Historic Forts in Maine

Are you looking for some place to go in Maine that is historical?  Maine has lots of old forts - especially located along the coast.  Visit the link below for a listing of Maine historical forts.

http://www.travel-maine.info/historic_forts.htm

Weekly Maine Foliage Report (September 28, 2011)

The weekly Maine Foliage Report (September 28, 2011) has been sent out by the Maine Department of Conservation.  It can be read in its entirety below.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

September 28, 2011 | Maine Foliage Report
Maine Department of Conservation
www.MaineFoliage.com

Northern Half of Maine Now Has Moderate to High Foliage Color
AUGUSTA, Maine ­ Fall foliage color is now halfway toward peak from Moosehead Lake to Aroostook County, according to the third 2011 fall foliage report from the Maine Department of Conservation (MDOC).

Currently, Maine Forest Service and state park rangers are observing high leaf color, or 50 to 70 percent toward peak, along with very low leaf drop in northern tracking zones (Zones 7, 6, 5 northern, and 4 northern) covering Fort Kent, Presque Isle, Houlton, Millinocket, Greenville and Jackman.

Moderate color, or 30 to 50 percent toward peak, has reached the southern sections of Zones 5 and 4, and the northern section of Zone 3. These regions contain Rangeley, Bethel, Bangor, Dover-Foxcroft, Lincoln and Calais. Leaf drop in these areas is very low.

All coastal regions (Zones 1 and 2) and the Sebago Lake region, Androscoggin County and Kennebec County (southern Zone 3) now have low foliage color, or 10 to 30 percent toward peak, and very low leaf drop according the report.

³Although complete trees in bright reds, oranges and yellows are scarce, a significant percentage of hardwoods are showing some form of transition,"said Rick Henion, a Maine Forest Service Ranger in the downeast town of Stueben. "Both birches and poplars are showing a fair amount of understory yellowing, and maples and ashes are transitioning to more golden hues in upper and exposed branches."

Maine¹s fall foliage conditions will be updated each Wednesday through at least Oct. 19 on this website. Maine foliage fans can also share photos and favorite viewing spots at the Maine Fall Foliage page on Facebook, or follow foliage news on Twitter using the "mainefoliage" hashtag.

The first MDOC ranger-guided foliage tour happens this Saturday at Peaks-Kenny State Park in Dover-Foxcroft. Mount Blue State Park and the Kennebec Highlands Public Lands will offer foliage tours on Oct. 8 and 9 respectively. Visit http://www.parksandlands.com for more information about each event.

Go to www.visitmaine.com or call the Maine Office of Tourism at 1-888-624-6345 for more  information about fall activities and events in Maine.

Learn more about Maine Fall Foliage.

Bangor, Maine Book Festival (Sep 30 - Oct 1, 2011)

The Bangor Book Festival will be held in Bangor, Maine on September 30 to October 1, 2011.  There will be a keynote address by author Colin Woodward on Friday.  On Saturday there will be readings and events throughout downtown Bangor by Maine writers and illustrators of a variety of works.  Find out more about this event at www.bangorbookfest.org.

Thanksgiving in Maine

Maine is a wonderful place to spend Thanksgiving.  There are a number of resorts, B and Bs, and hotels that cater to the out of state traveler during this holiday.  Have someone else cook your meal and do your dishes while enjoying the beauty of Maine.  For more information visit the link below.

http://www.travel-maine.info/Thanksgiving_in_Maine.htm

Fryeburg, Maine Fair (October 2-9, 2011)

The Fryeburg Fair is scheduled for October 2-9, 2011 and will be held in Fryeburg, Maine.  Lots to do during Maine's largest fair to included exhibition halls, livestock viewing, a midway and entertainment, parade, racing, woodsmen's day, and more.  You can learn more about the fair at www.fryeburgfair.com.

Maine Landings - Blog by Maine's Lobster Community

While navigating through the Internet I stumbled across a blog by the Maine Lobstermen's Association - called Maine Landings.  It has five primary sections to include Science, Management, People, Community Voices, and Miscellaneous. Interesting reading if you like Maine and lobsters! 
http://mainelandings.org/

I will be adding the link to my Maine Lobster page on my website "Travel Maine Info".
http://www.travel-maine.info/shopping/maine_lobsters.htm

It appears that the Maine Lobstermen Association is also on Facebook.  I guess everyone is on Facebook now . . .except for me.  Might be time for me to figure out what that is.
http://www.facebook.com/mainelobstermen

Bangor, Maine Book Festival (Sep 30 - Oct 1, 2011)

The Bangor Book Festival will be held September 30 to October 1, 2011.   There will be a diverse group of authors participating this year. Read a recent news article about the event entitled "Book festival to bring 35 authors to downtown Bangor", Bangor Daily News, September 25, 2011.  Learn more about the book festival at the following website - http://www.bangorbookfest.org/.

