Maine - 80 Great Things to Do in Maine

10 Great Things to Do in Mid Coast Maine

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Cheap Treats for the Body, Inside and Out

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If you are traveling internationally, you may buy items without having to pay either the sales tax (called value added tax) or the customs duties assessed by the United States – primarily on liquor and tobacco but also with many other products. The savings from duty-free shopping can be significant. At Duty Free Americas in Calais (40 Main Street), and in Vanceboro (119 Water Street), shoppers can find discounted prices on premium spirits, tobacco, fragrances, cosmetics, watches, jewelry, leather goods, gifts for children, and more. Phone: Calais store at 207-454-3476 or 207-454-3404; Vanceboro store at 207-788-3989.

Clocks, with Labradors on the Side

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Once upon a time in the far off enchanted land of Bar Harbor there lived a clockmaker known all over the land for his expertise and knowledge of the intricate workings of clocks, watches and barometers. This clockmaker goes by the name of Alexander H. Phillips and his place of business is 110 Main Street. You can visit him there from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays to learn of his history and talents and to see a sample of his wares. (the store is also home and guest petting parlor to Finn and Whiskey, a yellow and a chocolate Lab.) Phone: 207-288-3684.

Cuddle a Crab

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Diver Ed’s Dive-In Theater is a 2-hour scenic boat ride out into Frenchman Bay in Acadia National Park, where Diver Ed and his sidekick, Mini Ed, dive down to the ocean floor with real-time video and sound equipment, allowing you to see and hear the ocean floor from the comfort of the deck. Captain Evil remains topside to interpret and explain, until Diver Ed resurfaces… with critters in tow! Touch tanks allow you to see, feel, and even kiss the actual animals themselves before returning them to their habitat and returning home. Dive departs from 105 Eden Street in Bar Harbor Phone: 207-288-DIVE (3483)

Don’t Forget Your Flannel Shirt

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Baseball may be the national sport, but competitors of the The Great Maine Lumberjack Show might contest that idea. The tradition of performance and competition, known as the Olympics of the Forest, in which lumberjacks and lumberjills use big tools to demonstrate their art, dates back over 100 years in Maine. Now, families can view the competition at 127 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton. Young and old will love the rarely seen competition of log rolling and other forestry arts. Host Timber Tina Scheer invites guests to come explore the competitive edge of lumberjacking with daily shows at 7 p.m. through September 5 and weekend shows from September 11 to October 10. Phone: 207-667-0067.

Fine Wine From Blueberries

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Bartlett Maine Estate Winery at 161 Chicken Mill Pond Road in Gouldsboro is a small detour off the fabled road to Acadia National Park. At Bartlett’s, prize-winning wines are pressed onsite from native fruits. According to the owners, when a local friend shipped a few bottles of Bartlett's Blueberry Reserve to France, the tasters refused to believe it was pressed from blueberries. The winery’s aging process, using French and American oak, creates complex, wines sure to please even traditionalists. The tasting room, halfway between Ellsworth and the Petit Manon Wildlife Refuge, is housed in a hand wrought stone building. Open from June to October or by appointment. Phone: 207- 546-2408.

Lobster Pot Not Optional

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Here is a Great Things to Do suggestion direct from a reader: Go camping in Acadia National Park at either the Blackwoods or Seawall campgrounds off Route 3 in Bar Harobr. Take a huge lobster pot and buy lobster and clams off the boat if you can. Throw some sea salt into the boiling water and steam your clams, then cook your lobster. Melt butter, buy some potato salad and rolls; throw some corn on the cob in the pot, and you have a lobster feast. Throw old newspaper on the table and don't be neat. Make a big mess, then fold it all up and throw the papers and shells away. A nice wine will round out your camping meal and a lobster will never taste better to you. Sounds good!

Rocky Shores, Craggy Mountains

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With all due respect, the ultimate expression of Down East Maine’s beauty has to be Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, a must-see place whether you live just down the road or in southern Texas. Among the park’s offerings is the 27-mile Park Loop Road system, offers outstanding views of the park's ocean shoreline, coastal forests, and mountain silhouettes. It’s all in front of you; just putter along and try to blink occasionally. Phone: 207-288-3338

Sunrise, on Foot or Bicycle

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The first section of the multi-use Down East Sunrise Trail is now open along a 32-mile stretch of former railroad bed between Machias and its eastern terminus at Ayers Junction. Walkers, runners, bicycles, ATVs, and horses are welcome on the 10-foot wide, compact gravel trail during the summer use season, beginning in mid-May. The route is also open for winter recreation. The trail has multiple access parking lots and will eventually stretch for 85 miles to Ellsworth, making it the longest multi-use recreation trail in the state. Phone: 207-866-4520.

