Dream Locations on My Bucket List Archives - Page 2 of 4

Most Popular Posts and Favorite Articles from 2017

01/01/2018 By: CCPearsoncomment

Happy New Year, Everyone!

I’ve been looking back over my 104 blog posts from 2017 and thought you might enjoy revisiting some of the most popular ones. Here are the six that received more than 1000 viewers. The first one on this list was seen by 3470 people — a record for me, but not surprising considering the subject. Click on each line to read the post.

Also, in 2017, I had 54 articles published outside my blog about destinations we visited and enjoyed. I’m pretty proud of that fact, considering that it occurred WHILE life was happening at a fast and furious pace — major surgery, selling our home/packing/moving/starting construction on a new house, welcoming a new grandchild, etc.

Places we saw this year were primarily in the Southeast with the notable exceptions of Alaska and Port Townsend, Washington. Here are 10 main places we visited during the year and at least one article about each one. Just click on the links to read them.

Auburn, AL, “Loveliest Village on the Plains.” We were there for Steve’s 45th veterinary school reunion and for a football game showcasing our beloved Auburn Tigers. Here is an article about the Hotel at Auburn University published in Trip101.com.
Cincinnati, Ohio. “Four Ingredients for a Memorial Weekend in Cincinnati” in ShortWeeks-LongWeekends.com.
Shaker Village near Harrodsburg, KY. “Abundant History in the Heart of Kentucky – Harrodsburg/Mercer County” in ShortWeeks-LongWeekends.com.
Lexington, KY. “Lexington KY: Horses, History and Hot Browns” in MilesGeek.com.
Charleston, SC. “Slightly North of Broad – S.N.O.B. – Excellent Charleston Restaurant Without a Hint of Arrogance” in MilesGeek.com.
Alaska – Anchorage, Denali National Park and a cruise from Whittier to Vancouver. “Hotel Captain Cook in the Heart of Anchorage, Alaska” in Trip101.com.
Port Townsend, WA (a couple of hours and a ferry ride from Seattle). “Old Consulate Inn and Port Townsend WA: A Perfect Match” in MilesGeek.com.
Maggie Valley and Waynesville, N.C. “Frogs Leap Public House: Upscale Farm to Fork in North Carolina” in TheYums.com.
Orange Beach, AL for the 2017 World Food Championships. “World Food Championships Bring Food Fight to Orange Beach” in EdibleLowerAlabama.com.
LaGrange, GA. I just returned in mid-December, so I haven’t had my articles published yet, but here’s the blog post that appeared on Christmas Day. “Hills and Dales Estate in LaGrange GA: All Dressed Up for Christmas“

Now 2018 is here, and my travel schedule is quickly filling up. I can’t wait to share many more destinations with you in the coming months.

7 Alaska Amazements

07/31/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

I expected to be impressed by the State of Alaska, dazzled even. But, in spite of the research I did, seven things still caught me off guard and shook my senses — in a very positive way.

THE AMOUNT OF SUNSHINE IN THE SUMMER MONTHS. My goodness!! We arrived at our hotel after 9:00 p.m. You can see the sun streaming through the windows in this photo. We went downstairs, had dinner, and the sun was STILL shining when we got back. Yes, SHINING. For the next 10 days, we didn’t actually see the sun set or rise. Both happened so closely together, and thankfully, we were asleep.
Our hotel room at 9 p.m.
THE SIZE OF THE FLOWERS. After thinking about #1 a little more, it makes sense. During the growing season, albeit short as it is, the plants get almost constant sunlight. The size and colors of the flowers I saw were impressive.
Such a special variety and size.

Look at the size and color of these blossoms.

