Birthday party in water

Have you ever attend a birthday party in water? I did.

It was Issla's big one year old birthday and we were invited to a swimming pool in Newton. Look how happy she was in Mom's and Dad's arms in water.

Look, how happy I was in the swimming pool with my Mama and Baba!

Acadia Day 4: Breakfast and Wild Garden

Today we only spent half day in Acadia. In the morning, we packed everything in Mama's car, including me and my jeep and said good bye to the Acadia suite, our sweet home in Acadia. Then, we headed to Bar Harbor to have a breakfast.

We randomly picked one restaurant on the street whose table cloth matched my outfit. We successfully conquered our breakfast!

We spent the rest of the morning in the Wild Gardens of Acadia, a magical world unfolding the typical habits as found on Mount Desert Island.

Bye bye, beautiful Acadia, I will come back to see you. I promise.

Acadia Day 3: Horses & Sand

Is there a more relaxed way to climb a mountain and view mountain scene in a horse carriage? Yes, that was what we did on the third day in Acadia. 

In the morning, we walked to Bar harbor and strolled along the streets. We ate our lunch in the biggest building on the street (see the picture below). Baba went back to get the car and picked us up at the restaurant  Then we drove to the stable to take the horse carriage tour. 

There are several choices for the carriage tours. Mama picked the Mr. Rockefeller's Bridge Tour since this tour will take us on a leisurely step back in history featuring some of the most remarkable bridge work in America [1]. 

The bridge in the following picture was the first bridge we saw in the tour. I conveniently forgot its name.  The tour guide told us that the carriage roads were designed and built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Rockefeller wanted to travel on motor-free byways via horse and carriage into the heart of Mount Desert Island. From 1913 to 1940, his construction efforts resulted a forty-five miles rustic carriage roads with sweeping vistas and close-up views of the landscape, weave around the mountains and valleys of Acadia National park [2]. 

Stanley Brook Bridge was the second bridge we past. This bridge is one of a series of beautiful stone bridges hand made by Mr. Rockefeller's workmen along the carriage roads. Built in 1933, the bridge has triple arches with the main arch spanning the Stanley Brook road and the two smaller ones crossing Stanley Brook on one side and the Seaside Path on the other. The long deck carries a carriage road [3].

When we reached the Cobblestone Bridge, I got dismounted from the carriage by Baba. The Cobblestone Bridge was the first of Rockefeller bridges built in 1913. It is also the only bridge that has rounded boulders for the facing, which lend a more natural appearance to the bridge than cut stone work [3].

Our trip culminated with a visit to the historic Jordan Pond Gatehouse on the return ride to Wildwood Stables.

A landscape can only been seen in the carriage tour.

Sweet smiles can only been seen during a carriage tour.

After horse carriage tour, I ran to the Sand Beach to complete my day with sand playing!

References:
1. http://www.carriagesofacadia.com/tours.html
2. http://www.nps.gov/acad/historyculture/historiccarriageroads.htm
3. http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2010/01/bridges-acadia-national-park-and-mount-desert-island5293

Acadia Day 2: Whales & Lobsters

Our second day in Acadia was all about sea. We went for a four hours whale watching trip. It was the first time for whale watching for everybody in this family. 

We arrived in Bar Harbor early so we had time to stroll around the city. Baba bought a warm jacket and Mimi, Papa bought hats for the trip.

We were about to board to the boat.

That is exciting! I was on the deck of a huge boat.

After one hour's travel at catamaran's speed, we arrived in the deep sea. While people on the boat were thrilled with seeing whales, I fell a deep sleep. Luckily, Mama caught several good whale pictures so these can be served as an evidence that I did go whale watching.

Isn't this a lovely, peaceful and sweet moment? We came back to the Acadia suite from whale watch and Mimi and Papa sit on the bench in the backyard of our building to have a rest.

That night, we had lobster for dinner! We bought live lobsters from a local fish store and Papa boiled it.

Acadia Day 1: Popovers and Sunset

We started our first day in Acadia by circling around the national park. 

Mama, there is a beach on the side of the road, let's stop there! 

Then, we climbed stairs to the Visitor Center. Papa bought me a surprise gift, binoculars!

Mama made a reservation with the Jordan Pond House for a late lunch. There is a famous tradition of having tea & popovers on the lawn of the Jordan Pond date back to the late 1800's [1]. 

After having the famous popovers and tea, and rich lobster stew, it was the time to take a walk. 

We went back to our hotel after Jordan Pond House and waited for our next activity,  viewing sunset on  the Cadillac Mountain. According to the internet, at 1,532 feet, Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is the highest point along the North Atlantic seaboard and is the first place to view sunrise in the United States [2]. Sunrise might be a little too early for us, but we can definitely catch sunset. 

Nothing can be used to exchange my hot bath after a full day activities, even a glass of wine. Good night!

References:
1. http://www.acadiamagic.com/jordan-pond-03.html
2. http://www.acadiamagic.com/CadillacMountain.html