What's Happening in Maine this weekend . . . Pirates, Wheels, Seaplanes, Dark Skies and Ducks

Wheels on the Waterfront in Bangor this weekend!

Listen up people!  This is a great weekend to be in Maine, especially in my neck of the woods (channeling Al Roker here). 

So, let’s start here, in the Greater Bangor, Maine area:

 

1                    Wheels on the Waterfront – the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau is again hosting the Bangor Car Show.  Having more than doubled last year’s entrants at this point, this show is gearing up to be a spectacular event.  It’s not too late to get in on the action either.  The weather’s looking good with plenty of blue sky and sunshine to showcase this collection of chrome and attitude.  Visit the CVB’s website for details:   Bangor Car Show

    

2                    15^th Annual Bangor Rubber Duck Race - The Rubber Duck Race is an exciting family and community event. The rubber ducks will dive off the footbridge behind the Pickering Square Garage and float to the finish line at the Central St. Bridge. Sponsors of the winning ducks will win one of several great prizes and there will also be a special prize for the last duck to cross the finish line. Come join the fun and cheer on your duck! You can participate by sponsoring one or more ducks. The sponsors of the winning ducks do not need to be present to receive a prize. Sponsorship forms are available at Good Samaritan Agency, and several greater Bangor area locations, or by calling Duck Central at 942-7211, you can also get your tickets at the race on Saturday. Proceeds from the 15th Annual Bangor Rubber Duck Race will support Good Samaritan Agency’s services for single parents, our childcare center and adoption program.  More info here: Bangor Runner Duck Race

 

3                    39^th Annual International Seaplane Fly In – in Greenville on and around Moosehead Lake, the Seaplane Fly In brings thousands of flying enthusiasts and spectators to the region.  Raising funds to sponsor aviation education, the event is also a feel good opportunity to help carry on the traditions.  Bring your chairs, binoculars, cameras, good spirit and love of flying to this little town on the south shore of Moosehead Lake.  You can find more info here:  Seaplanefly-in.org

Tall ships

 4                    Argh!  The Eastport Pirate Festival  is also happening this weekend in Maine.  Come in costume.  Come ready to have fun.  Just come.  This three day weekend event begins today.  Tall ships, Thieves Market with specials, parades, kids games, an Old Sow Pig Roast dinner, Cannon lessons, and Pirate and Wench parties all over town, this is a well organized good humored good time.  Bonus is the visit to the Lubec and Eastport area!  

5                    The MaineStarlight Festival .  It’s easy to take the dark skies for granted here in Maine.  We tend to forget that in many places in the world, light pollution obscures the stars.  There’s a small stillness that you feel when you see that huge expanse of deep dark night sky.  This event is a coordinated effort all over the state and goes on from today, September 7^th until September 16^th.  Check out the website for details, schedule and inspiration.

   

6                    Harvest Hoot 2012 in Camden - A full day of fun for the whole family on the mountainside at the Camden Snow Bowl. Four live bands......Kelly Parker Band, Jerks of Grass, Three Button Deluxe, Everard Dodge...Grammy-nominated children's entertainer, Judy Pancoast and tons of children's activities.  Local food vendors, chair lifts open all day.  Barefoot on the grass, great music and food - a blast for adults and kids!  

Garlic & Press

 

7                    MDI Garlic Festival -  More than 800 people attend the Mt. DesertIsland Garlic Festival. Held at the Smugglers Den Campground, in Southwest Harbor, the 14th annual event will feature local restaurants, musicians, brewers and garlic growers.

If you can’t find something to do in Maine this weekend . . . you’re clearly not looking hard enough!  Late summer is clear, cool, and dry here and perfect time to visit.  Check out a festival, try something new, explore this fabulous state, and keep coming back.  If you live here, all the better!  Get out and support your communities.  Meet some new people.  Encourage visitors!  All boats rise with the tide so when we share our state with others, we all benefit.  Come and spend the day, spend the weekend, enjoy Maine. 

“Everything is so superb and breathtaking. I am creeping forward on my belly like they do in war movies.”
-Diane Arbus

Real Maine: Reality Check; Part 1

When I talk to people about Maine, it's usually about all the things you can do here.  Shop, eat, hike, bike, relax, swim, boat, and we'll do our best to accommodate whatever else you can think of.  But like everywhere in the world, there are truths and fallacies.  I have compiled a listing of some common misconceptions about Maine and the realities that real Mainers know.  