Huge flowers!
THE UNSPOILED VASTNESS OF THIS HUGE STATE. According to statistics, there are only 741,000 people living within its 586,412 square miles. That is 1/5 the size of the lower 48 states!!! No wonder a person could drive for hours and hours without seeing another person, only trees, lakes, mountains and wildlife. But, actually, there are only 1500 miles of paved roads in the states, so you’d have to see most of it by floatplane.
Miles and miles of unspoiled wilderness.
THE TOP OF DENALI MOUNTAIN. Formerly known as Mt. McKinley, only a few very lucky tourists get a chance to see Denali come out of the clouds and show off its grand peak. Steve and I were some of those lucky ones. One afternoon while touring Denali National Park, “the mountain came out” for about 25 minutes. We were awestruck!
The top of Denali in all her grandeur.
THE COLOR OF GLACIER-FED RIVERS AND STREAMS. I don’t know why exactly, but my mind just assumed that melted ice would be clear. That is not the case. Rivers, streams and lakes formed by melted glaciers are a steel gray color, and very few fish live in those waters — not enough nutrients, we were told.
Steel gray glacier waters.
THE COLOR OF THE GLACIERS. Such a striking blue!!
Look at all the different blues in the photo — especially the blue of the glacier.
THE SOUND OF GLACIERS CALVING. “Calving” is the term used when chunks of ice fall off a glacier into the water. It sounds like a crack of lightning followed by thunder. I didn’t capture one with my camera, but I loved the sound and sight of all we got to see.
Imagine the sound when a large piece breaks off and falls into the sea.

I hope you decide to visit Alaska some day. It is worth the money, the time and the long flight. I promise.

15 Days in Alaska and Washington State – 14 Modes of Transportation

07/24/2017 By: CCPearson1 Comment

To put it mildly, we covered a LOT of territory during the glorious two weeks we spent in Alaska, parts of Canada, Seattle, Port Townsend and Port Orchard. Some of you may be curious about the various modes of transportation involved in a trip like ours. We have more adventurous friends who would add ATVs, kayaks, helicopters and canoes to their list, but we opted for a more sedate experience. In other words, we chose to fill our senses rather than to risk becoming bear food. Most have photos. For the others, you’ll just have to trust me. 🙂

Small commuter planes. We flew Delta for this trip, so a small plane is always necessary to get from Huntsville to almost anywhere. In our case, it was to Atlanta.
Small commuter plane in Huntsville.

2. Large planes. It takes a lot of fuel to get from Atlanta to Anchorage on a non-stop flight. Thus, a much larger plane.

Large Delta plane with Mount Rainier welcoming us to Seattle.

3. Motorcoaches. From the airport to our Anchorage hotel, from the hotel to both lodges in Denali National Park, from the lodge to the train station, etc. etc., we were on motorcoaches. The good part about using a travel agent and a cruise line is that all of those transportations can be built into the total package price. The seats are nice, AND there’s a bathroom on board.

One of many motorcoaches.

4. A Trolley for a city tour in Anchorage.

Trolley for City Tour in Anchorage.

5. A Floatplane for Steve’s fishing trip to a lake several miles from Anchorage. Maybe when you see him, he’ll have a photo of that floatplane to share.

6. A School Bus. Well, it looked like a school bus, and it felt like a school bus, but it wasn’t yellow. Apparently, Denali only allows certain kinds of buses within its boundaries. It wasn’t as deluxe, and there were no bathrooms on board. But, the park does have a few rest stations on the grounds, and the commentary provided by our driver/guide was extremely informative. He shared one slightly disturbing joke. Driver: “Do you know what we call cyclists here in Denali?” Us: “No, what?” Driver: “Meals on Wheels!” Yikes!!!

Bus through Denali National Park.

7. A Train from Denali to the small town of Whittier where we would board our ship. This train ride lasted close to 9 hours, but it was spectacular and probably ranks among the favorite parts of our trip. The two meals we had during the ride were surprisingly good, and it was so relaxing to eat in comfort while basking in all of the scenery.

My Silver Fox getting set for the amazing train ride through wild, unspoiled Alaskan countryside.

