Where the Road Took Us

Eight Days Along the New England Coast

We left with a route, a list of places we hoped to see, and plenty of room for the unexpected.

Over eight days, we followed the coast through quiet towns, working harbors, lighthouse views, Acadia’s rocky shoreline, roadside stops, sunsets, fog, good food, and more than a few moments that made us change the plan.

These are the pieces of the trip I wanted to hold onto.

The views. The detours. The little moments in between.

Where the Road Began

New England road trip memory — Packed and Ready!
Eight days on the road, two dogs, and somehow everything we needed fit in the Bronco.

Road trip highway view from the driver's seat

Welcome to Connecticut sign along the highway — Crossing Into Connecticut

Two dogs riding together in the back of a vehicle — My Favorite Road-Trip Crew
They had no idea where we were going —only that they were coming too.

Massachusetts Welcomes You highway sign — Northbound and still roaming!

Maine Vacationland state line sign on a steel bridge — Hello, Maine!
There is a reason this state is known as "Vacationland" We can't wait to begin exploring!

Welcome to Lubec sign with American and Canadian flags — At the Edge of the Map
After a long day on the road, we finally reached Lubec — the easternmost town in the U.S. and the beginning of our Bold Coast adventure.

At the Edge of Maine

Traveler and dog overlooking a Maine waterfront with a distant lighthouse — The View That Made Me Stop
There are places you arrive at—and places that make you stand still for a minute. This was one of those.

Historic waterfront street in Lubec, Maine, near the Eastern Beacon Inn — Home for the Weekend
A comfortable room, a great location, and the kind of stay that made it easy to settle in and enjoy Lubec at a slower pace.

Calm Lubec harbor at sunset with boats and small islands — An Evening That Asked Nothing of Us
Lubec, Maine. Just calm water, soft color in the sky, and nowhere we needed to be.

Red fishing boat on calm coastal water beneath a pastel evening sky

Waterfront home above calm blue water and sailboats in Lubec, Maine

Lobster roll with fries, coleslaw, and a beer at Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant — Dinner, Maine Style!
Fisherman's Wharf Restaurant

Maine blueberry ice cream held by the water at dusk — Berry-licious!
Maine Blueberry ice cream by the water felt like exactly the way to wrap up the evening.

Two dogs sharing vanilla ice cream on a sunny Maine walk — Vacation Rules Apply
The dogs were very much in favor of including ce cream in the itinerary!

Lost Fishermen's Memorial overlooking the harbor in Lubec, Maine — A Community Shaped by the Sea
Lost Fishermen’s Memorial · Lubec, Maine
Fishing has long been woven into the life of this community, shaping its work, traditions, and identity. This memorial is a quiet reminder of the people who went to sea to make that life possible—and of the sacrifices some families have carried because of it.

Mulholland Point Lighthouse reflected in calm water at sunset

Sunset over a waterfront pier in Lubec, Maine — Just wow!
We thought the day was winding down, and then the sky decided otherwise.

Morning fog settling over the Lubec waterfront and lighthouse — When the Fog Rolled In
The early morning fog did not disappoint. It softened the waterfront, changed the whole mood of the view,, and gave Lubec a quiet, beautiful stillness that felt completely different from the day before.

Rocky shoreline at Ile Spruce near Lubec, Maine

Head Harbor Lighthouse on Campobello Island with a sailboat nearby — Head Harbour Lighthouse
Campobello Island, New Brunswick

View from Downeast Fishing Charter boat during a whale-watching tour — Whale watching with Downeast Fishing Charter

Sailboat on Maine coastal waters with forested islands

Whale surfacing in blue coastal water near a forested shoreline — And Then We Saw It!
Somewhere between watching the water and scanning the horizon, a whale surfaced beside us—and suddenly nothing else mattered.

Whale spouting in blue coastal water with a boat nearby

Whale surfacing in calm coastal water beside a forested shoreline

Harbor seals resting on a rocky coastal shoreline — The Locals Were Out
A few harbor seals soaking up the Maine sunshine while we passed by.

Harbor seal resting at a channel marker above blue coastal water — Keeping Watch

Coastal view from the final stop of the Maine road trip

Across the Lubec Narrows

Blue water and distant shoreline viewed from the bridge crossing the narrows — Crossing the Narrows
One bridge, one border, and a morning that felt like its own little adventure within the road trip.

Northstar Coffee and a breakfast sandwich overlooking the water at Mulholland Point — Breakfast with a View
Mulholland Point, Campobello Island
We grabbed coffee and breakfast sandwiches from Northstar Coffee in Lubec and headed across the bridge. Both were delicious, and we took our time relaxing by the water and enjoying the view while we ate—an easy, perfect start to a day of exploring.

Two travelers smiling beside Mulholland Point Lighthouse on Campobello Island — One for the Memory Book
Mulholland Point Lighthouse — A lighthouse, a beautiful morning, and one of my favorite people to share the road with.

Two dogs walking together on a shaded wooded trail on Campobello Island — Off We Go
Campobello Island — Two dogs, a shaded trail, and plenty of coastline still ahead of us.

A woman standing with two dogs at the edge of clear water on a rocky Campobello Island shore — Curiosity at the Water’s Edge
Apparently every new shoreline required a closer inspection.