Listing of Maine Agricultural Fairs

A listing of agricultural fairs in Maine is available at the web site of the Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs.  Click on the link below to access the listing.

http://www.mainefairs.org/fair_dates.htm

Cumberland, Maine Fair (Sep 25 - Oct 1, 2011)

The 140th Annual Cumberland Fair (Maine) will be held on September 25th to October 1st in Cumberland, Maine.  The location is at Bruce Hill Road.  There is lots to see and do at this fair to include show animals, pulling animals, an exhibition hall, horticulture exhibit, a sugar house, museum, entertainment, midway, harness racing and commercial exhibits.  You can learn more about this fair at the website listed below.

www.cumberlandfair.com

Moose Hunting Tips in Maine

Maine's moose hunting season will start on September 26, 2011.  Read some history of Maine's moose hunting season and also some tips for the first time moose hunter.  See "Outdoors in Maine: Maine moose season", The Sun Journal, September 18, 2011.  Read more about hunting in Maine.

Open Creamery Day in Maine (Sunday, October 9, 2011)

The Maine Cheese Guild will hold "Open Creamery Day" on Sunday, October 9th, 2011.  Award winning cheese will be available at many of Maine's cheese makers in their creameries.  For a listing of participating cheese makers and a map of their locations visit www.mainecheeseguild.org.

Apple Picking at Hope Orchards in Hope, Maine

Hope Orchards (located on Camden Road in Hope, Maine) is open for apple picking this coming weekend (September 24-25, 2011).  They have a variety of apples to choose from to include McIntosh, Cortland, and Hyslop Crabapples.  Cider pressing starts this weekend as well.  And you will find some squash available.  Find more at www.hopeorchards.com. See a listing of Apple Orchards in Maine.

Casco Bay Bicycle Club (Portland,Maine) Weekly Rides

The Casco Bay Bicycle Club hosts weekly rides in the Portland, Maine area.  Find out more at www.cascobaybicycleclub.org.  Learn more about bike riding in Maine.

East Coast Greenway in Maine

The East Coast Greenway is a 3,000 mile bike and walking trail that stretches from Calais, Maine at the Canadian border, all the way down to Key West, Florida. The trails are made up of existing trails as well as planned shared-use trails. With more than 2,000 miles of additional trails branching off of the main track, the EC Greenway is present in many communities.

The Greenway is still growing and the hope is to create a completely public right-of-way path that will incorporate waterfront views, park paths, and pathways along highway corridors. The Greenway is really a labor of love, relying on states, counties and municipalities to build and maintain the trail. In this way, and many others, the Greenway has created a sense of community.

The East Coast Greenway has many benefits to include getting healthy, enjoying the outdoors, going green, and spending time with family. You can find more informaiton about the East Coast Greenway by visiting the organizations website at the link below:

http://greenway.org/index.shtml

Maine Boat Builders

The sailing and boating season will soon come to a close.  Many folks out there will be looking to upgrade their pleasure craft this fall in preparation for next years boating season.  Maine has a number of quality boat builders that offer pleasure craft.  You can view a listing of these Maine boat builders at the link below:

http://www.travel-maine.info/shopping/maine_boat_builders.htm

Smithsonian Magazine's 7th Annual Museum Day - September 24, 2011

Many of the museums in Maine are participating in the nation-wide annual Museum Day presented by Smithsonian Magazine on Saturday, September 24, 2011.  Admittance is free of charge to all visitors who download the Museum Day Ticket from Smithsonian.com.  The Maine State Museum is one of the participating museums in Maine.

The Museum Day Ticket is available to download at www.smithsonian.com/museumday

A list of participating museums is available at www.smithsonianmag.com/museumday/venues/.

A listing of museums in Maine is available at http://www.travel-maine.info/museums.htm.

