Category: Travel Tips

Maine, She Starts Slow And Slowly Grabs Every Single One Of Your Heart Strings

Maine, what’s the big attraction?

For many it is a lot of little things. But always, a major part of the pull to Maine is the friendly nature of the small communities that dot Vacationland

Lots of space, plenty of fresh air, clean water and drop dead gorgeous Maine scenery.

But it is more than the elbow room and hard working family oriented folks that call Maine home.

Horsing Around In Maine. What Is Your Hobby, Passion, Pastime That Recharges You?

The location wedged up into Canada adds a two nation vacation aspect to those who discover Maine. The state of Maine can boast 3,478 miles of rocky, sandy, scenic coastline. That weighs in more than California and if you add in the islands, the shoreline tally jumps to over 5,000 miles of land bordering water. Water fixes everything remember?

And lakes, think there is enough waterfront to enjoy with 2677 lakes or pond in Maine? An extra 222 lakes or ponds without names are on that list too if you add them in to the tally. There are also another 1022 too small lakes that were catch and released, thrown back in small fry.

But there is more than the blue green of the water and heavily forested lush landscape of Maine to grab your attention on Vacation here. Hiking up Mount Katahdin or a slew of other trails. Ski Sugarloaf USA or Sunday River or one of the smaller low cost family friendly peaks.

Explore, Discover Maine. The Back Roads, The Hiking Trails, The Water Ways. We Are Outdoors More Than Inside All Four Seasons In Maine! Like That Where You Hang Your Hat Now?

Biking around a Maine island that a ferry delivers you to or sitting down at a snow sled club or grange hall type public supper to get close to the locals breaking bread. That is the best way to go to a deeper level with the Maine natives. That often leads to more than vacation visits but a permanent relocation to Maine when the timing is right to head north. And leave the city crowds, the urban hustle and bustle, shuck and jive behind in the rear view mirror as you head up I-95.

Low cost properties help remove the sting of a move to Maine too.

No mortgage and being free and clear is a better feeling than saddled with debt. You can enjoy living more, avoiding the race through life if you don’t have to hold down three jobs to barely cover expenses. To keep the wolf from your door. You don’t need to make a lot of money to live in Maine because the outdoor recreation does not come with a high price tag to sample. And people help in the DIY, pitching in to help with house hold projects, splitting winter heating wood. Everything is community minded and the folks are intimately connected. It is home grown not store bought and more involved. The kids have work ethic, everything is not handed to them and there is less entitlement in Maine small town living.

Loons On A Maine Lake. They Put You To Sleep. Sometimes They Wake You Up! Maine Lake Vacations Are Reasonably Priced.

No traffic, less people. Camping is big too in Maine and the wildlife, the back drop of Mother Nature is more than enough to make it memorable. Check out the Maine communities. Find a section of Maine beach to dig your toes in. Bring your fishing rod, strap on a bike to your rear trailer hitch receiver. Pack the picnic basket. Don’t forget your swim wear.

So it starts with an innocent vacation to Maine and mushroom clouds or snow balls from there for most people.

Maine is the way life should be. Everyone who visits or relocates, moves to Maine has different connections. Some remember being a kid and visiting a grandparent’s farm. Their parents grew up in Maine but had to seek employment outside the state after a war ended or a poor farming or timber year forced the shuffle of feet.

Renting a lake camp in Maine for a long weekend. Picking one spot to come back to or exploring to find your favorite nook and cranny. Relax, you have a life time to get to know Maine better. Are you looking for your next mailing address and considering Maine?

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

June 12, 2018
Fenway Park, Ever Been To A Red Sox Game In Boston MA?

Fenway Park, touted as America’s most beloved major league baseball stadium. Fenway opened April 20, 1912

And when you live in New England, you see lots of Red “B’s demonstrating the loyalty of the Red Sox Nation following. Oh sure you have a few wearing the emblem of the Evil Empire, mostly to be rebels. To get a rise out of the rest of the Red Sox diehards that like their parents before them follow the team through nip and tuck seasons. The ups and downs of the wins and losses. Play ball.

Heading Into Fenway Park. You Can Take The Train, Or You See Some Exotic Cars Along The Way Cruising In From Wherever You Live In Red Sox Nation.

Listening on the radio is a summer ritual for Red Sox Nation fans of all ages.

