"Create a life you don't need a vacation from" is a quote I am fond of. Chris and I have done a pretty good job of doing just that, but it is foliage season in Maine I wanted to get out and enjoy it before the bitter north winds blow the leaves away. I told Chris I thought heading towards Moosehead Lake for an overnight adventure would be fun. Quick as a wink, he'd researched and found a scenic route for us to drive, a historic inn for us to stay in, and a list of likely restaurants in the area to enjoy. All I had to do was leave instructions for animal care, toss a few things in an overnight bag, and we were off.
The weather was perfect, and the drive glorious. One of the things that makes the foliage in New England so memorable is that while hardwood trees like maples and oaks put on a brilliant show, they are intermingled with dark fir and pine trees to contrast the splashes of gold, orange, and red. There is a reason people come from all over to "leaf peep," it's an incredible sight. We missed "peak" foliage by about a week. The red and orange leaves seem to fall first (though there were still some of each to admire), but the phase slightly past peak foliage is what I refer to as the copper season. We were treated to miles of road that led us through trees glowing in shades of burnished tones.
We had a delicious lunch on the bank of the lake, then headed to the inn. It rose majestically at the top of a hill, as welcoming as could be.
The innkeeper greeted us by name and gave us a tour of the downstairs. In the pretty dining room, each table was draped in crisp white linen and set with willowware. A fire danced on the hearth. A little bar was off to one corner. The innkeeper said, "If you want a drink and I'm not here, just help yourself and leave a note telling us what you enjoyed." An honor bar! Beside this room was a comfortable sitting room, and there was also an area with a vintage buffet set with various coffees, teas, hot chocolate, or chai to enjoy. In the center, a domed dish showed off a platter of fresh-baked cookies, and to one side, a small refrigerator held bottled water and soft drinks. A wide porch circled much of the house, and heavy white rocking chairs invited us to sit and admire the view of the lake and mountains.
She then led us up a flight of stairs past a stunning stained glass window.
A few steps more and we entered our "room." To our delight, it was actually an entire suite.
It boasted antique furniture, fabulous views out the windows and a cozy fireplace to enjoy.
The bedroom had a comfortable king-sized bed and the same epic view.
Even the bathroom was picture-worthy, with unique vintage tile and a bathtub big enough to swim laps in.
Once we unpacked and admired our new digs, we headed out to drive around the area a bit. We explored some dirt roads, a pretty pond, and a state park. Evening was approaching, and the local wildlife was quite active and amazingly unafraid. They posed obligingly.
Chris planned a different route home the next day, so we had all new scenery to gawk at. We held hands, ate too much, laughed a bit, and enjoyed pleasant conversations. Back home, we had dinner in the backyard, watching a fire dance and our animals as they headed to their respective homes for the night.
photo credit: https://lodgeatmooseheadlake.com/blog/2018/09/best-way-to-see-maine-in-the-fall/
Our getaway was a smashing success. We have tucked the golden-hued memories away to enjoy in the future and are already planning a repeat visit.
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