Boothbay Harbor, ME

One of the special things about living in New Hampshire is the abundance of choices for vacation destinations and quick get aways. With the price of fuel being on every ones mind and affecting everything we do, it's nice to know that somethings don't have to break the bank to enjoy. The nice thing about living here is that it is a paradise for "close to home" vacations. Whether you stay in a hotel or prefer to camp you won't be disappointed.

Recently Jay and I spent the long 4th of July weekend up in Boothbay Harbor Maine. From our home in Southern NH it is a 2.5 to 3 hour ride and is just a great place to enjoy quality time. Plus being connected as we are, we were able to work, negotiate contracts and keep in touch with our clients all while enjoy a great long weekend away.

It's like being in a different world up there and once we entered the town of Wiscasset and crossed the bridge we knew we had arrived.

The smell of the sea hung heavy in the air and we felt so happy to be back! As usual while in Boothbay we enjoyed fresh lobster bought right off the pier at an off the beaten path Lobster haven called Little River Lobster. His prices are the best around and we were able to buy select hard shell for only $7.25 per pound.

We drove and walked along Boothbay Shores on the Damariscotta River side of East Boothbay and along Ocean Point. Ocean Point fronts the Atlantic Ocean and Linekin Bay and offers some of the most incredible views around.

These spots are our favorites and to my surprise few people who visit the Boothbay Harbor region even know they exist. While the Harbor itself is a quaint place to visit and enjoy...East Boothbay is just extra special. I wish someone up there would adopt me!

This year we also took a boat cruise with The Cap'n Fish crew up along the Kennebec River. It was spectacular even in the fog! Along with taking literately hundreds of photos I shot some short videos. I think I'm getting better at taking videos and I hope you enjoy them and that they give you a feel for what the region is like.

Wiscasset Maine from monika mcgillicuddy on Vimeo. Little River Lobster East Boothbay Maine from monika mcgillicuddy on Vimeo. A walk Along Boothbay Shores from monika mcgillicuddy on Vimeo. Ride along Ocean Point Road East Boothbay Harbor Maine from monika mcgillicuddy on Vimeo.

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Last Wednesday, I got a mid-week break from work to take a 5-hour sail aboard one of the Windjammers on display in Boothbay Harbor for the town's annual Windjammer Days festival. Each year, the town organizes the festival, which includes sailing, a parade, food and games for kids, along with some private receptions and parties put on by various local groups. I was there with my boyfriend, who works on our Senator Susan Collins' campaign staff.

That morning, he picked me up with Mister Bagel and a coffee in hand (if you visit Portland, go there for breakfast - I'm addicted), and we headed up Rte. 1. When we got to Boothbay (about an hour from Portland), we met Dawn Gilbert, owner of the Heads of the Harbor hair salon, and the Lincoln County chair for the campaign, and headed down to the schooner, The Spirit of Massachusetts. The boat is one of three owed by Ocean Classrooms, a local non-profit that takes at-risk kids out of school to attend classes on the water. According to the teachers, something about being away from normal life and relying on their classmates as teammates really changes kids' demeanors and helps them grow.

We set out to sea on a perfect morning, and during our cruise Dawn pointed out the islands in the harbor, and told us stories about their history. We also got an up-close look at the Navy Warship that was in the harbor for the day, along with a closer look at some of the other windjammers. At one point, we had a musical battle with the Spirit of South Carolina - they had a bagpiper who was blasting out tunes, to which one of our crew members played back her fiddle.

After the sail, we went straight to the high school, where we prepped for the parade. Our float was a montage of patriotism, and staffed by Uncle Sam and some cute flag-waving kids. But the best part was that a nice man donated his '65 Beetle convertable to the parade, which we got to lead the float in. It was a standard, and a little scary on hills, but all in all the crowds were cheering and Herbie was a big hit!

After the parade and dinner, we reluctantly got back in the car and pointed it South, with thoughts of work-day Thursday creeping in to our rejuvinated minds. Sometimes the best vacations are taken one day at a time...