Dining car on the train from Denali to Whittier.

8. A Cruise Ship, which, in our case, was the Coral Princess. Here is the first glimpse we had of the ship. Admittedly, this was our first cruise, so we can’t fairly compare this ship to others. I will say, though, that this was a beautiful ship with exceptional service and comfort. No seasickness problems. Hurray!

Coral Princess ready for us to board in Whittier.

9. An historic train through the White Pass and Yukon Route. Since this train touches Canada, our passports were checked going into Canada and coming back out. Once again, the scenery was breathtaking.

White Pass/Yukon Route out from Skagway.

10. Whale-watching boat. Truthfully, we thought we’d be on a smaller boat with fewer people, and we dressed accordingly (boots, waterproof rain gear, toboggans, gloves, etc.). This turned out fine. We saw a pod of orcas and a few whales spraying into the air, but next time, I believe we’d try to have such an experience in a more adventurous and exclusive setting.

Whale-watching boat in Juneau.

11. On Foot. We did a lot of walking — mostly strolling and wandering, rather than power-walking, I confess. Other tourists did the same.

Walking along with other tourists in Ketchikan.

12. Rental Car. We disembarked our ship in Vancouver, took a motorcoach to the airport and boarded an Alaska Airlines plane for a short flight to Seattle. In Seattle, we used a car rental company that was new to us — SIXT. The price was very competitive, and because it was our first time to rent with them, we received an automatic upgrade. The car was a Volvo which got very good mileage. Sorry. No photo.

13. Ferry across Puget Sound. The most efficient way to get from Seattle to Port Townsend was to drive the car onto the ferry and float across. The only slight hiccup was the fact that many other people wanted to do the same thing, so we had a lengthy wait for the next available crossing. We did NOT choose that route on our final day, because we certainly didn’t want to be delayed and miss our flight.

Ferry across Puget Sound in Seattle.

14. The generous act of good friends. Two friends from our Sunday School class insisted that we not pay the hefty amount necessary to park at the airport for 15 days. Instead, one drove us to the airport on Day 1, and the other picked us up and brought us home on Day 15. So their roomy vehicles constitutes our 14th mode of transportation. There’s no substitute for friends. Thank you so much, Connie and Amanda.

Cruise Food – On the Plate and Behind the Scenes

07/17/2017 By: CCPearson1 Comment

One of the main attributes of a cruise, according to my friends who are frequent cruisers, is the constant availability of food. In my mind, it sounded like an endless buffet. Frankly, that worried me, because I’ve been on a much stricter eating regimen this year. Amazingly, after two weeks of traveling, I stepped onto the scales and had not gained an ounce. Woohoo!!!! But, I certainly COULD have done a LOT of damage. Oh mercy, at the culinary offerings.

The reality is that you truly can eat as much or as little as you want. After all, no one is standing there forcing you to overindulge. I’m not a fan of buffets, but that was the best option on several mornings because of shore excursion schedules. And lunches were often included in the excursions. Dinner each evening, however, was in a beautiful dining room with uniformed servers, white tableclothes and gleaming silver and crystal. When we had time, we opted for a seated-with-a-menu breakfast, too. So much more elegant and relaxing.

Before one of the formal night dinners began.

Let me share just a FEW of the beautiful salads, entrees and desserts that were set before us for dinner.

Fresh salad with mozzarella

Trout.

Thanksgiving dinner, cruise-style.

Steak and veggies.

Pheasant.

Fish, fish and more fish.

Colorful fish dinner.

Oysters Rockfeller.

Pasta dish on Italian night.

Have you called your travel agent and started packing yet? Oh wait, here are the desserts. These will push your decision over the edge.

Creme brulee.

Chocolate pistachio dome.

Apple strudel with homemade ice cream.

Baked Alaska — I wasn’t leaving without having some.