True:  there are moose in Maine

False:  moose are everywhere

No, moose are not running rampant throughout the state.  We don’t all have them wandering into the backyard barbeque or holding up traffic downtown.  Yes, there are moose here.  In fact, in some places, like Moosehead Lake (hence the name) and in the Katahdin region and in the space between like the 100 mile wilderness, they say moose outnumber people.  I live in the city, albeit a small city, but in my daily travels here I don’t encounter moose.  When I was growing up in southern Maine, there was a family legend about a moose trotting up into the yard one morning, very early, and peeking in the windows.  There was also a story about a moose on the golf course in Bangor during a tournament, but I’m not very clear on that one.

If seeing a moose is on your bucket list and one of the goals of your visit to Maine is to cross that one off, you will want to be certain that you will see a moose.  I suggest that you contact one of the great outfits that offer moose safaris or moose photo tours.  Here's a couple to get you started: Moose Photo Tours or Maine Moose Safari.  Google "moose tours" or visit the websites for the Moosehead Lake Chamber of Commerce or the Katahdin Area Chamber of Commerce.  

True:  you can visit the beautiful beaches of York and Ogunquit and you can have a great lunch in Boothbay Harbor overlooking it all and you can go on a whale watch from Bar Harbor.

False:  you can do that in one day

I read the reviews and forums on TripAdvisor.com and on Frommer’s to name a couple and I’m astounded at what people think they can accomplish in one 24 hour period in Maine.  People seem to believe that they can just “hop” off the interstate and “pop” into Boothbay Harbor for a quick bite.  That “hop” can take hours in the summer, with traffic backed up for miles and the “pop” can mean some time waiting for a table or finding a parking space.  I’m not trying to discourage visitors – just trying to manage expectations.  Maine may be a place you can get away from it all in spirit but many parts of the state are just as busy as urban areas around the country.  Just be realistic about it and have a good, relaxed time.  You can leave your uptight suit at home.  Know we’ve got traffic and waiting for a table at a good restaurant just like you have at home.  Also know that most people here will wave you into that traffic and that the restaurant you’re going to eat at has seafood that was caught this morning.  The people are what makes the difference here. 

 

True:  you can eat lobster and blueberry pie every day of your Maine vacation

False:   don’t bother coming if you’re not into lobster or blueberry pie

Maine is carefully crafting a culture of culinary excellence.  Back in the late 90’s Bon Appetit magazine declared that Portland, Maine had more restaurants per capita than any other city in the US.  Since then, the food scene here has just exploded in a great way.  The farm to table movement is big here, as is the boat to table concept.  Every season offers something fresh and delicious.

The Maine Restaurant Association's website can give you listings of where you can eat in the part of Maine you are visiting.  They have a great new app that you can use while you're here to make decisions, make reservations, and make your trip mouthwateringly awesome. 

 

True – you can drive 75 miles per hour in Maine

False – that starts at the border

There’s a show that I’ve attended in my role as marketing person for our tourism region. It’s called the Big E or the Eastern States Exhibition. It is held each year in West Springfield MA and goes on for 17 days. Each of the New England states has their own building on the Avenue of States. My organization, The Maine Highlands, was, of course, in the Maine building. I’m telling you this because it ties in with my true/false above. Dozens of people came up to the map we had displayed and asked “Where is it you can drive 75 miles per hour?” said with a dreamy, I’ve-got-to-do-that voice. When I explain that the 75 MPH area begins just north of Old Town and I point to where that is – about 3 ½ hours after you cross the border on 95 from NH, they get either a depressed droop of the shoulders or a determined I’m-gonna-go-there-someday look. 

The speed limit was raised last September.  The interstate is pretty darn straight and other than trees and the occasional deer or moose (see above) and the other drivers, there's a pretty clear path.  Here's some info about it from the Bangor Daily News.  The increased speed zone begins in Old Town and ends at the Canadian border in Houlton. 

