Posts In The “Destinations” Category

National Aquarium

National Aquarium

We’d been moored across from the National Aquarium for over a month and had passed the eye-catching facility many times. Part of the multi-story main building is glass-enclosed with waterfalls and jungles visible, and looks especially dramatic from the outside at night. We’d heard many great things about the aquarium, but James has been pretty…

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Fort McHenry

Fort McHenry

During the War of 1812, the British occupied and burned Washington in August of 1814. They next sent a 19-warship fleet to invade Baltimore, a key American trading port. Starting at 6am on September 13th, the fleet pummelled Fort McHenry outside Baltimore with over 1,500 rockets and mortar shells. Twenty-five hours later the British gave…

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Thanksgiving in Baltimore

Thanksgiving in Baltimore

One of the reasons we came to Baltimore was for a place to prepare for and attend the annual AWS re:Invent conference in Las Vegas. We ended up getting a lot of boat projects done too, as well as enjoy some real fall weather for our first Thanksgiving back in the US since leaving Hawaii…

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Baltimore Inner Harbor

Baltimore Inner Harbor

We were expecting Baltimore to have more of an industrial feel, but the Inner Harbor at least has been transformed from a commercial working harbor to a vibrant destination popular with locals and tourist alike. Restaurants, museums, parks and pedestrian walkways ring a harbor that is a constant hub of activity. And within walking distance…

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Newport to Baltimore

Newport to Baltimore

From Newport, RI we made a 350-mile 3-night trip from Newport, Rhode Island to Baltimore, Maryland. This run had more than the usual timing considerations. Frequent weather systems were in play this time of year. A front passed through the day after we arrived in Newport and another was expected 3-4 days later, but we…

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Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island bills itself as the “Sailing Capitol of the United States” and is where the America’s Cup races were held from 1930 until Australia won the cup in 1983. The area has additional significance to us because it is home to one of our favourite companies, KVH Industries, the supplier of our mini-VSAT…

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KVH Industries Factory Tour

KVH Industries Factory Tour

Long time readers of mvdirona.com know we love technology. In our around-the-world adventure, we have toured mines, ice breakers, cruise ships, mining truck manufacturers, and even spent time at the helm of a 5,000 hp ship-assist tug. The common thread of each of these adventures are companies applying leading-edge technology to deliver a great product…

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Salem

Salem

Salem, MA was the center of the Witch Hysteria that led to 20 people being sentenced to death in 1692. In the intervening few centuries, Salem has become considerably more welcoming to witchcraft, goblins and the supernatural. In fact, their month-long Halloween celebration likely is the largest in the nation and includes a parade, costume…

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Portsmouth, NH

Portsmouth, NH

From Portland, Maine we continued south to Portsmouth, New Hampshire where we had a great stop at the excellent Wentworth Marina. We got another Amazon Prime fix, completed a few boat projects, toured the experimental submarine USS Albacore and explored the city of Portsmouth with its many pubs and restaurants. Trip highlights from October 21st…

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USS Albacore

USS Albacore

The Portsmouth Navy Yard, established in 1800, has a long shipbuilding tradition. The shipyard began building submarines during World War I, including the L-8, the first built by a US Navy yard. The yard produced seventy submarines during World War II, launching a record four in one day, and in the 1950s and 1960s built…

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Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine

Portland, Maine was recently ranked the top craft beer city in the world, and it shows. The city is full of craft breweries and pubs. We of course visited several during our stay, but also explored historic Fort Gorges and did a four-lighthouse and Fore River dinghy tour. Trip highlights from October 17th through 20th,…

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Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor is a popular summer tourist destination, but less so in October. By the time we arrived, most of the businesses were closed for the season, including the famous Boothbay Lobster Wharf. No matter. We enjoyed a walk through the quiet town, got a few boat projects done, and generally spent a relaxing couple…

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Belfast

Belfast

We stopped in Belfast, Maine because it was a convenient place to rent a car and drive to Bangor to have Jennifer’s surgical pin removed, and also because the docking rates there were much better than nearby Camden and Rockland. But we ended up having an excellent stay there and definitely would return. The marina…

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Bangor

Bangor

Bangor, Maine is the home of author Stephen King and the inspiration for the fictional town of Derry in several of his works. Bangor also is the location of the Eastern Maine Medical Center where Jennifer had an early-morning surgery scheduled to finally have the surgical pin removed from her shoulder. Rather than getting up…

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Owl’s Head Transportation Museum

Owl’s Head Transportation Museum

The Owls Head Transportation Museum is a half-hour drive south of Belfast, near Rockland, Maine. We visited on the recommendation of our friend Matt Baker. It seemed unlikely to James that a world-class museum would be found out in Owls Head, but this one is exceptional. It has everything from bicycles to Michael Schumacher’s Formula…

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Southwest Harbor to Belfast

Southwest Harbor to Belfast

We departed Southwest Harbor for Belfast in a fog so thick we could barely see 100 yards in front of us. We ran at six knots with our big floodlights lit all around and the fog horn sounding. Dodging the moored boats and lobster traps in the thick fog was difficult, but the lobster boats…

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Southwest Harbor, Maine

Southwest Harbor, Maine

The Hinckley company was founded at Southwest Harbor, Maine in 1928 and continues to operate there today. We spent two excellent weeks there at Dysart’s Great Harbor Marina, where the docks are full of beautiful Hinckley jet-drive boats. We completed several large boat projects, including changing our engine mounts, and also spent time visiting nearby…

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Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor has been a popular tourist destination since the mid 1800s as tourists flocked in to experience Mt Desert Island’s incredible natural beauty. Thirty hotels operated in the town by 1880. Today Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park, where over two million people from around the world visit annually. This year…

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