There was no traffic – no billboards – no stress. I’ll take a 2.5 hour commute from Bangor to Presque Isle over a one hour commute from LAX to Pasadena where the traffic is insane any day.

The Hampton Inn in Presque Isle is lovely. It’s only a few years old and still has that “new hotel” smell. I highly recommend it should you be travelling here in the future. Easy to get to, clean, and there are cookies when you check in!

But what I love most about this hotel and this place are the people. Not that people in LA are mean – they just don’t seem all that genuine. It’s a different story here. The customer service at the Hampton has been exceptional. When I checked in the woman at the front desk was genuinely interested in me and what brought me here; making sure I knew my way around the hotel and that I had everything I needed.

This morning I was up at 5 a.m. to get ready to head to Fort Kent. I needed coffee – I really needed coffee! I threw on something to wear and in a semi-sleep state wandered down to the lobby where breakfast was being set up. There was coffee! But there was no milk to be found and I needed my 2-percent. It was very early. Nobody was there. Then I spotted the door to the kitchen and peaked in. What I found were two very friendly hotel employees going about their business to get breakfast out. When I asked if they had any milk - they were extraordinarily happy to help me.

This is unusual. Try this in other places and you may get a “the breakfast buffet opens at 6 – sorry!” Not here. The man and woman were happy to fulfill my request and as I thanked them they thanked me for being here and wanted to know where I was from, what brought me here and if I had everything I needed for my coffee and breakfast. They were genuinely nice. Nice is good – nice makes a difference – nice is Northern Maine.

As I was filling my coffee mug, they joined me at the buffet as they continued to set out breakfast. I asked them both how long it would take me to get to Fort Kent? The guy said about an hour and a half. The woman agreed and insisted that I - “Be careful of moose – they’re out this time of year and be sure to pee in Caribou. After that it’s all woods – and I’ve peed in those woods before!”

Great words to live by when travelling in the County. Not a conversation you would have in LA – or most parts of the world in fact. That’s why I love Maine.