Being “up tah woods camp or lake cottage” and tuning in with just your ears. It’s summer time, lemonade, hot dogs, baseball time to celebrate the months in the middle of the calendar year. There is something tapping into the old time radio ritual of listening. And at the same time creating the picture in your head. Playing on the inside of the back of your head on the mental projector.

The announcer who can “take you out to the ballpark” and cause you to smell the popcorn and peanuts, to hear the vendors peddling them. To visualize the green monster as if you are there to hear and watch the going, going, gone. Fenway Park is one of the best known sports venues in the World!

Heading Into Fenway Park. Some Fans From All Over Red Sox Nation Vast Territory Make The Trip Often!

There is nothing like the feeling when the home town wins in Boston and you just witnessed another game for the play books. With the Red Sox coming out on top. Especially when the opposing team in the other dug out is filled with Yankees.

Swarming the ballpark like aggressive ants at a well stocked New England / Red Sox Nation picnic spread. Oh sure, you will have Oriole fans in the audience, those who root for the Mets, the Expos, LA, the Indians, the Cardinals, etc. Some how above all the teams played, a win over the Yankees at Fenway or in NYC feels like as close as most folks ever get to the World Series experience. At least it works that way in my head. When a bases loaded home run changes everything. And the wind is blowing just right around the Pesky pole so it was not foul and the fans ignite in excitement. Go Red Sox!

When you are on your way to Fenway Park, the closer you get to Boston, you feel the swarm of support for the Red Sox ramping up.

Look around. It’s written on the faces, across the T-shirts fronts and sew on in bold letters on knock off baseball jerseys. Even the ads on the billboards. “Kid’s eat free if the Red Sox win at Ninety Nine”. You know who their favorite team is without any doubt as you travel 128, RT 1, I-93 or 495. And even more than that small fact, often the favorite player picked out of the squad is spelled out for you and the name often just barely fits across the shoulders.

Hot Dogs, Sam Adams Or Whatever Summer Ale To Quench Your Thirst. It’s Summer In Red Sox Nation!

Petrocelli, Conigliaro, Yastrzemski, Papelbon, Unless it is a short Ortiz, Lee, Tiant, Fisk or a little longer Pedroia. Each fan wonders what the next few hours hold in store for their beloved Red Sox team.

Did you collect baseball cards, trade them growing up?

Buying the trading cards and tossing away the gum?I remember a neighbor of mine obsessed with baseball cards who told his sixth grade teacher Mrs Barker it was his mother’s birthday. And he bummed twenty dollars from her to buy a new shipment of major league baseballs card at lunchtime from Woolworth’s.

The same kid to impress a girl that did not like him ate a giant night crawler. A fellow school classmate who sold bait for fishing brought in his largest, most active one. I swear it could do pull ups on a chin up bar, it was huge and active. (MEMO: Girls are not impressed or more inclined to date and kiss guys who eat night crawler worms of any size.) The thirty two dollars in money raised probably was used to buy the latest baseball cards to add to his collection.

Respect As One Of The Hardest Songs To Sing But Most Touchy One Is Sung. And The Baseball Hats Go Back On, And Announcer Near The Organ Player Shouts “Pay Ball!”

Do you dream of fantasy major league baseball teams combinations of players? Lots of folks are driven by baseball, the America past time at ball parks across the land.

The crowds of people coming in from all directions around Fenway Park. Holding tickets to their baseball stadium seats to watch the Red Sox play ball. Is this the season they go all the way to the World Series now that the curse is broken? You don’t have to be a Peter Pan to believe. Just believe.

Have been to a game between the Red Sox and Yankees where the Boston team trailed in the eighth inning.

But the Sweet Caroline song shot in the arm boost sang by the crowd, the “wave” of fans up and down around the park as the chatter increases and support bubbles over. The chemistry and pitching rotation, something in the magic of Fenway all combines to cause the “W”.

Hey Batter Batter SWING! Or Wait For The Pitch To Fuel The Red Sox To A “W” At Fenway Park, Boston MA.

Nothing compares to the feeling as you walk shoulder to shoulder with happy fans, some with a healthy amount of barley pop in their system. Who are on cloud nine because the Red Sox won. The rest of their personal life could be struggling but something good happened here today in Boston, not Mudville folks.

This past Saturday, headed down to Boston from Wells Beach and watched the Boston Red Sox pull off a victory at Fenway against the opposing Atlanta Braves team.

Beautiful sunshine, a packed stadium and a win for the home team, the Boston Red Sox. Would love to insert a video highlights of the game but not worth the copy right warning penalties.