Take a Wide-Angle Lens

A one minute ride will take you to the top of the tallest public bridge-observatory in the world: the Fort Knox and the Penobscot Narrows Observatory (the others are in China, Slovakia and Thailand). Just opened in May 2007, the Penobscot Narrows Observatory is already proving to be a popular attraction. The beauty of the Penobscot River and surrounding countryside is immediately apparent as the elevator door slides open to a dizzying view from 420 feet up. Ascend two more levels up to find 360 degrees views, complete with identification panels showing you how to find nearby mountains, lakes, and towns. Open May 1-October 31.

We’ll Keep the Light On

With its jagged and rocky coastline, Maine in the runaway leader as the New England state of abundant lighthouses. West Quoddy Head Light, in West Quoddy State Park in Lubec, has the additional appeal of offering a visitor center and museum. And the Isle au Haut Light in the town of the same name is among a small handful of New England lighthouses that operate a bed-and-breakfast in the keeper’s house. That’s our idea of romance.

Where’s the Big Chicken?

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From 19th Century armoires to books on Zen, the Big Chicken Barn on Route 1 between Bucksport and Ellsworth caters to the interests of today's collector of antiques and paper collectibles. Almost 22,000 square feet of floor space holds an ever- changing and diverse selection of intriguing items displayed for unhurried and unhindered browsing. This is Maine’s largest antiquarian bookstore and antiques gallery, and a really fun place to browse and hunt for Maine memorabilia. Phone: 207- 667-7308.

From Wines to Watches, All the Prices Are Fine

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If you are traveling internationally, you may buy items without having to pay either the sales tax (called value added tax) or the customs duties assessed by the United States – primarily on liquor and tobacco but also with many other products. The savings from duty-free shopping can be significant. At Duty Free Americas in Houlton at 4 Airport Road, and in Van Buren at 122 Bridge Street, shoppers can find discounted prices on spirits, tobacco, fragrances, watches, jewelry, leather goods, gifts for children, and more. Phone: Houlton store at 207-532 – 6540.

Saturn Is Our Favorite

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Ok, it’s not big compared to the solar system, but it is big for a model of the solar system. The three-dimensional Maine Solar System Model stretches for 40 miles along U.S. Route 1 from Houlton to the University of Maine at Presque Isle. The model includes the Sun and nine planets, and all but Pluto are visible from Route 1. Keep kids busy in the car the old-fashioned way: Make them compete to find and name our space neighbors.

Wilderness and More Wilderness

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Aroostook State Park in Presque Isle, which includes Quaggy Jo Mountain and Echo Lake, is the ideal starting point for discovering the North Maine Woods and the Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Echo Lake is stocked with brook trout and public boat access is available. Canoe and paddleboat rentals are available. Campsites and a guarded beach are opening the warm weather. Cross-country ski trails and snowmobile trails are plentiful in winter. Phone: 207-768-8341

Wildflowers Below; Eagles Above

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The northernmost of Maine's scenic byways, State Route 11 follows the rolling hills between Portage and Fort Kent. Outstanding views of wildflower meadows, Eagle Lake, and Mount Katahdin. Much of the 37-mile route is forested, so glimpses of eagles and moose are likely. Route 11 connects Aroostook County and New Brunswick, Canada, and the people here are proud of the strong Acadian influence on their cultural traditions.

Blaine House Shelters New England Garden

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Blaine House on State Street in Augusta, the home of Maine’s governors, also is home to a refurbished New England Garden open to the public from May to October. The New England Garden is a formal, square traditional garden with a central lawn, surrounded by footpaths and fencing. Each corner features a flower display that changes throughout the seasons. Plantings in the annual beds reflect the changing seasons, with each season exploring the various species’ unique attributes. The annual beds also feature seasonal standards that complement the surrounding annual display. Open to the public for self-guided tours by appointment only Tuesdays through Thursday, 2-4 p.m., May 1 through October 1. Phone: 207-287-2121.

Crafty, Welcoming, and Always Something New

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Center for Maine Craft at 24 Service Plaza Drive in West Gardiner offers works by over 300 Maine craft artists, musicians, authors, illustrators and artisan food producers. The center maintains a constant calendar of educational and exciting programming. Keep checked the website to learn about exhibitions, events, studio days, music, barbecues, and more. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closes 8 p.m. in the summer). Phone: 207-588-0021.

Did We Mention the Majolica?

