Maine is called both the "Pine Tree State" and "Vacationland." At this time of year I believe we can safely call it "Vacationland" as all our summer visitors stream into the state to enjoy all that we have to offer.
This month I offer two vacation-planning blogs for all of you who have friends and family who will be coming to visit. Some may never have been to Maine before. There may also be some information here that you as a Maineiac didn't know. I for one plan to visit the museum in Waldoboro devoted to antique toys which I didn't know existed. I may also visit the Old German Church over that way. My mother's family came from Dutch Neck, after all, where many German-Dutch folks settled.
Much of the information and pictures you see here come from a magazine called "Discovery Coast Magazine." You can request this magazine from the Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce at therealmaine.com. You might also suggest that your visitors check out villagesoup.com or coastaljournal.com to see what's going on when they arrive.
Part 1 of this vacation guide will cover places to stay; museum; and cultural and historical sites of interest to visitors. I only scratch the surface here and have mainly stuck to what is available in Rockland and surrounding areas and those places within a short car ride from Rockland.
I hope this guide will be helpful to you. Print this blog out and Part 2 and hand it to your guests to follow if you like.
Places to Stay:
Besides the two downtown motels: Trade Winds and the Navigator, you will find many other accommodations on the outskirts of town, mainly north on Route 1. I also highly recommend, if you can afford it, a one- or two-night stay in one of our historic inns. There are also windjammer cruise/historic inn packages you might also want to look into. Contact any of these inns for more information:
From left to right:
Berry Manor Inn; Captain Lindsey House; Granite Inn; LimeRock Inn
If you like to camp, please go to www.campmaine.com for all the information you could ever want about camping in Maine. Here you will find an interactive guidebook you can download. There is also a "Find a Campground" feature.
Along the coastal area near Rockland you will find these campgrounds. I have camped at MicMac Cove Campground, Lobster Buoy Campsites, and Sennebec. Sennebec has a dance hall and has a country-western dance on weekends. At least they did when I was there. You might want to check to see if they still do the dances.
The campgrounds are:
Camden Hills State Park, Camden
Chewonki Campground, Wiscasset
Lake Pemaquid, Inc., Damariscotta
Lobster Buoy Campsites, South Thomaston
Mic Mac Cove Campground, Union
Saltwater Farm Campground, Thomaston
Sennebec Lake Campground, Appleton
Sherwood Forest Campsite, Pemaquid
Townline Camping, LLC, Nobleboro
Here are some of the museums in the area you might enjoy:
Our South End Museum is on Mechanic Street on the Waterfront.
This museum is down on lower Park Street
The Transportation Museum is in Owls Head,
a short ride along the coast down Rt. 73.
The Wyeth Center, which houses works of art
by Andrew Wyeth and family members,
is located across from the Farnsworth Museum on Union Street.
Here are other places of interest culturally or historically you might like to visit:
Top: Fawcett's Maine Antique Toy and Art Museum, Waldoboro
Bottom: Owls Head Light, Owls Head
Top: The Old German Church, Waldoboro
Bottom: The Olson House,
scene of many Andrew Wyeth paintings.
The Rockland Breakwater and Lighthouse.
A mile walk out to the lighthouse, which has a gift shop.
Montpelier, Thomaston,
home of General Henry Knox,
Secretary of War under President George Washington
If you are camping down Pemaquid way, please visit Pemaquid Point, one of my very favorite places to visit in Maine. Here's why:
I hope I have given you enough ideas to keep your visitors busy. Now pray for lots of sun and no rain or fog. See you in Maine.
Thanks for listening.
No comments:
Post a Comment