Get your major league baseball game tickets and maybe you go on a regular basis and live close to Fenway Park, whatever stadium is your regular haunt. To root, root for the home team. Any ball team. Pick yours to support and listen on the radio, grab some tickets and visit during a home stand. Introduce a young member of your family to Red Sox Nation. Or whatever baseball team you watch, listen to, follow. We were lucky to have a family member who lives in Boston loan us a parking spot only a few blocks from Fenway Park this time in Bean Town.

The Green Monstah… Fenway Park’s Broadcast Team.

Little league baseball players watch and learn from the big major American and National team players.

Living in rural Maine where parking, traffic is never ever a problem, it is easy to forget how coveted a secure parking spot is to city dwellers. Here’s the latest Red Sox News. Learn about baseball trades, getting Fenway tickets, what the schedule is so you can pencil in a trip to the ball park with the Green Monster, the history, the hot dogs, barley pop and food vendors!

What’s your favorite baseball team and we’re stick licking out wounds about the Celtic’s loss to the Cavs in the basketball playoffs in game seven. Watched that one on TV during the Memorial Day Vacation at Wells Beach. Do you watch your Red Sox game on the big screen hanging on your living room or den wall? Do you follow the Red Sox out of state or during spring training wintering outside of Maine? When was the last time you took in a major league baseball game at Fenway Park as a member of Red Sox Nation?

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North ST Houlton ME 04730 USA

May 30, 2018
Things To Do For Fun In Maine | Whitewater River Rafting.

Want to get wet, can you handle fast moving water down a river winding through the Maine woods on the front of a boat white water rafting?

Things to do for fun in Maine. Can you swim? Will you stay in the white water river raft pointed down the river from a hydro electric power plant discharge staging area? White water river rafting in Maine is one heck of an exhilarating experience. Many natives and vacationers from out of state visit Maine rivers often to climb in the raft, to learn how to help the guide on the back pilot the boat through the series of rapids and rocks down stream.

Ski Passes, White Water Rafting Trips, Anything Maine Outdoors Is A Welcomed Christmas Present. Let, Right, Hold On To The Short Rope Paddles Held High! I’m On The Right Near Skipper Eliot Shouting Out How To Steer The Raft. The Guys, Gals Upfront Get Hit With More Refreshing River Whitewater.

It is more than the thrill of fast river water when you sign on to be a member of a rafting party too.

The eddy out for the greatest, tastiest on the river meal prepared at the shoreline on solid terrain. The conversations of the crew members aboard your boat and others that dine in the woods next to a calmer area of the river where it is less noisy. And you meet interesting folks from all over, all walks of life who share the experience for the first time or one of many waterfront outings. The wild rice that goes along with your meat or fish choice from the grill in this kind of Maine wilderness setting is worth looking into if you are physically fit. And love the outdoors of Maine.

Powered by the river waves as you are instructed in orders to paddle left, right or on both sides with full steam ahead. To as an entire boat weave your wave in the rubber raft through a serious of fixed river obstacles. Like a slalom skier one at a time tuck, bend and turn to keep the boat hitting the waves from upending and splitting the crew into the cold fast water. The river that you are told by the instructor captain who sits on the back of the raft up higher than the rest of the paddlers. Who reminds you to keep your feet, your legs up if you do get pulled from the boat by the forces of nature when tossed this way, thrown that way. Because you want to avoid breaking those two legs and feet used after the fast boat ride down a Maine river. Hold on to that short rob in front of you with paddles raised high to avoid knocking someone’s teeth out. Maybe your own.

Whitewater rafting happens from April to October in Maine.

Rafting Down Whitewater In Maine. How Many Times On Which River In Maine?

The later excursions on the Maine rivers require wet suits to avoid hypothermia. All ages, all abilities are provided for by Maine rafting companies. I have taken a bunch of river rides on Northern Outdoors yellow rafts and my youngest son Elliot was a raft guide for the company living near The Forks.

Trips white water rafting down the Kennebec, The Dead River and more of them down the Penobscot River create a tradition for our group. And offer tremendous exercise for the entire family on exciting rafting trips that accelerate based on the amount of water released from the hydro dams that is the horsepower to add to the day’s river ride.

The water levels are highest after a deep snow of a heavy supply winter provides the spring melt run off that swell the waterways.

These white water rafting or kayak conditions are harder to plan for unlike the timed release from the hydro power plants on Maine’s largest, most lively river rides with licensed guides. Helmets, safety equipment, a talk before the ride all make safety priority one.

