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.

Ski Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, Maine

Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, Maine offers fun downhill skiing for all members of the family. For more info see their website - Shawnee Peak. Click here for general information on skiing in Maine.

New Gondola at Sunday River, Maine

The Sunday River ski resort has a new gondola in operation. Read about it in "New gondola enhances Sunday River", Worcester Telegram, December 5, 2008. Click here for more information about skiing in Maine.

Seagulls in Maine

Read an interesting article about the increase of seagulls in Maine (or at least the perception that the population is growing). See "Birds of a feather will sometimes flock together", Kennebec Journal, December 3, 2008. Click here for information on birds of Maine.

Artist to Paint Maine Lighthouse

A Maine artist will paint scenes of a the Cutler Little River Lighthouse.

"Karen Staake, of the nonprofit Friends of Little River Lighthouse, said the group actually commissioned Britton to create three separate images of the lighthouse, one last year and two this year, for products that the group is selling as part of its ongoing fund raising for the historic beacon, which is located on an island in Cutler’s harbor.Staake said, “Last year we commissioned Pam to paint a winter scene of the lighthouse that we named, “Winter Delight,” which we put on a sweatshirt. However, since our previous Christmas ornament was nearly sold out and because Pam’s “Winter Delight” image was so popular on the sweatshirt, we decided to use it on a new ornament for this year.”The image of the “Winter Delight” lighthouse scene is surrounded by oval brass with the words
Little River Lighthouse embossed on the top and Cutler, Maine is embossed on the bottom. “As an extra bonus,” Staake said, “the ornament comes in a gold colored box that makes it perfect for gift giving as well as proper storage for many years. Priced at only $15.00, we expect sales to be brisk for the holidays.” The
group is also selling the image as a print that is ready for framing".

Read the rest of the article at "Cutler Artist Tapped for Lighthouse Images", MaineBusiness.com, December 4, 2008. Click here for more information about lighthouses in Maine.

Gifts for Maine Hikers

If you are searching for a gift for a friend, spouse, child, etc who is interested in hiking or camping in Maine then you should consider buying a book or magazine subscription that covers that topic. See a recent article on suggestions - "Gifts make happy campers - and hikers", Maine Outdoor Journal, December 4, 2008. Click here for general information on hiking in Maine.

Winter Expo in Freeport, Maine

L.L. Bean in Freeport hosts a Winter Expo. See the excerpt below from the Maine Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club.

"LL Bean will be hosting a “Winter Expo” on Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 at their store in Freeport. There will be gear clinics and demonstrations to get you prepared for any type of winter adventure from nordic skiing, to snowshoeing, to camping. There will also be information from local organizations and clubs who have knowledge in these activities, such as the Maine Chapter of the AMC! The event is free and open to the public, so be sure and mark your calendars and get prepared for winter!"

Events for Dec 6-7, 2008 in Maine

The Sun Journal has listed a number of events taking place this weekend in Maine. There are Christmas concerts, plays, music shows, and craft shows. See "What's happening this weekend".

WinteRush - Portland, Maine Festival Feb 6-14, 2009

Portland, Maine is announcing plans for a winter festival to take place in February 6-14, 2009.

"WinteRush will provide exciting and fun winter activities that can be enjoyed by all ages in downtown Portland. The week-long festival was conceived as a way to promote health and fitness during what can often be a cold month. Healthy Portland with the City of Portland's Public Health Division and Let's Go! will host a series winter activities as a part of Winterfit, one of the components of WinteRush. Winterfit will include cross county skiing, ice skating, sliding, snowball fights, scavenger hunts, shoveling contests, relay races, and much, much more!"

Read more about this upcoming event in "Portland Announces WinteRush, Maine's Coolest Festival", MaineToday.com, December 5, 2008. Click here to learn more about dining, lodging, and recreation in Portland, Maine.

