When you live in Maine, there is so much at your finger tips to enjoy in a place like not many others.
What You See. Walking The Cobble Streets, The Winding Alleys Up Hills In Quebec City Canada.
The coast line, the vast woods, the rolling farm fields and all the lakes, wildlife and smaller, but friendlier population of Maine boasts much.
But the option to hop across the border and sample some of Canada is always so easy. Quebec was dubbed New France by the French king and a visit to the old historic sections discovered by Samuel De Champlain is rich in the history that evolved since 1608 when a few toughed it out and the population of Frenchmen and their transported culture ignited.
Made a Memorial Day trip to Quebec City this year and surprised by the different feel of the 7th largest of the Canadian cities.
Partly because of growth and change since the last visit and because most of the prior trips across the Maine border were in February’s celebration of winter carnival. As a kid staying with my three older brothers and parents at the Hotel Frontenac which is one impressive hotel structure. More on Winter Carnival in Quebec City Canada.
The Sights, Sound, Food When Exploring Quebec City Canada Are Many. Discounted Loonie Helps The US Dollar’s Buying Power Too When Traveling To Canada These Days.
The Hotel Frontenac is dubbed one of the most photographed hotels in the World.
Just taking an image of the one and on and up up up sections of it pull you in to her charm. The Canadian Pacific railroad designed it to be a luxury hotel to accommodate the wealthy who make Quebec City a tourism stop. The Chateau Frontenac opened it’s ever expanding lobby doors in 1893.
It takes 318 miles or five hours, twenty minutes to travel from Houlton Maine parked on the US border to travel to Quebec City. That is shorter than the 6.5 hours to Boston MA and with the 25% US dollar advantage over the Canadian loonie, the reasons to make that trip to Quebec or other provinces waving the red maple leaf overhead extra attractive to the wallet.
Taking the Trans Canada from Houlton Maine up through New Brunswick and then cutting a hard left to enter into Quebec is faster sailing than up through Aroostook County.
We zipped up and back that route and it reminded me of all the trips across the border for hockey games because the two boys chased the black puck on the sheet of frozen water.
The large church cathedrals in the Quebec province are impressive and their fine details a sight to behold. The elaborate frescoes, the stained glass, stone and wood work. The the layout of Old Quebec and the building construction styles all add to the richness of a walk up the narrow side hill network of streets.
Hotel Frontenac In Quebec City Is Impressive, So Large And Varied In Design High On The Hill Overlooking The St Lawrence Seaway.
The history of defending the hill top fortress Fort Saint Jean from attack, the walking tours of today work up an appetite for the French cuisine.
Touring the fertile fields in the Ile D’orleans farm section, an island in the St Lawrence seaway just outside Quebec City.
And returning across the bridge, veer right to get a little exercise. Bring a rain jacket and hike up the network of stairs around Montmorency Falls. Where the brave strap on, attach their bodies to zip across the water falls by a fast cable ride that has a picnic area, playground on top to make it family friendly. The elevation offers the views of the area 7.5 miles from Quebec City.
Tulips In Quebec City Are Colorful! Lots Of Open Parks To Sit And Reflect.
Sample All Vacationland has to offer. Come to Maine, whenever you can. But make it a two nation vacation with our Canadian neighbors eh? The French Acadian culture, the history of the Atlantic Provinces of Canada are waiting to meet and greet.
And visitors to Canada are invited to cross the US International border to see what Maine has to offer. Maine is one big state and borders lots of Canada because we are so far north some say we should be “over home”.
Make a date to check out and collect Canadian tourist spots as you do the same in your sampling of Maine. I joke that Mainer’s are at least a third Canadian because of the cross border family connections.
My Dad’s Mom was 100% Canadian being born and brought up in Burtt’s Corner in New Brunswick Canada. Her maiden name was Burtt. As a traveler, bring you pass port but know you can easily hop back and worth to weave the best of both countries. Maine, Canada, where each side of the border has family ties and a deep connection from our long, fond historic roots.
I have a real job and it is not creating the Me In Maine blog post stream of news from up here in the upper right hand corner.
And the common theme I hear more than any is “get me out of the city, away from people.” Maine is a vast state and under nourished for population. The head count is low and the acreage of woods, farm land, water front is huge and unspoiled. Because the distance north protects and insulates the state of Maine.
