Got back from a weekend away at Spruce Head Island. I’ve plugged VRBO before in the past, but I’ll do it again now. (Unsolicited. I get no money from this or anything.) We used it again to find a place to stay for this trip, settling on a house on Spruce Head Island. We stayed for 3 nights for a total of $486 (including all taxes, cleaning fees, etc.), and it was pretty much perfect. Sure, you can stay in a hotel, with all five of you crammed into a room, or stay at a Residence Inn or something like that where you can get a suite, but this was cheaper than that, and it comes with all the comforts of home.
If any of you are wondering, here’s the house we stayed at: https://www.vrbo.com/151113ha
The adventures included:
- A trip to the Owls Head Transportation Museum, which went over really well with Tomas and the other kids. Loads of antique cars and planes to check out, and very interesting to be able to get nice and close to all of them and see how things have changed over the years.
- A trip to the Farnsworth Museum, where they have a lovely exhibit all about the Wyeths. DC is our resident artist, but Tomas put in his review as well. (“I’d give it a 4/10. Not nearly as good as the museums in Paris.” So I guess I’m winning at raising cultured children?)
- Staying up Friday night to watch the Draconid meteor shower, even though there wasn’t much in the way of meteors. We did see a very nice one that streaked across the sky for 3 seconds or so, though, so that was very nice.
- Watched BYU beat Michigan State on Saturday, which was a lovely surprise.
- A book signing in Augusta, where the nice weather did its best to keep pretty much anyone from showing up in a bookstore at 11am. But I had a nice visit with the store manager, and we’re looking at me coming back in December for a signing in the prime holiday shopping season.
- Eating out at the Owl’s Head General Store, which Food Network said had the best burger in Maine a few years back. I tried the burger. It was, indeed, delish.
- Watching the debate on Sunday night, because nothing says “vacation atmosphere” like watching senior citizens squabble for 90 minutes.
- A stop by Moody’s Diner on the way home for some whoopie pies, followed by a stop at Fielder’s Choice Ice Cream in Augusta for a game of tag with the kids. (The family that plays tag together doesn’t drive each other bonkers in the car together.)
- Driving through some of the prettiest foliage I’ve seen in the last few years, it seemed like to me. We did have rain Sunday, but other than that the days were crisp autumn perfection.
- A trip to the Marshall Point Lighthouse, where they filmed some of Forrest Gump.
Really a great getaway, and something I’d love to do more of in the future. (Any trip that doesn’t involve a looooong car ride or a plane ride has my vote right there.) So if any of you are looking for ideas, I’m happy to pass this one along to you.