| One of the amazing things about taking kids to Maine | | | | "I'm not a nature girl. I don't even like walking." She |
| is the change that you will notice with your children. My | | | | pleaded |
| oldest daughter, Olivia, was as excited about going to | | | | "You're going and you'll love it." I stated with a smile. |
| Maine as a trip to the dentist office after Halloween. | | | | "Why do I have to go anyway?" she continued. |
| Early on in the whine-fest I asked her not to complain | | | | "Because it will be fun, now get in the car." |
| until we actually arrived. Our flight into Bangor was | | | | Knowing that I would win this argument she got in the |
| uneventful until we stepped off the plane. Immediately | | | | car with a heavy breath and a roll of the eyes. The |
| you could smell something was different, the stale air | | | | hiking path up North Bubble Mountain was easy and |
| of the plane was replaced with something called "fresh | | | | well marked. Thinking back, if Mallory, my 5 year old, |
| air". If you've never gone to the Bangor Airport it is like | | | | hadn't been taking a nap she could have easily made |
| stepping back in time 20 years. All the retro looking | | | | the hike. Casually walking up the mountain we were |
| stuff is original stuff, it's truly incredible. We rented a | | | | greeted by other hikers (all friendly) and a variety of |
| car, loaded it up and set off to find some food. | | | | woodland creatures. Small little animals scurrying here |
| Breaking our normal rule of "no chain restaurants" we | | | | and there on a mission for food or housing were |
| had Burger King near the airport. After an hour and | | | | abundant. The gorgeous white trunks of the aspen |
| half drive we made our way to Mount Desert Island | | | | embraced us on every side. Upon reaching the top, the |
| and our house by the sea. It was foggy, damp and we | | | | view was spectacular. We could see South Bubble |
| were tired but with the excitement of a new | | | | Mountain, Jordan Pond, Penobscot Mountain, Balancing |
| adventure we set off for the Bar Harbor Light. It | | | | Rock and Seal Harbor in the distance. Beyond the |
| wasn't overly impressive because of its small size but | | | | wonderful view was the look on my daughter's face. |
| it was situated on a beautiful piece of ocean front land. | | | | She had changed on the way up. She had proven to |
| Orange rocky outcroppings, dark green pines, the salty | | | | herself that she was capable of hiking and she had |
| wet air and the sounds of waves and birds all | | | | made it to the top in triumph. She had a newfound love |
| improved the appeal of the Bar Harbor Light. | | | | for nature and hiking that she still talks about two |
| The next day several deer were roaming around | | | | years later. |
| outside our adopted home. For kids who were firmly | | | | On the way down Olivia and I talked about some of |
| suburbanized this was a rare treat. Later, my oldest | | | | the animals we saw, the views we enjoyed and her |
| daughter and I decided to take a hike up North Bubble | | | | newfound title, nature girl. It was a great experience for |
| Mountain in Acadia National Park. To say that "we" | | | | a father and daughter to enjoy. As we made it to our |
| decided to go is a bit overstated, more accurately I | | | | car the rain began to fall. Our timing had been perfect |
| told my reluctant 10 year old that she was going | | | | on multiple levels. |
| whether she liked it or not. | | | | |