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Imagine this: 20,000 square feet of (carpeted!) display area. That’s part of the description for Fairfield Antiques Mall, on Route 201 in Fairfield,the largest group of antique shops in Maine. More than 100 antiques dealers are parked in this crossroads of Maine, offering a huge inventory of Victorian, oak, country, mission, and wicker furniture; glassware; frames, mirrors and clocks; hoosiers and iceboxes; jewelry, watches, and coins. But why even try to list the highlights? The mall has three huge storewide sales every year, in January, April, and November, so check back often for dates and details. Open daily, year-round. Phone: 207-453-4100.

Empire Grill’s Famous Muffin

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Fans of novelist Richard Russo and his wonderful story, Empire Falls, will be pleased to learn that a version of the restaurant that was the centerpiece of the novel actually exists. The Empire Grill on 105 Water Street in Skowhegan was renovated in 2003 to serve as the set of the HBO mini-series Empire Falls, based on the book. The Grill now has a tradition of giving away a muffin every day to an unsuspecting customer. Grill owner Kerry Pomelow told Yankee magazine, “a lot of people want the muffin … just to be able to say they got it.” Phone: 207-474-3440.

Everyone Loves the Lower Prices

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If you are traveling internationally, you may buy items without having to pay either the sales tax (called value added tax) or the customs duties assessed by the United States – primarily on liquor and tobacco but also with many other products. The savings from duty-free shopping can be significant. At Duty Free Americas in Jackman (2621 Route 201 North), shoppers can find discounted prices on premium spirits, wine, beer and tobacco as well as designer fragrances, cosmetics, fashion watches, crystal, jewelry, leather goods, gifts for children, and more. Currency exchange is available. Phone: 207-668-7738.

If We Ain’t Got it, You Don’t Need It

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Hussey’s General Store at 510 Ridge Road in Windsor claims “If We Ain’t Got it, You Don’t Need It.” With 30,000 square feet of retail space, this family-owned business has been selling essentials to Augusta-Kennebec communities since 1923. Essentials? By that, Hussey’s means groceries, clothing, new and used guns, fishing equipment, hardware, furniture, appliances, gifts, collectibles, wedding dresses, used books, tools, feed and grain, and so much more. This has to be one of the standards of the general store business, anywhere. You need anything? Come and challenge the Hussey’s tradition. Open daily. Phone: 207-445-2511.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.

Watercolors of Maine

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Among its offerings, the Colby College Museum of Art on Mayflower Hill Drive in Waterville has a permanent collection focused on American art. The Lunder Wing of the museum offers 200 American works, including paintings by John Marin, an early modernist artist best known for his watercolors of coastal Maine and urban scenes of New York. Maine settings that Marin depicted include Small Point Harbor, Deer Isle and Stonington on Penobscot Bay, Cape Split and South Addison. Open year-round. Admission is free. Phone: 207-859-5600.

Where the Trees Hang Out

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Calling itself “Maine’s Living Museum of Trees,” the Pine Tree State Arboretum on Hospital Street in Augusta is a paradise for nature lovers. It contains 300 species of trees and shrubs; a five-mile trail system open year-round to hiking, jogging, bird watching, biking, horseback riding, and cross-country skiing on groomed winter trails; picnic areas; and bird-watching opportunities. Trail maps are available at the arboretum. This place is serenely beautiful in all seasons. Phone: 207-621-0031

All Together Now

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People who love to sing in harmony gather every Sunday afternoon year-round at the New Church on Stevens Avenue in Portland to sing hymns and anthems from the Sacred Harp. Shape Note Music , which a reviewer once called America’s best-kept musical secret, is part of an American tradition that was brought to the attention of the general public in the movie “Cold Mountain”. Sacred Harp is enjoying a revival nationwide. This is not a performance; it is an afternoon of singing just for the enjoyment of participants. Show up any time between 1 and 4 p.m. and pick up a songbook. Phone: 207-985-7002.

America’s Favorite Homer

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Several paintings that are considered American national treasures will be on display at the Portland Museum at 7 Congress Square in Portland in the exhibition “Winslow Homer and the Poetics of Place, open from June 5 through September 6, 2010. This exhibition will showcase 20 works from the Museum’s collection of Homer watercolors and oils on canvas. Based upon the gift of 17 works, the exhibition will feature paintings understood to be national treasures, such as Artists Sketching in the White Mountains (1868) and Weatherbeaten (1894) as well as The Sharpshooter (1862), Homer’s first oil painting. Open daily. Phone: 207-775-6148.