Why People Pick Maine For Low Cost Property, The Wide Open Space. Low Population, Less Folks To Bump Into And Bug You The #1 Reason Order Up Maine.
So other people. Why are they the problem for many?
Because folks need to take Dale Carnegie and learn to win friends and influence people? No. That’s not it because I meet lots of people in my day job of listing, market, selling Maine real estate. That are friendly, personable and not difficult to deal with…but throw these same people into grid lock living of a city. Add a dash of crime, an element of noise and feeling jammed in and watch out. Things heat up like the tempers and anxiety levels.
It is the same do or die, fight or flight situation as an animal backed into a tight corner exhibits. With teeth bared, its shackles up. The nice as punch, easiest going dog, cat, person becomes a caged animal wanting to break out at all costs. They snap. That is why people buy property in Maine. They can breathe, not worry about plowing into someone that invades their space. They also can own and enjoy it without debt. Everything you know divide by three, four living in small rural Maine.
The stress of living with too many people, way too much regulation and high cost of surviving the urban landscape.
It is the reason folks age prematurely from the stress. They are not happy and no matter how much they try to retail therapy their way out of it, something is missing. Something money can not buy. Maine is outdoor experiences, the ability to get below radar and away from people. To spend time with me, myself and I.
This Is Not The Landscape Where Too Many People Live. Maine Is Less Population, More Natural Unspoiled Space To Enjoy As You Take It Easy.
Had a call this week from China. Joe is from Chengdu and teaches English. I told him in a phone conversation it must be neat to be fluent in Chinese and he says he is never going to stop learning that language.
He spied with his little eye a low cost house, land, near a lake and on a brook for $12,500. He wants a place to vacation at least once a year with the plan to move here full time someday. He has traveled extensively, is from California originally and has a buddy from Wales who also teaches English in China.
There is lots of demand for help teaching English and folks on the streets of China when they hear English flock to it to practice the language.
To become more proficient with the plan for many to take a leap to the USA someday. The land of opportunity. A cheap place for Vacationland ME real estate and why people buy property in Maine.
But back to Joe. He also has another friend who writes and is looking for a backdrop to crank up the creative literary juices. I told him after college, I worked in broadcasting in Bangor Maine, and for a time at a station writer Stephen King owns. And if you digest any of his many books, Maine is a common setting with a twist on the places to add spark to the fiction of his works.
The time zone difference, knowing China does not spring forward or fall back to save on the time to match the calendar here in Maine.
A dozen hours, it was 11:30 at night there and 11:30 in the morning on the call as crystal clear as a bell with no delay or static. I have been sending him property video links and bring him up to speed on how things rock and roll in Maine. He likes what he sees, hears and is sharing in his cyber circle. Others connected to his sphere are reaching out from far away lands and the spinning blue and green marble is becoming smaller, more accessible to many.
Easy Does It, Everyone Is Not Strung Out, Including The Animals. Plenty Of Elbow Room, Living Space Does That! Get To Maine For A Sample.
The same day another phone call from St Barths, an Caribbean Island. The caller with a thick French accent, asking about a church for the same $12,500 price tag we must be running a special on in Maine real estate. So much for so little makes Maine a bargain for property listings and add the sauce surrounding it of eye candy, less people, more wildlife and the strong connection to get some real estate intensifies. It is why lots of our sweat and tears is poured into telling, showing the outside audience what Maine is like.
Another caller from Garmisch, Germany buzzed in through thin air of a wireless signal.
He told me the location in Bavaria, near Germany’s highest mountain was the site of the 1936 World Olympics. Evidently whoever picks the venue for the next global games requires a certain size population. So Hitler anxious to be the host city combined Garmisch (in the west) and Partenkirchen (in the east). They had been two separate towns for many centuries, and still maintain quite separate identities. See link above on the location in Germany.
Have had a seller from England sell a home he bought from us to a purchaser from Ireland we located from one of our blog posts on simple Maine living. People move, look for a better location or just to sample a new part of the World. Traveling is easier today and folks have more disposable money to burn.
They don’t only come to the New Land riding in clipper ships, the Plymouth Rock models or the square back ones Chris Columbus navigated in search of rum, spices, real estate for the taking by planting a flag, for the fame and fortune. To go down in the history books as a remembered name echoed through time.
Church For Sale In Maine! $12,500! That Makes The Phone Ring, Email Server To Glow Hot Around The World.
