Maine With My Main Man
Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to take Ford, my now 20-year-old son, on regular vacations. In preparing for this article, I asked him which trip was among his favorites. He immediately replied that it was our trip to Maine in 2016. I was in complete agreement with his choice, and I had already selected Maine in my mind but was interested in his opinion. After all, he could have picked one of our larger, extended family beach vacations, or one of the many group spring break ski trips with friends his own age traveling with us, so it was nice to know he has as fond of memories as I do of our Maine trip. Maine was full of beautiful sunsets, an incredible house with waterfront views from every window, picture perfect coastal towns, and, of course, fresh lobster everywhere. We played games, read books, lounged by the pool, walked along the beach, explored a lighthouse or two, and ate amazing seafood. Most of all, we enjoyed the idea of having nowhere to be and no specific itinerary. We let the days decide where we would go and what we would do. Having a rental car gave us the freedom to drive up and down the coast and stop when and where we wanted. We based ourselves in the town of Rockland, but also fell in love with Ogunquit, Kennebunkport, and Camden while out exploring. Maine remains one of my all-time favorite destinations, and I am so thrilled that my son, who was 12 at the time, feels the same way. It may be time to go back!
-- Mindy Montford, Senior Counsel, Cold Case and Missing Persons Unit Office of the Texas Attorney General
A Southern Vacation – Very Southern
Our 2009 trip to Antarctica was one of our most inspiring! Why? Several reasons. First, Antarctica exudes an otherworldly beauty that is a testament to our planet’s last pristine wilderness. Secondly, our sunrises and sunsets included an evolving canvas with splendid colors of azure, chocolate, teal, white, and gray in the cliffs, glaciers, and icebergs. Third, the marine life. From entertaining whale pods, lolling sea leopards (leopard seal), to newly hatched penguin chicks burrowing under their mothers, the adventure was incomparable to other travel. Finally, the sheer silence and quiet is truly peaceful - the quietest destination we have encountered. The nature briefings, hikes, newly hatched penguins, and marine life were mesmerizing.
-- Sharon Schweitzer Robinson, JD, Founder, Access to Culture
