When we crossed over from Canada into Maine, we entered uncharted travel territory for us. We knew that great sights awaited us because ... the pilgrims landed here ... many Revolutionary War struggles took place here ... and ice cream achieved ''gourmet'' status here thanks to Ben & Jerry.
From my calculations, there were ten states in the northeast that we hadn't visited yet. And, at least for me, I consider the state ''visited'' if we have spent at least one night there, have seen/done something that the state is fairly well known for, and ... of course, snapped a photo in front of its state capitol building. So I started planning our northeast travel route by mapping out the state capital cities and figuring out how I was going to inform my pilot that we may not be taking the most direct route ... as shown by the map below.
While this didn't end up being our exact route, I am happy to say that my goals were met, and we can now add ten more states to RVentures travel map. But better yet was the chance to learn some fun facts about the new states and their capital cities as well as discovering some back road treasures.
Augusta, Maine
Fun Facts: Augusta is the easternmost US capital city and the third least populated. We could have guessed that it was very sparsely populated since we didn't see another person around the capitol building despite it being a weekday afternoon. The flowers decorating the stairs were pretty, but there was not much else compelling in this sleepy inland town. Time to check out Maine's most famous back road treasure ...
Acadia National Park!
It was a bit early for prime autumn leaf-gazing season, but the roads leading into the park and parking areas were still very crowded when we pulled into Hulls Cove Visitor Center. But we seized the opportunity to see the park via bicycle on the very quiet Carriage Roads. Restored through the generous donation of John D. Rockefeller Jr, these wide gravel roads led us through the beautiful pine forests and around a few of the park's lakes. While we only saw glimpses of the park's famous ocean cliff views, we were able to avoid the traffic and crowds ... and still experience much of the park's tranquil beauty.
After boondocking on the outskirts of the park, we set out down the Maine coast in search of reportedly the ''best lobster rolls ever'' served up at Reds Eat's in Wiscasset, Maine. We arrived a half hour before opening and the line was already wrapped around the small food shack. An hour and a half later, Doug was in lobster-heaven as he enjoyed the mounds of lobster piled high on a grilled bun. While we wouldn't suggest that you make this kind of lunch stop a weekly event, it certainly added to the charm of coastal Maine.
Concord, New Hampshire
Fun Facts: This capitol building, built in 1819, is the oldest capitol building in which the state's legislative branches still meet in their original chambers. When we visited, the area around the capitol was buzzing with people stocking up on local produce at a farmers market. They must have all gotten an early start on their day with the help of one of Concord's most famous inventions ... the alarm clock was invented here in 1787.
That evening we stayed at a ''Boondockers Welcome'' home, but rain prevented us from spending any time with our host or exploring her cute little New Hampshire town. The next day we stopped to stock up on provisions before heading out and soon figured out why there were so many cars heading to the shopping center. New Hampshire doesn't have any sales tax, and thus there was steady stream of out-of-towners heading to the local liquor store near the state border.
Albany, New York
Fun Facts: Albany is actually the oldest continuously chartered city in New York ... beating out New York City for that honor. And in case you are ever in a trivia contest ... know that the first perforated roll of toilet paper was invented in Albany in 1871. While the capitol building itself appears Old European in design, the massive Empire State Plaza on its south side is very modern in architecture and design. Tall geometric buildings line the plaza and house many of the state's agencies. A huge egg-shaped structure on one side of the plaza serves as a community theater while reflective pools bring a bit of ''nature'' to the massive concrete park.
When we finished up our Habitat for Humanity in Oneonta, New York, we were gifted with free tickets to a famous American icon just up the road. The great American pastime, baseball, was invented in Cooperstown, New York in 1839, so it is fitting that the Baseball Hall of Fame is located there. Along with our friends, Tim and Cindy, we wondered through the memorabilia-filled museum.
As a youth, I was a big baseball fan, so it was fun to delve into the world of Babe Ruth and the other great legends of baseball.
My alliance will always lie with the Minnesota Twins, and it was fun to see some of my heros, Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, and Kirby Puckett, appropriately honored for their contributions to the sport.
Montpelier, Vermont
Fun Facts: Montpelier is the least populated of all state capital cities. Its name was derived from Montpellier, France in gratitude for France's assistance during the American Revolution. While Vermont's nickname is ''The Green Mountain State'', we didn't allow enough time to truly appreciate that natural feature. Next time through ...
''Deceased'' flavors were given a proper burial in Ben & Jerry's Flavor Graveyard.
Creme Brúlée ... a flavor taken too soon!
Being ''The Sound of Music'' afeccionado that I am, it was only right that we continue up the road to Stowe, Vermont were the Van Trapp Family Lodge is still in operation. Doug could have sprung $515 for a night's lodging,
... but we are more of the ''van down by the side of the river'' type of people!
Boston, Massachusetts
And besides all the history, one cannot visit Boston without paying a visit to the Boston pub where everyone knows your name.
