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.

Lobster Boat Racing in Portland Harbor, Maine (Sunday, August 22, 2010)

If you are looking for some water edge excitement today (Sunday, August 22, 2010) then consider watching the Lobster Boat Races scheduled for Portland Harbor, Maine.  If you can't make it today then check out the Maine Lobster Boat Racing calendar for other races this summer.  Click here to learn more about lobsters and lobster men in Maine.

Saturday Night in the Old Port (Portland, Maine)

Old Port.  My wife and I decided to visit the Old Port district of Portland, Maine this weekend.  We wanted to stay overnight in a hotel in the Old Port (that is the working waterfront district) and experience some of the scenery, restaurants, and night life.  We picked the night after Christmas (Saturday, December 26th).  All our family visiting would be done, we had the weekend ahead of us, and we could use a little adventure (when you are in your 50s a night in Old Port is a big adventure for country folk!).

Hilton Garden Inn on Commercial Street.  As I travel a lot I have numerous free "award" nights available from about four different hotel chains.  We decided on the Hilton chain because there is a Hilton Garden Inn on Commercial Street right in the Old Port section and I belong to the Hilton HHonors program. So I burn't some award points (only 35,000) for one night (still got about 130,000 left).  We checked in early and got a room on the 5th floor overlooking the harbor; normally I wouldn't think they would offer a "Rewards Stay" a waterfront view - however the hotel wasn't exactly packed with guests due to being just after Christmas.  One concern we had prior to arrival was parking.  However, Portland has lots of parking garages available within walking distance of this hotel.  The hotel also has valet parking ($15.00 for parking plus tip for the valet); for ease we went with the valet parking.  From our room window it was a pretty scene of the waterfront and Casco Bay with the snowflakes coming down; not a heavy storm but enough to add atmosphere.  The hotel has a small pool, small fitness center, a lounge and bar, and a restaurant that serves breakfast and dinner. The two pictures of the Old Port waterfront were taken from our hotel window.  (65 Commercial Street, 207-780-0780, Old Port Hilton Garden Inn)

Late Lunch.  Upon arrival (we had an early check-in) we settled in, unpacked, and said "Let's eat".  We went out for a walk to explore the area and soon came upon a small restaurant that looked inviting.  It was called the "Farmer's Table".  There were tables and a small bar; we chose the bar.  My wife had butternut squash soup, half of a Rueban sandwich and hot chocolate.  I had onion soup, half of a Rueban sandwich (the other half), and a Shipyard beer.  Not a bad lunch - but a little pricy.  The Farmer's Table has an upstairs as well which will afford quieter dining.  (The Farmer's Table, 205 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 207-347-7479).  The website for The Farmer's Table is:  http://farmerstablemaine.com/.  (CORRECTION:  I have been informed by my wife who just read this post that the meal at the Farmer's Table was EXCELLENT!).

Walk-About.  We walked around after our late lunch.  It was quiet with a little snow falling.  Fore Street was nice to look at with its old historic looking facades, cobblestone street, restaurants, bars, and shops.  But soon we were back to the hotel to warm up and take a nap.

Dinner.  We had dinner (a late one at 8:00 pm, at least late for us) at a place called Ri Ra.  I had never heard of it.  It is an Irish Pub / Restaurant.  I looked it up online and it appears that it is a chain with ten other stores up and down the East coast.  What looked to be a small Irish pub from the outside (street view) is in fact a large pub (downstairs) and very nice restaurant with a water view upstairs.  My wife had a macaroni dish (very good) and I went with the lamb stew (delicious).  The service was great (thanks Michelle) and atmosphere was very nice as well - given the fireplace and view of the harbor through the very expansive glass windows.  Ri Ra was located just across the street from the Hilton Garden Inn - see the top picture - it is the two-story building.

Pub Scene.  Afterwards we went downstairs to the Ri Ra pub.  The entertainment started at 10:00 pm.  Ri Ra (according to its website) has entertainment from many different bands throughout the week.  This evening was a band called "High Beam".  Not my cup of tea; but I was easily 20 years older than the rest of the crowd listening.  After an hour my wife and I rolled our eyes and decided to walk off dinner.

A Late Evening Stroll.  The night scene in the Old Port is great if you are in your 20s or 30s.  Lots of places with live entertainment and even on a cold winter Saturday night the sidewalks were crowded with young folks going from bar to bar.  It was the night after Christmas so the lights were still up.  A nice place to be at.  Next time we come we will have to visit the Comedy Connection or perhaps find a jazz club.  But for now; back to the hotel so we can be in bed by midnight!

A Rainy and Windy Sunday Morning.  We woke up to a rainy day.  The wind was blowing and carrying the seagulls to and fro.  We didn't see too much boat activity on the water.  By this time all the sailboats are gone and anyone else isn't going out in bad whether unless they have to.  The island ferry was still on schedule and they could be seen docking and departing right from our hotel window.  We also saw the police boat and a few other utility type boats come and go on this cold Sunday morning.

Breakfast.  We skipped the walk around the neigborhood.  The wind was blowing and rain coming down.  Instead we went with the buffet breakfast and had omlettes to order.  Very good.

On the Road.  It is time to pack up and go.  Glad we went with the valet parking.  The staff will bring the car around to the front door for us where it will be sheltered from the elements as we load up.

Return Trip.  We had a wonderful time.  We plan on coming back again for another Saturday night stay.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate.  If you want to learn more about Portland, Maine click on lodging, dining and recreation for Portland.

