"There is More to Maine" : A new Tourism Slogan

Maine has a new tourism slogan. It is "There is More to Maine". Read about the change to the slogan for Maine tourism in the following news article. "New slogan woos tourists to all of Maine", Kennebec Journal, May 14, 2009. Click here for a list of places to visit in Maine.

Camden, Maine Restaurant Reopens

A Camden, Maine restaurant - destroyed by a fire - has been rebuilt and is now open for business. Read more about this very nice Camden waterfront restaurant.

Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NY, VT, NH, and ME)

The Northern Forest Canoe Trail stretches from Old Forge, New York to Fort Kent, Maine. Along its path it crosses over the states of New York, Vermont, into Quebec, New Hampshire, and finally Maine - ending along the Canadian border. The trail links the waterways of all of these states and a small part of Quebec. The 740-mile paddling route lies along historic routes used by early Native Americans and European settlers. For more information visit the Northern Forest Canoe Trail website.

Fishing Season in Maine

The fishing season is finally started here in Maine. Read a recent news article on how the season is shaping up. See Maine Outdoor Journal's online post entitled "Spring fishing in fine form for now". Click here to learn more about fishing in Maine.

Pineland, Maine Recreational Area

The Pineland Farms and recreational area is located on Route 231 in New Gloucester, Maine. There are many acres of land (fields and woods) set aside for recreational purposes such as hiking, orienteering, skiing and more. In addition, there is a lodge, small restaurant and bakery. There are also working sheep, dairy, and poultry barns. It has a beautiful garden with a wide variety of flowers planted. Click on Pineland Recreational area for more information.

Taste of Brunswick, ME - June 20, 2009

The "Taste of Brunswick 2009" will take place in Brunswick, Maine on June 20, 2009 from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm. There will be food and drink available by many of Brunswick, Maines local dining establishments. Music will also be present.

Click here for more information http://www.tasteofbrunswick.com/. Click here for more information about Brunswick, Maine.

Pittston Farm, Maine

Pittston Farm is a great northern Maine country get-away. Lodging is available to include single rooms or cabins that sleep up to seven people. The meals area all-you-can-eat. Read an article posted on Maine Today about Pittston Farm entitled "Get off the grid at Historic Pittston Farm". Visit the Pittston Farm website. There are lots of outdoor activities available in this are to include fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, hiking and more.

"The Way We Get By" - Troop Greeters of Bangor

Maine folks are a separate breed. What many people don't know is that we are also very supportive of our troops who fight for us overseas. This is demonstrated almost every day at the Bangor International Airport in Maine. This airport is a frequent stopover for military and civilian aircraft carrying troops to and from places like Iraq and Afghanistan. The airplanes stop off at Bangor to refuel. While the plane refuels the troops can get off the plane to grab some snacks, drinks, and coffee. As soon as they get off the plane they are met by the "troop greeters" who shake their hand and thank them for their service.

My daughter has gone to Bangor to be among the troop greeters and it was a powerful experience for her. As a member of the Army National Guard, I have returned to the states from deployments from both Iraq and Afghanistan, deplaned for a few hours at Bangor, and have experienced first-hand Maine folks welcoming me home. It truly is a unique experience. Mainers should be very proud of the "troop greeters".

A documentary film, entitled "The Way We Get By", has now been made about these "troop greeters" and you can learn more by visiting the website:

http://www.thewaywegetbymovie.com/

To learn more about the troop greeters visit:

http://www.mainesecurity.com/Troop-Greeting-at-BIA.htm

Fishing History Display at Maine Maritime Musuem

The Maine Maritime Museum located in Bath, Maine now has a fishing history exhibition on display. The exhibition is titled "Net Worth: The Rise and Fall of Maine's Fin Fisheries". The exhibition opened on May 2nd and will close on November 29th. Read more about the show in "Fishing nets on display help bring history alive at new exhibit", The Working Waterfront, May 14, 2009. The Maine Maritime Museum is located at 243 Washington Street in Bath, Maine. Click here for more information about Bath, Maine and museums in Maine.