Chocolates, With a Giant Moose on the Side

Of course, the first thing you hear about Len Libby’s Chocolates in Scarborough is the notorious Lenny the Moose, a life-size chocolate moose sculpted form 1700 pounds of milk chocolate who stands at the entrance to greet visitors. Lenny has fans and admirers from all over the world, but the story of this business only begins with the giant maitre d’. The store opened in 1926, making fine chocolate by hand and serving it in many forms, from candies to ice cream to giant lollipops, and more. Guests are invited to tour the property and watch the chocolate-making in progress. There is a huge selection of tempting chocolate treats in the retail store for traveling and for gifts for friends back home. Phone: 207- 883-4897.

Good Corny Fun

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Five acres of field corn have been cut into rows of winding twists and turns at Pumpin Valley Farm in Biddeford. The eight-foot high cornstalk alleys zig-zag through the field, with lots of dead ends and even a room to rest. If you’re looking for fall harvest fun, you’ll find what you're looking for in this maze (with the exception of maybe the exit). This year’s theme is “Slugger.” See website for 2010 dates, hours, and fees. Phone: 207-929-4088.

Gritty McDuff’s Portland Brew Pub

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When Gritty McDuff's Portland Brew Pub opened in 1988 at 396 Fore Street in Portland it became Maine's first brew pub since prohibition and a leader in the state's microbrew revolution. Since then, guests have been enjoying fine, small-batch ales brewed on the premises. The Fore Street location is in the heart of Portland’s historic district. Pull up a chair at the copper-topped bar or take in the street life on the cobblestones of Wharf Street from the basement Brewery Bar patio. Gritty's has become a Maine institution, garnering many awards for Best Bar, Best Brew Pub, and Best Beer.

International Crypotozoology Museum

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Cyrptozoology? What's that? The short answer is “the study of hidden animals,” and the longer answer can be found at the International Museum of Crypotozoology on Congress Street in Portland. The centerpiece of the collection is the once-elusive, Crookston Bigfoot, created by Wisconsin artist Curtis Christensen. Special drawings, bronzes, paintings, and sculpture creations by the world's leading cryptozoology artists are featured in the collection. The museum also includes exhibits on the discoveries of "living fossils." Open daily except Mondays.

Long Walk to Freedom

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The Portland Freedom Trail is a self-guided walking trail of 13 marked sites highlighting the people, places, and events associated with the Underground Railroad and anti-slavery movement in Portland. Among the sites on the trail are the Franklin Street Wharf, Barber Shop of Jacob C. Dickson at 243 Fore Street, Hack Stand of Charles H. L. Pierre at 29 Middle Street, Abyssinian Meeting House at 73 Newbury Street, Eastern Cemetery at Congress and Mountfort streets, Friends Meeting House at Federal and Pearl streets, Hack Stand at Federal and Temple streets, and Mariners' Church at Fore and Market streets. Phone: 207-91-9980.

That’s a Seriously Big Globe

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Astronomers: you need to make a visit to planet Eartha , a 3-dimensional scale model of Earth that rotates and revolves, representing Earth as it is seen from space. Housed in a three-story glass atrium at the headquarters The DeLorme Mapping Company in Yarmouth, Eartha is 41.5 feet in diameter. Every continent is beautifully detailed, with vivid colors illustrating all levels of vegetation. Ocean depths are also completely represented. Open daily, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Closed New Years, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas. Phone: 800-642-0970

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.

Traipsing Around the Island

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For a wonderful walk and stunning views of Casco Bay and Portland, take the causeway from Falmouth at the mouth of the Presumpscot River to Mackworth Island . The one-mile trail that encircles the island takes about an hour to complete and the views are gorgeous. Along the way, stop to watch boats and ferries motor though the Atlantic waters while seagulls, osprey, and shorebirds glide overhead. Open year-round. Phone: 207-624-6076

An Autumnal Tradition

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At Thunder Road Farm Corn Maze in Corinna, ME, you’ll find not only an entertaining corn maze, but also mini-mazes for the little ones, a cow train, pumpkin patch, a corn tunnel and more. On October 29 and 30, guests can enjoy a special moonlit night maze from 6:30 - 9 p.m. The maze is open from September 18 through October 30, 2010; with group reservations available on weekdays, and every weekend from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Cost: $6. Phone: 207-278-3708.

Art Deco Beauty Hosts Great Performances

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The Penobscot Theatre , located at 131 Main Street in downtown Bangor, started in 1973 and has been going strong ever since, particularly with its acquisition in 1997 of the Bangor Opera House on Main Street, an early example of Art Deco/Egyptian Revival architecture, built in 1920. The theater offers post-show discussions, student matinees and summer theater workshops. The 2010 season is packed with interesting offerings, including "Spunk," Robinson Ballet, "Hedwig and the Angry Itch," Northern Writes: New Play Festival, and "The Underpants." Phone: 207-947-6618.