The Kennebec River in Maine offers 12 miles of white water fun and it begins at Harris Station on Indian Pond.

The Kennebec ends at The Forks. Providing twists and turns and the ups, downs of special places on the river like the Kennebec Gorge. The Penobscot River offers rapids classified as 2 thru 5. What’s the difference explained below one by one.

Rafting In Maine, Surfing, Paddling The Whitewash From Rapids! The BBQ Food On The River Tastes Greater From All The Exercise.

The Dead River is a long, unbroken whitewater stretch.

Probably one of the longest in the East. Experience white water river rapids from class 4 and 5. The Dead River 16 mile route begins at Grand Falls, ending also at The Forks Maine.

The Penobscot River has special rapid names like “The Exterminator” and “The Cribworks” .

The Penobscot River raft run starts through Ripogenus Gorge that lasts 2.5 miles before a dozen more miles that wraps it up at Pockwockamus Falls. The lower Seboomook River region of this raft run is ideal for younger or less experiences river paddlers. Find river raft rapid class 2 through 5 on the Penobecot River.

More water, a faster ride and is it safer if the rocks are covered and not exposed? The river hydraulics make any paddling a challenge and the risk adds to the thrill of a Maine whitewater rafting trip. The water levels change daily and the way to tackle a river can vary which makes the ride a different challenge every time. Along with who you raft with, your guide and company can enhance or limit the take away when you peel off the wet suit and unsnap the life vest, remove the water shoes. Regardless, plan the river raft trip to eat up most of a day in Maine. This is not a short twenty minute water ride and hanging around for a micro brew of local hops, a glass of adult grape juice. Leading to tent camping out, or renting a cabin, spending the night in a lodge just adds to the take away to the white water rafting experience.

White water rafting, what to the class distinctions means?

Class 1 is easy paddling, no obstacles, small turbulence and a slow river current experience.

Class 2 adds more obstacles to make it interesting, comes with a medium current with waves.

Class 3 provides longer, more difficult river rapids and strong, not so predictable currents.

Class 4 is going to be a challenge in difficulty. Expect very difficult, steeper, longer rapids complete with lots of river obstacles to navigate around and through.

Class 5 is going to help you sleep tonight with strenuous vertical river drops, rugged hydraulics, swifts not so predictable currents and heavier obstruction traffic to paddle around quickly.

Class 6 on a Maine river is very dangerous, near impossible to negotiate and should only be attempted by teams of experts, after study of this part of a Maine river and with red alert safety standards enforced by the rafting party.

Aye Aye Captain. Your River Guide Through The Whitewater On A Maine River Salutes You.

Capture Kodak moments with that waterproof helmet cam or hovering drone. Of laughing, screaming, hollering wet rafters plunging and paddling hard. Digging for all they are worth through places called Big Pocwockamus, Moxie, Nasowadnehnuk Falls and Big Eddy, Caratunk, The Exterminator. And living to tell about it with the refrigerator snap shot with a go pro camera to prove it. More about white water rafting in Maine at this helpful link. (Check out the Three Rivers Whitewater rafting video in the website header to wet your appetite.)

Grab a paddle, strap on the helmet and life jacket and get ready for high adventure on a wild Maine river.

More white water river rafting links to consider are raftmaine.com and northcountryrivers.com . One more to round it out and see it is not just white water rafting that the companies do to make it interesting and to appeal to a broader outdoor Maine enthusiast audience. This Maine whitewater rafting link spells out what you get for how long and for how much.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730 USA

December 3, 2017
Things To Do For Fun In Maine | Climb, Hike Mt Katahdin.

Things To Do For Fun In Maine | Climb, Hike Mt Katahdin is one suggestion.

Maine has elevations, nothing like the Continental Divide but mountains none the less. The most famous Maine mountain is Mount Katahdin, the cornerstone of Baxter State Park. Mount “K” is a recreational visit that many try to experience at least a couple times each year. The yearly tradition of hiking up Mount Katahdin or one of the many smaller elevations surrounding it is a healthy habit. To get high and feel above the noise of everyday living. Being just shy of a mile in the air can clear your head like no other experience.

Mt Katahdin | Baxter State Park – One Fun Event To Consider.

Mt Katahdin is 5267′ tall.

