jordan pond house

No visit to Bar Harbor and Acadia would be complete without a stop (or five) at Jordan Pond House. It's hard to pick a favorite dining spot in Maine, but JPH ranks among my top five favorites. Overlooking Jordan Pond and the "Bubbles", the restaurant offers a nice variety of lunch, dinner and tea fare, and a stunningly beautiful environment in which to enjoy it. A trip to Maine would not be the same without a buttery lobster quiche, steaming hot popover, and refreshing strawberry lemonade at this delightful eatery.

pine

It's not surprising that Maine's state tree is the pine, and that the state flower is the white pine cone and tassel (Pinus strobus, linnaeus).  I'll never forget my first trip to Maine; stepping off the plane at the Hancock Regional Airport near Bar Harbor, I was amazed at how thick the air was scented with the fresh, heady fragrance of balsam.  It was purely intoxicating.  That wonderful scent is one of the things I look forward to most about visiting Maine.  For those of us who can't enjoy the real thing every day, Auburn, Maine-based Paine Products, Inc., offers a wonderful selection of pine-scented items for the home, ranging from drawer sachets to incense.    

angela adams

One of my favorite artists/designers, Angela Adams, happens to hail from Maine. I'm drawn to the modern whimsy that her designs evoke. Over the past several years, Adams' line has expanded from primarily textiles to paper goods, furniture, and even jams and honey! I was lucky to snag a limited edition, signed/numbered print called, "Lulu" last year, which hangs proudly in the dining room.