After falling in love with the beautiful covered bridges of Vermont, we continued our journey east into New Hampshire and Maine. My goal was to find even more covered bridges, a few scenic waterfalls, and some picturesque lighthouses along the Atlantic coast. Of course, I couldn't make the entire trip about what I wanted to see. Greg had one destination on his list that he had looked forward to for years—the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. That only seemed fair.

While exploring New Hampshire, we stayed at Circle 9 Ranch Campground in Epsom. Based on my notes from our stay, the campground had more long-term residents than overnight travelers, and it appeared a bit rundown at the time. I can't speak to what it is like today, but if we find ourselves back in New Hampshire, we'll probably choose somewhere different to stay.

Visiting the New Hampshire Motor Speedway was one of the highlights of our time there. Greg had been a huge NASCAR fan for years, and this was one speedway he had never been able to visit. I was excited for him, but I was equally excited because I had never been to a speedway myself or seen a race car up close.

What I didn't realize when planning our trip was that visitors are welcome to stop by even on non-race days. That made the experience even better. On the day we visited, the track was being used by motorcyclists who were flying around the course at incredible speeds. Even with the track occupied, we were still able to explore the facility, see one of the race cars on display, and learn a little about the history of the speedway and the sport. It turned out to be a memorable stop for both of us.

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One day we set out in search of waterfalls, only to have the weather force us to turn around and head back to the campground. The following day we tried again. I only had two waterfalls on my list, but unfortunately we only made it to one. Oscar and Harley were only about a year old at the time, and they simply were not having a good day. Sometimes life on the road doesn't go according to plan, and that was one of those days.

Sabbaday Falls, New Hampshire

Sabbaday Falls is a scenic 35-foot, three-tiered waterfall located off the Kancamagus Highway (Route 112) in the White Mountain National Forest near Albany, New Hampshire.  These pics don't do the falls justice as I can still remember 10 years later how beautiful these were. We also got a visit from a little chipmunk, the first one I had ever seen.

While driving through the White Mountains, we came across a place called Willey House, and it was one of those unexpected stops that turned out to be well worth it. We pulled over to take in the breathtaking mountain views. Even though it was the middle of summer, the cleared ski slopes were easy to spot against the mountainsides, and I couldn't help but imagine how beautiful the landscape would be just a few months later covered in snow.

Originally known as Old Notch House, the building was constructed in 1793. In 1823, Ethan Crawford acquired it to serve as an inn for his growing mountain guide business. Three years later, it became the home of Samuel J. Willey Jr. and his family. Today, the house is best known for the tragic event of 1826 when seven members of the Willey family and two others lost their lives during a devastating landslide, forever making the site part of New Hampshire's history.

After leaving Willey House, our search for covered bridges continued. As always, learning the history behind each bridge was just as enjoyable as seeing these beautiful wooden structures in person.

Albany Covered Bridge

Built in 1858, the Albany Covered Bridge spans the Swift River and measures 120 feet in length. Constructed using a Paddleford truss with added arches, the bridge originally cost $1,300 to build and has a six-ton weight limit. With a clearance of only 7 feet 9 inches, I don't think many RVs will be venturing through this bridge, even though there is a campground conveniently located just across the road.

Saco River Covered Bridge

Continuing on to Conway Village, we visited the Saco River Covered Bridge, which was built in 1890 by Charles and Frank Broughton. Located on Route 16, this impressive bridge stretches 224.9 feet long and 30.4 feet wide, making it considerably larger than Albany Covered Bridge. Like many of the bridges in this region, it was built using the Paddleford truss design with added arches, a style we found repeated throughout our travels in New Hampshire.