One buyer from Seattle Washington has boat loads of blue chip software tech stock that went through the roof in value.
And did not want his four cats to ride on a commercial airline so he chartered a private Lear jet to whisk them away to Maine. I had to pick them up at the Houlton Maine airport and get the pilot and two other crew members a ride to a rental car place, to the check at a local motel.
The cost was $15,000 for the one way delivery of the felines and the pair of fly boys and stewardess were leaving the next day on touch down in Boston for the return back haul of a family heading to the west coast.
So back to the day job of peddling properties and will keep shooting images, uploading videos about life in Maine. The way life should be and a place where not many other areas of the World can compare.
Taking a sea cruise to Maine, to anywhere on the planet can be a whole lot of fun.
Sometimes the little boat ride is a short one on a ferry to says Cranberry or Peaks Island Maine for biking, hiking exploring. But other times when you are in Bar Harbor Maine you see a large ocean sea cruise boat. That empty their 3000 to 4000 cruise boat passengers ready to play tourist inland at a Maine town or city. To come ashore, to ply the streets of a deep water port in Maine. Searching for local food or gift items, a t-shirt, souvenir with Maine written across it.
Cruise Ship Vacations, Those Big Boats Come And Park Off Maine Harbor Towns.
What are the cruise ship destinations in Maine?
You want to take a sea cruise to Maine. To shake life up and to see what is missing. Well the ports of Portland, Rockland, Bar Harbor, Eastport, Freeport, Kennebunkport, Portland, Rockland, Bath, Boothbay Harbor, Camden, Belfast, Searsport, Bucksport, and Bangor all get visits from the large cruise ships.
The Canadian member ports of Campobello Island and Saint Andrews by the Sea in Downeast Maine get visits from the huge floating hotels. That are like gigantic, piled high resorts riding the waves around Vacationland.
So what is the magic of a cruise Vacation? I have been on seventeen cruises and can throw in my two cents of the subject. First, travel is never a waste of time or money. To experience how another part of the World lives, how other areas rock and roll broadens your life perspective. The poverty of a third world island community is sobering. But the rich pride in the blue green waters surrounding it, in the often hard fought independence from an Imperial force makes the sand and sun island life shines brightly.
Have had my kids notice something very important from the settings beyond just around the cruise ports on an island. Where the locals put their best foot forward for marketing their goods and tourist services.
From my experience, instead of booking a tour on the boat that are more expensive and involve longer tedious days herding the other cruisers packed in like sardines. It works better to do those excursions from the cruise boat from a different approach.
In a cruise ship stop in say Jamaica, it is better to wait until all the cruise ship passengers on those large excursions crowd the hallways to get to deck zero and exit the boat. Then take your time getting up, eating your breakfast and packing the snorkel gear, sun screen and beach towels for the day in port ahead of you.
Cruise Ships Park In The Harbors Of Many Exotic Locations Around The World.
You get off the cruise ship boat without any pushing or shoving, looking for a taxi van to hire for the day.
Scanning the dashboards to see a well worn bible and then having a chit chat to spell out what you would like to accomplish on the day in paradise that the cabby calls home. You explain you want to go to a beach, the one he would take his family to, not the tourist trap nearest the cruise ship. You want him to come back to the beach in about three hours, and to line up his cousin who has a small boat and will take your family snorkeling where the fish are most colorful and plentiful.
Then on the cab driver’s return to beach, to take a guided tour of the island he knows so well as a local native.
Show us the Fern Gully, take us to Dunn River Falls for the trek up the waterfalls one rock at a time with a hand holding side to side attack up the eight hundred foot course.
Then to take us to a compound protected from the pan handlers to shop in peace. To go from shop to shop and dicker with the merchants. Where your kids learn to walk away from something they want but not at the sticker asking price. So they get a better deal, or two for one in the simple business exchange.
Then before the cruise ship blows the loud low fog horn warning passengers to climb back on before the captain pulls back the gang plank, to wrap it up. With a combination of sun and fun and trinkets from the island visit as you prepare for a day at sea or another island stop tomorrow. And ding ding ding of the dinner bell. It’s time to eat because every twenty minutes you are pretty much grazing on something good to eat all served up by folks from all over the World. Your service providers on the boat can be a cabin steward from the Far East, your waiter from Colombia, his assistant from St Vincent. The cruise director from New Zealand, the drink lady from Latvia or Serbia or another Baltic country.