For an Up-Close View of the Forest

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Baxter State Park was designed primarily to be a hiking park with very limited vehicle use. The park has 200 miles of trails and it is home to the Katahdin massif and the Traveler Range. Favorite waterfalls include Katahdin Stream Falls, Big and Little Niagara Falls and the remote Green Falls. Two of the most significant streams are Nesowadnehunk Stream and Wassataquoik Stream. Many ponds provide excellent fishing in most cases and the chance to canoe with the scenic north woods as a backdrop. Phone: 207-723-5140

Let’s Take an Old-Fashioned Walk

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Brownville’s Pleasant River Walk is a nature walk of nearly three miles connecting the Village and the Junction. The nature trail is carefully groomed, quite easy to walk and is a three to four foot wide trail. There are a number of bridges to carry you over the brooks along the way and many benches located at carefully chosen scenic spots overlooking the river. Phone: 207-965-2311

Lumbermen to the World

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At one time, Bangor was the largest shipping port for lumber in the world. The soul of Maine’s historic lumbering industry is on display at the Patten Lumbermen's Museum at 61 Shin Pond Road in Patten. The collection includes models of logging camps and the tools used in cutting the timber, hauling it to the rivers, and driving the logs to the mills. There are models of saw mills and an extensive collection of photos from the glory days of Maine logging. Hours: Tuesday- Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. through October 11.Phone: 207-528-2650

Stephen King! Ee-e-e-e-eeek!

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Bangor is home to horror author Stephen King. In his honor, and just for the fun of it, the Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau presents the Tommyknockers & More Bus Tours throughout the summer and fall months. Join your guide on a school bus for a tour of Bangor as seen through the books of Stephen King. You'll see where Ellie saw the Skinny Santa. You'll see the “sematary" where Stephen King presided over the funeral of Missy Dandridge. Do you dare stop in the Barrens? Tour dates in 2010 are July 4, August 22, September 19 and October 24. Call for starting location and reservations. Phone: 800-916-6673.

Timber!

The Maine Forest and Logging Museum at Leonard’s Mills in Bradley is a dynamic living history museum dedicated to Maine’s forestry and lumbering heritage. At this reconstructed logging and milling community of the 1790s, volunteers in period costume demonstrate the skills and arts of the old lumbering days. The grounds include scenic walking trails and a restored Lombard Log Hauler from the early 1900s. The Museum is open daily from April through October for self-guided tours; the nature trails are open year round. For information call 207-974-6278.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.

105 Years and Hundreds of Models

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BlueJacket Ship Crafters at 160 E. Main Street in Searsport is the oldest ship modeling company in the country, producing wooden museum-quality kits and models, half-hull models, fittings, tools, and books, by Maine craftsmen. The public is welcome to visit the shop and browse the gallery, with more than 100 models, and the workshops and metal foundry. A new series, Great American Workboats. Including Florida shrimpers, New England draggers, a Maine sardine carrier, is coming online soon, These models will be modestly priced and designed for less-experienced builders. Open year-round, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone: 800-448-5567.

A Garden for All Ages in All Seasons

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Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is an oasis of beautiful trails and plants on Barters Island near Boothbay in midcoast Maine. Open to the public year-round, it is a haven of ornamental gardens and natural beauty, waterfalls, and stonework and sculpture. Miles of trails allow visitors to experience waterfront and woodlands typical of Maine. A new feature is the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, with many features that make it accessible to disabled people. Coming in 2010 is a new children’s garden, featuring themes derived from children’s literature by authors with a Maine connection. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., year-round. Phone: 207-633-4333.

Bath Is Home to Graceful, Historic Neighborhoods

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Alongside the Kennebec River, Bath is a small jewel of a city that embraces an old seafaring town. Bath welcomes visitors with tree-lined historic avenues graced by handsome mansions that were once home to shipyard owners and ship captains. You can take a guided walking tour of the Bath historic district or ride the Bath Trolley around the scenic streets. Bath’s Front Street is home to antique stores, specialty shops, galleries and many fine restaurants. The summer concert series takes place on Friday evenings at Patten Free Library, and every third Friday from June to October there is an Art Walk from 5 to 7 p.m. Phone: 207-442-7291.