On our last day at sea, Steve and I attended a cooking demonstration session presented by the ship’s executive chef and then took a tour of the galley. Imagine having the responsibility of preparing food for 2000 people each day. People of all ages and from many countries of the world. People with disabilities. People with severe allergies. People with sensitive digestive issues. Just having a few people over for supper is tricky these days. How in the world can a cruise ship satisfy all of the appetites and needs of their guests?

Demonstration by the Executive Chef and some of his staff.

Gleaming, efficient galley.

Looking behind the scenes in the galley

The galley was a picture of efficiency and cleanliness. Through the tour, we learned some amazing facts:

220 lbs. of pasta is prepared and served each day.
88 lbs. of tomatoes are used in sauces every day.
4 tons of vegetables are prepared each day.
3527 lbs. of meat and 1543 lbs of fish and seafood are cooked every day.
7000 assorted pastries are created every day.
194 crew members are assigned to the culinary department of the ship, and 55 people are employed scrubbing all of the pots and pans.

I am truly astounded at the logistics involved in the sanitary preparations on top of the creative presentations of the meals served.

Pizza is available almost around the clock, but we never tried it. We saw many young people taking advantage of that choice. In contrast, I was in the mood to be pampered. When someone pulls out my chair and puts my napkin in my lap, I’m a happy lady.

Beef Wellington.

These photos were from the Coral Princess. I suspect that other ships are very similar.

Port Orchard, WA: Home and Inspiration for Novelist Debbie Macomber

07/10/2017 By: CCPearson5 Comments

I am a fan of Debbie Macomber’s, both as a person and as a novelist. Her books don’t appear in Christian bookstores, but many of them would qualify. They are engaging, uplifting and thought-provoking.

A couple of inspiring hardcover books that I have.

She is on the advisory board for Guideposts (a series of Christian daily devotionals) and is a spokesperson for World Vision (a wide-reaching philanthropic organization).

Debbie Macomber holding her latest book. Downloaded with permission from her website.

Three back cover photos of Debbie Macomber. Although I’ve never met her, I believe her to be intelligent, approachable, kind and funny — just from seeing her photos and reading her books. Wouldn’t you agree?

I am also a huge fan of the Hallmark Channel. It came as no surprise to me when Hallmark made her Cedar Cove series of books into a TV series on their network. Perhaps I was drawn to this series in particular because Steve and I lived in the Cedar Cove area of Hartselle, AL for 14 years, and that is where our children were teenagers and where both daughters held their wedding receptions.

A few of my books from Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove series.

I also love Hallmark Christmas movies and at least five of them are based on Debbie’s books: Mrs. Miracle, Call Me Mrs. Miracle, Trading Christmas, Mr. Miracle and Dashing Through the Snow.

Debbie is a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. I consider myself to be a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She blogs. I blog. She collects recipes. I collect recipes. But, there the similarities end. She is a #1 New York Times best-selling author with more than 200 million copies of her books in print around the world. I’ve written ONE book, and I hope to break 100 copies sold within the next few years. She’s also a prolific knitter, and I’ve never knit a stitch.

But I digress.

When my Silver Fox and I were planning our trip to Alaska, I requested that we include Port Orchard, Washington on our post-cruise itinerary. I knew it was where Debbie lived and that Port Orchard was the inspiration for her Cedar Cove series. I learned that Debbie owns a cafe/tea/gifts place in town, so we headed there to browse and have lunch.

The exterior of The Grey House.

One of the actual places in Port Orchard that inspired Debbie.

The Grey House was delightful. The food was delicious, and the menu was very Debbie-ish, especially the extensive tea menu which included an assortment of black, green, herbal and white teas.

A view of the cafe from the tea party area.

Even the salt and pepper shakers suggest a tea party.

I ordered the loaded potato soup with an herb and cheese scone and house salad. Steve chose the club sandwich and soup.

Potato soup, herb and cheese scone, garden salad.

A delectable Club Sandwich.