True – you can visit up and down the coast’s quaint little harbors & coves

False – you can just meander along the coast, weaving in and out of the villages, snapping iconic photos along the way

Maine has 3500 miles of coastline. Do you realize how many “meanders” that is? A LOT! And if something looks like it’s only this far on the map, take into consideration the things I mentioned above, like traffic, and then factor in getting stuck behind a tractor or someone else looking for quaint harbors and plan to see a few in a day. If you actually get out of your car you might enjoy the experience more. Many times has the traveler laden with luggage poked a camera covered eye out of the passenger side window, snapped a photo for their “Maine” scrapbook, and drove off in a spew of dust and rock, anxious to get to the next place. There is a better connection waiting for you if you get out and walk around a bit. Check out the lobster boats and the general store. We’re a friendly lot. You might find something more interesting to take a photo of beyond the typical boats-in-the-harbor (although this is a very popular image, I must admit) scene. Smell the harbor . . . BE the harbor . . ok, I’m kidding there, but really, if you want a Maine experience, get out of the damn car!

True – Mainers have an accent

False – ALL Mainers have an accent

Some do, of course, have that Maine accent that is noted on the bumper stickers about not getting there from here. There are some people who personify the “Mainer” you see in commercials and movies. What you’ll find more than the stereotype is that most of us are like most of you. We like to have fun. We love our kids. We enjoy good food. We want to find some larger role to play in the world. Some of us have French accents from the large influence of French Canadian heritage. Some speak more than one language and those other languages can be Spanish or Sudanese. Or Arabic or Swedish. Just like the rest of the country, we're a mixed bunch of people, some born here and some "from away" who have made the choice to live here.  

The Maine accent is a real thing, but don't expect it from the first person you meet when you come to Maine. You're just as likely to meet someone whose path had led them there as you are to meet someone whose feet first hit the ground here.  For a few years, I worked in an office at the University of Maine in Orono where out of twelve of us, there were only four of us that were born Mainers.  That's only a third.  Everyone else had come here for other reasons.  One moved with her family from New Orleans when she was in middle school, the daughter of faculty.  Another moved here from Rhode Island when her husband's parents were ailing.  Someone else moved from Austin TX to Boston for his education then married a woman who became an economics professor.  My point is that you just never know where we are from originally and what brought us here to Maine.  But you can ask.  And we'll tell you.  And you might find that we have more in common than you originally thought.

Maine Tourism statistics show that 80% of the people who visit Maine the first time come back.  My guess is that they find so much to do, they end up making a list of what to do on their next trip.  Those choices are solidified by the great experiences they have with the people here.

So just come to Maine and see for yourself what we're all about. Visit anytime.

Some websites to help you out:

VisitMaine.com
The Maine Highlands
Visit Bangor Maine
The Maine Beaches
Maine Camping Guide


Send me your comments and your Maine "truisms".  I'll make it part of my Part 2 of this series about the real Maine.


   

50 MORE Things to do in Maine

Emily Burnham, writer for the Bangor Daily News, came up with a great list of 50 Things to Do in Maine This Summer. Here’s a link to her list: http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/145829.html.




After reading it and taking some notes of things to add to my own summer calendar, like going to the Whoopie Pie festival in Dover-Foxcroft on June 26th and checking out Thai Chili ice cream at Mount Desert Island Ice Cream, I got to thinking about how I could add to Emily’s list.



Could I come up with ANOTHER 50 Things to Do in Maine This Summer? Here’s my attempt



FESTIVALS



1. Strawberry festival – South Berwick – http://southberwickstrawberryfestival.com/default.aspx Saturday, June 26th. Food, crafts, strawberries, of course. Features a bake-off, juried craft show with over 120 artisans, and entertainment. This festival is always the last Saturday in June, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Central School grounds across from Town Hall. Phone (207) 384-2882 for details.

2. Canoe Hullabaloo Celebration – Old Town June 18th & 10th. N. Main Street, Old Town 207-827-8744 or http://www.rivercoalition.org/canoe_hullabaloo Nightly entertainment, canoe races, road races, canoe regatta.

3. Windjammer Days – Boothbay Harbor - http://www.chambermaster.com/directory/jsp/events/EventPage.jsp?ccid=538&eventid=3003. June 22nd & 23rd 48th Annual Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor. Enjoy fully rigged windjammers sail into Boothbay Harbor. Two days of family fun, pancake breakfasts, waterfront concerts, art & craft fair, hometown street parade, antique boat parade and fireworks over the harbor! Great fun for all!

