About a year ago I was invited to partake on a trip to a place called Great East Lake which is located on the border of New Hampshire and Maine. Little did I know what I was in for. It was amazing. We stayed at a house that sat on the lake on a street named Leisure Lane... so fitting. When our friend Ben invited everyone once again this year to return to the same place, my decision couldn't have come fast enough. OF COURSE I'D GO AGAIN! DUH!! :)
This time around I decided to document/photograph every bit of the trip so you can see for yourself how awesome this part of the country really is. Here are just a few of the many shots I took of the house, activities, food, towns, and of course the beautiful place that is Great East Lake and what we call...#LeisureLn.
Upon our arrival we were kindly greeted with a happy hour gathering hosted by the owners of the house, Dave and MB Bar. We were served various beverages and snacks and it truly started the trip off right.
Our first couple of days were a bit on the cloudier side. Regardless, the scenery and the lake were still beautiful in the gloomier gray setting. We took the time to take advantage of the house and the compound. Puzzles were built, ping pong was played, quick lake dips were taken, and comforting homemade seafood chowder was made.
Beautiful view of the dock & lake from the house.
The cutest bathroom I ever did see!
Cannonball!
Gator slippers + puzzle + coffee booze = a smiling Sarah.
Cleared up clouds make for one amazing sunset.
Seafood chowder in the making.
On another one of the cloudier days we decided to take a mini trip to some nearby towns. We first drove to the adorable coastal town of Ogunquit, ME where we enjoyed some more delicious clam chowder (can never get enough) and a nice little stroll along the cove. On the way to Ogunquit we stopped for an ice cream snack at Scoops Deck. This place is fantastic! Not the greatest for the indecisive (like myself) since they have so many flavors, but absolutely wonderful for treating the inner kid in you.
After Ogunquit we took the drive to yet another charming town called Kennebunkport, ME. Here we caught a picturesque sunset while eating one of my all time favorite lobster rolls from the tiny yet delicious, Clam Shack.
So many flavors!! A "light" scoop of Black Raspberry. Yum!
Love birds sighting in Ogunquit.
The best! No I didn't eat both... but I wanted to.
Stunning sunset in Kennebunkport.
On the more sunnier days we took absolute advantage of the weather. We'd eat breakfast al fresco on the deck overlooking the lake. The many water toys the house supplied were fully used by all. Some people kayaked while others paddle boarded or canoed. There was also a rope swing just around the bend of the lake close to the house. It was a little on the sketchy side, but with the peer pressure of friends, I did it! Check that off the bucket list!
We also rented a pontoon boat for a few days during our stay. This was such a great idea. We took the boat on a couple tours around the 1,825-acre lake. We'd stop the boat in the middle of the lake and jump right on in for a swim. The sunset boat ride and swim was definitely one of the highlights of this trip. It was truly magical.
Breakfast with a view!
Breakfast quiche!! One of the many delicious meals we cooked.
Our house mascot, Mini Bar.
Rope swing!
Boat day!
Sunset boat ride. Truly amazing.
As the days grew closer to the 4th of July we decided to do what the locals do... get some fireworks!! Having grown up in California, legalized fireworks were never an option... unless you go south of the border. ;) So the idea of getting some fireworks and lighting them up at the house over the lake sounded spectacular.
Along with the fireworks we cooked a classic meal of steamed lobster and corn. I just couldn't get enough New England style seafood on this trip. One of my all time favorite kinds of food to eat. It's so great how cheap seafood is out there during the summer time. Definitely made for some fantastic meals!
Can't stay in Maine without eating a whole lobster!
Sparklers!
Shooting roman candles off the pontoon boat.
Saying good-bye to #LeisureLn wasn't so much hard as it was sad. The second time around was even more special than the first because I got to relive some great moments with friends from the first trip, but also got to create new ones with them and the first timers. It's a place I'd highly recommend to the outdoorsy type looking for another fill of nature and to city folk just needing to get away and relax.
I don't exactly know when #LeisureLn and I will meet again, but I hope it's not too long before I find myself back on the lake.
Cotton candy skies over Leisure Lane.