Cruise Ship Vacations In The Sun And Fun.
The cruise ships are big, efficiently laid out, have lots of entertainment options from live music dancing to piano bar small and intimate settings.
They are floating hotel resorts parked off another West Indies island jewel. The boats float all around the globe and sea cruises to the Alaska, Hawaii, through the Panama Canal or over to Europe and everywhere in between.
The kids in the island stops go to school long days, wear uniforms of bright white to contrast with the wicked tans and bronze skin. Your own kids will see flapping sheet metal roofs peeled back from the last hurricane. The poverty of the inner regions of many island stops that the four color brochure does not display are educational.
The folks with little are happy, connected, need and work with each other. And if they are poor, they don’t know it. They are rich because they are grateful. They appreciate what they have. What a lesson to show your kids while growing up to expand their vision and to know how lucky we really are and the difference of third and first world problems.
Sea Cruises In Maine, Taking A Boat Ride To Three Or More Island Stops.
Taking a cruise on a very big ship. There are lots of boat brands to pick from… I am partial to Carnival Cruise Lines. Heck bought stock that is doing well from the line that owns more than the 25 whale tail boats.
Family oriented, kid friendly and they have the water slides, all the bells and whistles that keep all the ages happy. The kids are on vacation too … the Carnival cruise lines realizes that important factor.
Unless you’re a major drinker or down and dirty gambler, everything is paid for on the boat cruises. The shore excursion are up to you to add to the fun when you are not on the ship and heading inland.
From the live shows to the heavy duty array of all kinds of food to the sleeping staterooms with or without balconies. Sea cruises are one highly efficient way to vacation. Unpack once, leave the driving to the skipper as he tools around the islands on your cruise itinerary.
Cruise Ship Vacations, They Are Not Little Tug Boats. Nothing Small About The Dozen Story High Water Hotel Resorts.
Maine is one pretty state with four seasons to explore and discover the magic of this hidden location.
But moving around the crystal blue green water with palm trees and local fresh fruits and the colorful people of an island can transport you to Margaritaville.
Have you cruised on the open seas, been on a boat ride and to where?
Have you ever stopped in Maine on a cruise ship vacation? You might want to come to Maine by sea and not a highway or touching down on an airport runway.
The location of Downeast Maine, where the region starts and stops is hard to nail down.
The term Downeast or Down East Maine has been used loosely since the word first appeared in a dictionary in 1825. “Downeast” is a sailing term too. The prevailing winds along the Maine coast blow from the southwest in the warm months, so ships from Boston were able to rundownwind as they sailed along Maine’s north-easterly-trending coast. Or so reported like a true skipper Colin Woodard with his explanation of where the term originated in his bookThe Lobster Coast.
Ever Been To Downeast Maine? Learn More About The Region In Washington And Hancock Counties.
Woodard examines Downeast Maine’s complicated relationship with Massachusetts that combined with what else was happening almost a decade before the pilgrims spied and named the rock.
When European settlers were barely eking out a living along the rocky Maine coast. Where their weary, weathered descendants fended off aggrieved Indians, French raiders, self serving English lords. And greedy land speculators all had a hand in the forces forging. Shaping the unique lobstering communities of coastal Maine.
Downeast Maine is small fishing communities, a little less touristy than coastal sections closer to the Granite, Bay states.
The terrain is hilly, soils rocky, sandy. Nd not like the Caribou loam profile of Aroostook County, the garden of Maine. Downeast Maine is not easily accessed by simply turning on a right hand turn signal. No quick zip trek to reach from an Interstate 95 off ramp. It takes time to weave in and out along old US Rt 1. Like threading the eye of a needle. Downeast is more difficult to reach from land than from sea. During periods of fog, when it is snowing and blowing fluffy flakes or through a weather spell of freezing rain. Those batton down the hatches, zip up your rain or winter wear snuggly during a weather northeaster.
The distance, difficulty for travel insulates and protects like lots of far away corners of Maine.
Where on a day trip you just arrive and like travel to the Moon have to quickly shift gears and think about heading for home. Low on the fuel of precious time. That is part of what protects the craggy, rock bound coast of Downeast Maine. And why there are not easy directions for tourists when wanting a quick answer fix to finding tourist attractions and getting a slow, dry reply of “you can’t get there from here”. (The correct pronunciation “You caunt get thar from here-ah”)
Rough Seas Outside Maine, Come Ashore, Land Your Vessel.
