dinner we saw dolphins swimming. Eastport was the perfect place for me to relax and knit while gazing across the water.
After spending three days in Eastport, we packed up and went to Bar Harbor Maine. The campground shuttled us to the harbor, which is packed with shops and seafood restaurants. The first day was spent setting up the camper and touring the harbor. On our second day in Bar Harbor we went on the most amazing boat ride, a whale watch! It was breathtaking to see those huge animals glide through the water. Although the ride was very cold, it was certainly unforgettable. Our third day in Bar Harbor was spent at Acadia State Park. We took a trip to Sand Beach, which is part of the park. It is a very unexpected place for a beach. The water temperature was around 56? and people were swimming! After seeing the beach we hiked up a hill to see the amazing cliffs Acadia has to offer. Included in the various rock formations of Acadia is a special place called Thunder Hole. The water hits the rocks and shoots up in the air, making a loud sound resembling thunder. Everyone standing near is soaked when the water falls from the sky.
After our tour of Bar Harbor, we packed up again for Boothbay Maine. This area is also located on the coast. While at Boothbay, we boarded another boat to learn about the many lobster traps that line the harbor. It was interesting to see the crew pull up the lobster traps and talk about the tactics they use. As an added bonus, we saw seals. Later that night we returned to the camper and had lobster for dinner. Our last day in Maine was spent shopping for things to take home.
After our ten day journey, we set out for home. I was not expecting to have such an amazing time.  Reflecting on the trip, I certainly realized that beaches and cruises do not always make or break a vacation. Amazing views, an open mind about the world, and your family next to you are enough to make ten days to Maine a spectacular and memorable trip!
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