Holiday Arts & Crafts Show - Portland, Maine

The 31st Annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Show will take place on December 6-7, 2008 in Portland, Maine. The event will be held at the University of Southern Maine gym at 96 Falmouth Street in Portland. Hours are Saturday 9-5 PM and Sunday 10-4 PM. There will be almost 100 exhibitors selling their handcrafted products. Admission is $2 at the door. For more information visit the website of the United Maine Craftsmen.

Christmas Shopping in Kittery, Maine

The holiday shopping season has begun. There are lots of places to do your Christmas shopping in Kittery, Maine. The many outlet stores are located just over the Maine-New Hampshire border in Kittery. Kittery is easily accessible from the Maine Turnpike. For general information see "The Kittery Outlets". For more information click on any of the following - directions, map, directory of stores, and if you are staying overnight check out the accommodations and lodging. If you need a break from shopping consider one of the many restaurants to eat at to include the Weathervane, Warren's Lobster House, and Bob's Clam Hut. More information can be found at the website for the Town of Kittery, the Wikipedia encyclopedia description of Kittery, Maine, and of course, the Kittery Trading Post. Other websites providing information on shopping in Kittery include Kittery Shopping (with a description of many of the stores based on their location on Route 1), Kittery Premium Outlets, Maine Lobster Outlet, Inc., and Tanger Outlets.

Holiday Shopping in Maine

The holiday shopping season is in full swing here in Maine. The malls, downtown stores, outlet stores, and traditional tourist shopping spots (think Freeport and Kittery) are all geared up for the holidays. Read more about shopping in Maine in "Shopping frenzy begins", Portland Press Herald, November 28, 2008.

Thanksgiving Meals in Maine

Where to spend Thanksgiving:

The Travel-Maine.Info website has a page that offers lots of information on where and what to do in Maine during Thanksgiving - see "Thanksgiving in Maine".

Safety During Thanksgiving.

The Maine State Government has sent out a safety message entitled "Enjoy Thanksgiving Safely". It also has a "Turkey Day Safety Fact Sheet". And if you are NOT traveling and are preparing your turkey meal at home then here is some safety advice available from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension on "Helpful Hints on Handling Turkeys for Thanksgiving".

Ski Area Upgrades in Maine

Here is a blog post from Maine Outdoor Journal on some upgrades made to some of Maine's ski areas to include Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Saddleback. In particular, the article talks about Sunday River's Chondola. See "Sunday River's new 'Chondola' tops long list" posted on November 20, 2008. Click here for more information about skiing in Maine.

"Black Friday" Shopping in Freeport, Maine

The tourist town of Freeport, Maine will start the traditional "Black Friday" shopping day (day after Thanksgiving) at 12:01 on Friday, November 28th. They are calling this event the Freeport Moonlight Madness Shopping Celebration. Read more about this post-Thanksgiving shopping event in "Freeport merchants prepare for Moonlight Madness on Black Friday", Wolfe News Wire, November 20, 2008. Click here to learn more about lodging, dining, and shopping in Freeport, Maine.

Thanksgiving in Maine - Captain Fairfield Inn

Are you looking for a place to spend Thanksgiving in Maine? Try the Captain Fairfield Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine. Phone: 800-322-1928.

Low Cost Ski Trips in Maine

With the economy in the tank many folks are tightening their belts and cutting back on recreational expenses. However, for those active downhill skiers bargains exist in Maine if you do your research. One outdoors blogger in Maine has done that research for you. He has listed some of the value ski areas in Maine in his blog post. To see his recommendations visit "Ski deals for ME", Maine Outdoor Journal, November 20, 2008. Click here for more information about downhill skiing in Maine.

Maine Winter Get-aways with AMC

The Appalachian Mountain Club has family weekend get-aways that include snowshoeing, hiking, crosscountry skiing and other winter activities. The programs take place at the AMC lodges along the coast and in the Moosehead Lake region of Maine. Visit the AMC website for more information at www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodging-facilities.cfm.