Portland, Maine Map: Places to Play

The City of Portland has a map of playgrounds, recreation areas, basketball courts, dog parks, beaches, swimming pools, and more. It is called the "Places to Play" map. It is available online as an Adobe Acrobat Reader PDF file where you can view it of download it. The map is accessed at:

http://www.portlandmaine.gov/hhs/placestoplay.pdf

Click here to learn more about the City of Portland or maps available for Maine.

Lobsterman Triathlon - Freeport, Maine Sep 19

The Lobsterman Triathlon will be held at Winslow Park & Campground in Freeport, Maine on Saturday, September 19, 2009.

Click here for more information about Winslow Park & Campground in Freeport, Maine.

The Maine Wine Trail

The Winery Guild in Maine has established the Maine Wine Trail. The wineries are located in eastern and southern Maine so there is likely to be one located near you. Read an online story about The Maine Wine Trail in "Think you can't wine in Maine? Think again", by The Maine Edge. The website for the Maine Wine Trail states that there are three wine trails in Maine - Downeast Area, Mid-Coast Area, and the Southern Area. Each trail has at least five wineries and the website hyperlinks you to the locations. I guess northern and western Maine don't have wineries.

Topsham Fair - Maine (Aug 9-15, 2009)

The Topsham Fair will be held August 9-15, 2009 in Topsham, Maine at the Topsham Fair Grounds on Route 196. There are a number of activities taking place to include racing, demolition derby, entertainment, exhibits, vendors and more. Click here for information about dining and lodging in Topsham, Maine.

Lobster College in Maine - Sep 17-20, 2009

A very different type of learning vacation is offered by the Lobster Institute of the University of Maine - it is called "Lobster College". It is hosted by the Kenniston Hill Inn Bed & Breakfast (http://www.kennistonhillinn.com/) Boothbay, Maine. This is a fun and educational weekend scheduled for September 17-20, 2009. Read more in the MaineToday news posting entitled "Lobster College, a learning vacation on the Maine coast". Click here to learn more info on lobsters.

Visiting Tips for Eastport / Lubec, Maine

Are you heading to Eastport or Lubec, Maine? Here is a short online article about things to do and places to go while there. Click here.

Seaside Pavilon Schedule for 2009 Old Orchard Beach, Maine

A number of activities takes place at the Old Orchard Beach, Maine Seaside Beach Pavilion. Concerts, special events, and more can be found throughout the summer. Read and interesting article on this unique venue and visit their website for more information: http://www.oobpavilion.org/

Gem Hunting in Maine

If you are interested in gem hunting or learning about minerals and rocks then the Oxford, Maine area might be of interest to you. There is a mineral belt in Oxford and Androscoggin counties of Maine that attract gem seekers from across the country. There are several outfits that cater to those seeking gems. Read "Route 26 a gem hunter's dream", MaineToday.com, May 26, 2009. Learn more about gems, minerals, and mines in Maine.

Recreation in Portland, Maine

There is lots of stuff to do in Portland, Maine. This is especially true in the summer months when the weather is quite nice. There are walking trails within the city, fine restaurants, museums, art galleries, music, festivals, comedy houses, clubs, nightclubs, shopping districts, the waterfront, cruise ships that visit the islands in Casco Bay, ballet, symphony, sports, theater, sailing adventures, and much more. Click here for a listing of things to do in Portland, Maine.

Bradbury Mountain State Park, Pownal, Maine

Located in the small country town of Pownal, Maine is a small mountain that offers walking trails that are easy for everyone in the entire family. Bradbury Mountain State Park offers trails for hikers and mountain bikers. This park is located on Route 9 and has a number of campsites available. There is 610 acres of forested land. The park is easy to get to - just five miles from the Freeport-Durham exit 22 of U.S. 295.

A History Trail of Maine by DownEast.com

The editors of DownEast.com have put together a guide of Maine that explores the history of this state. Through visits to historical locations, sites, and museums you will gain an appreciation of how the state came to be what it is today. The guide discusses the early beginnings from the Ice Age to modern day history. Learn more by viewing the online article entitled "A Caveman's Guide to Maine".

DeLorme Map Store

Located in Yarmouth, Maine, the DeLorme map store offers a wealth of maps, GPS, and mapping software for the state of Maine and around the world. The store has the world's largest globe in the front lobby. The store is very easy to get to as it is located within feet of a Route 295 exit; with easy on/off access to the highway. Worth stopping at on your way north. Combine it with a trip to one of the restaurants located in Yarmouth, Maine.

Lupine Festival - June 19-21, 2009 Deer Isle, Maine

The Lupine Festival will be held on June 19-21, 2009 on Deer Isle, Maine. Call (207) 367-2420 for more information or click on http://www.deerisle.com/.

Windham, Maine Summerfest 2009 - Sat, June 20th

The annual Windham, Maine Summerfest will take place on Saturday, June 20th, 2009. There will be vendors, crafters, games, contests, trucks, parades and more.

http://windhamsummerfest.com/

Blistered Fingers Blue Grass Music Festival - Maine

Performances will be on June 18-21, 2009. Four days of music and camping at the Silver Spur Riding Club in Sidney, Maine. Click here to visit the website at http://www.blisteredfingers.com/.

Paint Ball in Maine

Most ski areas in Maine offer attractions and recreational activities during the summer in a bid to keep their businesses thriving. Lost Valley of Auburn is no exception. One of their summer and summer activities is Paintball. Visit their website for more info.

Family Fun Day - Winslow Park, Freeport, Maine

Winslow Park in Freeport, Maine will have a Family Fun Day on June 20th (Saturday). In addition, it will host the Close to the Coast Run. There will be free admission to the park.

Click here for more information about Winslow Park & Campground in Freeport, Maine.