We both had dessert! I ordered the fruit of the forest pie, because I wanted to taste marionberries before I left Washington State. Steve chose bread pudding, because he LOVES bread pudding. Everything was fresh and served so attractively.

Fruit of the Forest Pie

Bread pudding — oh my.

Attached to the cafe is a Hallmark store — a natural connection, don’t you think? But, this Hallmark store had a few unique-to-Port-Orchard areas. One was a large display of Debbie’s books. I became the proud owner of an autographed copy of Debbie’s Cedar Cove Cookbook.

Display of books by Debbie Macomber.

My latest Debbie Macomber acquisition, her Cedar Cove Cookbook.

The other area was a display of her latest books in a tea party setting. I couldn’t resist sitting there and wishing fervently that Debbie would come walking in the door and join me for a nice chat about books while we drank tea.

A beautiful display area between the cafe and the Hallmark store.

A tea party setting where I longed for a visit from Debbie herself.

Alas, that didn’t happen, but I did learn that she comes in several times a week and that her corporate headquarters was in the adjoining parking lot. Naturally, I headed that way for a photograph. I was told that Debbie often writes from the third story turret room, perfect for looking out over her hometown while she weaves another tale.

Debbie Macomber’s corporate headquarters in Port Orchard, Washington.

Note to Debbie: If you looked out your window a few weeks ago and noticed a prissy grandmother-type straining to get a closer look, that was me. And, thank you for the Bible verse included with your autograph. It is one of my favorites.

2 Timothy 1:7 — “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”

To learn more, go to www.debbiemacomber.com and sign up for her newsletter.

6 Reasons to Book a Balcony Room When You Cruise to Alaska

07/03/2017 By: CCPearson2 Comments

Let me be the first to acknowledge that a cruise to Alaska is quite a splurge. It is one of those Bucket List trips that you make once in a lifetime. It is an experience that you save for, you plan for in regards to appropriate clothing and finding the shore excursions you’d most enjoy, and then you start dreaming about. But, if such a trip is on your list — and I can testify that it is a sensational experience, then I would like to recommend that you go just one step further and book a stateroom with a balcony. And, if the room can be on the starboard side near mid-ship, then all the better.

Here are my 6 reasons for booking a balcony room:

When you first arrive, your room feels bigger and IS, in fact, bigger by the dimensions of the balcony. For those of you with any hint of claustrophobia, the immediate sense of relief will be worth every extra dollar. May I just add here a thanks to Princess Cruise Lines and the Coral Princess, in particular? That bed was wonderful. Along with the comfortable mattress, the drone of the ship’s engine and the almost indiscernible rocking motion as we traveled throughout the night combined for some of the best sleep I’ve had in ages.
The room was much more spacious than I expected, and we had plenty of light and openness.
Wildlife and all of the passing natural scenery can be photographed and enjoyed without having to jockey for position with hundreds of others on the public decks. We saw a brown bear lumbering along the shoreline, numerous bald eagles looking for fish and at least five glaciers in privacy and peace.
Brown bear along the shoreline — starboard side.

The sun put this glacier in the spotlight. Spectacular.

My Silver Fox capturing the perfect shots.
You WILL get cold while traveling the Inside Passage of Glacier Bay. It is mighty handy to step inside and get warm for a few minutes, drink some water, use the restroom, etc. and then step right back outside for unhindered views. In warmer climates, I can imagine being able to soak up some sun without having to model your bathing suit (and your bathing suit BODY) for the masses. Gulp.
I needed my toboggan. It was COLD near all that ice.
The wildlife can even get a closer look at YOU. Check out the size of this seagull!!
Large seagull decided to perch on our balcony and take a closer look.
A stateroom balcony is a great place for a selfie. You can keep trying and trying until you get a decent one to share with your Facebook friends.
This is one of the best selfies after taking a dozen or so.
A balcony room allows you an advance look at the towns where the ship has docked before heading out on a shore excursion.
The city of Vancouver on the day we disembarked. Time to start facing the real world again.

