Fun Travels Across the United States
NOTE: Towns and Cities follow after the News
MAINE
News
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NEWS
What's New & Unique
Ski Mountain Happenings
Skiers and riders at Sugarloaf Resort in Carrabassett Valley will have another 100 acres of glade terrain to explore this winter on Burnt Mountain. Glade fans can also try the new 75-acre, one-mile long expansion of Blind Ambition at Sunday River Resort. A mountain top yurt is the newest trailside accommodation at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton. Enjoy early morning access to the slopes and panoramic views of the Presidential Mountain Range.
For more information contact Charlene Williams, on behalf of the Maine Office of Tourism 207-623-4177 or tourism@marshallpr.com
Maine Office of Tourism | 59 State House Station | 11 Sewall Street 3rd Floor | Augusta | ME | 04333
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Celebrate Winter at Maine Ski Mountain Events |
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- If you missed out on a summer blueberry pie eating contest or fireworks, you can redeem yourself by experiencing these and other fun activities at Maine ski mountain events. White White World Week is the annual winter carnival at Sugarloaf Resort in Carrabassett Valley. The "wackiest week in ski country" happens Jan. 23-26 with nightly themed parties at on- and off-mountain restaurants and bars, concerts, spectator-friendly races, and the crowning of the carnival king and queen. Bring your ugly ski sweater and appetite for blueberry pie to the 24th Annual Family Fest at Shawnee Peak in Bridgton Feb. 23. Happenings include a snow sculpture contest, ski poker run, snow volleyball tournament, activities for children, a blueberry pie eating contest and the ugliest ski sweater contest. All activities are free. Haven's Candies gives guided factory floor tours by appointment at their flagship facility in Westbrook. See how solid and filled chocolates, fudge, nut clusters, or hard candies are made. Len Libby Chocolatier in Scarborough offers factory tours to see how their Maine needhams, Bangor Taffy, and chocolate nonpareils are made. |
Camping Destinations
Cutler Coast Public Lands has just three, primitive walk-in tent sites, but they are among the most dramatic in the state. Each cliff top site is along the two-mile Coastal Trail, part of one of the longest stretches of undeveloped oceanfront on the East Coast. Watch for passing whales, soaring bald eagles, and local lobstermen pulling up traps.
The Rangeley Lakes region has a great mix of private and state-owned campgrounds, and campsites that can only be reached by water. The Richardson Lakes and Mooselookmeguntic Lake are known for their reservable paddle-up campsites, while Cupsuptic Lake and Rangeley Lake are home to full service campgrounds.
The Allagash River is a favorite canoe-camping destination in northern Maine. It is the northernmost portion of the north flowing Allagash Wilderness Waterway. Waterway rangers keep spacious campsites in pristine condition and provide helpful camping and paddling tips to visitors.
For more information on camping, check out the Maine Campground Owners Association website at www.campmaine.com.
Clams For Free, If You Can Dig It
Campers at Cobscook Bay State Park in Edmunds can add free soft shell clams to their campsite dinner with a little effort. The park rents clam digging equipment for a small deposit (money back when you return the rentals) so that campers can dig for the mollusks during low tide. Hint: find clams by watching for bubbles or squirting water on the surface of the mud.
The central Maine city of Waterville is the departure point for a 49-mile loop tour to the China Lakes region. The trip through the charming and scenic villages of China Lake, Palermo, Windsor and Vassalboro has short but steep hills, and many possibilities for picnic spots. The route has 40- and 22-mile loop options.
Leaving the Coast for a Great Maine Lobster Roll
18,000 Facebook friends suggested delicious lobster rolls north of Route 1 and away from the coast. Here are five of their favorites:
Eagles Nest Restaurant (207-989-7635) on Route 9 in the eastern Maine city of Brewer serves a toasted hot dog roll smothered with big chunks of lobster mixed with mayo. Save room for the strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream and a fresh biscuit.
