Farms/Zoos/Aquariums – Page 5 – WANDERLUST FAMILY ADVENTURE

Sieur de Monts Spring – Acadia National Park, Maine

September 4, 2019 Joseph Candora Architecture, Attractions, Farms/Zoos/Aquariums, Hiking, Historic Sites, Maine, Mountain, Museums, National Parks Service, New England, North America, United States

One of the first stops on the Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park is the Sieur de Monts Spring.
George B. Dorr built the spring house over the spring in 1909 prior to the formation of the national park.

New photo by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

The spring got its name from Pierre Du Gua de Monts a Lieutenant Governor of New France.

If you have a young one try the National Park Junior Ranger Program. You can pick up the workbook at the nature center.

Alex had great fun walking through the wild gardens identifying the different plants.
Continue past the nature center and spring and there is a small Native American museum, the Abbe Museum.

This is one of two locations for the museum the other being in downtown Bar Harbor.

Clark’s Trading Post – Lincoln, Maine

August 26, 2019 Joseph Candora Architecture, Attractions, Cemetery, Covered Bridges, Events/Festivals, Farms/Zoos/Aquariums, Historic Sites, Mountain, Museums, New England, New Hampshire, North America, Rivers, United States

Clark’s Trading Post has been a fixture in New Hampshire’s White Mountains for decades. Located on US Route 3 in Lincoln, New Hampshire it is a multi use attraction with a variety of activities for the entire family.
In 1928 Ed and Florence Clark opened a roadside attraction “Ed Clark’s Eskimo Sled Dog Ranch” with an associated souvenir shop.

In 1931 the Clarks obtained their first black bear and began training and performing shows in 1949. When I was a boy we would stop and feed the bears in their bear pit and spend some time in the souvenir shop on every trip to the mountains. A common sight was to see the bears atop their pole within their enclosure.

Modern sensibilities mean there is no longer a bear pit but the bears, bear show and trading post are all still highlights. The trading post has expanded enormously into a multi-faceted park with all sorts of activities. You can easily spend an entire day on site and still not see everything.
The bear show is still the marquee event for the park with several shows daily.

The upper level has unobstructed views without the chain link fence.

Just outside the show ring check out the bear cemetery. Notable is the grave of Rufus the oldest black bear on record at 38 years.

Also running several times during the day is the ride on the steam powered train. This short ride starts at the Main Street train junction in the park and runs over the Pemigewasset River a short distance through the woods.

You will pass through a covered bridge the Clark family brought to the site,

New video by Wanderlust Family Adventure / Google Photos

and encounter the famed “Clark’s Wolf Man.”

There are several museums on site with the 1884 fire museum a good example.

On hot summer days a water park on site is a good option.

Try the climbing tower,

or rent a segway.

When you get hungry do not hesitate to stop at the snack bar. The food was surprisingly good, not what you would expect from a snack stand inside a park. It was much better than what you would get at a typical fast food restaurant.

If you have kids of any age make this a destination and with the museums and shows there is enough to keep the entire family happy.

Clark’s Trading Post Trained Bear Show – Lincoln, New Hampshire

August 25, 2019 Joseph Candora Attractions, Destinations, Events/Festivals, Farms/Zoos/Aquariums, New England, New Hampshire, North America, United States

As a child during our many trips to the White Mountains we would stop at Clark’s Trading Post in Lincoln to see the bears. We would not always see the show but we would look at and feed the bears as they climbed their enclosure in the bear pit next to the gift shop. The iconic site of the bears on top of their post (See above photo) is no longer available and the attraction is so expanded now as to be al but unrecognizable to us old timers but the bears are still there and the shows are still put on several times a day with modern sensibilities in mind in terms of animal care and dignity.

The best views of the show are from the upper deck where the chain link fence does not get in the way.

Fort Dearborn Historic Site – Rye, New Hampshire

May 3, 2019 Joseph Candora Architecture, Farms/Zoos/Aquariums, Hiking, Historic Sites, Lighthouses, New England, New Hampshire, North America, State Parks, United States

The remnants of Fort Dearborn are located in Odiorne State Park in Rye, New Hampshire.

The first fortification was built in 1623 and continued through the years but there is scant archeological evidence of any of these. The batteries still on site date from the twentieth century and the two world wars.

At the foot of the first battery on the footpath to the Seacoast Science Center there is some great views and an old undersea habitat.

Be sure to stop at the Science Center especially if you have some little ones with you.

Whaleback Lighthouse can be seen offshore from the Science Center’s grounds.

Seacoast Science Center (Rye, New Hampshire)

May 2, 2019 Joseph Candora Attractions, Beaches, Farms/Zoos/Aquariums, Hiking, Historic Sites, Lighthouses, Museums, New England, New Hampshire, North America, State Parks, United States

This post is dedicated to my son’s school bus driver Gidget. Always know that your kindness and enthusiasm touched him and gave him lasting memories.
The Seacoast Science Center is located in Odiorne State Park in Rye, New Hampshire. Odiorne State Park has some wonderful short easy trails to Odiorne Point and a nice picnic area and playground for the kids. The site and remnants of Fort Dearborn are also within the park. Whaleback Light House can also be seen from the point and from the grounds of the Science Center.

The Science Center itself has a wonderful small aquarium and is an ideal spot for youth programs and activities. Check out the Center’s web site for a schedule of events and activities.

As you enter the center there are a number of natural history displays.

And a touch pool.

Down the ramp are some historical exhibits and the activity center.

The small aquarium is on the left next to the gift shop and is a highlight. It has some interesting local sea creatures and some displays on diving and oceanography.

Also on the grounds at the foot of the Fort Dearborn battery is an old undersea habitat.

The center is a great place for a visit and if you have young children consider becoming a member and take advantage of the youth activities. If you do go be sure to say hello to Alex’s friend the skate.

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