4. Lupine Festival – Deer Isle - 9th annual celebration of Island springtime: garden tours, local foods supper, open studios, boat-plane-schooner trips, quilt show, craft fair, kids activities.  Deer Isle-Stonington Chamber of Commerce – 348-6124

5. La Kermesse Franco Americaine Festival – http://www.lakermessefestival.com/ Jun 24 thru Jun 27, 2010. Starts with a block party and goes on with events on Friday (parade, dining and entertainment) through Sunday. Held at St. Louis Field on West Street between Prospect and Hill Streets

6. Great Falls Balloon Festival – August 20th - Auburn info at http://www.greatfallsballoonfestival.org/ This is a big one, stretching over 3 days.  Includes a photo contest and crafts and games.  Food vendors are local area organizations. 



7. Saco Spirit Sidewalk Art Festival – June 26th Jun 26, 2010. Over 100 artists and craftsmen will line Main Street and Pepperell Square during the Saco Spirit Sidewalk Art Festival, transforming downtown Saco into a giant art gallery from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. For 40 years artist have traveled from all over New England and beyond to participate in what has become for many exhibitors one of their favorite festivals of the year.

8. Moxie Festival – yes, you heard right. Held July 9th – 11th in Downtown Lisbon Falls. More info at http://www.moxiefestival.com/

9. Maine International Film Festival – July 9th – 18th, Waterville. More info at http://www.miff.org/

10. 4th of July Celebrations: all over the state. Check local listings. Old Orchard Beach, Portland’s Eastern Promenade, Bangor. Day and time varies.

11. Yarmouth Clam Festival – July 16, 17, 18th in Yarmouth. More info at http://www.clamfestival.com/home.php lots of food, not just clams, great crafts set up, games and challenges. 

12. Bangor State Fair – July 30th – August 8th in Bangor. Schedule of events and more info at http://www.bangorstatefair.com/ longest continually running agricultural fair.  Over a week long event, there are rides, lots of games, food from everywhere, stadium shows, a photo contest, stage shows. It's a blast. 

13. Schoodic Arts Festival- Aug 02 thru Aug 15, 2010. A two week celebration of arts and culture, including 65 workshops, 26 evening performances, free brown bag lunchtime performances, an art show, a silent auction, and much, much more. Most events occur at Hammond Hall. Phone (207) 963-2569 for details or visit http://schoodicarts.org/festival/festival-information



14. Maine Lobster Festival – this is a big one in Maine – held in Rockland Aug 04 thru Aug 08, 2010. The Maine Lobster Festival is one of New England's great summer events. Tons of steamed Maine lobsters, waterfront activities, maritime displays, Maine arts, naval vessels, harbor cruises, entertainment and a parade. For info phone (207) 596-0376 or (800) LOB-CLAW.

15. Machias Wild Blueberry Festival - Aug 20 thru Aug 22, 2010. This is the 34th Annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival. The Downeast region of Maine produces some 85% of the world's blueberries. The festival features baking and pie eating contests, over 200 craft booths, foot races, a blueberry musical comedy and a variety of musical entertainment. For info phone (207) 255-6665 http://www.machiasblueberry.com/

16. Camden Windjammer Festival – Camden Harbor http://www.camdenwindjammerfestival.com/. You can tour some of the ships in the harbor. There’s a build-a-boat race after teams have constructed their boats on site. There’s food and dancing in the streets. And it all takes place Labor Day weekend. Great way to wrap up the summer.



AMUSE YOURSELF

17. Seacoast Fun Parks – one in Trenton and one in Windham. http://www.seacoastfunparks.com/ Go Karts, Climbing wall, mini golf, Windham has a slingshot trampoline and a giant sky swing. Trenton’s got waterslides and a water wars set up to blast each other.

18. Funtown USA – Saco, Maine http://www.funtownsplashtownusa.com// - this is a nice amusement park to visit. You know I am a big fan of big roller coasters, but this park holds a special place for me because it was where I had my first job as a teen.

19. York Wild Kingdom - York - http://www.yorkzoo.com/ Fun as a kid, fun with your kid.  Check out York Beach while you're in the area.

20. - Aquaboggen Waterslide – Saco, Maine - http://www.aquabogganwaterpark.com/ another park on my resume, this one is the original waterslide in Maine and has expanded tremendously over the years. Prices are really reasonable.

21. Palace Playland, Old Orchard Beach – http://www.palaceplayland.com/ – claims to be the only beachfront amusement park in New England and I can’t argue with them. While you’re there, eat Pier Fries and caramel corn. Take a walk on the pier. It’s hokey and fun. The rides include a small roller coaster, giant swing, classic carousel, and a Ferris wheel that offers awesome views of the beach. The best part is that it’s free admission. You just pay for the rides you go on and don’t have to buy a day pass to just walk around and do a couple of rides or play games. Great people watching, too.

