We reached the peak at one of the windiest and foggiest places on Earth—Mount Washington, New Hampshire—where wind speeds once hit 231 mph! Unfortunately, rough seas canceled ferries to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. Instead, we made the most of it and fully enjoyed our time exploring Maine!
Wisconsin > Minnesota > (Wisconsin) > Michigan> Ontario > Quebec > Vermont > New Hampshire > Maine > Massachusetts > New York
Because Barb was involved in a hit-and-run accident in Minnesota, we left a week later than usual so she could recover and attend physical therapy. This setback shortened our planned visit through Canada, reducing our multi-night stops to just a single night at each location. We were heading for Maine and, ultimately, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, so we took the “over the top” route this time—crossing into Canada at Sault Ste. Marie and re-entering the U.S. in Derby, Vermont. The journey from Wisconsin to New Hampshire took about four days, which allowed for a comfortable pace.
Ontario, Canada
We spent two nights in Sault Ste. Marie—this time on the Canadian side! We could easily spend a week exploring the area, but with our tighter schedule, we had to keep it to just two nights.
From the Soo Locks Park on the Canadian side of the border, you get a striking view of the International Bridge. The locks on this side are much smaller than those on the American side of the channel, and they were closed for repairs during our visit. Despite that, the park offers a wonderful vantage point for watching traffic stream in from the United States over the International Bridge. Crossing into Canada, we found the lack of lane markings confusing and accidentally followed the bus icon into the wrong lane. After a brief admonishment from the Canadian border authorities, we were allowed to proceed without any further issues.When in Rome—or in this case, Canada—do as the locals do and try the “heart attack on a plate” delicacy known as poutine. It was absolutely amazing! For a memorable experience, visit the Brutus Express, a train-shaped restaurant in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, located about an hour from the Quebec border and just five minutes from the Sturgeon Falls KOA.
Quebec, Canada
Entering into Quebec started our brains into overload. The dual language signs we had encountered throughout Ontario suddenly turned to only in French. The stop lights acted differently, patterns for turn lanes we have never encountered before, with angry drivers laying on their horns educating us as we faltered along.
Quebec was one of the biggest changes to our schedule after starting a week late. Instead of a longer stay, it became just an overnight stop at the KOA Journey. Being our third day on the road, we kept it low-key before continuing south into the United States the next day.
Montreal South KOA Journey is located on the South side of the city and is an easy in and out on the way to the US border.
Mount Washington Area of New Hampshire
We then spent three nights in the Mount Washington region at a private campground, surrounded by the area’s many covered bridges.
White Birches Camping Park in Shelburne, New Hampshire, was a fantastic home base for exploring the quintessential New England landscape. Covered bridges dotted the countryside, adding to its charm. It’s also a convenient spot for visiting Mount Washington and driving the Mount Washington Auto Road. The weather was very humid that day, and we even saw clouds settle in the valley below us.Barb’s eagle eye spotted this gnarly tree clinging to a massive boulder alongside the Auto Road, about a quarter of a mile from the entry on the south side of the mountain.We drove up the Mount Washington Auto Road to reach the summit. It started off as a beautiful day at the ticket booth at the base, but by the time we reached the top, visibility had dropped to about 25 feet. In fairness, the staff did warn us this would happen. The road itself was mostly paved, though at times it felt like we were driving along a narrow shelf.
Acadia National Park Area of Trenton, Maine
We waited in line for an hour to enter the small parking lot at the Bass Harbor Head Light Station, which meant the trails were just as crowded. The path leading down to the lighthouse is nearly ADA-accessible, but the last hundred feet were steeper than Barb felt comfortable with. Meanwhile, Jason ventured farther, climbing down onto the rocks to check out the water.Soaking in the fall vibes at Acadia’s visitor center—Jason and Barb bringing spooky fun with a bewitching penguin twist!October 11, 2024, 1:46 a.m.! During the fall of 2024, the Northern Lights were lighting up skies around the world, though they usually appeared well past our bedtime. On this particular night, we happened to wake up, remembered the forecast, and decided to drive somewhere darker. Although Acadia National Park isn’t officially designated as a dark sky park, it is well known for great stargazing opportunities, so we headed down there hoping to see the light show.“Pretty Marsh Road” is a perfectly fitting name for this picturesque offshoot from the main highway. To avoid the busier tourist areas of the park, we explored more residential roads in the surrounding area instead.Dorr Lobster Seafood Market in Ellsworth, Maine, is one of those iconic roadside shacks that specialize in lobster rolls. Inside, several tanks teem with live lobsters. Their simple recipe consists of just mayonnaise over the succulent lobster meat, served in a traditional New England–style hot dog bun split along the top—an unmistakable sign you’ve arrived in the Northeast!
Maine to the Catskills of New York
We returned to the Stonewall Kitchen York Company Store in York, Maine, because we had fond memories of our last visit back in February 2008. The Maine Blueberry jam is beyond amazing—like tiny bursts of blue caviar. We also scored a quality Nordic crêpe pan to pair with Stonewall’s powdered mix for crêpes. While you can find Stonewall Kitchen products in specialty stores all across the country, this factory-direct location offers a much wider selection. There’s also a café on-site, where we enjoyed another lobster roll before heading out of Maine.Check off another state! On our way from Bangor, Maine, to the Catskills in New York, we spent the night at a Cabela’s in Hudson, Massachusetts, which has about 10 large RV spaces. It’s part of a larger shopping complex, and the roundabout at the entrance was a tight squeeze. Jason finally found an Osprey backpack to replace his worn-out one, so our “free” night cost nearly $100. These “moochdocking” spots rarely turn out to be money savers!