Best Breakfast in Maine,
Says Food Network mag

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Boynton-McKay Food Co. is a restaurant on Main Street in Camden in a building that was for many decades the town’s primary drug store, apothecary, and soda fountain. The menu has something for almost everyone, from Mexican to Asian to Italian. There are pastas and salads and three soups a day. In 2010 Food Network Magazine took a cross-country road-trip in search of the ultimate breakfast. Boynton-McKay Food Co. was voted the best breakfast in Maine! Celebrate the fall by ordering the crispy cider doughnuts. Phone: 207-236-2465 Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Boothbay Welcomes Fans of the Railway

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Boothbay Railway Village on Wiscasset Road in Boothbay has several exhibits, including a coal-fired steam train, antique fire trucks, and an antique automobile exhibit that includes Model T Fords, Stanley Steamers, and a Rolls Royce. The Village includes a restored 1847 Town Hall, the Spruce Point Chapel, and a historic fire house. The Village Green hosts many special events, like Antique Auto Days, Antique Tractor Pull, a Day with Thomas the Tank Engine, a craft fair, and holiday rides. Children love the 20-minute ride on Boothbay Central, a coal-fired narrow-gauge train. Open Memorial Day through mid-October. Phone: 207-633-4727.

Chocolate Lobster Claws Found Here

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Wilbur’s of Maine has a retail store on Independence Drive in Freeport, and directly behind the store is the factory, where the dark art is wonderfully performed. Narrated factory tours with lots of opportunity for tasting are offered from 9 to 2 weekdays; call ahead to make a reservation. Fine chocolate in every imaginable form is created and shaped here. Watch, in particular, for the Chocolate Maine Hunting Boot and the Chocolate Lighthouse and Wilbur the Chocolate Moose. Phone: 207-865-4071

Come and Greet the New
Shalin Liu Performance Center

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Rockport Music, host of the Rockport Chamber Music Festival, has a new home starting in June 2010. The new Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport will include an intimate concert hall, with a balcony and seating for 325 people with a spectacular two-story window at the rear of the stage, giving audiences a full view of the Atlantic Ocean. Audiences will be welcome to the center for musical programs as well as a film series, simulcasts of Metropolitan Opera performances, lectures by well-known authors, cabaret performances, and civic gatherings. Keep in touch with this new performance venue for a future of wonderful entertainment in a beautiful Maine coastal community. Phone: 978-546-7391.

Great Grapes

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The celebrated writer J.R.R. Tolkien once suggested that the phrase “cellar door” was one of the most phonetically beautiful in all of the English language. At the Cellar Door Winery on Youngtown Road in Lincolnville, the phrase lends itself to one of the most beautiful landscapes in all of midcoast Maine. The Vineyard is home to over ten different varieties of grapes, all transformed into Cellar Door’s wines, available for tastings from May 1 through October 31. The winery also offers cooking classes, food pairings, and a gift shop so you can be sure to take your favorite bottle home with you. Phone: 207-763-4478.

Labyrinth in the Woods

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A labyrinth in the woods created by artist Carol Sloan is open to the public in Washington. Sloan explains, “My labyrinth is made in the pattern called Robin Hood's Race. It is about one-half mile long and takes 30 to 45 minutes to walk. You park at the edge of a hayfield and walk a mowed path to an island of trees to begin. The experience of walking in the woods and then out into the hayfield following the path gives a real experience of nature, from shade to sun, from quiet to breeze. From the intersection of routes 17 and 220 travel east on Old Union Road for 1.9 miles and look for a hayfield on the right just past a pond on the right. There are flags to show where to park and where to walk. The labyrinth is open year round. It is open only on Sundays in hunting season.

Love Those Alpacas

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The owners of Winter’s Gone Farm at 245 Alna Road in Wiscasset are among the growing corps of alpaca lovers who want to share their enjoyment of these peaceful creatures. Guests are welcome to visit the farm, pet the alpacas, watch them play a friendly game of soccer (really!), walk the trails, and shop at the retail store. Winters Gone is proud to offer the world's top alpaca fashions; an owner visits Peru yearly and collaborates with partners to bring new designs to customers. Among the store’s merchandise is clothing, blankets, stuffed animals and yarn. Open year-round except January; hours vary. Phone: 207-882-9191.