The Penobscot Indians dubbed the rock formation as “Katahdin” which means “greatest mountain”. Maine Governor Percival Baxter spent his entire life adding to the park land holdings to preserve the special place for generations to come. To quote Baxter’s own wise words “Man is born to die. His works are short lived. Buildings crumble, monuments decay and wealth vanishes, but Katahdin in all its glory forever shall remain the mountain of the people of Maine.” Naturalist Henry David Thoreau wrote “What a place to live, die, be buried in. There certainly men would live forever, and laugh at death and the grave”.

The number of hikers on the trails of Baxter State Park are limited to protect the wildlife and delicate nature of the sanctuary created by the late Maine governor. The mountain visits increased remarkably once the Appalachian Trail completed in 1937. Mount “K” is the northern most end of the road for the AT trail system. Visit the Baxter State Park website to reserve your spot on the mountain, to learn about highly sought after camping overnight options.

The famous Baxter State Park climbers ranged from Percival the man with a dream hatched long before becoming Governor in 1921 – 1925.

Theodore Roosevelt, Henry David Thoreau made the Mountain Katahdin climb too. Surveyors Charles Turner Jr. and Zachary Adley with a party of just shy of a dozen studied the Maine peak back in 1804. Percival Proctor Baxter has the vision that the 202,064 acre park should forever be kept in its natural state. Over 45 years of fund-raising and efforts in the legislature help to realize Baxter’s life long dream. Baxter a Portland native visited this Katahdin region in his youth and entered the legislature at the age of 26. He envisioned Maine as one big state, to be kept one entity to protect and preserve. And to move forward together promoting the rich heritage and natural resources Maine is blessed with in her vast size. Parts of the park are set aside for forestry research, some tracts open for hunting, only a few regions allow boats, aircraft like Webster and Matagamon Lakes.

When you hike Katahdin, the trail incline and vegetation change. The timberline ranges from 3500 to 3800 feet and peters out in the tableland area of Maine’s highest mountain. Where fog mist rolls in to hide the trail you just traversed. To deliver you to a spiritual place to sort your thoughts, to reflect on your life and feel very humble. Reduced to a very small but humble spec that gets it. The journey through life is so short and the hiker is reminded make every moment count. Simplify, reduce and stay grounded works best to see what really matters and reward yourself and others that we share the spinning blue and green marble third from the Sun.

Any Season Is The Right One To Visit Mt Katahdin, Anywhere In Maine.

Mt Katahdin is horseshoe shape and faces the sobering north east to keep your attention. There are nine trails to the summit and five separate peaks. The toughest trail is the “Knife’s Edge” which joins the Baxter and Pamola Peaks.

I always liked taking the Abol Trail, 3.8 miles long that gets you to the top quickest.

Abol is the steepest. Knife’s Edge is a 1.1 mile narrow ridge trail. You look down each side of a sharp granite steep drop off as you chose your steps carefully. Barely more than a few feet wide, the elevation sheers away hundreds of feet from the skinny trail that leaves nothing to waste as you trek across it in the strong breeze and incredible scenery beyond and below you.

The longest Mount Katahdin trail is Hunt and you access it from the back of the mountain. The over 5 miles of Hunt Trail crosses lots of boulders, streams, and you witness waterfalls that are seen, heard, felt. You will not forget the hike on trails at Baxter State Park. The experience does not dim in your head and heart. Cathedral Trail is 1.7 miles long, is steep and has its share of large rocks to climb up, over, around to complete the hike. You should go up not down Cathedral to tackle and tame the 3 large granite rock Earth apples.

Meet The Locals At Baxter State Park! Located In Piscataquis County.

The trails of Katahdin are in alphabetical order Abol, 3.8 miles, Cathedral 1.7 miles, Chimney Pond, 3.3 miles, Dudley, 1.3 miles, Hamlin Ridge, 1.5 miles, Helen Taylor 3.2 miles, Hunt, 5.2 miles, Knife’s Edge. 1.1 miles, Saddle, 2.2 miles. The 5 separate peaks are Baxter (5267 ft), Hamlin (4751 ft), Howe (4612 ft) No. Howe and So.Howe (4734), Pamola (4912 ft), South (5260 ft).

Study the map, plan the trip to Baxter State Park! Percival Baxter donated the land for the state park with the stipulation it be kept forever wild. More on the history of Baxter and his quest to give Maine a lasting gift that would survive time. Picnic, bike, hike, paddle, fish and climb, camp at Baxter State Park.