22. Mini golf – lots of places around the state. Really too many to list, but I found a directory online www.miniaturegolfer.com/maine_miniature_golf_courses.html



EAT AND SHOP

23. The Big Chicken Barn – you read that right. Antiques shopping in an old chicken barn. http://www.bigchickenbarn.com/.

24. Marden’s Salvage - http://www.mardens.com/ - if you happen to be near a Marden’s and you have time to shop, you’ve got to check it out. You can find great deals on things you didn’t know you needed. Great for seasonal decorations, garden stuff, flooring, and truckload sales of things like brand name pottery, women’s clothing, fishing and camping gear and golf equipment. Loads of fun to browse. We even saw a full sized disco ball there once . . should have bought it when we saw it.

25. Strawberry picking – a June tradition. Try Lavigne’s Strawberry Farm in Sanford. http://www.pickyourown.org/ lists farms around Maine.

26. Blueberry picking – late July and August – http://www.pickyourown.org./ I went to Blueberry Hill Farm in Acton a few years ago and picked gallons of berries in a short time. They’re high bush berries so they’re easy to pick.

27. Open Farm day – this year it’s July 25th. Farms around the state open their barns, lay out samples of their products, and give hay rides. www.getrealmaine.com/

28. The Clambake – Scarborough - http://www.clambakerestaurant.com/ – I know there are lots of places to get fried seafood, but I’ve been going to the Clambake as long as I can remember. Portions are huge, especially in the off season, and prices are reasonable. The Captain’s and Mates plates are big enough to share. You can sit in one of the giant dining rooms or out on the glassed in porch. On our last visit, an egret stood in the marsh and ate while we did. Save your leftovers to feed the seagulls outside. They wait to swoop in when people walk out with food.

29. Garside’s Ice Cream – Saco – my favorite ice cream place of my childhood. Try the ginger ice cream. Peppermint is fabulous, too. I have sweet memories of black raspberry cones.

30. Big G’s in Winslow has these giant amazing sandwiches. The bread is soft and the fillings are incredibly generous. The whoopee pies are the size of whoopee cushions. http://www.big-g-s-deli.com/

31. GUNS, WEDDING GOWNS, COLD BEER. While you’re in that neck of the woods, just stop in and check out Hussey’s General Store in Windsor. http://www.husseysgeneralstore.com/

32. Governor’s Restaurants are famous statewide. You’ve got to check out the desserts. The Old Town location is the original and has a neat miniature train track that runs through the dining rooms. June is their anniversary and they’ve got great specials going on through the end of the month. http://governorsrestaurant.com/

33. Pat’s Pizza – http://www.patspizza.com/ – 13 locations in the state, with the original in Orono. All I’ve got to say about the pizzas: It’s the sauce. It’s amazing.



SWIM & PLAY

34. Bunganut Lake State Park in Lyman/Alfred has a nice playground, parking, and the water is clear and sandy bottomed. Great place for taking the kids

35. I almost don’t want to divulge this one. My family has been going to this pond for generations. Long Pond in Parsonsfield. No web site. Search for it on a map in that area. The Road Between the Ponds (yes, that’s really the name) has a small beach area through the woods. The pond is shallow and sandy. Great for family fun. Clean and sandy.

36. Mousam Lake in Acton. There’s a small public beach, but it’s a great place to rent a cottage for a week. Lots of activity on the lake: boating, waterskiing, etc.

37. In the Bangor area, take the family to the Beth Pancoe Pool right next door to the Mansfield Stadium. Believe it or not, this public pool has two multi story waterslides, a zero entry kiddie area complete with things that dump and spray. There’s a grassy area if you want to bring your blanket, chairs and a picnic. There’s a playground just outside and beware, the ice cream truck idles outside on hot days.