Fall Harvest and Farms in Maine

There are many farms to visit in Maine - as it is an agricultural state in many regions.  The state of Maine has a website that provides more information about farms in Maine. With the fall harvest season upon us now is the time to enjoy some of this country living.  Visit the website below for more information about farms and apple orchards in Maine.

http://www.getrealmaine.com/

Maine Fall Harvest Festivals

With the coming of the fall season here in Maine we also see the fall festivals happening across the state of Maine.  A recent article in the Bangor Daily News provides information on some of these festivals.  See "Maine Fall harvest festivals and hiking trails beckon", September 22, 2011.

Kennebec River Paddle (Maine, Oct 1, 2011)

The Kennebec River Paddle will take place on October 1, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.  Open to those with a canoe or kayak.  To learn more go to www.vassalboro.net.

Listing of Maine Apple Festivals

The Portand Press Herald has run an article in their September 22, 2011 edition entitled "Let's let bygones be bygones and celebrate the apple".  The article talks about the benefits of eating apples and also lists a number of apple festivals that will take place over the next few months.  The first apple festival it mentions is the Manchester Apple Festival at Lakeside Orchards in Manchester, Maine. Click here for a listing of Apple Orchards in Maine.

Hunting in Maine

Hunting season is approaching here in Maine. While a month or so away now is the time to plan your trip to Maine for your hunting trip.  Find out more about hunting in Maine at the link below.


http://www.travel-maine.info/hunting.htm

Prediction for Maine Waterfowlers Hunting Season

A Maine guide, Bob Humphrey of Pownal, Maine, provides us with some insight on the upcoming Maine waterfowl hunting season (ducks). Read "Hunting: April showers improve odds for fall fowlers", The Portland Press Herald, September 18, 2011. Learn more about hunting in Maine.

List of Apple Orchards in Maine

The Maine State Pomological Society provides a listing of Maine orchards on their website.  Many of these orchards provide the opportunity to pick your own apples.  The listing provides the street address, town, telephone number and website (if available).  You can pick the location of your next apple picking adventure by visiting the link below:

Apple Orchards in Maine by Maine State Pomological Society

Apple Picking in Maine by Travel-Maine.Info

Halloween in Maine

Are you coming to Maine during Halloween?  There is lots to do here in Maine during this festive event.  Find out more about Halloween in Maine by visiting the link below:

http://www.travel-maine.info/holidays/halloween_in_maine.htm

3rd Annual Acadia Night Sky Festival (Maine, Sep 22-26, 2011)

The 3rd Annual Acadia Night Sky Festival will take place in Bar Harbor, Maine on September 22-26, 2011.  This " . . .  is a community celebration to promote the protection and enjoyment of Downeast Acadia's stellar night sky as a valuable natural resource through education, science, and the arts."

Learn more about this event at the following link:
http://www.acadianightskyfestival.com/

Learn more about Acadia at the following link:
http://www.travel-maine.info/parks/acadia_national_park.htm

Visitors Enjoy Maine Open Lighthouse Day

The Maine coast saw a lot of visitors taking a look at lighthouses on Maine's Open Lighthouse Day. Read more in "Visitors flock to lighthouses on Maine Open Lighthouse Day", Bangor Daily News, September 18, 2011.  Click here to learn more about lighthouses in Maine.

McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Maine

A recent news article in a Maine newspaper (Press Herald, September 15th) highlighted one of Maine's apple orchards.  The article provided a glimpse of how an apple orchard functions.  You can pick your own apples at the McDougal Orchards in Springvale, Maine.  Visit the web page for McDougal Orchards at the following link.

http://www.mcdougalorchards.com/

http://www.travel-maine.info/applepicking.html

Maine Fall Foliage to be Bright and Beautiful

The Bangor Daily News reports (September 14, 2011) that we are expecting a great fall foliage season.  See "Maine fall foliage colors expected to be bright and beautiful".

Maine Apple Growers Expect Good Year

If you like to do some apple picking in the fall in Maine then this is a good year for it.  A recent news article in the Bangor Daily News (September 15, 2011) says that many apple growers feel good about this fall's crop.  Read more in the news article entitled "Maine Apple Growers Producing Like Crazy". Many apple orchards offer the opportunity for families to do their own apple picking in Maine.