Maine Beauty, on Canvas

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The Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center and Wyeth Center on Museum Drive in Rockland features the works of many Maine artists, including Andrew, N.C., and Jamie Wyeth, alongside a wonderful collection of American art, including works by American artists Gilbert Stuart, Frank Benson, Thomas Sully, and many more. The museum also presents many works by 20th-century sculptor Louise Nevelson. Phone: 207-596-6457

Spectacular on All Sides

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Try this drive for unforgettable views: Beginning on the seaward side of Damariscotta, Route 130 leads south about 12 miles to the lighthouse at the spectacular Pemaquid Point (this lighthouse appears on the Maine quarter). Continue east on Route 32 north to U.S. 1. Be sure to visit the Rachel Carson Memorial Salt Pond. Located on the shores of Muscongus Bay, this tidal salt pond retains a bit of the sea every time the tide recedes. Wonderful for poking and exploring. The next historic towns on Route 1 are Waldoboro, Rockland, Camden, Lincolnville, Belfast, and Searsport. Phone: 207-677-2423.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.

Wooden Wonders

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The The Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport is a year-round woodworking school that also features The Messler Gallery, a public gallery displaying the work of students, faculty, and professional furniture makers on display. The gallery is the only venue in Maine dedicated to the ear-round exhibition of handcrafted furniture and fine woodworking, thus offering exposure for regional furniture makers. Phone: 207-594-5611.

Art Happens Here at All Times of the Year

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The people who operate and visit River Tree Arts on Western Avenue in Kennebunk are not deterred by wintery weather. This community arts organization operates music, dance, and performing arts school, and also has three galleries open to the public year round. Stop in for some quiet time in Kennebunk and enjoy luscious original artwork in the heart of a community of artistry in all its forms, static and moving. Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Phone: 207-967-9120.

Art On the Seacoast

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The Ogunquit Museum of American Art on Shore Road in Ogunquit has been called “The Most Beautiful Small Museum in the World,” and is home to an extensive collection of American art. The natural setting of the museum by itself is divine: The glass wall of the main gallery overlooks the coast and the ocean. The museum is surrounded by landscaped grounds, a reflecting pool, and sculpture gardens. Hours: Open daily, late May to October 31. Phone: 207-646-4909

Beauty Along the Margin

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The magnificent Marginal Way in Ogunquit is a paved footpath beginningin a corner of Oarweed Cove near the harbor, then running for one and a quarter miles to the marvelous expanse of Ogunquit Beach. This delightful, exhilarating walk meanders by bayberry and bittersweet bushes, gnarled shrubs of sea roses, shaded alcoves formed by wind-twisted trees jutting out onto high granite outcroppings, and views of the mighty Atlantic. Thirty memorial benches dotting the path offer places to sit and rest.

Big Flavor in Small Batches

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Two spoons, one kettle and a fresh idea were the starting equipment for Appledore Cove , a producer of handmade specialty foods on 19 Buffun Road in North Berwick. From the two owners’ first appearance at a local food festival, they’ve continued their dedication to making foods slowly and carefully by hand. Their mottois big flavor in small batches. Their products include salsas, condiments, preserves, dessert sauces, and marinades. Visitors are welcome to stop, browse and shop at the factory retail store weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or by appointment. Phone: 888-849-1787.

It’s All About the Corn

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The Great Corn Maze on Zach’s Farm in York, offers 17 acres of cornfields and confusion for the young and old alike. A twenty minute hayride delivers you to the custom-designed corn maze, where not all who enter can find a way out. Visitors might also want to take advantage of the farm’s tractor-pulled, pumpkin-picking hayrides. Open from now through mid-October, 2010; Friday - Sunday, noon - 6 p.m. Cost: $8. Phone: 207-475-7857.

Outrageous Outlets

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The Kittery Outlets on Route 1 in Kittery are also known as America’s Maine Street for Shopping, and you’ll see why when you visit this one-mile-long strip of famous outlet stores. The outlets include 120 stores – way too many to name here – but dedicated shoppers can easily guess the names of the major brands to be found there. Many stores host special events and all kinds of sales, Located at the gateway from New Hampshire into the South Coast region of Maine, Kittery is home to many wonderful attractions, from beaches to museums, to entertain family members of all ages and tastes while shoppers are doing their thing.

Peace, Beauty, Prayer

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St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery in Kennebunk features extensive walking paths on the 60-acre estate, through gardens, woodlands, and outdoor chapels. Thousands of people come to enjoy these peaceful and expansive grounds every year. Everybody is most welcome to visit, to rest, to meditate, and to pray. There is also a gift shop, as well as a guesthouse. Phone: 207-967-4865

Spectacular Views and Protected Wildlife

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The Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm on Laudholm Farm Road in Wellsfeatures a 7-mile trail system, exhibits, coastal resource library and an Ecology Center. Seven miles of hiking and cross-country skiing trails provide access to woodlands, fields, wetlands, beach, and dunes. Spectacular views and diverse habitats make the reserve popular for nature photographers and birdwatchers. Trail maps are available at the Visitor Center. Phone: 207-646-1555 ext 116.

