Each year Ryan has the opportunity to win an "All American" trip through his company.
This was Ryan's 10th year winning the trip, congratulations!
So off to Boston we went ... with Mimi in tow!
We met Melinda's mom, a.k.a. Mimi, at the LAX airport
She was great to have on that long, direct flight to Boston, and the entire trip. Georgie also enjoyed her one-on-one time with Mimi.
We stayed at the Marriott Copley Place. It was centrally located. We walked everywhere.
The first day we decided to walk the "Freedom Trail" with one of Ryan's agents; Tim & Shana from Roseburg, OR.
Trinity Church - an Episcopal parish founded in 1733
Outside the Boston Public Library.
Tim, Ryan, Shana in front of Park Street Church - one of the most historically significant buildings in the story of the Abolition's history of the nation.
Following the red line on the trail
Ryan crossing the Boston Marathon Finish Line
Melinda in front of The State House on Beacon Hill
Granary Burying Ground - the graves of Benjamin Franklin's parents, Samuel Adams, James Otis, John Hancock & Paul Revere lie there.
Benjamin Franklin statue in front of the Boston Latin School - America's oldest public school.
Old South Meeting House - where the Boston Tea Party event was conceived & decided.
We had lunch at the oldest American restaurant "Union Oyster House" - 1826.
Georgie liked watching the Lobsters in the tank.
Mom in front of Paul Revere's House - 1680. Notice the wavy cobblestone street!
Paul Revere monument with the Old North church behind.
Ryan in front of his yacht.... keep dreaming!
I guess we couldn't get away from Medford...
We took a tour of Fenway Park. Terrific tour, beautiful stadium.
Banquet night for Ryan's company.
Delectable surf & turf, great presentations and entertainment.
Ryan's agents with spouses ready to take the Boston Duck Tour
Mimi and Georgie had a great time on the land/water tour.
After the tour we had lunch at Cheers... "where everyone knows your name".
"Now that's a big noodle, Georgie"
We took Mimi back to the airport after all the AmFam festivities were over. She flew home and we picked up a rental car and continued on our vacation.
First we drove south to Plymouth to see the infamous rock & Mayflower ship replica (Melinda has an ancestor that came across on the Mayflower).
We then went north to Maine and had a fantastic seafood dinner at York.
We ate dessert in front of the most famous Nubble lighthouse.
We caught the end of a concert in the park on the beach. Georgianna loved the music!
Then we drove further north to Mount Desert Island and stayed a couple nights at a
charming B & B called Maison Suisse, in very quaint Northeast Harbor.
Northeast Harbor
We took a morning sail around Frenchman Bay on a 151 foot, four-mast schooner, The Margaret Todd. Ryan got to help hoist the sails up.
Very large ship dog, Maggie
The Margaret Todd behind Ryan. Our yacht that keeps following us, behind Melinda.
Frenchman Bay
Had lunch at The Jordan Pond House in Acadia National Park.
They are known for there amazing popovers. They were delicious!
Jordan Pond, which seemed much larger than our ponds in Oregon....
Stopped at a little beach on the way back to the B & B. This was Georgianna's first time her feet were in the sand. Took her a little bit to aclimate to the texture, but all in all did great.
Last night in Maine, we treated ourselves to a real Lobster Dinner.
Ryan and Georgie hand picked our lobsters.
Mmmm... I could get used to this dinner!
It was really a fabulous dinner and the restaurant & owners were delightful.
The Obamas followed us to Mount Desert Island. We saw their motorcade a couple of times.
Maine State Capitol in Augusta
Heading back to Boston we stopped in Freeport at the LL Bean headquarters.
What an amazing facility, displays, shops.
Had to have Dunkin' Donuts at least once! They are rampant everywhere - worse than Starbucks!
View from our hotel room - last night in Boston before flying home.
Boston was a fun, friendly, tidy, history-rich city.
We really had a great trip!
