Lobstering on the Coast of Maine

Ordering lobster off a menu in Maine felt like a missed opportunity, so we chartered a boat with Captain Phil of Breton’s Charters and put the kids to work. He walked us through the surprisingly complex rules of lobstering, or “bugging,” and Colt had roughly a million questions for him.

Along the way we detoured to Kennebunkport, where Captain Phil eased the boat close to shore for a look at the Bush family compound. Then came the real work: pulling up traps, getting the bugs on ice, lunch and a lobster anatomy lesson. Our kids came away with a real appreciation for where their food comes from and the effort it takes to catch it.