Bar Harbor Maine Budget Tour

Are you looking for an inexpensive way to visit Bar Harbor, Maine? Down East magazine offers an online article that tells you how to do Bar Harbor cheaply - see "Bar Harbor on a budget". Click here for additional info on Bar Harbor, Maine or Acadia National Park.

Maine Farmers Markets

The Maine Federation of Farmers Markets provides a number of resources for those interested in farmers markets in Maine. There is a discussion group, news web page, a listing of Maine Farmers' Markets websites, rules and by-laws, news articles, and more.

What Did Indians Eat in Maine?

Did you ever wonder what the Indians of Maine ate in the olden days? DownEast.com has posted an online article on this very topic. "What the Indians Ate", DownEast.com, 2009.

Rafting Adventure in Maine

The rafting season is now upon us here in Maine. The different whitewater firms offering raft tours are ramping up with special tours and trips. One such firm - Northern Outdoors - is offering its "Raft'n Draft'n Mud" run the last weekend of May. This raft run features brewery tours, beer tastings, a pig roast, 4 mile Mud run, and live entertainment to take place in The Forks, Maine. Click here to learn more about whitewater rafting in Maine.

Wyeth Center Showing in Rockland, Maine

The Farnsworth Art Museum will provide a free showing of paintings by Jamie Wyeth from 7 to 9 pm on Friday, May 15th. The event will also include music, a cash bar, and tasty appetizers. Click here for more information "Rockland - 'Seven Deadly Sins' at the Wyeth Center", Knox Village Soup, May 7, 2009. Click here for more info about museums in Maine.

Freeport Village Station Opens May 16th

Some of the stores at The Freeport Village Station will open on May 16th. The stores opening are the first of many that will add to the Freeport, Maine shopping experience. The stores will open in stages - with Nike and Brooks Brothers opening first. Once completed the complex will house Calvin Klein, Van Heusen, IZOD, and other clothing stores. Click here for more information about Freeport, Maine.

Visit Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor, Maine is on Mount Desert Island and adjacent to Acadia National Park along the coast of Maine. This lovely tourist destination has lots of offer the traveler on vacation. There is boutique shopping, lovely inns, nice restaurants, and plenty of scenic views and opportunities for outdoor activity.

Recreation. There is lots of recreation available in the Bar Harbor, Maine area. Hiking, scenic rides, and other activities found in Acadia National Park is easily accessible. There are a number of golf courses, island cruises and museums.

Lodging. Inns, hotels, motels, and bed & breakfast arrangements in Bar Harbor, Maine are found in abundance.

Dining. There are a number of dining establishments in Bar Harbor. Some of the popular ones include Rapununi Restaurant, The Quarterdeck, Geddy's Pub and the Poor Boy's Gourmet Restaurant.

Click here for information about the weather in Bar Harbor or for a listing of maps for Bar Harbor.

Maine Birding Trail Map

On May 11, 2009 Maine will debut its Maine Birding Trail Map. The map and brochure is the result of the Maine Nature-Based Tourism Initiative. Read a news article about this event. Click here for more information about birding in Maine.

Maine Lighthouse Sightseeing and Tours

Maine has a number of lighthouses located along its coast. If you are interested in visiting one or more of these lighthouses then the two online destinations below will provide some useful information.

The Maine Office of Tourism has a web page entitled "Sightseeing & Tours Lighthouses". The http://www.travel-maine.info/ web site has a page on lighthouses in Maine.

Aroostook River 60 Mile Canoe and Kayak Race

The 2nd Annual Aroostook River 60 mile Canoe & Kayak Race will take place on Sunday, May 17th, 2009. Participants will launch at the Ashland Boat Launch Area. The finish line is located at the historic Fort Fairfield. Click here for more information about kayaking in Maine.