When the native asked for the tenth time today gives up, because the travel help just causes grumbles about what a stupid way to lay out your town. When the locals have no trouble at all and like it just fine.
Downeast Maine is not like anywhere else, not trying to be and hangs tough to what helped it keep going and survive the storms of life.
Don’t expect cookie cutter like modern grid row communities and remember the terrain, weather, tight economics all add more wrinkles to the Downeast experience that defies zoning and does not seek perfect order. Clinging instead to the days before the steamers and when clipper ships, King pines, fishing canneries, maritime folklore of dance and music, rich sea coast history and tradition ruled the day.
So back to the drawing the dotted line on the cake of Maine to cut deep and carve out a piece of tasty Downeast Maine.
Downeast Maine, where exactly does it start or stop again? The tourist information people slice the watery eastern side of Vacationland to include “sections” of the Maine coast so the local merchants can focus just on their backyard. Because on a three day weekend, you are not going to be able to sample all of Maine coastline. Pace yourself as a traveler with only so much time. Focus on your area as a merchant not wishing to waste a drop of the expensive promotional dollars. It’s regions, not one of the sixteen counties easy to figure out the where the travel slide show is taking you today in Maine.
Hancock County has the longest coastline of any of Maine’s sixteen land sections. In Washington County no democrat has led the county since Hubert Humphrey back in 1968. What about the Downeast Maine lighthouses included in this northern most section of coastline? I know Cape Elizabeth’s Portland Headlight gets most of the press, but West Quoddy Headlight is one of the prettiest in Maine in her crisp, clean, dramatic red and white attire. She is the Eastern most lighthouse in Maine, the USA.
Float Your Boat To Maine. Get Here Anyway You Have Available. Cutler Maine Pictured, Downeast.
I think West Quoddy Headlight’s northern coastal location across from Maritime Canada, Campobello Island makes her a jewel the average traveler runs out of gas and never gets to see.
We took a little road trip down to Machias Maine, the county seat for Washington yesterday. Had some fried clams, fish chowder at Helen’s Restaurant and admired the Downeast setting. Less tourists, much snow than Northern Maine today, plenty of fractured ice along the waterways. A visit to Roque Bluffs State Park is one recommendation if you are in the Machias area of Maine. For the smell of salt air, vision of coastal eye candy and to feel the breeze that makes you pull up your collar, tug on your zipper.
Blueberries, one more word to describe Downeast Maine. Like Central Maine children collect eggs out of the hen’s nest, Northern Maine children pick potatoes out of the ground, Downeast youngsters and their families rake blueberries from the barrens.
Machias Maine, County Seat For Washington Is Part Of Downeast Maine!
Front page insertions about food pantries, winter fuel heating assistance, volunteers sought to count homeless residents all show how Maine coastal communities ban together. To help each other, and leave no one out in the cold or overlooked. Especially during the darker, snow filled months, the stark off season tourist months. When folks hunker down and wait for spring. Your turn to deal in the cribbage board game Chummy. Pass the sardines please Bub. You going ice fishin’ this weekend? Heard the catch was wicked strong off the point. A yuh. Headin’ upta camp.
In both newspaper publications, towns grapple with local regulations for marijuana gets front page press ink in larger font type. Fifty two percent of Washington County did not support the latest pot referendum but Maine as a whole did by about four thousand votes.
Now talk about moving forward with how best to handle pot out in the open suggests moratoriums for a year. To figure out regulation, enforcement, penalties, how to guide best, how to test for sobriety and what about edibles that all on the table in small Maine communities. Who are looking to the Maine Municipal Association for guidance on legalize pot. Some towns in Maine reaching out to learn about how Oregon, Colorado and Washington state rolled out legalize marijuana growing programs to study for the private and retail sector.
Fresh Fish, Your Are In Maine Remember?
The veteran of the month is highlighted in the Machias Valley News Observer, the local Maine newspaper serving its region for over 160 years.
In the newspaper edition I held up, opened wide for the peek into Downeast Maine, a World War Two vet was the topic of discussion. Many in the audience no doubt somehow related to this service vet. Veterans are gone but not forgotten and remembrance is the least you can do for the many who gave some, the some who gave all. Amen.