The Country Bakery (207-425-4140) on Route 1 in the Aroostook County town of Bridgewater is known for its fresh doughnuts, breads and pastries. And once a week (usually on Wednesday) during the summer, many customers also line up for the area's best lobster roll.
There's a good chance that a roll or two from Soup To Nuts (207-746-5499) on Route 11 in East Millinocket have made it to the summit of Mt. Katahdin. The sit-down restaurant near Baxter State Park is open Tuesday through Saturday.
Chicken baskets and mocha shakes draw crowds to Belanger's Drive-In & Dairy Bar (207-453-2447) on Route 201 in Fairfield, but it's also a favorite lobster roll destination in central Maine.
Sideline Variety in Norway is a convenient stop on the way to lakes and hiking trails in western Maine. The seasonal, large lobster roll here is just $9.99.
For more information about Maine's early summer events, go to www.visitmaine.com.
Diving to See a Lost Lighthouse
Tour boats give passengers close-up water views of Maine lighthouses, but the best view of Crabtree Ledge Light is under the water. The 37-foot tall cast iron light that once marked a dangerous ledge off Hancock Point in Sullivan was discontinued in 1933 and fell into the ocean in 1950. DiveDowneast leads dive trips to the wreckage site where the partially intact tower rests amid crabs, starfish, sea urchins and lobsters.
75 years of Collecting at Penobscot Marine Museum
The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport will celebrate three quarters of a century this year with the exhibit 75 for 75 - 75 Choice Items from 75 Years of Collecting. The exhibit will show the most important, valuable, beautiful and rare items from its permanent collection, including marine paintings, small craft, personal effects of ship captains, and the gifts they brought back to Penobscot Bay from the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.MotionVR, LLC (www.motion-vr.com) has announced that Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway, a Penn National Gaming facility, located in Bangor, Maine, has become the first Maine-based property to debut revolutionary online “walk-through” MotionVR Tours. Maine’s premier entertainment destination, and the only state gaming facility, now offers prospective guests an online walk-through experience of the property’s offerings including guest rooms & suites, the gaming area, and much more.
The most realistic “walk-through” motion tours ever developed, MotionVR Tours has data to show it has an enormous impact on web marketing, as consumers visiting a website featuring the proprietary tours are captivated for an average of more than four additional minutes per visit. MotionVR Tours of Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway are now available at <www.motion-vr.com/hslots/hstours.aspx.
About Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway
Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway, which is based in Bangor, Maine, is a premier entertainment destination. The gaming facility includes a luxurious seven-story hotel, star-style shopping, a full service buffet and indoor parking. For more information and reservations, visit the website at www.hollywoodslots.com, or call 877-779-7771.
CAMDEN
What to Do and See
The Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville region
offers visitors majestic views of the autumn foliage. Hikers can ascend the summit of Mt. Battie, Ragged, Hatchet, Bald or Young's Mountains, and enjoy an awe-inspiring, panoramic view of the entire region. Another popular way to view the change of seasons is from the water. For those who wish to make their own way, canoe and kayak rentals are available throughout the CRL region. Pack a picnic lunch from one of the area's markets and make your way along the coastline, around Megunticook Lake and Hosmer Pond, or travel up and down our rivers, brooks, and streams for a closer look at the region's unspoiled beauty. If you want someone else to navigate, take in the autumn coastline from the deck of a windjammer. Have someone else make lunch, take a turn at the helm, or just relax and absorb the season's colorful splendor.
The region's diverse geography treats visitors to colorful sightlines from virtually every vantage point.. Browse local shops as leaves drift from trees and swirl about your feet. Take a walking or bicycle tour of historical communities. Explore by Land and Sea Hike to a mountaintop for a spectacular panorama of the changing colors, lakes, sea and islands, or test your technical climbing skills on rugged stone cliffs. Come aboard one of the historic windjammers for a multi-day cruise - or an afternoon tour of Penobscot Bay and the islands. For those who want a closer look, kayak rentals, tours and lessons are also available for exploring our harbors and lakes.