Maine Apple Picking

Are you interested in picking apples in Maine?  Now is the time.  Apple picking starts at the end of August and finishes near the end of October.  The Maine State Pomological Society has loads of information about apples in Maine.  You can request a Maine Apple Map and Directory by contacting the organizations e-mail listed on the main page of their website (see link below).

http://www.maineapples.org/

Maine Fall Foliage

Now is a great time to plan your Maine fall foliage vacation.  The colors will reach their peak in a few weeks and you will want to be here to enjoy it.  Find out more about the fall foliage in Maine by visiting the link below.

http://www.travel-maine.info/maine_fall_foliage.htm

Maine Foliage Report (September 14, 2011)

The state of Maine has released its weekly Maine foliage report (September 14, 2011).  It can be read in the text in quotes below:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"September 14, 2011 | Maine Foliage Report
Maine Department of Conservation
www.MaineFoliage.com

Maine Fall Foliage Colors Expected to Be "Bright and Beautiful"

AUGUSTA, Maine ­ A stretch of hot and dry weather in July and the recent tropical storm won't have a noticeable impact on foliage viewing in Maine according to the first 2011 fall foliage report from the Maine Department of Conservation (MDOC).

Mainefoliage.com has a new design this year that will enable faster, easier access that can be viewed on mobile devices. Visitors can now take foliage photos with their phone and instantly submit them to the website, according to Maine foliage spokeswoman Gale Ross.

Overall, the foliage looks to be in better than average condition, said Bill Ostrofsky, a forest pathologist at the Maine Forest Service.  I fully expect the Maine fall foliage season will be delivered right on time as another bright and beautiful show.

Currently, Maine Forest Service rangers in each of the state's seven tracking zones are observing very low leaf color, or less than 10 percent toward peak, along with very low leaf drop. Overnight temperatures in the low 40s and the continued decrease in daylight will spark the gradual change in leaf color from north to south through late October according to MDOC officials.

"Each year, we look forward to the foliage season and partnering with the Maine Department of Conservation to give our visitors and residents updated foliage reports and provide helpful information on events, tours and activities that make fall in Maine so special," said Maine Office of Tourism Director, Carolann Ouellette. "It's the perfect time to get out and enjoy all our state has to offer."

 Maine's fall foliage conditions will be updated on this website each Wednesday through Oct. 19. Visitors to the website can sign up to receive the weekly reports by email, and submit photos of foliage scenes from around Maine. Maine foliage fans can also share photos and favorite viewing spots at the Maine Fall Foliage page on Facebook.

The MDOC also announced that ranger-led weekend foliage hikes will be offered at state parks and public lands in October. The first hike takes place on Oct. 1 at Peaks-Kenny State Park in Dover-Foxcroft. Visit http://www.parksandlands.com for information about each hike."

Click here for more information on fall foliage in Maine.

Maine Eastern Railroad and Fall Foliage Trips

Enjoy the Maine fall foliage on a mid-coast rail excursion onboard the Maine Eastern Railroad train.  The trains are comprised of restored streamlined stainless steel railcars that have been rebuilt. The train includes a dining car which offers snacks and beverages. The train runs through towns located along the coast of Maine between Brunswick and Rockland. Towns in between include Bath, Wiscasset, Newcastle, Nobleboro, Waldoboro, Warren, and Thomaston.

Maine's Open Lighthouse Day (Sep 17, 2011)

Maine is celebrating its third annual Open Lighthouse Day to be held September 17, 2011. This is an open house of Maine lighthouses and is designed to provide access to the public to all participating lighthouses on one day.  For more information about Maine lighthouses and Open Lighthouse Day see the links below:

Maine's Open Lighthouse Day

http://www.travel-maine.info/lighthouses.htm

Fall Hiking in Maine

With the cooler weather now arriving this is the time for some very enjoyable hiking.  For the most part the mosquitoes have subsided and the it isn't as hot out as during the summer.  We are at the very beginning of the fall foliage season - there are some trees out there starting to turn color.  The trails are quieter due to a lesser number of tourists.  So get out and enjoy the trails!  For more information about hiking in Maine see the link below:

http://www.travel-maine.info/hiking.htm

Freeport, Maine - Fall in the Village Art & Music Festival (Sep 17, 2011)

The 13th Annual Fall in the Village Art & Music Festival will take place on Saturday, September 17th from 9 am to 5 pm in Freeport, Maine.  Admission is free and includes Gunther Brown, The Sam Anderson Band, Will Gattis and the Today, and Rattleboxx.  Visit www.freeportevents.com for more information.