Local sports teams like all of Maine towns are big news as thoughts of another or the first gold ball for the school trophy case are entertained by everyone young and old. ” The Narraguagus Lady Knights basketball team slays the Woodland Knights” the headline reads. Local photos from Steuben, Jonesport, Barney Cove in Beals, Maine all add to the literary seasoning of the local newsprint of Downeast Maine.
News highlights in the local Downeast press edition we scanned highlighted the Calais Maine hospital marks it’s 100th anniversary.
It shows a 1917 image from back when it was on Church Street. An image of Bohemian Waxwing birds flying in and out to feast on apples and berries was showcased for readers. New books at the Pembroke Library highlighted… one titled “The Kamikaze Hunters” by Will Iredale.
Maine. The Jewels Are Out In The Open, Glistening, Sparkling The Daylight. Not Trapped, Under A Light In A Locked Up Tight Display Case. Cutler Maine Island.
Contra dances, Celtic music, boat builders meeting, benefit suppers, bug delicacies tasting and education, senior socials, a beam raising ceremony, soul foot pot luck supper, mind reading, workshop on making sauerkraut, moon light snow shoe/ski/food hike. Everything happening in the local setting make the news announcements and gets coverage in the weekly papers Downeast.
To mark the new year, the Great Sardine pictured, dropping from the Tides Institute and Museum of Art building in downtown Eastport at midnight. Also a historic tug boat that parted from its mooring in St Andrews Canada because of high winds during a winter storm was pictured listing to one side on shore in Robbinston, Maine.
The 60 foot T.B. McClintic was built in 1932 at Bath Iron Works and had a rich maritime history racking up the nautical miles out at sea. Luckily the sea vessel was able to power off on the incoming tide the following day with calmer seas and the journey across the St Croix River to return to St Andrews.
Who says there is nothing going on in a small Maine town?
Downeast Maine, you want to vacation but need some ideas on what to do and where in Vacationland. The Pirate Festival in Eastport and Lubec Maine is one worthwhile outing. There is an Eastport Ferry Service to help get you on the water, from land lubber point to point. To help you during the Pirate Festival develop your sea legs. Wicked fun time if you can make it to Downeast town wide celebration. Now let’s go clamming! Ready?
Bar Harbor Maine is part of the lower end of Downeast coastal sections but seems so much more prosperous and polished that something is lost in the authenticity.
Maine Has A Slew Of Waterfront Options For Vacations, Like Downeast Maine Up North On The Coast.
There is spin in that four color high gloss representation of Downeast that seems a little slick, a lot more expensive. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are a tourist attraction that is hard to resist and she is the rich relative because of the wealth. The old and new money people that all had the same idea in where to head. In migration to this coastal Maine destination for summer vacation homes and nightly sea cruises where breakwaters were installed to avoid spilling your cocktail while conversing and spotting whales, seals, bald eagles and lighthouses.
Lobster recipes in Downeast Maine. The crustaceans start out dark green and end up bright red. But if I had my druthers, just set me in front of a very large bowl of steamed clams with the broth for dipping, in the stripping and bathing in butter before down the gullet. With a splash of micro red or white something from a local brewery of barley pop and topped off with a seaside setting with your family in Maine. It does not get better than that.
Sample Maine, all of her. Even if it takes a lifetime.
Fishing For Something Missing? Maine. Find It Here.
When you say you vacation at the Maine coast, that does not nail down the where exactly about are you talking? And don’t make the trip the same season if you want to get a completely difference travel experience. Often times the best Maine coastal vacation is without all the people like the open highway when it is not drive time busy.
Vacations, time away to be below radar and unplug, to recharge in Maine.
Come at the beginning, ends, before and after the tourism season’s highest pitch for the down low, real connection.
Fill your lungs with the sea salt air, your eyes with the expanse of rock and coastal fresh water. Your plate with another helping of fish, clams, lobster but save room for a slab of blueberry pie topped with drizzling scoops of ice cream. Learn about the Acadian and Canadian history. Lots of stories to hear. Pull up a chair, roll down a window, make the trip.
Mention the word “Maine”, and here come the seacoast towns and beach regions that cause much of the audience excitement.
But ask for the show of hands to figure out the favorite section of sand or craggy rocked bound coastline of Maine and the results vary greatly. Because people are so different.
Your Maine Vacation, Does It Involve Salt Air, The Sound Of Surf And Ocean Water?
