On our way to Maine, we stopped in Salem to learn a little about its witchy history. We ate lunch at the Witchside Tavern, and the girls learned that they love blueberry lemonade. Then we took an audio walking tour of the historic area, and learned a lot about the events that happened back in the 1600s. We wrapped up our stop with a visit to Harbor Sweets, a chocolatier that Grandma recommended. There's always time for chocolate!
Then it was off to Portland, Maine. The weather was significantly cooler, especially in the mornings. Our hotel was right on the main street, and we had fun walking up and down the wharfs, watching the boats and peeking in the shops. The first morning we headed to Kennebunkport, which was about 40 minutes away. It was cute, but packed with cars and people. I understand August is peak season, but I can't imagine how bad it must be on the 4th of July!
We took a lobster tour, which explained a bit of the history of the area, pointed out the Bush compound, and demonstrated lobster fishing. We even saw a seal frolicking in the water!
Sweet Pea and CC were enjoying blueberry lemonade at practically every restaurant we visited, so out of curiosity I looked up when Maine blueberry season is. What luck -- it's August! And there were several blueberry farms close to Portland. It was the best $18 I've probably ever spent. We had a peaceful, quiet several hours where we all picked (and ate) blueberries to our hearts' content. The farm grew 18 varieties of blueberries, and it was really interesting to compare their different flavors, sizes, and textures. We loved the Chandler, which were huge (about the size of quarters), but I also really liked the Toro and the Liberty.
We couldn't go to Maine without seeing some of the beautiful lighthouses! So we set off to see the Portland Head Light, the oldest lighthouse in Maine, commissioned by George Washington. It was the perfect afternoon activity. The lighthouse is situated in Fort William Park, which is a large piece of property with plenty of room to roam. The coast there (like most of Maine) is lined with large rocks, and the kids had a blast climbing. They probably would have happily stayed all day!
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