Visit to Campobello

 What is it about this born and raised West Texas Panhandle girl who loves islands?  Even as a child I wanted to get away from it all and that is certainly still the case at 69. The above photo is the lighthouse on beautiful Campobello Island, New Brunswick, off the coast from Lubec, Maine. We spent 3 nights there recently in a cabin overlooking the water.

Campobello has been a part of our lives for at least 25 years. We’ve taken vacations there, staying with friends or in cottages, and even took my parents and aunt there one year. One of my favorite photos of my mom and dad has the lighthouse in the background, and they look happy and healthy.

One of the best things about Campobello is that it’s quiet.  Nine miles long by three miles wide (not as small as Iona!) one can become familiar with it quickly. It’s all about enjoying the beauty of nature, whether hiking, biking, or watching the tide come in from the front porch. Just our type of trip. Beaches are stony and long, with huge tides. If you like beachcombing, these are the beaches for you. There are many hiking trails, from flat and easy to more challenging.  There are few places to spend money- a small grocery, one gift shop and a handful of restaurants.  No fancy hotel to stay in, but there are numerous other options for lodging.

Bill and I do this type of vacation well, the kind where you cook your own food, explore the area leisurely, and have no schedule.  Puttering, you might say.  The most lovely sense of peace descends when we cross the short bridge from mainland USA.

My mother would be so happy to know that we play dominoes in the evening on these vacations. She was an ace player, taking any loss very seriously! We read voluminously, I knit, and we have happy hour on the porch. The TV in the cottage was never turned on.

One of our favorite puttering activities is to check out the local library- Campobello’s is especially cozy and they must have the best view of any library anywhere! There is a good selection of books about the area and its history, many books about the Roosevelts, and even some of their collections.  The local historical society has a small museum in the library, as well.

The big attraction on the island is Roosevelt’s summer cottage. It is part of a national park operated jointly by Canada and the US. It’s worth several hours of your time and the cottage is still set-up and furnished as the Roosevelts left it. The dining room is the one of my dreams.......after your visit you can have “Tea with Eleanor.” A pot of her favorite King Cole tea and homemade ginger snaps are served on cloth-covered tables while you listen to docents tell her story. Bill pocketed a few of the extra cookies…

The view from our cottage never failed to offer a sense of peace and awe- just look at this beauty. A simple, restorative vacation...I am grateful.