It had been a hard year. There’d been changes in our family, a new house and so much else to adjust to. The kids and I needed to get away and spend some quality time together. 

But money was tight and I didn’t want the usual Disney World vacation anyway.  I wanted a destination where we could play, try new things and experience a different side of life. Children are young for such a short time and I hoped this vacation would create some unique family memories.

We decided on a trip to Linekin Bay Resort in Boothbay Harbor, ME. The all-inclusive resort promised a “Down East vacation” that was perfect for families.

The resort was a little hard to find at first, tucked away as it is on a secluded section of the coast. But once we arrived, we felt relaxed and at home. The unassuming property feels like the family camps of yesteryear. It has been serving generations for decades.

The author’s son sits at the back of the boat with the rudder, calling commands to his crew under the instructor's watchful eyes.

Small cottages dotted the forested grounds. An old fashioned lodge overlooked the bay, accompanied by a lush green lawn lined with tidy white chairs. A wooden pier pushed out into the bay, where dozens of sailboats bobbed in the water.

Eager to explore, we trooped along the fern-lined path to our two-bedroom cottage. Simple and basic, it was just the right home for our week in Maine.

Guests have free use of the facilities at Linekin Bay Resort and there’s plenty to do. We found kayaks, tennis courts and a game room with ancient ping pong and air hockey tables. The kids couldn’t wait to get into the salt-water pool or try the fishing poles, which are available for the asking.

With the exception of a kids’ camp program, there were no planned activities or entertainment so our schedule was all our own. The kids, for their part, didn’t know quite where to begin. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing in the game room and exploring the shoreline.

Then the dinner bell rang and folks began making their way to the dining room. Meals are served family-style at the resort and the food is hearty and tasty. Local Maine produce and fresh seafood are frequent finds on the menu.

The meals soon became a highlight of our visit. We laughed and talked over seafood chowders, Maine blueberry pie and rich pasta. One night, the resort moved all the tables onto the lawn and had a lobster cookout, with each guest receiving a whole Maine lobster and fresh corn-on-the-cob.

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My landlocked family had a few problems figuring out how to eat the lobster but with a little local insight, we happily enjoyed our dinner.

The weather was warm and sunny all week, with temperatures in the 70s and 80s, so we spent most of our time outside. After a hot breakfast each morning, we’d head down to the pier, where we’d meet our sailing instructor, Kirsten.

At first, the kids had resisted the sailing lessons. However, the sport is an integral part of Linekin Bay, so I dragged them to the pier.

A teacher during the school year, Kirsten was the perfect instructor. She immediately had the kids’ attention as she explained the different parts of a sailboat. She showed us how to make various knots, then had us try it on our own.

The resort has a fleet of twenty Rhodes 19’s. The sailboats were small enough for beginners to learn on, yet large enough for a group of five or six.