Friar’s Head rock formation along the Campobello Island shoreline — Friar’s Head · Campobello Island

Wooden pier crossing calm water toward a tree-lined Campobello Island shore

Rocky coastline and clear turquoise water at Liberty Point on Campobello Island

Lake Glensevern framed by evergreen trees on a bright summer day — Lake Glensevern

Chloe sitting happily on a seaside bench with an ocean view — Taking It All In
Chloe seemed just as happy as we were to stop, explore, and enjoy the ocean air.

Wooden boardwalk winding along the rocky coast at Liberty Point, Campobello Island — Liberty Point Boardwalk

Rocky Liberty Point shoreline with clear turquoise water and a bright blue sky

Rocky Liberty Point shoreline overlooking clear blue coastal water

Wooden path along the rocky coast at Liberty Point — The Path Along Liberty Point

Grassy headland and dark coastal rocks along the blue water at Liberty Point

Coastal boardwalk above bright blue water and evergreen shoreline at Liberty Point

Wooden stairs leading down to Racoon Beach and the blue ocean

Colorful smooth rocks along the shoreline at Herring Cove

Roosevelt’s Campobello International Park on Campobello Island — A Different Side of Campobello
The Roosevelt Cottage - Beyond the rugged coast, the island holds a quieter history —beautiful grounds, gardens, and a glimpse into another era.

Prince Cottage on Campobello Island surrounded by lawn and trees — Prince Cottage

Mulholland Point Lighthouse looking across the water toward Lubec — Looking Back Toward Lubec
From Campobello, Lubec felt close enough to touch—a quiet reminder of just how narrow the water is between the two communities.

Following the Bold Coast

Calm blue water and a distant channel lighthouse along the Lubec coast — Lubec Channel Lighthouse
The morning fog lingered low over the water, giving us one more quiet, beautiful view before we headed south.

Sandy shoreline at Mowry Beach with calm water and morning mist — Mowry Beach
Add a memory from the bold coast.

Chloe sitting on a rocky beach beside blue water — A Beach Stop for Chloe
A little time by the water before getting back on the road. She was more than happy to make the beach part of the itinerary.

Rocky ocean shoreline viewed through tall coastal grasses

Close-up of West Quoddy Head Lighthouse against a bright blue sky — At the Eastern Edge
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse One of the places I most wanted to see on this trip, and every bit as striking in person as I had imagined.

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and keeper's house beside the ocean — West Quoddy Head Light
Lighthouse and keeper's cottage at Quoddy Head State Park

Iced blueberry coffee held outside West Branch Cafe in Maine — Fuel for the Road
A quick coffee stop before continuing south. Blueberry coffee! Sometimes the smallest roadside stops become part of the rhythm of the trip.

Wild Blueberry Land's blue blueberry-shaped building in Columbia Falls, Maine — How Do You Not Stop Here?
Wild Blueberry Land, Columbia Falls — When a giant blueberry-shaped building appears along the road in Maine, you stop. Road-trip rules.

Remnants of a historic working waterfront at Tidal Falls Preserve along Mount Desert Narrows — Echoes of Tidal Falls’ Working Waterfront
Even at Tidal Falls, the landscape tells a story —remnants of an old working waterfront still reaching into the Mt. Desert Narrows.

Reversing tide churning through the narrow channel at Tidal Falls Preserve in Hancock, Maine — Where the Tide Turns Around
Tidal Falls Preserve, Hancock, Maine
At this reversing falls, the changing tide makes he current appear to run backward —a fascinating reminder of the power of Maine’s tides.

Across Downeast Acadia

Schoodic Peninsula

The Quieter Side of Acadia

Schoodic Peninsula coastal landscape along the Downeast Acadia shoreline

Sailboat passing a forested shoreline near Schoodic Peninsula

Chloe sitting on rocky shoreline and looking out over the Atlantic Ocean — Her Kind of View
Chloe seemed perfectly content to sit on the rocks and watch the Atlantic for a while. I can't say I blamed her.

Frazer Point picnic area with a wooden footbridge on the Mount Desert Narrows — Frazer Point
Our first look at the Schoodic side of Acadia.

Rocky pebble beach with tidal pools, forested shoreline, and blue ocean at Schoodic Peninsula — The Coast Revealed

Keely and Ripp exploring a rocky shoreline beside blue water on the Schoodic Peninsula — Exploring Together
Some of my favorite moments from this trip weren't planned at all—just finding a beautiful spot, climbing down to the water and staying awhile.

Liz smiling on a rocky Schoodic Peninsula shoreline — Yes, I Was Here Too. ♥

Granite shoreline and evergreen islands along the Schoodic Coast — The Schoodic Coast
Granite, evergreens and Atlantic blue.

Wildflowers blooming on rocky coastal landscape at Schoodic Peninsula — Beach Peas on the Bold Coast

Tidal pools and rounded stones along the forested Schoodic coastline

Waves breaking against the granite shoreline at Schoodic Point beneath a blue sky

More photos from this trip coming soon!

Until the next mile

There is always another turn in the road, another photo waiting to be taken, and another story worth bringing home.