Travel Throwback Thursday: My Summer in Bar Harbor

 

During the summer of 2007 I had the opportunity of a lifetime… I was accepted into the very prestigious summer student research program at The Jackson Laboratory. The Jackson Laboratory, or Jax for short, is the top mammalian genetics lab in the world where cutting-edge research takes place daily. Every summer a select group of students from across the country live at HighSeas, a laboratory owned mansion on the ocean, and work with some of the top cancer, obesity, etc. researchers in the world.

Bar Harbor is a small, tourist town located on Mount Desert Island about 3 hours north of Portland. Mount Desert Island is home to Acadia National Park, the oldest park east of the Mississippi. The Island offers a wide range of activities from art galleries, the beach, to many mountains to hike. It’s a great place to be during the summer months.

I spent my days that summer conducting ovarian cancer research in mice. I spent my nights and weekends exploring the Island and town with my fellow students. Of course, me being a native Mainer, I had the pleasure of introducing my out-of-state friends “the way life should be.” Items included blueberry ice cream, lobster (and lobster ice cream), and red hot dogs.

Below are some of my favorites memories of the summer. Not only did I have a summer of a lifetime, but I made some really good friends. 🙂

The coastline is absolutely stunning (and some of the summer homes are just as amazing)!

The coastline is absolutely stunning (and some of the summer homes are just as amazing)!

 

Part of the lab

Part of the lab

I did lots of hiking that summer on the various mountains.

I did lots of hiking that summer on the various mountains.

 

Sunset from Cadillac Mountain, which is the highest mountain within 25 miles of the shoreline in North America

Sunset from Cadillac Mountain, which is the highest mountain within 25 miles of the shoreline in North America

 

Part of the Summer Student Program is cooking on the weekend (we had a cook during the week, tough life I know). I loved the American flag apron!

Part of the Summer Student Program is cooking on the weekend (we had a cook during the week, tough life I know). I loved the American flag apron!

 

We spent time at Sand Beach

We spent time at Sand Beach

 

Each summer the Summer Students participate in the 4th of July Parade... this year we were Astronaut Mice (Jax is known for its mice)

Each summer the Summer Students participate in the 4th of July Parade… this year we were Astronaut Mice (Jax is known for its mice)

 

I was a tree hugging Astronaut Mouse

I was a tree hugging Astronaut Mouse

 

One of the best ways to explore the Island is via scooters. You can rent them in town and it is so worth it!

One of the best ways to explore the Island is via scooters. You can rent them in town and it is so worth it! 

Bar Harbor is a great place to visit. Summer is the busy season and the town pretty much shuts down during the winter. I’ve visited during the Fall months too and Island is just as beautiful as the summer (just fewer people!). I highly recommend a visit to Mount Desert Island if you ever find yourself in Maine. And try the lobster ice cream while you’re there! 🙂

~ Happy Training!

Travel Throwback Thursday: Montana

Montana is my favorite place for multiple reasons. The first being the people. You can’t beat the Montanans. They are absolutely some of the nicest people on the planet. The second is the environment. The state is stunning! You have the Rockies in the West, Yellowstone to the South-east, and the prairies as far as the eye can see. Montana is an outdoorsmen’s dream. You can spend the summers hiking in the mountains, rock climbing the local crags, or floating the Madison River. In the winter you can ice climb, ski, or just enjoy one of the many local microbrews by the fire!

During the summer of 2008 I had the opportunity to spend the summer conducting biomedical research at Montana State University in Bozeman. It is by far one of my favorite summers to date. Not only did I fall in love with the town, but I made some of my best friends there that I still stay in touch with today. I have also gone back to Montana multiple times to visit. Someday I would love to make a permanent move there, but I know that won’t happen any time soon. But a girl can dream!

Montana is known as “Big Sky Country,” which if you are good at putting two and two together… is what I named my coaching company after! You can read a little more about that here

Now, for all the pictures you all really want to see!

Ferry Lake in the Bridger Mountains

Ferry Lake in the Bridger Mountains

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park

Seeing your first bison is super cool, but after being stuck in a 3-hour traffic jam in Yellowstone because the herd enjoys hanging out in the road is not so cool...

Seeing your first bison is super cool, but after being stuck in a 3-hour traffic jam in Yellowstone because the herd enjoys hanging out in the road is not so cool…

 

Rock climbing in Gallatin Valley!

Rock climbing in Gallatin Valley!

 

The view from Big Sky during the winter

The view from Big Sky during the winter

 

At the Black Foot Reservation on the way to Alberta, Canada

At the Black Foot Reservation on the way to Alberta, Canada

 

Fishing and no I didn't catch anything...

Fishing and no I didn’t catch anything…

 

More rock climbing in Gallatin Valley

More rock climbing in Gallatin Valley

 

On one of the many nights I enjoyed a good beer downtown Bozeman... I met a new friend :-)

On one of the many nights I enjoyed a good beer downtown Bozeman… I met a new friend 🙂

 

Hiking in Gallatin Forest (in the rain)

Hiking in Gallatin Forest (in the rain) with some of my labmates

Have you been to Montana? I highly recommend visiting at least once in your life. The people, the food, the beer, and the views are incredible year-round. And if you ever need a tour guide, let me know! 🙂

~ Happy Training!