38. University of Maine Campus Recreation Center welcomes guests from the community at a daily rate of $7.00. The pool is indoors and is well suited for family fun. there are two lap lanes, an open recreation area, a twenty something person hot tub, and shallow play area with fountains to splash in and my personal favorite, a circular vortex pool (that’s right, continuously whirling water). A blast on a rainy day or when the sun shines too brightly for tender skin. www.umaine.edu/campusrecreation/facilities/recreationcenter.html

39. Mother’s Beach, Kennebunk – we have so many awesome beaches in this state, but this is a good one for families. It’s a small beach. It’s locally known as Mother’s Beach but the real name is Kennebunk Beach. It’s the southernmost beach in Kennebunk. Follow Beach Street until you reach the small parking lot on the ocean side. There is a playground just steps away, thus the name “Mother’s Beach” as it makes a great place to take the kids for the day. Low tide exposes rocks to climb and tide pools to explore.

40. Fortune’s Rocks Beach, Biddeford- the name comes from the millions of smooth beach rocks that are deposited on this beach. At low tide the beach is wide and flat. Tidal pools and seagulls make it a quintessential Maine beach experience. Off of route 9 in Biddeford.

41. Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Mt. Desert Island – it’s worth it to pay the entry fee to the park, but get there early for good parking. There are bathrooms and changing rooms. Steps lead you down to the beach from the parking area to a soft sandy beach. Spend the day and enjoy the views of Acadia and Great Head.

42. Macworth Island – Falmouth – there’s a nature trail that wraps around the island with a couple of places you can get down to the beach. Views of Casco Bay. There’s a fairy garden to contribute to if you’re so inclined. Gather things along the path like pine cones and shells. Follow the signs for the Baxter School for the Deaf from Route 1. www.trails.org/map_files/mackworth_page_description.html

43. Scarborough Marsh canoe rental – Scarborough - www.maineaudubon.org/explore/centers/marsh. You can rent a canoe or kayak and paddle around the marsh. Take a tour or do a self guided one and learn about this important part of Maine’s ecosystem.

44. Biking the carriage trails at Acadia is one of my favorite experiences. Forty five miles of groomed, broken stone roads that are free of vehicle traffic. www.nps.gov/acad/historyculture/historiccarriageroads.htm. You’ll be able to find a route that will be suitable for all ages and abilities. You can circle around Eagle Lake, head over to Jordon Pond for lunch, make your way up Day Mountain and enjoy the long coasting ride down. Many places to picnic.

45. Try walking on peat bogs. Well, not ON them, on the boardwalks built over them. In Saco, the Saco Heath www.sacobaytrails.org/sacoheath.shtml and http://celestecota.blogspot.com/2010/04/saco-heath.html Also check out the Orono Bogwalk, part of the Bangor City Forest http://www.oronobogwalk.org//. Very cool afternoon stroll.



OTHER DIVERSIONS

46. Feel like getting high? Ok, not that kind . . . check out the glider rides offered by Acadia Air Tours http://acadiaairtours.com/. You can take a ride over Bar Harbor, Cadillac Mountain, or the Beehive. My husband took me up over Bar Harbor when we were first dating and it was amazing. Bring your camera.

47. Dive In Theatre – Diver Ed http://divered.com/ You take a boat ride out into Frenchman Bay in Bar Harbor. Ed dons scuba tank, video and sound equipment and heads into the bay, showing you the creatures that live at the bottom of the bay. Captain Evil (nice name) stays topside to narrate the tour. They have a touch tank where you can check out the sea life they bring up before it gets returned to the sea. It’s a two hour adventure that the kids (and you) will love.

48. Searsport Flea Markets – Route 1 in Searsport – lots of free fun to check out the stuff they have for sale. You can paw through records, lunchboxes, bottles, things you haven’t seen since childhood, and things you’ll wonder “why?”

49. Perry’s Nut House – Belfast - http://www.perrysnuthouse.com/. As long as I can remember, this has been a fun stop. The fudge. The candy. The nuts, of course. The funhouse mirrors and wacky stuff they have there are worth the stop.

50. Saco Drive In – Saco – Route 1 – Been to a drive in lately? The Saco Drive in runs current movies. There’s a comment on their Facebook page about parents taking their kids to the drive in in their pajamas. My parents did that, too! It was fun then and still is. Their burgers are good and greasy, like drive in food should be.

Wow. I did it. We’ve got a lot to do here in Maine. If you live here, get out and enjoy what’s in your backyard. If you’re visiting, have fun deciding what you’re going to do because you have a lot of choices!