Wildlife you see at Baxter State Park include about 100 black bear, moose, coyote, white-tailed deer, red fox, beaver, red squirrel, vole, mole, mink, snow shoe hare, marten, weasel, muskrat, woodchuck, otter, porcupine, along with other rodents. The Katahdin region was logged from the mid 1800’s until 1965 when the last of the retained logging rights in the deeds conveying the land to Baxter extinguished. The early loggers chopped down pine, then spruce, then pulpwood for paper making and other uses. The only land sections that did not get lumbered completely were Howe Brook and also the Klondike Bowl. The early timber cut from the lands around Baxter State Park, Mt Katahdin were transported by waterways. Dams were built to help move the logs to Bangor sawmills to the south. On the Allagash and St John Rivers that original flowed north until dams were made to change that. To help move things southerly to hit the Penobscot River’s East Branch used as a highway for sawn fallen, delimbed logs.

You can stay longer than an early day in and quick trip up and down before nightfall. That is how locals can access our beloved Mt Katahdin and other Baxter State Park peaks and trails. Camp sites are hotly sought after and like waiting for a Black Friday special at a store with closed front doors, it is competitive for the dash to secure a limited number of locations to spend the night, more time in the park. There are two kinds of bedrocks in Baxter State Park. Light gray or pink Katahdin granite mostly found in the southern sections. The other stone color is charcoal gray found in northern sections around Traveler Mountain which was once a volcano.

The glacier period flatten some areas to create basins and push, piled up rocks in other sections of Baxter State Park. To make dramatic settings for your hike. For photo taking too so bring something to capture the imagery of this forever wild setting. Winter park hikes with a competent leader are allowed if the Park director deems it is safe with at least four week’s notice of your intent to visit a white Baxter Park. Bring your snow shoes, cross country skis, your technical climbing gear. Baxter State Park is rarely a once and done visit for most. You return to unplug and recharge, to gain wisdom, to experience an inner joy near that lives near your soul. She is that magical, so well preserved and sacredly protected because of the experience you pass on to your loved ones. Thank you Percival Baxter. Everyone that protects her magic.

No Area Prettier Than Baxter State Park! Hike, Climb Mt Katahdin, Other Peaks.

Should Baxter State Park move up to National status? We’ve blogged about Baxter State Park / Mount Katahdin before. Over 87,000 acres to the east of Baxter is a monument. Weigh in on what the Baxter State Park director says about the monument topic.

Regardless of what the maps or media create for a designations, Baxter State Park is worth protecting, should be visited by all ages.

It is not just Mt Katahdin that should take up the spotlight either at Baxter. Little 1400′ high Horse Mountain is an ideal hike to get youngest or slightly feeble a dose of hiking under their belt. To create the burning desire for more vacation trips to sample the woods, wildlife, waterfront. Start your collection burning calories and snapping imagery and video in full color. More on the long list of Maine mountains. Bring your trail mix, extra water tucked into your zipped fanny pack. The knapsack or camel pack and something water resistant, warm for adding or removing hiking layers on the up and down climb of Mt Katahdin at Baxter State Park.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730 USA

November 2, 2017
Things To Do For Fun In Maine | Find, Collect Lighthouses.

Maine is largest state of all in New England, lighthouses are not in short supply.

It is over 90 percent wooded, making it the most forested state. And more than half the population lives 25 miles or less from the ocean. So when someone mentions Maine, it is awfully easily to only think of coastal, maritime Maine. Especially if on Maine vacations you just frequent the ocean front tourist traps… er I mean attractions. So things to do for fun in Maine, lighthouses.

Lighthouses In Maine, The Image Is So Different From New Angles, Different Season Visits.

Maine has over 60 lighthouses and bet you can not just visit one, a couple. Oh no, you get the bug with sea air, the isolation, the sense of importance the navigation beam of light and loud fog horn played in early Maine development. And lots of cruise ships visit Maine so your highway to the Pine Tree State is often a GPS guided watery one. Dodging rocks and reefs and seeking another water draw to allow the big floating hotel to glide in and out without scraping the harbor town sea bottom.

A Maine lighthouse experience hits you from different angles when you make the visit other than just in the summer months. Winter settings with cobalt blue sky, crisp air and the sharp contrasts of white, gray, blue shades only. The senses get a work out and without the mix of tourists and their camera shutter’s busily capturing staged photos. Or you are doing the same snipe of the landscape, the lighthouse but don’t want to wait for folks to clear out of the camera view finder. Or hear then tee hee and exchange banter chit chat. There is no distraction when only one or two are sampling the Maine lighthouse. Ever tried one on and walked around it in amazement in the winter months?