We enjoyed lunch and a cold brew in the cozy restaurant and finished our meal with another local favorite, Boston Cream Pie, that was invented in this city and is the official dessert of Massachusetts.
We spent three days at a boondocking spot near to a subway station that easily transported us into downtown Boston. During our time there we enjoyed walking the Freedom Trail, touring the USS Constitution, climbing Bunker Hill, and enjoying another lobster roll at a harborside restaurant.
And while we saw a lot of early American history while in Boston, there was another place that I wanted to see a little further down the road.
Ever since I learned as a small child about the Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock, it has been on my ''silly things that I have to see'' travel bucket list. Yes, Doug appeased me and drove a little out of the way in order to let me gaze upon the small rock by the side of the Atlantic Ocean with ''1620'' engraved on it. More fiction than fact probably surrounds this rock, but it was special to visit the small town where some of the first Americans set foot, where the first Thanksgiving was held, and where a replica of the Mayflower still stands.
What is on your ''silly things that I have to see'' travel bucket list???
Providence, Rhode Island
Fun Facts: This capitol building in the smallest US state actually has the second largest marble dome in the world ... only St Peter's Basilica in Rome is bigger. Although it is not an island, Rhode Island is nicknamed ''The Ocean State'' because 14% of its area consists of large bays and inlets. The promise of beautiful ocean views quickly had us headed down the road to the cute oceanside town of Newport, Rhode Island.
Newport was the location of the America's Cup, a yacht sailing competition, from 1930 until 1983. And even today, the city draws hundreds of seafaring vessels of all sizes to hang out in its harbor for the night. It was a great overnight boondocking location for a van also!
Hartford, Connecticut
Fun Facts: Its nickname is ''the insurance capital of the world'' because of the many insurance companies that are located in Hartford. Established in 1635, it is one of the United States oldest cities. Mark Twain lived in Hartford for seventeen years and wrote some of his most famous novels there including Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn. I need to allow more time next time through to visit his house/museum, but lunch was on someone's mind ...
... and according to Doug, the lobster roll prepared ''Connecticut style'' is the only way to eat it. We found a cute roadside restaurant that presented him with a mound of warm lobster on a toasted bun with garlic butter on the side ... lobster heaven once again!
Our Connecticut overnight location was just a few blocks from the Long Island Sound ... perfect for a sunset stroll.
Trenton, New Jersey
Fun Facts: The New Jersey capitol building is very near the location that George Washington made famous when he crossed the Delaware River in December 1776, thus, this city's nickname is ''Turning Point of the Revolution''. The capitol building was undergoing renovation, so we were only able to see it from afar.
Dover, Delaware
Fun Facts: Delaware was the first state to ratify the US constitution on December 7, 1787, beating out Pennsylvania by five days. And to this day, Delaware's citizens are proud to live in ''The First State''.
The vote to ratify the US Constitution took place at the Golden Fleece Tavern which still stands in the historic town square. We spent our mandatory one night in Delaware at another tavern just down the road.
Fordham & Dominion Brewing Co is a Harvest Host location that just happened to be having BINGO night. I got lucky and won a brewery pint glass and sticker to add to Doug's brewery coaster/sticker collection ... saved him having to spend $1 to buy one himself. The beer glass was re-gifted to some new friends at the table next to us ... glass barware does not fare well in our moving home.
Annapolis, Maryland
Fun Facts: This is the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use. In fact, it was here in 1784 that the Treaty of Paris was ratified thus ending the Revolutionary War. It is also the only state house to have served as the nation's capitol when the Continental Congress met here from 1783-1784. As much as I would have loved to explore this history-filled capital city, the town was bustling with activity, and there was no parking to be found. Nicknamed ''Sailing Capital of the World'' the narrow streets were jammed packed with sailing enthusiasts. We found a slightly illegal parking spot, got out to get a quick picture and were on our way once again down the road.
It was a joy to spend our mandatory night in Maryland in our van parked ''down by the river'' at my cousin's peaceful country home. That evening she and her husband took us to the Maryland coast where we enjoyed another local fish dinner while listening to the waves of the Atlantic in Ocean City.
We ended our two and a half week journey around the northeast US with a visit to Assateague Island National Seashore. Here we only had wild horses vying for our parking spot.
At sunset many horses could be seen grazing innocently along the side of the road.
But as one camper found out, step away from your picnic table, and these ''innocent'' horses quickly invite themselves over. It was quite humerous to see them delightfully munching down the rest of this camper's spaghetti dinner ... and all the rest of the food that they had left outside.
Our first time visit to the northeastern part of the United States went by too quickly to possibly see all that this area has to offer. But we'll be back, whether it is to soak up a little more American history,
... or delight in some of our favorite local delicacies,
... and we will certainly try to ''capitalize'' on the back road treasures that surround us!
