The Top 5 Heart-Stealing Reasons I Keep Returning to Maine

There are SO many places in the world I wish to visit and host retreats, BUT some places just keep stealing my heart. Maine is my home state, so OF COURSE it holds a special place in my heart! The house I rent for my retreat, and the Mount Desert Island area, have proven to be one of the best experiences to share with my students year after year.  

Here's why...

1.  Acadia National Park has its own ecosystem and charm, being the home for some of my favorite trails and views

   
   

Fun Fact: Acadia National Park is a 47,000-acre Atlantic coast recreation area primarily on Maine's Mount Desert Island. Its landscape is marked by woodland, rocky beaches and glacier-scoured granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the United States’ East Coast (where I host a sunrise hike featuring headlamps, overnight oats and coffee for the brave guests who can swap their beauty sleep for an epic adventure! 

2.  The fresh seafood and Aunt Wendy's blueberry pie are a culinary lover's dream!  We will enjoy fresh-picked crab meat rolls straight off the dock of my cousin's lobster boats for dinner one night. Then a traditional lobster dinner another night. THEN we spend one night exploring downtown Bar Harbor's shopping and restaurants (this is a free scheduled night where guests can make reservations or wander into a small bar for oysters or a pilsner on their own or in small groups). Then we conclude the trip with a traditional Maine Lobster Pier dinner as a group at a local hot spot that has been open for 90 years! 

   
   

3. The carriage trails in Acadia National Park are the highlight and what makes the park feel unique and historical, AND my personal favorite.  Forty-five miles of rustic carriage roads, the gift of philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. and family, weave around the mountains and valleys of Acadia National Park. We get to explore the park on 2 wheels (electric bikes available for an extra investment for those who want assistance with all the hills...there's A LOT of them!)  You can pack a lunch for this day and/or take a pit stop at Jordan Pond House for a treat overlooking the Pond and grassy lawn.

   
   

4. The house is a hidden gem overlooking Bass Harbor. It's on the quiet side of Southwest Harbor and has historical charm along with modern upgrades to make everyone's stay comfortable and memorable. The 7 bedrooms are spread out to make everyone feel spacious yet family-oriented.
   

5.  Cooler temps (September is the kick-off for the fall foliage season in northern Maine, so hopefully we catch the beginning) boast the perfect sweater weather for bonfires and s'mores right on the bay!  

As I shared before, Maine has stolen my heart over and over again, and I can't wait to share its magic with all of you! 

Join us this September 18th - 22nd for iconic foodie moments, new friends turned lifelong ones, and hiking adventures that make your soul fill with deep breaths and joy.

I have FOUR spots left, so NOW is the time to join us and book. 

See you in Maine, where water meets mountains, and fresh food nourishes your every being.