Have I missed any reasons? This was, after all, our very FIRST cruise. I’m sure my more seasoned readers can name other advantages they’ve found. Feel free to chime in.

Maine Impressions — HARBORS, LEAVES, BLUEBERRIES AND WHOOPIE PIES

11/14/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

Before I move on from Maine, there are other scenes and insights that must be shared.

If you plan to visit the coast of Maine, you have to be aware of the “season.” MANY businesses, inns, restaurants, etc. are only open from mid-May (some even wait until Memorial Day weekend) to mid-October (primarily after Columbus Day weekend). I’m sure you can go at other times, and your cost might be considerably less. But, you will be much more limited in your accommodation and restaurant choices. With such a short season (less than 5 months), it is understandable that business owners need to make their money for the year during that time. You’ll be paying premium prices, but you’ll also be getting a premium experience.

Our trip was October 4-11. We were thrilled to be there at pretty much the peak time for foliage colors. Oh my!!! But, it is almost impossible to determine that in advance. I know the coastal region is bound to be spectacular at any time, but I know that adding in those colors made it even more magical.

In contrast to the thousands of miles of rocky Pacific coastline, the inlets and harbors are calm, peaceful and extremely photogenic. Truthfully, we didn’t find a single ugly spot anywhere during our 8 days in the state.

Camden, ME

Kennebunkport

We also learned that August in Maine is Blueberry Season, and the restaurants have fresh blueberry offerings featured prominently on their menus during that time. Another Maine dessert is called Whoopie Pie. It is like a super-sized Little Debbie cake. We got to try that in a pumpkin version and in chocolate. Both have a fluffy creamy icing center layer.

Pumpkin whoopie pie served at Alisson’s in Kennebunkport.

Surely by now I have caused you to look at your calendar and start planning. We fell in love with Maine and can’t wait to go back again soon.

Maine Impressions – INNS

11/07/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

Please promise me. Don’t even THINK about staying in a chain hotel when you’re in Maine or anywhere in New England for that matter. A Bed & Breakfast/Inn is so much a part of the whole atmosphere of the area. The breakfasts are generally wonderful, and you’re bound to meet such interesting people. I might make an exception if you’re traveling with several children, but if you’re traveling as a couple, with another couple or even as a single, give serious thought to trying an inn.

Several of you has asked for a look at our itinerary. The short version is that we flew in and out of Portland, Maine and planned to cover the coast from Kennebunkport to Bar Harbor with a short detour to Poland, Maine (about an hour from Portland) before flying home. As it turned out, we ended up going from York Beach at the southern tip of the state to Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada, where the term DOWNEAST truly comes from. New Brunswick is across a bridge from Lubec, Maine. Since we had not anticipated this side trip, we didn’t have our passports with us. But, we did have our drivers’ licenses and current passports “in the system.” Crossing into Maine, we were asked if we were carrying alcohol, tobacco or firearms and told to enjoy the scenery. Coming back into the US was a little more complicated. We had to show our ID and wait for passports to be verified. We were asked to show our rental car agreement, and the car trunk was searched. It was both disconcerting and reassuring at the same time. You know?

After landing, retrieving luggage, and collecting our rental car, we headed straight to Kennebunkport and found our inn for the first two nights – Captain Lord Mansion. It is a AAA Four Diamond property with spacious rooms, a great location for walking to town, wonderful breakfasts and gorgeous gardens. We were enchanted with the area and this inn.

Captain Lord Mansion in Kennebunkport, Maine

On Day 3, we headed to Rockland, Maine by way of Boothbay Harbor. I had hoped we could stay in Camden, but I waited too long and the inns there were completely booked up. Lime Rock Inn in Rockland was comfortable, located well and hospitable. We got to spend a day in Camden, so all was well.