Maine Birdwatching Info

Read a bloggers advice on where to do birdwatching in Maine. See "Birdwatching in Maine is the Ideal Spot for Birders or Birdwatchers", Halloween Costume Index Blog, October 2008. Visit this link to find more information about birding in Maine.

Thanksgiving Arts & Craft Show - Brewer, Maine

The 34th Annual Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show will take place on November 28-30, 2008 in Brewer, Maine. The event will take place at the Brewer Auditorium on State Street. Admission is $1.00 at the door. This is a great show for Christmas shoppers. Click on United Maine Craftsmen to find out more information.

A Farm Bed & Breakfast in Maine

Ever think about spending time on a farm in Maine? Well, you can do this. Spend some time at the Three Pines Bed & Breakfast and Farm located in Hancock, Maine. This farm is located near Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park along the coast of Maine. It is a waterfront farm with great views. Read a recent news article about this B & B in "Breaking from the herd to smalltown Maine", The Boston Globe, November 17, 2008.

Maine Lighthouse Collection Series

The Maine Lighthouse Collection Series is a series of travel posters that reflect the many different lighthouses and their varied surroundings found along the coast of Maine. The illustrations are done by graphic artist Alan Claude of Maine.

"The Maine Lighthouse Collection Series by award-winning graphic artist Alan Claude is a dramatic and bold interpretation of Maine lighthouses and their surrounding environments. With colorful contrasting imagery, dimensional light and shadow, these classic travel posters illustrations bring forward the strength and spirit of each Maine lighthouse".

Visit the website to view or purchase the lighthouse travel poster illustrations. Click here to read more about Maine's lighthouses.

Isle au Haut Chocolates

Read a review about the Black Dinah Chocolatiers who are located on the Isle au Haut of the coast of Maine. The author believes that these are the best chocolates possible! See "Black Dinah Chocolatiers: Amazing chocolates that blew me away", September 15, 2008, Slashfood.com. Find out more about the charming Isle au Haut. Click here to learn more about lodging, hiking, and camping on the Isle au Haut.

Portland, Maine - Nice Place to Retire

Portland, Maine was recently selected as one of the top ten places to retire by US News and World Report. The magazine cited the diverse landscape (seacoast and mountains), numerous healthy activities (walking and hiking), and Casco Bay with its many harbor islands. Read the article at "America's Best Healthy Places to Retire", US News and World Report, October 18, 2008. See the magazines retirement fact sheet on Portland, Maine. Click here for more information about Portland, Maine.

Thanksgiving 2008 in Maine

Now that the Maine fall foliage season and Halloween is behind us our thoughts now move on to other upcoming events. The activities for our household here in Maine during November are football, avoiding the hunters while hiking outdoors, shopping in Freeport, scenic drives to places like Camden, Maine, and planning for Thanksgiving. All the chores of wood cutting, splitting, and stacking are now done! Maine is a great place to spend Thanksgiving - click here for more information on Thanksgiving in Maine and read how Maine actually had the first New England Thanksgiving!

The Maine Brand - Products Made from Maine

Read an interesting online blog post about products made in Maine and how they are perceived by those "from away". A blogger from "Maine Food & Life Style" writes on this topic.

Morning Glory Inn, York, Maine

York, Maine is a wonderful community located on the southern coast of Maine. It has some great beaches and is convenient to travelers from the Boston area. There are many nice inns to stay at in York and the Morning Glory Inn is one of them. Read a news article about this inn in "Maine Inn an oasis away from bustle and beaches", Boston.com, October 19, 2008. While staying in the York area you can take day-trips to visit Maine's lovely seacoast, historic forts, museums, and lighthouses.

