So it''s no wonder that, years later, I was willing to get myself and my family of four up at 4:00 AM to meet our moose guide, Tinker, to go in search of "a moose or 10" in Rangeley, Maine. You can read more about this adventure below.
This is part III of my write-up from our family vacation to Maine. If you missed previous weeks, please click HERE for Part I about Bar Harbor, and HERE for Part II about Acadia National Park and a super-fun lumberjack show!
We wanted to explore various parts of Maine, so after leaving Bar Harbor, we drove a couple of hours inland to Rangelely, a quiet, unassuming town nestled amongst beautiful lakes and mountains. It was a favorite family destination of one of the Macaroni Kid publishers that lives in Maine, so we thought we'd take her recommendation and check it out. I'm so glad we did.
After leaving the hustle and bustle of Bar Harbor, we drove into this quiet, little town and were immediately greeted with such kindness from the locals. Though Rangeley is a favorite destination for many, it's not nearly as tourist-buzzed, so you'll truly be able to relax and take in the beauty of the area without having to dodge people at every step.
We started at the Visitor's Center which was a great resource for information on hikes, places to eat, and activities around the area. After a quick bite at Rangelely's Moose Loop Cafe where you can literally taste the love baked into your food, we checked into our hotel and started exploring.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at The Rangeley Inn in their Haley Pond Lodge which sits close to a beautiful pond where they have canoes and kayaks available for no cost to the guests. My boys LOVED heading out on the canoe, skipping rocks in the water, and we al enjoyed the extremely serene setting. The rooms were spacious, recently updated and had their own private deck. The inn also hosted a continental breakfast every morning, an amenity I very much appreciate so we're not having to eat out for 3 meals a day.
What We Did
Hikes
Click here for a great list of hikes in the area. We did Bald Mountain Trail which is about 1.75 miles up to the top of a mountain where you can climb an old fire tower and get amazing views of the lakes and mountains in the area. (Check out the photo above.) We also visited Smalls' Falls which is a great place to go wading in the shallow water at the bottom of the falls. You can also take a short hike up to the top of the falls. This is a super easy hike with a quite beautiful setting.
Moose Watching
Since finding moose was a top priority for our family, we hired Matt Tinker with Green Farm Guide Service to take us the best possible spots to see moose. With your best chances of sightings are early in the morning and daylight hours start quite early during the summer, we met "Tinker" at 4:30 AM in the parking lot of our hotel and off we went for a 4.5-hour tour. It wasn't long before we were pulling to the side of the road to take in our first moose of the trip, rolling down windows to get a quick photo. As a guide for 19 years, Matt found us some great spots, and even guided us down trails off-road and on-foot for the best chances to see moose.
Along the journey, Matt was filled us with tons of information about where moose live and what they eat, so we not only got to see these amazing creatures, but we also learned quite a bit. At one point during our tour, we encountered one moose feeding, so we slowly got out of the truck and walked closer to get a better view. With his knowledge, we were able to watch the moose and get fairly close, which led to more moose coming and going, including 3 cow (female) moose, 1 bull (male) moose, and a mama and her couple-month-old baby. it was fantastic and certainly a site to behold.
I highly recommend having a guide, not only for the best chances to see moose, but also for the safety aspect. These are not small creatures, some weighing 800-900 pounds, so you want to remain at a safe distance. Matt was wonderful with our kids, so easy to talk to, and he didn't mind all of my questions, or the noise my children made! He not only does moose-watching tours, but also fishing, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, photography adventures, and he's a pretty awesome ski instructor! Give Matt with Green Farm Guide Service a call and let him show you around. I highly recommend him!
Scenic Overlooks
There is a spectacular view on the top of Quill Hill just outside of Rangeley. Only a short drive to the top, you'll be greeted with 360-degree views of the mountains and lakes. It is absolutely stunning and a great place to have a picnic at one of the tables!
Click here for a list of Scenic Drives from Rangeley.
We only spent a couple of days in Rangeley, but we had an amazing time. It was so beautiful and relaxing, and nothing compares to seeing 10 moose in one day. Consider hopping off the beaten path when traveling to Maine and check out this hidden gem. It was the perfect closing to our week before we headed back to Portland where we would fly out the following day.
Portland
As I just mentioned, we flew in and out of Portland, ME. We flew in late afternoon on a Sunday, so we stayed overnight before heading to our first destination in Bar Harbor. We took that evening to wander around town on foot, looking at the harbor, and grabbing dinner at one of their many restaurants by the water.
At the end of our trip, we stayed near the airport so as to not have far to go for our 6 AM flight the following morning. We spent our last evening in Maine at a Portland Sea Dogs minor league baseball game. Our family loves taking in baseball games around the country, and this was a great ballpark at which to watch a game. The fans were so colorful, and the baseball was great, too! It's always a fun and affordable family activity wherever you go!
And there you have it. This was truly one of my favorite family vacations we've ever been on. I encourage you to consider changing things up when it's time to plan your next family vacation. Skip the sandy beaches and fall in love with the rocky coastline. Leave the heat and humidity and soak yourself in the crisp, refreshing air of the mountains. Whatever you choose, get out there and explore. We're blessed to be living in a country with a lot of awe-inspiring sights and I hope you'll get out there and see them for yourself.
Thanks for reading and letting me relive my amazing adventure to Maine.
Erin
erins@macaronikid.com
Note - I received discounted rates to some of the businesses mentioned above in exchange for this review, however all opinions are my own.
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