Bartlett Covered Bridge & Gift Shop

Our final covered bridge stop was the Bartlett Covered Bridge, built in 1857 across the Saco River. The bridge was closed to traffic and abandoned in 1939, allowing it to fall into disrepair. During the 1950s, the town used it for storage before it was purchased by a private owner in 1966. After restoring the bridge, the new owner opened a gift shop inside the structure. When we visited in 2016, the gift shop was still operating, making this one of the more unique covered bridges we encountered. Measuring 166 feet long, it also features the familiar Paddleford truss with added arches, a design that seemed to define many of New Hampshire's historic covered bridges.

One advantage of staying in Epsom was how easy it was to cross into neighboring Maine for day trips. There, my focus shifted from covered bridges to something entirely different—lighthouses. Seeing those iconic beacons also meant getting my first glimpse of the Atlantic coastline in Maine.

I'll admit, though, the beaches surprised me. Growing up in Florida, I had always known soft, white sand beaches. The darker, rockier shoreline of Maine was completely different from what I had imagined. While the rugged coastline certainly has its own beauty, I found myself appreciating Florida's sugar-white beaches just a little bit more.

Another surprise came when I finally had the opportunity to eat fresh Maine lobster. I had been looking forward to it and carefully chose a local restaurant with excellent reviews, expecting an unforgettable meal. Instead, I left disappointed. It just wasn't what I had imagined. I remember telling Greg that, as funny as it sounds, I actually preferred the lobster from Red Lobster over the one I had just eaten. I know that probably isn't something most people would admit after traveling all the way to Maine, but it's the honest truth!

We were able to find several lighthouses along the southern Maine coast. As with the covered bridges, I enjoyed learning a little about the history of each one along the way.

Whaleback Lighthouse

The Whaleback Lighthouse was built in 1872 and stands at the mouth of the Piscataqua River near Kittery, Maine. Its 75-foot granite tower sits on a rocky outcrop offshore, southwest of Fort Foster and south of Wood Island.

Standing alone on the rocks with the Atlantic surrounding it, Whaleback was quite different from the lighthouses I had pictured in my mind before visiting Maine. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

Nubble Lighthouse

One of the most recognizable lighthouses we saw was Nubble Lighthouse, officially known as the Cape Neddick Light Station. Built in 1879, its 41-foot cast-iron tower stands on a small rocky island just off Cape Neddick in York, Maine.

The lighthouse itself isn't accessible to visitors, but it can be viewed from Sohier Park on the mainland. Nubble is considered one of the most photographed lighthouses in America, and after seeing its picturesque setting for myself, I can certainly understand why.

Goat Island Lighthouse

The Goat Island Lighthouse sits offshore near Cape Porpoise, just outside Kennebunkport. The lighthouse that stands there today was built in 1859, replacing an earlier light station established on Goat Island in 1833.

One of the best places to view the lighthouse from shore is Cape Porpoise Pier, where you can look across the harbor toward Goat Island. It was another beautiful example of the lighthouses scattered along Maine's rugged coastline.

Additional Lighthouses

It's hard to believe that ten years have passed since we made this trip. While I've been fortunate enough to rediscover the names and history of many of the places we visited, there are still a few lighthouses in my photographs that I haven't been able to identify.

I don't want that to keep me from sharing the pictures, though. They are still part of our journey and part of the memories we made exploring Maine's coastline.

If you recognize any of the lighthouses pictured below, please leave us a comment and let me know which one it is. I'd love to finally put a name to it!

 Despite a few disappointments and a few plans that didn't work out, our time in New Hampshire and Maine left us wanting more. Along with Vermont, these are three states we would happily return to someday. Next time, we'd love to venture farther north, stay a little longer, and discover even more of what each state has to offer.

If you've explored New Hampshire, Vermont, or Maine and have favorite towns, scenic drives, waterfalls, covered bridges, or lighthouses that we should add to our list, we'd love to hear your recommendations. Leave us a comment below—you just might help us plan our next adventure.

This destination is just one stop from our original full-time RV adventure. Every place we visited left us with unforgettable memories, beautiful scenery, and lessons learned along the way.

Ready for another adventure?