Birding on Deer Isle, Maine

The Wings, Waves and Woods Festival on Deer Isle will be sponsored by Island Heritage Trust, Downeast Audubon, and other organizations. This is a Birding Weekend scheduled for May 15-17, 2009. Read more at:

www.islandheritagetrust.org

Cumberland, Maine Farmers Market

The Cumberland Farmers Market Association operates in four locations - Cumberland, Yarmouth, Freeport, and Falmouth. The Falmouth and Cumberland markets will open in mid-May. The market is open at different locations on different days:

Falmouth - Wednesday
Yarmouth - Thursday
Freeport - Friday
Cumberland - Saturday

For more information visit the Cumberland Farmers Market Association website at http://www.cumberlandfarmersmarket.org/.

Living Along Maine's Coast

USA Today has published an online article about acquiring a second home (vacation home) along the Maine coast. It identifies some of the Maine coastal communities that are ideal for a vacation home. Read "Second homes: Live among natural beauty, native charm on Maine's coast" published on April 30, 2009. Click here for more information about the Maine seacoast.

Maine Birding Event

Mainebirding.net has announced a birding event for Saturday, May 16, 2009 at the New Gloucester Marsh - a Pineland Farms Field Trip. Click here for more info on birding in Maine and about New Gloucester, Maine.

How to Draw and Paint a Maine LIghthouse

Want to learn how to draw and paint a lighthouse in Maine? Go to the "Visit Maine" website for information being presented in Rockland, Maine in the "How to Draw and Paint a Lighthouse Workshop". Click here for more information on Maine lighthouses. Date is Thursday, May 7th, 2009.

Maine Island Trail

The Maine Island Trail has been recognized by the National Geographic Adventure Magazine as one of the 50 Best American Adventures. This honor was mentioned in the April/May issue. The Maine Island Trail is a superb way to kayak along the Maine coastline.

Read more about the Maine Island Trail and Kayaking in Maine at:

"Maine Island Trail Makes National Geographic List of Top American Adventures", Maine Business.com, May 1, 2009

http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/2009/04/50-best-american-adventures/list-text

Maine Island Trail Association

Kayaking Trips in Maine

Maps of Maine

The Maine Office of Tourism offers maps of Maine online. There are interative and activity maps available at the following link:

http://www.visitmaine.com/rich-media/maps/.

In addition, the www.Travel-Maine.Info website has a number of online map resources for Maine.

Seeds for the Garden - Maine Seed Companies

If you are still looking to buy seeds to plant in your garden (running a little late are you?) then consider some seed firms from Maine. The online article below lists several seed companies right here in Maine.

"Take a walk on the seedy side", Bangor Daily News, January 23, 2009.

Strawberry Island, Maine

Volunteers working with the Maine Island Trail Association (MITA) helped return a small island to a wilderness state. Strawberry Island is a small coastal property owned by the state located in Muscongus Bay, near Waldoboro, Maine. In the past an old cabin from the island was removed. Recently the cement foundation pilings and the old floor were removed and grass seed was planted. This is just more good work performed by the Maine Island Trail Association. Click here for more information about Maine islands.

Maine Nature Photo Blog

A nature photographer and kayaker from Maine shares his experiences and photographs on his online blog. The author is from Lewiston, Maine and he documents his nature excursions almost daily on his blog. The link to the Maine Nature Photos blog can be found at:

www.mainenaturephotos.blogspot.com

Stonington, Maine: Nice Place to Visit

Are you looking for a place to visit in Maine? One recommendation is Stonington, Maine. Stonington is a small fishing village located on southernmost tip of Deer Isle, Maine that is very picturesque. There are boats to the islands, some restaurants, small hotels, an opera house and some art. But for the most part it is a very beautiful working fishing port - lobstering and other fishing activities are the main source of income; not tourists. There are about a dozen small art galleries and studios that feature fine arts and crafts. Stonington is also the departure point (by boat) to get to the lovely Isle au Haut.