Arts Abound during autumn, including arts and craft shows, arts and artisans tours, live theater, and musical performances. Visit the Bay Chamber Concerts web site for their fall schedule of events, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art web site to see their schedule of events, and check out the Camden Opera House schedule for a variety of great live performances. Pack a picnic lunch and take a two-wheeled tour of the countryside. Bring your own bikes or rent them locally, where you'll also get tips on the best routes to explore. Visit a local farm to say hello to the livestock or pick your own apples.
Are you into shopping. If so, you'll find finely crafted Maine-made products, books both used and new, unique toy shops, amazing antiques, and clothing for everyone in the family. If you love dining out, the area has really good seafood, steaks, and the freshest produce from local gaden harvests.
For more information, contact the Camden/Rockport/Lincolnville Chambes of Commers, P.O. box 919, Camden, ME 04843; 207-236-4404, or check web site www.camdenme.org or web site www.VisitCamden.com.
FREEPORT
What to Do & See
L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools
L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools make it easy to start the summer outdoors with exciting and fun-filled 11⁄2 to 21⁄2 hour Walk-On Adventures offered at all L.L.Bean retail stores that cost just $15 per person.
Continuing through fall, visitors to L.L.Bean’s retail locations throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region can take part in a fun, new activity. The Marlton, New Jersey store at the Promenade at Sagemore offers kayaking, fly-casting, and GPS Techno Treasure Hunt adventures.
Participants simply sign up at the store on the day they wish to participate (no advance registration needed!) and L.L.Bean provides all of the equipment needed and transportation to the activity site. The true value of this program, however, is the expert instruction provided. Experienced instructors at L.L.Bean offer hands-on coaching and guidance in a relaxed and fun setting. Enjoying a new activity doesn’t have to be intimidating, and L.L.Bean makes exploring the outdoors easy with these Walk-On Adventures.
Walk-On Adventures make it easy to get together with friends or family members, because L.L.Bean’s guides do all of the planning and provide all the necessary equipment. And since no advanced reservations are required, groups can come into the store on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday and be out on the water, on the range, or just outdoors that same afternoon.
Since 1979, the guiding principles of L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Schools have remained the same: To promote the enjoyment of the outdoors and to foster an appreciation and respect for our natural environment. These foundations are inherent in every program offered — whether it is a two-hour Walk-On Adventure or a three-day trip. L.L.Bean retail stores are conveniently located along the eastern seaboard, making it easy, affordable, and convenient to try out a new activity or to get better at a familiar one.
Walk-On Adventures program schedules are available by phone at 800-559-0747, ext. 37222 or online at www.llbean.com/ods.
KENNEBUNKPORT
Where to Stay
Village Cove Inn
Tom and Angela Murphy purchased the Village Cove Inn in the heart of Kennebunkport back in 1996 Continuing to make improvements each year, the Murphys have recently remodeled the on site restaurant The Changing Tide.
Featuring elegant dining for guests and residents in the Kennebunkport area, the restaurant serves fresh Maine seafood and offers specialty holiday dining packages throughout the year. "Tom and I are in the midst of planning a ten-year anniversary celebration for our guests," says Murphy. More casual dining is available in Jaxon's poolside pub and children's menus are always available in both restaurants. The restaurant is Chef owned and very popular with the locals.
The outdoor pool patio was another renovation, which took place last spring. Charming with all the amenities of a larger facility, the Inn features outdoor dining on the patio, indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, and a fully equipped fitness facility. With close proximity to area beaches and other outdoor activities, such as boating and tennis, the Village Cove Inn is a popular family retreat in the summer. The Family Fun Package is always a big hit every summer, tailored with kids in mind . Most popular for couples in off-season are our Getaway Packages or Spa Packages with breakfast and dinner included.
