We visit MidCoast Maine at least once a year and always have a good time. It's not what a lot of people expect though, as it's a complicated sort of place to visit. "You can't get there from here..." From just north of Portland all the way to Acadia National Park, MidCoast Maine is one of those place you know you want to visit but maybe don't know why, so we've got you covered.

In this podcast episode we're talking about our favorite towns, great things to do in MidCoast Maine, and what to actually expect when you visit (including Wildlife in Maine). It's funny because for being one of the most popular East Coast destinations for vacation, Mainers kind of don't want everyone to be there. It's a complicated reltationship between residents and visitors.

Either way, we love getting to visit Maine and are excited to share and help YOU plan a trip to this beautiful place. Give a listen and check out our many articles that are all about planning Maine trips:

• Maine Summer Road Trip
• Maine in Winter
• Lighthouses in Maine to Visist
• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and more!

Even though 2020 seems like so long ago, we're still feeling the effects of how the COVID pandemic changed the world, including travel. It's weird to think back and remember washing our groceries and not being allowed to sit down in public places. And I remember the day I lost my job and we scrambled to figure out how to complete our move across the country that we'd already started the process on... It was a lot for everyone.

One element that was really impacted by the pandemic was travel. It's weird to look back and think about what we did to be able to travel during COVID. For example getting to visit Disney World and Universal duiring COVID with zero crowds and everyone being required to give you space, NOT cough on you and actively be hygenic. It's fascinating to think about how many people we opposed to all this.

Living through the COVID pandemic is a historic life. Unprecidented times like this being blasted on social media and misinformation being spread daily made this particular life experience very different. COVID news came at us from every angle and so much wasn't monitored or verified, vs other historic events, such as 9-11. Looking back, the events of COVID now seem to have a historic filter on them as we think of them in the style of something shot on VHS.

Another event that hit during the peak of COVID was the 2020 election in the USA. That was its own thing that continues to have reprecussions today. Fascinating to look back!

We are always ready for a visit to the American Southwest, and these iconic sights are some of the best! If you haven't gotten the chance to explore Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and California, we've got some fantastic suggestions for seeing some of the most beautiful canyons and desert landscapes in the Southwest. Pick a few and plan a visit or see them all on a three week road trip, either way you'll love it.

In this episode we have our friend and frequent podcast guest Colleen Miniuk sharing her favorite places in the American Southwest for the best desert experiences. As a professional landscape photographer and group tour leader, Colleen has deep experience in the wild canyons and mountains of the SW. Listen along as she shares her picks for:

• amazing Grand Canyon National Park sites
• Glen Canyon and Lake Powell
• what makes Death Valley so interesting and beautiful
• superblooms in the desert (including cactuses blooming!)
• and much, much more!

Please visit our website for the full article and a complete itinerary for seeing the best of the Southwest and really diving into the beautiful nature of the desert.

For more Southwest travel ideas:

• Wonderful Things to do Near Las Vegas
• Beautiful Hiking in Palm Springs
• Superbloom in Joshua Tree National Park
• 10 Unique Utah Road Trip Stops