The sound of the crashing surf, the smell of salt air and visuals when you are lucky enough to be on the ocean in Maine casts it’s lifelong spell.
And wherever you begin the time spent on the Maine coast, will probably be a spot on the map to revisit often through out the course of your life time. To check in with Andre the seal. Whatever the Kodak moment attraction.
Lots of fond memories with loved ones and the Maine beaches, lighthouses, sand and rock in the back drop is the main reason why.
The friendly, down to Earth folks that live in these areas and serve the tourists well is another for the come on back any time you can.
Maine is blessed with 228 miles of the ocean frontage.
Other states along the Atlantic coast line did not far so well. New Hampshire weighs in with 13, Massachusetts that Maine broke free from in 1820 has 192 miles worth.
The Wedding Cake House In Kennebunk Maine, One Of The Most Photographed Homes.
Rhode Island treasures it’s 40 miles of coast line. Connecticut did not get any. New York promotes it’s 127, New Jersey next door pushes it’s 130 miles many ways. Delaware and Maryland are nip and tuck for waterfront bragging rights on ocean frontage with 28 and 31 respectively.
So back to Maine vacations, the where to go for a first time visit?
How much time do you have? How much do you want to spend for moolah if lodging at other than a state park or high tailing it inland to get the motel rates down to Earth?
For economical motel lodging along the Maine coast, in Kennebunport Maine you might look into Rhumb Line Resort.
WARNING: The more expensive the wedding spread, the less smaller or any children at all get the invitation to pull up a chair around the linen topped, crystal and silver settings for multi course meal table.
(Hope you get your “plus one wedding invitation” added rider clause box to check off. Along with the surf, turf, veggie or spam, cereal or other menu food fare selections.)
Besides US Presidents #41 and #43, Jeb Bush is getting a new Maine home away from home of his own. Built at the Bush family compound on Walker’s Point.
You do feel the Secret Service scans, from a far pat downs as you just point the camera toward the home of two of the highest pay grades of them all in public service sector. God bless America.
Walker’s Point, The Bush Family Compound On Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport Maine.
The lighted red, white and blue flag on the point gives you the same feeling as after someone sings that song before the “play ball” shouted.
Lots of background selfies happen with this high taxed town chunk of Maine in the back ground.
For a budget stretching place to stay at Wells Beach a few miles to the south of Kennebunkport Maine, consider tapping out the phone numbers or emailing the N’er Beach Motelfor an ocean vacation fun.
Plenty of food options, a trolley like the other Maine coastal tourist traps that you want to get pulled into willingly happens in Wells, Moody Beach that is not far from Old Orchard Beach too.
One Beach Is Not Exactly Like The Next. This One In Maine In Kennebunkport At Dusk.
To explore Acadia National Park, see Thunder Hole, check out a couple lighthouses like Egg Light with it’s seals basking in the sun on an island, or Bass Harbor with its red lens and zip for parking.
So consider parking and biking in and out. And all along the 50 miles of Acadia carriage trails. With some very intricate granite bridges and stone work. Consider using your bike to roll on. To take the ferry from Portland to Peakes Island for bike ride. A quick easy spin with peddle power.
Like what you order off the menu at your favorite restaurant, often you know you should be adventuresome and try a new beach in Maine.
To sample another coastal Maine town and all it offers in a new and distinctive way. But it is hard when the temptation wanes and you order up the same beach in Maine to visit year after year. And each season is a variation on the same theme kinda sorta.
The Big Boats, Not Powered By Small Horsepower Motors Hanging Off The Aft Ends.
Say if you like Maine lighthouses, consider the hide and seek and joy of finding another. To add to your collection at Squirrel Point lighthouse in the Boothbay Harbor region as an example.
Maine has a lot of coast, more than most. And life is short if you plan to practice your take off, landing skills. To touch down barely and lift up quickly. To again, again. To sample the 228 miles coastline for a Maine vacation.
The coast of Maine, letting go and pulling the plug to recharge naturally, off grid. To reflect on life, the how’s it going for you weigh in to get your bearings. Find magnetic north. All that sea shore and what life is like along the coast is pretty special but only one facet of the vast Maine jewel.
The coastline gets more interesting, less commercial though while we are on the subject. As you venture north along Rt 1. Get off the Interstate 95 corridor. Check out Milbridge, Maine. Go further north to Lubec, Eastport Maine, West Quoddy Lighthouse, the local eateries.