Winter fixes everything even if the lighthouse photo session is done wearing mittens, your weather tamer coat zipped as high as it goes. A hood sealing in the ears.

To protect from the sea breeze. No bugs. No humidity. No people or sounds that are man made to irritate. But amazing photos for the help yourself that are so different than others posted in the social media streams. Because they have white new snow, exposed gray rock, dark blue water, no green vegetation in the mix. It is on vacation, in hibernation. Like most of the tourists.

Maine, Whatever Floats Your Boat.

Maine has the runner up largest collection of lighthouses.

Long coast line, like Christmas lights strings, mean you need more sea going luminaries to dot the long coastline. Or to mark island rock reef out post far from the safe harbor inlets of Maine’s many coastal towns. Maine has lots of groups that adopt the lighthouses as the Coast Guard slowly transfers ownership. A private residence where you don’t want foot traffic, public stalkers and gawkers trying to get close enough to see the lighthouse you bought at auction with the residence, companion buildings that tags along side. Thank goodness for telephoto lens but nope, not going use it or one of the two drones out of respect for the lighthouse property owner. The drones are grounded and if lost at sea would be expensive to replace.

Downeast Maine, Lighthouses Are in Big Supply Like Other Areas Of Vacationland.The oldest lighthouse in Maine is the Portland Head Light that is actually in Cape Elizabeth. It seems to me this is the one that makes the most debuts on post cards, magazine covers, blog post imagery. Others will argue that Pemaquid Point gets the mirror mirror fairest of them all pick of the pack vote. The youngest Maine lighthouse is Whitlocks Mill Light which feels more like a river lighthouse than one protecting the ocean front. It is way up in the Downeast Region just south of the town of Calais. More on the Whitlocks Mill Lighthouse.

To me West Quoddy Head Light is the prettiest.

Maybe because she is far far north and takes more effort to see. Because she is less frequented or nestled in the real Maine where the economy is often the have and have nots. And not much of a middle filling in the population that is passionate about their surroundings. But struggle to make ends meet to stay in their home town. That is taking on water and slowly sinking as new revenue sources are sought to bilge pump the loss of labor intensive jobs that have gone overseas.

Some Captain’s homes along the Maine coast have their adaptions that make them look like lighthouse wannabees. Serving the purpose to lift the spy glass, to gaze out over the water for the return of the mortgage holder or grantor deed name on the title to the Victorian residence.

Maine Home Widow Watch From A Seacoast Home Version Of A Lighthouse Observatory.

There are no lighthouses in Aroostook County. Maybe that is why the topic is so interesting to me. Because other than one or two vacations to the coast as a youngster, Maine lighthouse were not a mainstay showing up on vacations.

The smallest lighthouse is Echo Point Light. It is a six foot operating taller than it really is, an over achiever like the “spark plug” type lighthouse. It is located on Great Diamond Island and still registered by the Coast Guard.

I promise to revisit the topic of lighthouses, one of the most sought tourist activity on the long list of what to do for fun in Maine. Dining on lobster, mussels, clams or whatever deep sea delicacy with a Maine lighthouse back drop just intensifies the taste. That creates the addiction to have to have more Maine please.

Which ones have you looked up and tracked down? The visit to a Maine lighthouse like rapids have numbers of difficulty to experience. Some require sea kayaks or hitch hiking on a Maine lobster boat to sneak a peek. Like the lighthouse near Bar Harbor Maine that I floated out, visited not so long ago. Have you started your own collection of Maine lighthouses?

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730 USA

October 28, 2017
Things To Do For Fun In Maine | Snow Sledding ITS Trails.

Things to do for fun in Maine, play in the snow.

In this blog post series, this Maine native will down play snow because too many in the audience have the wrong idea. They have the image in their head that the thermometers in Maine all sink to below the red fluid day and night during winter. Maine also has three other seasons beside the one at the tail end of the calendar.

Hitting The Snow Sled ITS Trails In Maine. Some Move You Fast Like Old Railroad Beds. Others You Can Poke Along And See More Countryside And Wildlife.

Winter is one of my favorite but all four when you live in Maine get high marks, thumbs up. Because you live in Maine, not only get a tease of a long weekend or one stretch of seven days to soak it up. To unplug, recharge. To see, hear, taste, feel and sample all Maine has to offer.