General Information and the source for some of the information provided here comes from these websites. Personal experience has been added.



http://www.maine.info/events/festivals



http://www.visitmaine.com/

Maine Travel: Camden Hills State Park, Mt. Megunticook

As we near the halfway point of this year, I took a look at some of the new year’s goals that I wrote down way back in January. As far as travel is concerned, one of the goals I had was to go to at least five places I had never been before, with two of them being in the state of Maine. Well, I hit a couple of new places this past Memorial Day weekend and will tell you about one of them today.




I told you all that I’ve been restless and craving adventure, so when my husband proposed going to Camden Hills State park to climb Mt Megunticook, the highest mainland mountain on the Atlantic coast, I thought “Cool! Nice day, blue sky, some exercise, some fresh air, more than likely some great photo vantage points, and it being Camden, plenty of scenic ocean vistas.” I was certainly game.

We packed a picnic cooler and set out, my husband, my daughter, and me. We meandered our way to Route 1 just north of Searsport and continued south, through Belfast and into Camden. Before reaching the harbor area and downtown Camden, we arrived at the park. Camden Hills State park flanks both sides of Route 1, the ocean side and the mountain side. Nearly noon when we got to the area, we decided that it would be best to have our lunch before climbing, saving a dessert something for the top of the mountain. We pulled into the ocean side of the park, paid the entry fee ($7.00 for 2 adult Maine residents, kids free) and drove down towards the shore. We parked in the south shore access parking lot and grabbed our lunch for a short hike. When we reached the shore trail, we could see the ocean, but were a bit leary of hiking down to the water, although there were people down there. It was a bit of a steep decent and with kid and cooler and an injured knee, we thought better of it and picked one of the picnic tables in the sun. After our leisurely lunch of sandwiches, chips, and cut up veggies, we packed it up, and got back in the car to cross over to the mountain side of Route 1.

We found the hiker’s parking lot, swapped the sneakers for hiking boots and spotted the trailhead for Mt. Megunticook. The trail is rated a 2 (moderate) and is well marked with blue blazes. The wet areas have board walks over them. Many of the inclines have small steps fashioned from the stones, making the climb a bit easier at some of the steeper points. We saw many other hikers with walking sticks and thought that might be a good idea for our next trip. The pamphlet issued by the park said the trail was a mile long and would take us about an hour to summit. It was a really pleasant hike with a few rests along the way. The weather was perfect for hiking that day, sunny but relatively cool, in the low 70’s with a breeze. The bugs were minimal. I heard a buzz in my ear, but got no bites, unusual for late May, prime black fly season. Sooner than I expected, I would spot the clear blue sky indicting an opening in the tree canopy and therefore Ocean Lookout, our destination. The summit is another ½ mile climb and we were content to enjoy the view from there before heading back down. From Ocean Lookout, you can see as far as Deer Isle, North Haven Island, and out to Owl’s Head light. Spread before you is beautiful little (or so it seemed from that height) Camden Harbor.

A nice harbor village with funky little shops and restaurants, a visit to Camden, complete with blog report and photograph, is sure to be forthcoming later this summer. The Lookout is a cliff of sorts and my husband commented that when he climbed Mt Meguniticook a decade earlier (without me) birds had hung aloft at eye level. I saw four hawks of some kind floating out there.

The hike back down was pretty easy, taking us 40 minutes to reach the parking lot. Along the way, my daughter spotted this little nest, snuggly tucked in under a fallen branch on the side of the trail. The eggshell color is just beautiful!

After a few minute rest in the parking lot, we decided to head over to Mt Battie. Mt. Battie has a stone tower at the end of it’s auto road that offers panoramic views.

Camping facilities are available at the park. You can visit http://www.campwithme.com/ for more information and to make reservations. Within an hour’s drive of the park you can visit other state parks such at Fort Point and Moose Point state parks. You can also explore Fort Knox State Historic Site and visit the lighthouse at Owls Head.



Camden itself has a lot to offer. Check out http://www.visitcamden.com/ for more information and check back for my reviews on our visit.

More info about Maine’s state parks can be found at www.maine.gov/doc/parks



I would recommend decent hiking shoes for the hike up Mt. Megunticook and the aforementioned hiking/walking stick is a good idea, too. Of course, sunscreen and bug spray are always a good idea. Bring plenty of water, too, but if you forget, you can buy bottled water from vending machines near the park gate on the mountain side.  Definately bring your camera and binoculars. 



Most of all, enjoy Maine’s state parks. They really are awesome.



I’d love to hear from anyone reading this about your experiences in any of Maine’s state parks.