The Village Cove Inn is unique in its style and location. It is a small property, not quite a hotel and not quite a motel. It is hidden away on a small tidal cove but only a mile from the town of Kennebunkport, a 15-minute walk is all it takes to get back to tranquility after a days shopping in town. "We have recently added a fitness centre and a Spa Therapy Room for treatments, which we offer as part of our Spa Packages", says Angela, "we work with 4 therapists who all specialize in several Therapies such as Swedish massage, Hot Stones, Deep Tissue and Pregnancy massages. We will soon be adding body wraps and facials to our list of Spa Therapy Services. We are looking to make these services affordable for everyone".
Tom and Angela have been in the hotel and restaurant business for years, running a Vermont hotel for four years before deciding to purchase the Village Cove Inn.
Today, Tom and Angela are proud proprietors of the lovely Village Cove Inn in the heart of Kennebunkport. The Inn's secluded location on Chick's Cove is off the beaten path but only minutes from famous Walker's Point, home of the Bush family, and within walking distance to world-renowned Dock Square.
For more information, call 207-967-3993 or toll free (800) 879-5778 or visit web site villagecoveinn.com.
ROCKLAND
Where to Stay
About the Historic Inns of Rockland
The Premier Historic Inns of Rockland represent an exquisite collection of significant local architecture from bygone eras. Captain Lindsey House is an 18th century Federal inn. Berry Manor Inn and LimeRock Inn are 19th century Victorian homes. Quietly, yet tenaciously, the Historic Inns of Rockland are working hard to reduce global warming in Maine. All three have been certified by the state of Maine as Certified Green Hospitality Leaders. The list of Historic Inns of Rockland’s environmentally-friendly practices is long, ranging from widespread use of compact fluorescent bulbs and solar lighting to donation and recycling of old towels, clothing, shampoo and soaps to local charities. The group has collectively negotiated a contract for use of bio-fuel for heating oil and used it exclusively throughout the 2007-08 winter, plus instituted creative recycling programs for inn and guest products ranging from bottles to office products. Yet still this group has taken the green scheme beyond changing light bulbs and recycling. Each of the inns make a donation for every guest booking to eco-friendly local organizations as a means to offset their own carbon footprint and now offer the “No Fueling” package to teach guests how to save on gas.
Historic Inns of Rockland’s Five Drive Green Not Mean tips on efficient driving
Historic Inns of Rockland want to help guests save gas by driving efficiently. Here are some of the tips they share with guests which can result in 25-percent better fuel efficiency for the car.
1.) Before leaving, be sure to have specific directions on how to reach your vacation destination. Historic Inns of Rockland will send detailed directions to help avoid wasting fuel finding the way.
2) Drive with a soft foot. Avoid jack rabbit starts and stops, and make smooth and gradual lane changes.
3) Slow down – In Maine the motto is “life the way it should be”; while visiting Midcoast Maine obey the highway speed limit of 55 mph where most cars are the more fuel efficient. Gas efficiency is improved by 7-percent for every 5 mph slowed below 60 mph.
4) While driving in Maine, check www.511maine.gov or call "511" for up-to-the-minute travel information, road conditions, accidents or any major delays before they affect fuel consumption.
5) Travel light. The more weight carried, the more fuel burned. Rent bikes or kayaks locally to save on gas.
What to See & Do
Two “Discovery Coast Museum Passports” offering admission to six of Maine’s greatest cultural treasures including the Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center, Gen. Henry Knox Museum, Owls Head Transportation Museum and the Maine Lighthouse Museum.
Choose between two tickets to Captain Jack’s Lobster Adventure Cruises where the chance to pull lobster traps (and keep your haul) is just one of the highlights from this entertaining lobsterman filled with lobster lore OR two tickets on the Maine State Ferry to Vinalhaven Island, the largest inhabited island in Penobscot Bay. Stroll throughout this quintessential island fishing community offering scenic views and a glimpse into island life.
Special guided educational tours with expert docents of the Maine Lighthouse Museum offered twice weekly (Mon and Thurs) exclusively for guests of Historic Inns of Rockland, Maine.