Maine Vacation Planner

For those of you who are traveling to Maine for the first time planning your vacation can sometimes be a time-consuming endeavor. In addition, it is really hard to choose what to see in one short week. If you are short of time to plan your vacation then try the suggested one-week Maine vacation outlined below.

Start your trip by traveling along the coast of Maine. Visit Portland, Freeport, Camden, Stonington, Bar Harbor and Mount Desert Island. Stay overnight in Portland, then choose between Freeport, Boothbay Harbor, or Camden for your next night stay. Stonington is also a possibility for an overnight stay followed by Mount Desert Island. After visiting the coast head west and inland to Moosehead Lake. Then south back to home.

Read more about planning a vacation in Maine.

The Bold Coast of Maine

The Bold Coast of Maine is a wonderful hiking destination for those who want to experience a coastal wilderness (see Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land). There are grasslands, meadows, headlands and cliffs located along this unspoiled coastline. Read of one persons experience along the Bold Coast in an April 25, 2009 news article entitled "Blue skies on the Bold Coast" on the Maine Outdoor Journal. For other hiking experiences in Maine click on "Hiking in Maine".

Smelts and Maine

Early May brings rainbow-smelt schools are doing their annual spring spawing runs. Read an article by a Maine author posted online (May 2, 2009) on the Kennebec Journal entitled "Ancient spring ritual". Click here to learn more about fishing in Maine.

Maine Lighthouse Keeper's House for Sale

A lighthouse keeper's inn located on the Isle Au Haut off the coast of Maine is for sale. For some small change ($2.2 million) you can purchase this picturesque and well-kept lighthouse keeper's inn. The Isle Au Haut is a very quaint and small island that does not have a lot of full-time residents. Read more in the "Lighthouse News" online news article of April 27, 2009 at "Lighthouse Keeper's Inn For Sale". Click here for more information about lighthouse locations in Maine.

Maine's Hiking Trails - Who Builds Them?

Have you ever wondered who builds and maintains Maine's many hiking and walking trails? The answer is lots of people of many different organizations. One group that helps maintain the trails is the Maine Conservation Corps. Read an article about this topic on WCSH 6's web site entitled "Maintaining and Building Maine's Hiking Trails". Click here for more info on hiking trails in Maine.

Visit Bath, Maine

Bath, Maine is located on the banks of the Kennebec River and is not far from the coast of Maine. The small city of Bath has lots of history - especially associated with its shipbuilding days in the past. It isn't a large city but it has all the amenities you need. It is picturesque, has the large shipbuilding firm Bath Iron Works (BIW), a lovely downtown section, and plenty of museums and sights to see.

Lodging. There are plenty of inns, motels, and hotels to stay at in Bath, Maine. Some lodging possibilities include the Fairhaven Inn, Pryor House B&B, Packard House B&B, the Kismet Inn, and the Inn at Bath.

Recreation. There are a number of recreational areas near Bath, Maine. These include the Doubling Point Lighthouse, Maine Maritime Museum, Reid State Park, Popham Beach State Park, and more. You can do a walking tour of the City of Bath or take a boat cruise.

Shopping. There is plenty of shopping in downtown Bath to include some specialty shops such as the Halcyon Yarn store and the Mariner's Compass Quilt Shop.

Maps. Click here to view maps of Bath, Maine.

Maine Travel Planner

If you are traveling to Maine soon you might consider requesting a Maine Travel Planner. This travel planner and highway map are available by requesting it online at http://www.visitmaine.com/guidebook/. For more information about traveling in Maine visit http://www.travel-maine.info/.

Return from Africa

I have now returned from my five-month long trip to Africa. So you will see me posting more frequently to the Maine Vacation and Travel Info Blog. It is great to be home!