A Late Season Kayak Trip in Maine

The kayaking season in Maine is by most accounts almost over; but there are some small trips that can be attempted weather permitting. Read the account of a trip by a local Maine kayaker around a couple of Maine coastal islands (Head Harbor Island and Steele Harbor Island) near Jonesport, Maine. See "Make No Mistake: A Kayak Trip to Mistake Island in Downeast Maine", Waldo Village Soup, October 22, 2008. Click here for more information on kayaking in Maine

10 Reasons to Visit Acadia National Park in Maine

Acadia National Park in Maine is a great place for a family vacation. Here is one blogger who firmly believes that. Read his post in "10 Great Reasons To Choose Acadia For Your Next Family Vacation" on Shoestring-Travel.com. Visit this link for more information on camping, dining, lodging and visiting Acadia National Park.

Deer Hunting in Maine

Read one Maine native's exploration of what deer hunting means to a Mainer. See "Deer hunt keeps us close to earth", Kennebec Journal, October 25, 2008.

Maine Birders Network

A discussion forum for Maine birders (or birdwatchers as others know them) has been launched by a Maine "birder". See the announcement of this Maine birder forum. Click here to visit the website for the Maine Birders Network. Visit this link to find more information about birding in Maine.

Eat Maine Foods!

There is a local grass-roots movement here in Maine on how to eat the proper foods in a socially and environmentally conscious manner.

"Eat Maine Foods is the networking site of the Eat Local Foods Coalition of Maine (ELFC), a coalition of groups and people working to put more Maine foods on more Maine tables more often."

Find out more about this organization by clicking on http://www.eatmainefoods.org/.

November Calendar of Events

Looking for something to do during the month of November in Maine? Check out the "Maine Events Calendar: November" posted by the Maine Food and Lifestyle Blog.

Tactics for Deer Hunting in Maine

We are in the beginning of the deer hunting season here in Maine. The Kennebec Journal published an article providing helpful hints (tactics?) for hunting deer in Maine. Read the story here at "Best deer hunting tactic depends", Kennebec Journal, November 1, 2008.

New England Exhibition of Marine Artists

The American Society of Marine Artists 2008 New England Exhibition is taking place during the month of November at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine.

With several hundred historical maritime paintings in the collection, we need to remind ourselves that marine painting is indeed a living vital art genre. So it is that we are pleased to be hosting the American Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) 2008 New England Regional Exhibition. Seventy juried new works will showcase the member artists of this esteemed national organization and their diverse approach to maritime subjects of both contemporary and historical nature.

For more information on the exhibit click here. Click here for more information about dining, lodging, and things to do in Bath, Maine.

Maine Literary Festival - Camden, Maine

The Maine Literary Festival will be held in Camden, Maine on November 7-9, 2008 at the Camden Opera House. Click here for more information on the Maine Literary Festival. Click here for more information on dining, lodging, and events in Camden, Maine.

Augusta Arts & Craft Show

The Augusta Arts and Crafts Show will take place this weekend, November 8-9, 2008, at the Augusta Civic Center. Artisans will offer jewelry, hand painted ornaments, hand made linens, toys & puzzles, soaps, delicious food, and more. There will be over 120 booths of Maine made gifts. Read more at the United Maine Craftsmen website.

One More Week of Foliage Viewing in Maine

We probably have one more week of fall foliage viewing in Maine. While the northern, central and western areas have gone past peak leaf peeping time; the areas of southern and coastal Maine are still vibrant. Read a post on foliage viewing in southern Maine by "Hezzy's Sidewalk Talk".

USS Portland Memorial to be Rededicated

The memorial site of the USS Portland located on the Eastern Promenade of Portland will be rededicated on Veterans Day, November 11, 2008. The town, construction firms and other businesses have contributed $150,000 towards a repair and facelift effort. The USS Portland, a navy cruiser, was first commissioned in 1933 and saw service in the Pacific against Japan. The cruisers mast, bell and other parts of the ship were installed as a memorial at the seaside park in 1962. Read more about this November 11th event at "Ship memorial showing its age, gets a face-lift", Portland Press Herald, September 19, 2008. Read up on a little history of the USS Portland at this website and at http://www.ussportland.org/.