A Day in a fairy tale

Have you ever just wanted to run away to a magical garden, like something out of a fairy tale? I pretty much do on a daily bases to be exact. I'll let you in on another awesome stop in this great state of Maine where you can do just that. In the small coastal town of Boothbay Harbor, there lies a whimsical place called Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. I love this place and try to go at least once a year. Every time i go back they have added something new. The best part of the gardens is that there are different plants in bloom at different times, so you can go in June and see Paeonia-Peonies, Viburnum, and Rosa-Rose. In July the Water lilies, Japanese Iris, and Hydrangeas will be in bloom. There are nature trails to walk and if your not feeling up to walking they have guided tours for free and random employees driving around golf carts to pick you up if you need a break. Which is pretty awesome cause being a fat kid and in the heat usually don't mix well and i enjoy a little golf cart ride every now and again. 

Even if your not a total flower buff this place has something for everyone. They have a huge children area filled with a bunch of fun cool things for kids, mini houses to play in, a tree fort with a rope bridge to climb, story times, a bear cave, and of course a fairy village where young and old can go and make fairy houses out of nature objects. My favorite thing is Fairy Fridays. They have a jam packed morning planned for all the little fairies in your life. On this day when we went they had scheduled a puppet show,  fairy yoga, bubble dancing, and wand making. I can't even handle the cuteness. 

Another favorite area of the gardens that I enjoy is the sensory garden. This is a garden that works your senses.  They have these tall stone columns with holes in them for you to stick your head in..i know sounds weird, but you stick your head in there and hum and the sound bounces off the walls magnifying it. Don't hum to loud you might blow your ear drum like you're at a Metallica concert.  They have some running water you can run your hands through, and giant lily pads in the pond. Me and my daughter both love the reflexology Labyrinth mostly because we love an excuse to be barefoot but the different sized stones provide a very nice foot massage. 

I could go on and on...and on about how awesome this place is, but you really need to see it for yourself. Like yesterday 

Things to know: 

1. They do have a cafe there if you do not want to pack a lunch

2. The gift shop is awesome be prepared to buy something

3. There are bathrooms in the main building and on the child's side in case your little one has to go ASAP! 

4. It gets busy so get there early and be prepared to spend a few hours

5. Pack extra water the best time to go is in the summer and its HOT! stay hydrated 

6. Most importantly Stop and smell the roses :) 

 SHHH TOP SECRET!! 

while you are out in the area in case you or your little one has had enough and just need some quiet time there is a little park free to the public about 12 mins away, its called Barrett Park. Its a small park overlooking the bay there are bathrooms, picnic tables, a gazebo, beach and a tree swing. The water was super warm when we went and there was a TON of hermit crabs in the water, which honestly freaked me out but if your into that sort of thing then you will love it. The tree swing is everyones favorite just make sure to watch your little ones its a little tipsy. The address is 

Lobster Cove Rd

Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 

Just for viewing not for Bathing

So I know this blog is mainly about all the cool places to go in the great state of maine, and of course Maine is my first true love, but I have a confession..I have a secret lover, its been going on for awhile now, and I feel that I need to get it out in the open. I LOVE NEW HAMPSHIRE!! the North Conway area in particular. 

Not only are there a ton of cool shops but there are tons of exciting things to do with kids. One of my favorite little spots is Diana's Baths. No its not a giant bath tub where the locals hangout and wash each other. Diana's Baths lie along Lucy Brook in Bartlett which is fed from Big Attitash Mountain. It is a great place for people to go and enjoy nature, and explore the cascading falls and pools in the brook. The hike to Diana's Baths is about 6/10 of a mile, wide path, and mainly flat, which is great for young children, because we all know how much fun it is hiking up a trail with a 40lb kid on your back. My daughter loved checking out all the little pine cones, the "Gum" tree and playing drums with sticks on a log.  There is a large parking lot and a self pay station to use the trail. you pay 3 dollars and you get a pass that you can also use at other national forrest sites like Echo Lake and Cathedral Ledge, which are also pretty cool and I will talk about them later.

Word of Caution

The water levels and intensity of the water flowing in the brook can vary greatly depending on the season and rainfall.  In the summer the flow is greatly reduced making it much safer to for visitors to walk along the rocks and wade in the pools. So keep an eye on your little ones and be safe when walking on the rocks.