My Weekend Exploring Rhode Island, Maine & New Hampshire
Before moving to Florida, I lived in Rhode Island for four years. Where you go to college will always have a piece of your heart, and this tiny state still has a huge piece of mine. Matt still lives in Rhode Island, and so do many of my closest friends, so I’m always eager to find my way back to the Ocean State- and to Del’s, Allie’s Donuts and Wright’s Chicken Farm.
To add to the excitement of this trip, I would be visiting a new place as well, with lots of people I love! It has always been one of my goals to see all 50 states, but I was especially excited to visit Maine- it was one of the last states I needed to cross all of New England off of my list! The other? New Hampshire. I ended up getting to visit both states during this amazing weekend as a wonderful surprise! By visiting these two states, I was finally able to experience all of this incredible region!
Old Memories & Favorite Places
My vacation got off to a rocky start, in the beginning, a 10-hour flight delay and one airport meltdown later, I arrived in Rhode Island after losing only 3 hours of my day. From the second I got there, the trip was one wonderful happenstance after the next. Matt and I had lunch at our favorite tiny café, Fresh Ground Garden Cafe.
Fresh Ground holds a lot of wonderful memories- dates, study sessions with my sorority sisters & days with my mom. It was her favorite café; we found it randomly one day but forgot to get the name, so we drove around for hours trying to find it after that. Since then, it had always been a must-have when she came to visit me at school. It’s just the cutest place to enjoy a cup of tea, good company, and yummy food!
My Ocean State
After lunch, we took a stroll around the University of Rhode Island, where Matt and I went for our undergraduate studies & where we met. Being on campus brought us back to when we were first dating and was a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. I’m a sucker for nostalgia. Plus, our pit stop on campus brought me a friend. Unexpectedly, we ran into one of my best friends, who, unbeknownst to me, has been staying on campus for the summer. Now think back for a moment- remember I said my day was delayed by three hours? If that whole mess at the airport hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t have run into my best friend. Just a reminder that sometimes life knows exactly where you should be!
Together, we got Del’s frozen lemonade, a Rhode Island classic, before heading to dinner at Crazy Burger Juice Bar & Cafe. Crazy Burger has been on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dive’s for its’ eclectic variety of food & unique atmosphere. As a bonus, it’s right next to the beach (like most things in Rhode Island!) If you ever find yourself in Rhody, even if you only get to do one thing, it needs to be stopping at the sign of the lemon & getting yourself some Del’s! My favorites are the classic lemon and the bright pink watermelon!
Adding to the list of things I love about Rhode Island, and really, most of New England, is how quaint everything is. Small roadside stands and markets with fresh-baked goods, flowers, and fruit always brighten my day. I love supporting and eating local, so Matt and I stopped at two little stands on our trip to get pies to share and souvenirs from our weekend!
The Old Salt
I didn’t find out we would drive through New Hampshire until we got there. Being as I had never been before, and it was the last New England state I needed to visit, we had to make a stop. Driving down the road, by a total GPS mishap (what did I say about life?) I saw The Old Salt. This one-of-a-kind restaurant really cannot be described any other way. Adorable, rustic, and it has been a favorite dining location for locals and Presidents alike.
For lunch, Matt & I had some New England classics. Lobster stew & New England clam chowder, plus my favorite, a whole, steamed lobster! As we drove along the road we found an old fashion candy shop as well! My need to stop at all cute places brought us inside and ended our time in New Hampshire on a sweet note!
York & Goldenrod Kisses
The Goldenrod is a luncheonette in the town of York, Maine. There’s an ice cream counter & you can watch taffy (a.k.a. “kisses”) being made through the window. So basically, it’s a dream. We ate lunch here and I felt like I was back in time, this unique spot has been open for about 100 years. Eating here was a goal of mine for the trip and I’m so glad we made it happen! Homemade ice cream, lobster rolls, and lime rickeys are definitely up there on my list of best meals ever!
The Maine Attraction
Our whole trip was based on Maine. The whole family rented a huge house on the beach to share. We played in the ocean, ate delicious food, explored rocky shores near gorgeous lighthouses and most importantly, spent time together. After months of being apart, it felt so good to be with loved ones again. My life of adventure is awesome, but it often leaves me missing my family.
On our last night, all of us piled into Fox’s Lobster House for one last dinner together. They led our party upstairs, where a gaping window displayed a breathtaking view. As we looked out onto the lighhthouse while the waves crashed below, Matt and I shared a Maine lobster and fresh Maine blueberry lemonade. We wore matching lobster hats while we ate and laughed, surrounded by family. It could not have been a more perfect ending to our New England adventure.
The Most Important Thing
Maine was Matt’s Gram’s favorite place, she went every year. She was an extraordinary woman, who left our physical world about a year ago. I feel so blessed to have shared so many special moments with her; I miss her- her gracious spirit, homemade snacks and our chats at her kitchen table. Our weekend in Maine was a celebration of the life she had led & the wonderful family she built. We love & miss you, Gram!
Until the Next Adventure!
Josie