Maine Ocean Front Small Protected Harbors. You See Lots Of Big Watercraft, Clever Boat Names. Mine Would Be “Liquid Asset”.
Hang on pirates, to go ashore at President FDR’s vacation cottage. Get your sea legs for the short boat ride to Campobello Island. To experience real, raw, all pure and natural Downeast Maine. Without the vacations in Maine four color glossy hype.
Yes, in some regions of Maine to play it up for the tourists with the “you can’t get there from here-uh Chummy” there is some commercial posturing.
To play for the cameras, an open microphone. Anyone holding a tall, top ringed reporter’s notebook. To create a few catchy soundbites, grab some free press with full color 8×10’s, lots of black ink about lob-STAH that is some kinda wicked good Bub.
Fueling Up In A Maine Harbor. Anchoring For The Night To Come Ashore. Sample Whatever The Small Maine Coastal Town Serves Up.
It’s hard tellin’ without knowing don’t ya know. Unless someone speaks up and spreads the word about Maine, the way life should be.
Have you been to Maine and to other places besides just the coast?
Consider the ski areas, the fall foliage tours inland and to see wide open farms, vast timbered northern sections of Maine. Not just the Maine beaches. The coastal tourist attractions where some have cruise ships parked out in the harbor.
Maine beaches, coastal towns for vacations. Those are only one Maine tourist trap you don’t really mind falling into and go willingly. But there is more.Maine, so much to explore, but only a short life time to do it.
Space, lots of it. Not worrying about interfering with any other person’s privacy, happiness, their personal life enjoyment. And likewise, no other of our fellow man or woman bumping into our bubble.
And it snow balls from there. More space, less or no people in an underpopulated rural state like Maine means the local water resources and the land turf is not over used and abused.
It Is The Prettiest Weed I Can Think Of… Lupines.
Like a home where no one is around to clutter it up, there is not so much housekeeping to perform to pick up after yourself, someone else.
And the folks that return to Maine for the solitude have a respect. Developed like the die hard locals. To carry in, pick it up and tread lightly. Leave everything like you found it or in better shape if possible as you become a vigilant, good steward.
And when you have a lot of people to herd like an urban area does, there are layers of players.
Plenty of thickly stacked permits, regulations to apply and slow everything to an expensive crawl. To corral and keep everyone in line with lots of rules.
Clusters Of Lupine, Sometimes They Are More Spaced And Scattered.
Plenty of crowd control applications and lots of little bureaucratic kingdoms to arm wrestle with in the hurry up and take a number, have a seat. To maneuver around to get even the smallest of stuff accomplished in an overbooked life.
In small rural Maine traffic is gone. Replaced with outdoor beauty, scenery, wildlife, wooded sections, waterways, open space. We use the land, create wealth from the dirt in so many versions of farming.
Delays getting cross town to appointments, return to the hardware store for the right wicket, to pick up bread and milk… all the errands are quick, simple, no road rage elevating the temperature under the driver’s collar.
Crime stats peg us at the fourth lowest for breaking the law.
Eye contact made, manners displayed with an extra helping of consideration. There is a small town, intimate connection in Maine communities. A tight wrapped we’re all in this together and aren’t we all lucky to live here the way life should be.
Day Is Done In Maine. Fresh Rain, Sunset Sunshine Combine.
Is it like that where you are now? Do cars get stolen, windows broken to steal the contents? Maine keys in rural areas never leave the ignition, house doors left unlocked too. Because we are far enough away and folks are taught as little grasshoppers to respect other people’s feelings, their personal property too.
Lower cost house and car insurance because the price tag for both types of coverage is lower. Because the real estate prices are closer to the ground.
Like I said, it snowballs. The extras that combine from the long list of what we don’t have that you don’t want but have to grin and bear it, just accept with a bite the bullet by choosing to live in the city.
Combined it all with the natural beauty a place like four seasons Maine is famous for and that word is getting out about thanks to people buzzing on the Internet.
Have you been on the fence about living in a place like Maine?
Or at least investing in a piece of it for the R and R we all need to unplug, recharge? Thank you for following our Me In Maine blog posts and eyeballing the imagery that the copy wraps around as we hunt and peck about the place we all love so much. Maine, it may just be what has been missing in your life.