Spend a Lazy Afternoon in the 19th Century

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Willowbrook Village on Elm Street in Newfield is a re-creation of a 19th century village. Set aside an afternoon to explore the village’s historic houses and barns, a reproduction schoolhouse and bandstand, a millpond, and a carousel from 1894. Displays include horse-drawn sleighs and carriages, an 1849 stagecoach, and various trade shops — blacksmith, broom maker, canoe builder, cooper, cobbler, harness maker, printer, wheelwright, woodworker. Hours: Memorial Day through mid-October, daily except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Phone: 207-793-2784.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.

Appalachian Trail, Northern Version

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The The Rangeley Lakes National Scenic Byway follows Routes 17 and 4, around Rangeley Lake. The route follows the ridgeline of the Appalachian Mountains before dropping into rolling hills and valleys. The Height of Land on Route 17 is the centerpiece of this scenic drive, offering breathtaking views of Mooselookmeguntic and Upper Richardson Lakes. Prepare to see moose.

Bethel Welcomes Walkers and Bikers

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Bethel is an ideal place for walkers of all ages and abilities, from a leisurely stroll through the National Historic District to a more rigorous walk through the village up Paradise Road. For starters, the Bethel Recreational Path is a one-mile multi-use paved trail that begins at Davis Park and extends across the Androscoggin River on a multi-use bridge and out to the North Road. The path features an authentic scaled replica of the famous Artists’ Covered Bridge over the Sunday River. The Androscoggin River Recreational Walking Trail is a 1.5-mile trail from the Riverside Rest Area on Route 2, three miles east of Bethel, to the River View Resort. This trail provides the visitor an opportunity to see the river up close and enjoy the serenity of a wooded setting.

Floating on the Boardwalk

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Holt Pond Preserve in Bridgton is a scenic and fun walk through woods and over a quaking bog boardwalk. Starting at the parking area off Grist Mill Road, the path takes you through a mixed forest and into a red maple swamp. Next comes the Holt Pond Overlook and Boardwalk. The boardwalk crosses a quaking mat of sphagnum moss. The boardwalk quakes because the sphagnum moss is floating, colonizing the open water in front of you. Phone: 207-647-8580

Meet “The Crag”

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At an elevation of 510 feet, Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary in Lewiston (“The Crag”), a 312-acre wildlife preserve, is forested oasis above the city surrounded on three sides by urban development. Thorncrag encompasses several habitats: upland wetlands, mixed forest, restored farm meadows, vernal pools, and old growth forest. Visitors are encouraged to walk the trails, using a 32-page brochure for guidance. Passive recreation like birdwatching, walking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, and nature photography are encouraged.

Smallmouth Bass Are Abundant in Maine

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At the northern limit of their spawning territory, in water that would make their southern cousins shiver, the smallmouth bass thrives in Maine lakes, ponds and rivers. Smallmouths can now be caught in more than 430 Maine lakes covering nearly half a million acres throughout the state. A large population means smallmouth waters are also easy to find. Lakes and ponds in the Sebago Lakes region, Rangeley, Greenville, Lincoln, Belgrade, Grand Lake Stream and Houlton regions, and western York County are dependable destinations for anglers. The portion of the Penobscot River between Old Town and Millinocket and its East Branch are regarded as having the best smallmouth fishery in the northeast. The northern reaches of the Androscoggin and Kennebec Rivers and the Piscataquis River, Sandy River and Sebec River are also popular spots. More information at Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Step on his Toe; He Won’t Mind

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The Rumford Information Center on Route 2 has an 18-foot-tall statue of folk lumberjack Paul Bunyan that seems to serve as a magnet for visitors who can’t resist taking whimsical pictures of their traveling companions. Also nearby is the beautiful Rumford Falls (also known as Pennacook Falls), a 180-foot-tall cascade of water into the Androscoggin River. So save some film after having your fun with the biggest lumberjack of all. Phone: 207-364-0925‎.

The Artists Can’t All Be Wrong

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Sunday River Bridge, popularly known as the Artist's Covered Bridge , in Newry, achieved that name because of its reputation as being the most photographed and painted of the venerable covered bridges in Maine. If the artists, all agree, what are you waiting for? Those of us who don’t measure up to the skills of a Matisse can at least grab a camera and a traveling companion and do some poses on this very New England-y piece of essential architecture. The bridge is located about four miles northwest of North Bethel near Routes 2 and 26.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.