Guided Snowshoe Trips in Maine

Are you interested in guided snowshoe trips in Maine? Check out the links below:

The Birches Resort - Moosehead Lake, Maine, 1-800-825-9453, www.birches.com
L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery School, Freeport, Maine, 1-888-552-3261, www.llbean.com
Sugarloaf Outdoor Center, Maine, 1-800-843-5623, www.sugarloaf.com
Sunday River Cross-Country Center, Maine, (207) 824-2410, www.sundayriverinn.com

Click here for more information about snowshoeing in Maine.

A Camden, Maine Wedding Planner

Looking to get married in Maine? How about planning your wedding for the lovely coastal community of Camden? And to make things easy for you to do that planning a blogger has provided a post that helps you with the process. Included in the post are suggestions for where to stay, where to get married, invitations, where to get your makeup put on, photographers, and more. See "Planning a Wedding in Maine: Camden", Maine Chickadee Nest, December 5, 2008. Click here for more information on dining, lodging or recreation in Camden.

History of Snowshoeing in Maine

Are you interested in the history of snowshoeing in Maine? The two links below will provide some information on this subject to you.

Snowshoes: A Gift From Gluskabe. Hudson Museum, The University of Maine.

Snowshoes and Norway, Maine. A short history.

Click here for more information about snowshoeing in Maine.

Old Fashioned Snowshoes for Sale in Maine

Here is a listing of firms selling old fashion snowshoes here in Maine.

Maine Guide Snowshoes. High quality traditional white ash snowshoes made by hand in Maine.

Theriault's Snowshoes. Old-fashioned snowshoes from Eagle Lake, Maine.

Click here for more information about snowshoeing in Maine.

WinteRush - Portland, Maine Feb 09

Portland, Maine is holding a winter festival on February 6-14, 2009.
WinteRush will provide winter activities for all ages in downtown Portland. The week-long festival is promoting health and fitness for the winter time. Winterfit is an associate program that will include cross county skiing, ice skating, sliding, snowball fights, scavenger hunts, and shoveling contests. Click here to learn more about dining, lodging, and recreation in Portland, Maine.

Snowshoeing in Maine

Trails.com has published their list of the twenty best snowshoeing trails in Maine. These locations include Table Rock, Douglas Mountain, Bald Mountain Trail, and more. Visit the website to see the top twenty Maine snowshoeing trails.

To learn more about snowshoeing in Maine click on the following link:

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

Camden, Maine WinterFest Jan 31, 2009

Camden, Maine will hold a Winterfest on January 31, 2009. This is the 7th annual community celebration of winter in Camden. Among the activities to take place are the Ice Carving Event, horse and wagon rides, culinary delights, live music, cross-country ski race, and more. Click here for more information about dining, lodging, and recreation in Camden, Maine.

Fort McClary, Maine

Read a post about a visit to Fort McClary located in Kittery, Maine. Some pictures and a narrative about a bloggers visit to the historic fort. See the blog post by clicking here. Click here for more information about Fort McClary in Maine.

Winter in Acadia National Park in Maine

Read an article about spending some time in the winter at Acadia. This is a descriptive article about what to do and places to see. Read "Five Adventurous Ways to Enjoy Winter at Acadia National Park". Click here for more information on things to do in Acadia National Park in Maine.

Maine Alpine Racing Association (MARA)

MARA is a non-profit corporation active in the state of Maine and affiliated with the alpine division of the USSA program. MARA's mission is to unite various alpine skiing organizations in Maine in one association that promotes amateur alpine skiing competitions for all ages. Here is their website: The Maine Alpine Racing Association (MARA). Click here for more general information on skiing in Maine.

WinteRush Festival in Portland, Maine (Feb 09)

MaineToday.com has published a short article about the planned WinteRush Festival to be held in Portland, Maine on February 6-14, 2008. View the article here.

Infrequent Posts

I am currently working overseas (Africa) on an extended contract with unreliable Internet access. My posts to this blog will likely be infrequent over the next several months. I will be back in the states in May 2009 and will resume blogging at that time. Thanks, Staff at www.travel-maine.info.