Lime Rock Inn, Rockland, Maine

For Days 5 and 6, we headed further north and east to Bar Harbor. Our inn there was the Inn at Bay Ledge. Our room was very small (they have larger ones, but I didn’t book one of those in time), but the common areas were nice, the breakfasts were good, and the view of Frenchman Bay was spectacular. We used this as our launching pad for Acadia National Park and Canada. The town of Bar Harbor was okay, but on the particular day we were there, quite a few tour buses were in town, and two cruise ships had emptied themselves of hundreds of passengers for a day of shopping. So, it didn’t seem quite as “quaint” as we had anticipated.

On the back porch looking out on Frenchman Bay at the Inn at Bay Ledge, Bar Harbor, Maine

For our last night in Maine, we drove down to Poland, Maine (mostly because our flight home wasn’t until late afternoon, and we knew we’d have most of the next day to get back to Portland and do more sightseeing) and checked into Wolf Cove Inn on Tripp Lake. Oh my. It was fabulous! The grounds and the inn itself were wonderful. This was the only place where we were actually given a menu for choosing our breakfast preference the next morning, and it was great.

Wolf Cove Inn with Tripp Lake in the distance. Poland, Maine

In all four inns, the innkeepers were delightful and gracious, and our fellow travelers were full of interesting viewpoints and information. There are hundreds of inns along the coast of Maine. Just do your homework and read reviews carefully. I’ve included the websites for the ones we enjoyed, but there are many others I’d like to try.

Now you have 3 reasons to visit Maine, but stay tuned for a few more.

Maine Impressions — LIGHTHOUSES

10/31/2016 By: CCPearson1 Comment

The state of Maine has 3000 miles of rocky, rugged, craggy coastline, 5000 miles if you count all of the inlets and islands. Alabama, by comparison, has a whopping 60 miles along the coastline of the Gulf of Mexico. We probably don’t need any lighthouses.

But, for a prissy Southern girl, those lighthouses are very fascinating and beautiful, and Maine has 65 of them to enjoy. It felt a little like being on an Easter egg hunt and finding the Golden Egg. We didn’t go on any boat tours nor did we take strenuous hikes, but we found 5 wonderful lighthouses in Maine and 2 more when we crossed into New Brunswick, Canada to the island of Campobello for an afternoon. That means we have a built-in reason to plan another trip to Maine to search for others.

We spotted our very first one after we checked into our B & B in Kennebunkport then drove down to Cape Porpoise for dinner. That was when we saw the Goat Island Lighthouse. Read some of its history here.

The next afternoon, we drove down to York Beach to find the acclaimed Cape Neddick Lighthouse, also known as Nubble Light. It is among the most photographed in the world and ranks at least in the Top 2 of my favorites while we were in Maine. We had the added pleasure of meeting Bill Thomson, well-known Maine Storyteller, and bought a painting that he personalized for us while we chatted with him.

Nubble Lighthouse on York Beach, ME.

In Rockland, we found the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. This is one that can be reached on foot by walking along a rocky 7/8 mile path. This one was made memorable by the delightful Christian couple we met. They were natives of Maine and are busy helping to plant a church in their community. We immediately found lots of common ground to discuss.

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, Rockland, ME.

On the only rainy day during our trip, we found the West Quoddy Head Light in Lubec, Maine, the easternmost point in the contiguous United States. This one gets my vote for most colorful, and I enjoyed the easy walk right up to it.

West Quoddy Head Light, near Lubec, ME.

Earlier that day, we crossed over into Canada briefly to Campobello Island on the Bay of Fundy where President Roosevelt and his family often vacationed. This was, in fact, where he was actually stricken with polio at the age of 40. During our few hours on Campobello, we found the Head Harbor Lightstation, and Mulholland which overlooks the town of Lubec. Both were nice, but not necessarily memorable. Our lunch that day WAS memorable, however. We ate at the Fireside Restaurant, and because it was Thanksgiving Day in Canada, they were serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Delicious!! Don’t try to go there in the next few months, though. As you can see from the website, it is now closed for the season and won’t reopen until Memorial Day weekend.

