The last two days in Maine were weathery and diverse. From breakfast in a quaint harbor town, to camping in an apple orchard, with our visit concluding at an apple fair.

Boothbay Harbor, Maine began as part of an indigenous Wabanaki (Abenaki) seasonal fishing and clam-gathering territory. Its deep, natural harbor has shaped a rich maritime history spanning European settlement, the age of wooden sailing ships, and its evolution into a premier coastal resort. It is certainly a place we would love to return to with better weather and more time.

We ducked into the Historical Society to get out the blustery weather and to learn a little local history.

The 6th annual Artisans & Apples Fall Fair fills Thompson's Orchard on Saturday and Sunday, October 17–18, 2026, opening at 9am Saturday and closing at 3pm Sunday. More than 50 Maine vendors set up among the fall foliage, with food trucks, pick-your-own apples, face painting, tarot readings, permanent jewelry, tractor rides, live music and fresh baked goods.

Speaking of baked goods. Oh my goodness. These donuts are the best thing I've eaten in a very long time. In the early 1980s, a donut room was added onto the cider mill. Thompson’s donuts quickly became a customer favorite and local staple, with many regulars stopping by for a coffee and donut each autumn morning (I am lucky I don't live nearby). Today, the donut room produces over 12,000 dozen donuts each year and offers a variety of flavors. A cider donut expert named this the favorite Maine cider donut; a perfect balance of flavor, texture, and cozy fall tradition. I wholeheartedly agree. Yum.

The variety of creativeness was exceptional. After devouring our round rings of amazement, we meandered through the vendor tents, delighting in the wonders.

Bob, at Prospect Mtn Furniture makes lovely wooden items. His birdhouse is going home with us.

The hospitality of the Thompsons, and the delightfulness of all we met, was the perfect end to our time in Maine.

Moving on! We have only been in MA once and that was 30 years ago. We're excited to explore.

Concord is our home for the night and the first stop was at this fantastic building. The residents of Concord and their guests dedicated the Concord Free Public Library on Wednesday, October 1, 1873 with literary giant Ralph Waldo Emerson delivering the dedication address. The library was founded through the generosity and vision of William Munroe, a Concord native who made a fortune in dry goods and textiles and, after retirement, developed a desire to use his accumulated wealth to benefit the town where he had been born and raised.

Munroe purchased the land, worked with the Town to widen Main Street, and provided funds to construct the Library building. Thanks to Munroe’s gift, the Concord Free Public Library Corporation, a charitable organization funded solely through private philanthropy, was chartered to form and maintain the new public library in Concord. The Corporation worked in collaboration with the Town of Concord to fund and operate the Library, a partnership that still exists today. I want to live in this library.

"Since its dedication in 1873, the Concord Free Public Library has proudly opened its doors to provide a warm, inviting place to explore, think, and gather in the heart of Concord. It serves as the thriving cultural core of the community. The Library is the embodiment of treasured Concord values - culture, diversity, and civic discourse. It is the great equalizer - free, open, and accessible to all. The Library continues to reimagine itself for future generations, seeking to preserve its beloved spaces and cherished collections, while responding to the changing needs of the community in its newly expanded facilities."

Dinner was in history which isn't hard to do here. The structure dates back to around 1828 (often associated with the early commercial growth of the area). It was built as part of a wave of commercial development by the Mill Dam Company, which began reshaping downtown Concord starting in 1826 after an old mill pond and earthen/beaver dam area were removed. Interestingly, the building was officially surveyed by local transcendentalist and surveyor Henry David Thoreau in 1853.

It's surprising how much this quaint village has going on. We popped into the Umbrella Arts Center for On Being Human: Mosaic Meditations, an art exhibition by artist Cynthia Fisher.

Ms. Fisher, an artist with a background in wildlife biology, uses fine art mosaics to explore themes of nature and humanity. The textured works use materials like vitreous glass and broken pottery to prompt questions about human impact on the natural world, our responsibility to the planet, and the connection between people and their environment.

There is much to love about this town. For instance, have you ever wondered where a street's name is derived from? Well I have. Hubbard St. is name for Ebenezer Hubbard (1782-1871) whose bequest financed the Minute Man statue which I will discuss sometime in the next few days. So dang cool.

🎵These are a few of my favorite things.🎵

To find ourselves at dusk exploring the South Burying Ground, Concord's second-oldest burial site, was pretty surreal and perfect. While only about 1/2 acre, it contains roughly 230 to 300 closely packed gravestones arranged in ragged rows facing southwest. It was established in the late 17th century (around 1697 for the earliest recorded burial/headstone) to accommodate residents living on the south side and remained active through the mid-19th century.

What's unbelievable is how legible the headstones are. This one is 263 years old and reads, "Memento mori. Here lies buried the Body of CAPT. JOSEPH BARRETT Son of Deacon Humphry and Mrs. Mary Barrett who died the 4th Day of April, Anno Dom. One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty three (1763), in the Eighty fifth Year of His Age. The Captain was an early colonial resident, landowner, and militia figure here. Wow.

While strolling about, we found that this wonderful building, 51 Walden, will be the site of a musical event tomorrow. We purchased tickets for the matinee. Concord is truly special. We have so much to discover here in Concord, the birthplace of the American Revolution and a major hub for 19th-century American literature and philosophy. We're excited to explore it more thoroughly!