A guided tour of Rockland’s Historic Breakwater Lighthouse offered exclusively to guests of Historic Inns of Rockland each Wednesday with Ted Panayotoff, author, historian and lighthouse aficionado, plus an autographed copy of Ted Panayotoff’s book The Lighthouse at Rockland Breakwater Then and Now.
A private walking tour of Rockland’s Historic District offered by members of the Rockland Historical Society Tuesday afternoons. Learn why Rockland was the fourth busiest harbor on the east coast at the turn of the century and view examples of an array of architecture preserved among the 145 buildings and homes listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
ROCKWOOD
Where to Stay
The Birches Resort Offers Great Deals for Winter Enthusiasts
Pricey airfares to the islands may ground many a traveler this winter but vacationers seeking escapes can embrace the cold weather and snowy landscape at The Birches Resort in Rockwood, ME.
Located on Moosehead Lake on 11,000 acres of wilderness, The Birches offers exhilarating activities and cozy accommodations. Winter enthusiasts will find miles of trails to explore on skis, snowmobiles and snowshoes. In addition, Moosehead Lake offers ice fishing and a landing strip for ski plane tours over Maine's winter wonderland. Accommodations include main lodge rooms and luxury vacation homes as well as rustic yurts and cabins. The lodge, complete with roaring fire in the stone hearth, serves three hearty meals per day.
For more information go to web site www.birches.com or call 1-800-825-WILD (9453)
The Birches winter menu of activities includes:
- Up, Up and Away - A tour of the Maine wilderness in winter in a ski plane which takes off and lands on the frozen lake. ($90 per person for an hour ride)
- Guided Yurt to Yurt Cross Country Ski adventure - Ski from The Birches on our well-maintained trails to a Yurt for lunch, then ski to a different yurt and enjoy a dinner of your choice (steak, chicken or fish) prepared by our guide. After a good night's sleep, we ski back to the lodge for a hearty breakfast. Includes all equipment (bring your own sleeping bag), guide and three meals. ($139 per person)
- Trailblazers - The Birches offers some of the best snowmobile trails in the Northeast. Hop on one of the resorts top of the line Arctic Cat sleds to explore the 100-mile Moosehead Trail loop that circles the lake. (Rentals range from $185-235 per day, guided tours available)
- Go Fish - Catch landlocked salmon, trout and brook trout in an ice shack on Moosehead Lake. Guided full day trips with rental gear and snowmobile ride to fishing area can be arranged ($320 per day).
For more information go to web site www.birches.com or call 1-800-825-WILD (9453)
SCARSBOROUGH
Where to Stay
Maine's Historic Black Point Inn Is Open for the Season With Lodging Deals, Special Events and Green Updates
Black Point Inn (www.blackpointinn.com) has opened its doors to a season full of events, activities, and attractive lodging specials. With updated guest amenities and a continued investment in being “green,” Black Point Inn is committed to enhancing guests’ experiences while remaining faithful to the original, historic property's design and ambiance.
Enjoying its 132nd year of continuous operation, the Inn is the last remaining of the grand hotels which once called the scenic, oceanside area of southern Maine’s Prouts Neck home. Built in 1878 at the peak of America’s Gilded Age, the resort property’s colorful history includes patrons ranging from rail barons and political leaders to visiting celebrities and one of Maine’s most famous native sons – world-renowned artist Winslow Homer.
With breathtaking views, fabulous food, first-class accommodations, tennis, miles of sandy beaches, a private beach club and heated swimming pool, Black Point Inn provides an exceptional Maine getaway experience. Guests at the Inn are welcomed at the 18-hole, private golf club abutting the property, a walking-only course with five oceanside holes, and one widely regarded as the best example of a “links course” in the state of Maine.
Recently labeled “Best Seaside Resort” by New England Travel Guide, Black Point Inn has been included on the prestigious National Registry of Historic Hotels of America list, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Inn has been featured by the likes of Travel + Leisure, The New York Times, Fodor’s, and National Culinary Review. Additionally, the scenic property earned in 2008 a spot on National Geographic Traveler magazine’s inaugural “Stay List,” and recently was named an “Editor’s Pick” by Condé Nast Traveler’s concierge.com.