Perhaps the most famous lighthouse we saw was on our last day a few hours before heading to the airport — Portland Headlight. Very magnificent. Such an impressive sight. Edward Hopper used it as the subject of one of his most famous paintings, which is now at the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. The setting on Cape Elizabeth is a photographer’s and painter’s dream. I highly recommend that you include this on your itinerary when you go to Maine.

Portland Headlight, Cape Elizabeth, ME.

I hope I am tempting you to visit Maine. The lobsters and the lighthouses are magnets for sure, but stay with me. There’s much more.

Maine Impressions — LOBSTERS!!

10/24/2016 By: CCPearsoncomment

A memorable scene from Forrest Gump occurs when his friend Bubba drones on endlessly about the many ways that shrimp can been prepared and eaten. As a refresher, watch it here.

When we got off the plane in Portland, Maine recently, one of my goals was to experience lobster, Maine lobster, in as many ways as I could find. After all, hadn’t we just come to the Lobster Capital of the United States, maybe even the world?? According to a March 4, 2016 article in Portland Press Herald, lobstermen in Maine hauled a record $616.5 million worth of lobsters in 2015, derived from 276.5 million pounds. Stacks of lobster traps and displays of colorful lobster buoys are common there but very uncommon for our native Alabamian eyes.

Lobster buoys and traps in Boothbay Harbor.

I had not eaten lobster since a very nice date during college insisted I order it in a restaurant and try it for the first time. I remembered liking it, but there again, over 45 years had passed in the meantime.

Fresh from the lobster boat ready for the boiling pot.

Since I wasn’t positive I’d really like it, I ordered a combination lobster/crab roll for one of our first lunches in Kennebunkport. I liked the crab, but I LOVED the lobster, so it was full on after that.

A lobster roll in Boothbay Harbor. It tastes even better eaten outdoors overlooking the harbor.

For dinner that night, we had lobster bisque served in a coffee mug, then lobster mac and cheese. Both were delicious. The lobster mac and cheese was fancier than the name implied with huge chunks of lobster and both fontina and Gruyere cheeses.

Lobster mac and cheese in Kennebunkport.

During our first night in Rockland, we decided to go for broke and order “the whole deal” and try our best to crack that beast and coax out the meat. It was an ordeal and a lot of work. Dishes where the lobster has been picked out for you are much better deals. Trust me.

My lobster bib getting ready to tackle the whole monster.

All except the white albino lobsters turn red when they’re cooked. I think they look better when they are this nice color.

While watching the Auburn game at a sports bar in Bar Harbor (see what I did there?), we enjoyed hot crab and lobster dip on flatbread wedges. Oh my goodness. YUMMMMM!!

After about 3 days of lobster, we decided to move on to some of the other delectable seafood choices and found the haddock and scallops to be amazing. If you are a seafood lover, I strongly recommend a trip to Maine. Try some dishes that aren’t fried and don’t expect hushpuppies, and you’ll be very satisfied. I promise.

Just as a quick side note, we had breakfast one day with a couple from Cape Cod. They had no plans to eat lobster in Maine declaring that the lobster on their part of the coast was much “sweeter and softer.” Maybe that calls for another exploration trip. 🙂

When you’re planning your trip, check the websites for these restaurants:

Pier 77 at Cape Porpoise near Kennebunkport

Mabel’s Lobster Claw, Kennebunkport

Alisson’s, Kennebunkport

Archer’s on the Pier, Rockland

Mariner’s Grill, Camden

The Pearl on the Pier, Rockland

Paddy’s Irish Pub, Bar Harbor

The Chart Room, Bar Harbor

Be aware that some of these may only be open for “the season” which basically runs from Memorial Day till Columbus Day, so do your research.