I hate the winter. I was born in upstate New York. I’ve lived in New England my entire life. I’ve never been skiing. I don’t like the cold. My idea of a good winter activity is traveling to somewhere warm or taking a hot bath. Lindsay is a bit more ambivalent about the winter months. She doesn’t love them, but she’s learned to bundle up well and make the best of it. So when I suggested traveling to one of the coldest places on the United States East Coast to celebrate New Year’s Eve, you can imagine her surprise.
We had planned on traveling to Acadia National Park on coastal Maine back in October. I love to camp, Lindsay has never been “real” camping, and Acadia is a photographer’s playground so we figured we would get up there while the leaves were still in their fall colors. Our plans got postponed due to the impending arrival of Lindsay’s adorable niece, Charlotte Scott. Acadia in the fall would have been really pretty, but Charlotte’s arrival was definitely worth staying home.
With no plans for New Years and the fact that Bed and Breakfasts on Mount Desert Island are dirt cheap because, well, who the hell wants to travel to coastal Maine in the winter, I suggested Acadia for New Years. Two nights in a suite at the Mira Monte Inn with a whirlpool bath, fireplace, sitting, room, porch, private entrance, and an Innkeeper named Marian who welcomes you to “Bah Habah” for under $250 total. Not a bad deal.
Of course we couldn’t travel up to freezing cold, ice, and snow without doing something warm first. With the help of my impressive Googling skills I ran across Riverview Sauna, Spa, and Massage in Bowdoinham, ME. Run by a couple of massage therapists, Darcy and Ray, who built a cabin on their 9 acres of property in the Maine Woods with a private outdoor hot tub, and sauna, Riverview is an oasis in the forest. Originally built to entertain friends and family, Darcy and Ray now open their home to clients where you can enjoy an hour massage and hour soaking in the hot tub or warming in the sauna.
Lindsay and I were lucky enough to be there just after Maine had had their biggest ice storm in years. Sitting outside in a steaming hot tub with every tree branch encased in ice and the ground covered in snow was both exhilarating and calming at the same time. It was so quiet that you could hear the ice cracking on the tree branches when the gentle wind would blow. The late morning sunlight slicing through the trees, making everything sparkle. Winter birds chirping. Floating in the water with my love. It was the complete embodiment of peaceful.
And what do two head-over-heels in love girls do after having a wonderfully romantic morning of massages and hot tub soaks? Drink beer, of course! A quick drive brought us to the Sea Dog Brewing Company in Topsham where the food was mediocre, the beer was good, and the view was gorgeous. Beer flights consisting of ten 3 oz samples of beers such as Sea Dog Hazlenut Porter, Sea Dog IPA, and Sea Dog Winter Ale were only $11. I can drink to that!
Now that we were thoroughly relaxed from hot tubs, saunas, massages, and beer it was time to make the 3 hour drive to Bar Harbor. It’s easy to spend 3 hours driving and talking about life and playing car games when you really enjoy the person you are traveling with. Time honestly does fly by when I’m with Lindsay. She is my adventure partner and favorite person. The conversation flows easily. The mood is light and happy. We can talk about the silliest things, or our deepest thoughts, both accepted by the other without judgement. There’s no over-talking or awkward silence. No tension or irritation, which so frequently happens when you travel (especially on long car trips) with another person. Just happiness, joy, good times, and love
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