Dining at the Inn
Meals are a central component of a visit to any property, and the cuisine offered at Black Point Inn upholds the highest cuisine and hospitality standard. Trap Landry, executive chef at the Inn’s two onsite restaurants, The Point and the more casual Chart Room, has two decades of fine dining kitchen experience to his credit. Known for his focus on local and seasonal cooking, this Austin, Texas, native turns out first-rate American-European classics using Maine’s freshest ingredients from local farmers and suppliers.
Since the Inn’s relaunch in 2007, both The Point and Chart Room have earned excellent reviews from a persuasive variety of national, regional and local press. The open-air Chart Room bar, hand-crafted of mahogany, opens up onto the Inn's gorgeous, spacious decks overlooking the sea, and is an especially popular stop for guests looking for a relaxing summertime cocktail.
Nightly Specials and Activities
Sunday through Wednesday evenings, visitors will enjoy the Inn’s popular Social Hour from 4:30-6 p.m., featuring appetizer and drink specials each evening. Inn guests also will enjoy the complimentary General Manager’s cocktail party every Sunday evening from 5:30-6:30 pm. Wine Tasting Wednesdays at Black Point Inn, free to the public beginning Wednesday, will feature an array of wines and light hors d’oeuvres from 4-6 p.m.
Creature Comforts
Black Point Inn also features spa amenities for guests, including a sauna and outdoor swimming pool. As part of the Inn’s ongoing “green” commitment, the sauna and pool are heated by the Inn's new geothermal wells system.
Additionally, the Inn outfits every room with luxury linens and Aveda products, and private, in-room massages are available from on-call therapists at the Inn. Many of the Inn’s bathrooms have been renovated in time for the 2009 season, including the addition of all-new tiles, showers and appliances. Flat screen television sets are discreetly placed in all guest rooms. During work this past winter, Inn staff has faithfully retained the nuances, colors, and history of the spacious, dark-wood lobby, but has refreshed the wallpaper and original wood trim and furnishings.
Green Initiatives
When the Black Point Inn relaunched in 2007, the Inn’s owners took painstaking measures to make the Inn as environmentally friendly as possible, making important renovation decisions that greatly reduced the carbon footprint of the Inn, while being faithful to its characteristic New England charm and ambiance.
As a result, the Inn earned Green status/full certification as Environmental Leader in the lodging industry by the State of Maine's Department of Environmental Protection. In keeping with Maine’s connection to healthy living and unspoiled surroundings, the Inn achieved full certification as Environmental Leader in the lodging industry by the Department of Environmental Protection of the State of Maine.
This winter the team at Black Point Inn continued its green initiatives:
The Inn moved from fossil fuel to geothermal heating and cooling systems, reducing the property's carbon footprint. Today, there are four geothermal wells that create a fully closed loop system. The Inn also installed 90 new e-glass, double hung windows that help insulate the Inn from cold and heat, also reducing its environmental impact.
The Inn’s two restaurants also align well with environmental goals and mindset. The kitchen staff at the on-site restaurants purchases the bulk of meat, cheeses, sustainable fish and fresh produce – much of which is either organic or naturally grown – from local farmers and producers.
About Black Point Inn
Black Point Inn is a part of the Migis Hotel Group, which includes Migis Lodge in South Casco; The Inn at Camden Place in Camden; and the AAA Four-Diamond Award-winning Inn at Ocean’s Edge, along with its oceanside restaurant, The Edge (both located just 4 miles north of Camden in Lincolnville).
Call (207) 883-2500 to make reservations at Black Point Inn. For more information on rates and packages, visit www.blackpointinn.com.
What to See & Do
Cabela's opens on L.L. Bean's home turf
In Scarborough, Maine, a new Cabela's mega-store, located just down the road from the flagship L.L. Bean, which has stood as the town's chief retailer--and attraction--for generations, has opened..