Don’t let a little snow in the forecast set you off or turn you back to making the trek to Vacatonland.

Or you lose out on so much in the state where you can log eight hours from end to end. That is so vast and varied that the season you visit only adds to the take away experience that you will not forget.

So things to do in Maine, what if it is winter when you have a little time to tap into the Pine Tree State channel of life?

Lots to do in Maine in the winter. Pull up a chair in front of a crackling fireplace to absorb the positive ions, to warm your bones. After a day of snow shoeing, cross country or down hill skiing, ice fishing, playing pond hockey. Or snow sledding, my favorite way to get where cars and trucks don’t access. Where all the wildlife life, where the natural resources are crystal clean and clear. Breath in the crisp fresh air. Swivel the head slowly to take in the eye candy that surrounds you where the terrain of farm fields, pasture land, deep woods and lots of waterfront scenery awaits.

Pick A Color, Style, Horsepower And Price Range. Maine Is Paradise For Sled Head Snowmobilers.

This coming weekend, at the Augusta Civic Center the 2017 Maine Snowmobile Show kicks off for the 21st time. The display of new snow machines to ride and groom the ITS trails will be part of what is on hand to jump start your appetite for winter snow flakes.

All the gear that goes into snow sledding from helmets to clothing. Where to lodge after riding the trails. What to haul the machine to and fro to try out new areas of the state of Maine snow sled trails. And maybe to start the tradition of a trip that starts in Maine but continues on to Canada. We are parked right next to our Canadian cousins remember? Come play in the snow and see Maine from a different angle.

The Maine sled trade show always has a collection of vintage snow machines too.

Sno jets, Skiroule, Ski Whiz, Ski Horse, Motorski early snow sleds. Lots of tinkering. When what you worked on for two hours to ride for one had bogie wheels and not slides. Not much for suspension. Speeds were way way less warp drive. Back when fifty flavors of what you snowmobiled more around your own property because the trails were fewer in number to leave it. Smaller horsepower, fuel mixed with oil and gas, with an HD, HR carbureators and not fuel injection.

Grooming, Setting Up Trails Overnight For Maine Winter Tourists To Travel Smooth, Safe ITS Trails! Thank You Trail Makers, All The Groomer Operators.

No thumb warmers, no radiation under your feet, and no carbide ski runners, no studded tracks on the early snow sleds, snowmobiles. And you stood up, kneeled on one knee and leaned into corners. More work and slower speeds as you snow sledded around the countryside. To go out to eat, or go “up ta” camp. To pull the kids around the back field on ropes hooked to snow skis or flying saucers, toboggans. To travel back and forth to the one solid layer of ice topping a Maine lake. To play cards, shoot the breeze, sample ice shack food while other winter fishermen came and went. Stopping by the ice shack shanty to say hello. Ask how are they biting on the five holes drilled in the ice in the peaceful setting on a Maine lake with snow covered hills in the background.

The early snow sleds were tipsy, skinny and did not have a wide ski stance so you could just sit and drive. You had to work harder, throw the machine around the drifts and know that soft snow meant sinking. Getting stuck and all the work to heave ho your way out of the light fluffy new snow with no bottom to it. The heavier machines meant don’t leave a hard packed trail. Getting unstuck meant go around to the front and pack down what is making your snow plow and causing all the resistance as you dry to go up the smallest of hills in the white power snow deposited over night.

The snow sled trails in Maine are less harmful or disruptive like ATV trails can be.

The blanket of snow is your insulation from Mother Earth and makes the wall to wall wilderness rug for a playing surface. Always squeeze that handlebar throttle carefully and avoid spinning holes in the ITS trails. Leave the left handed cigarettes, the barley pop, firewater and grape juice for trail side putting your feet up by the roaring fire. After you remove the moon boots, the full coverage helmet and leather batman suit. And step away from your ice rocket. Turning your attention to trail tales and what are we eating for supper. And which new routes are we going to explore tomorrow while on vacation in Maine this winter.

Sugar Coated Maine, Don’t Miss A Season, Make Winter Sparkle Part Of Your Vacation Plans.

Get involved in a major tourism contributor during a slower economic time of the year for Maine towns, the handful of cities. At the Maine Snowmobile Show this weekend, lots of workshops on trail maintenance, discussions on the capital equipment grant process. It is not just snow sled dealers peddling their wares. Trailmasters, project directors, groomer operators, and snow sled club members who are involved with maintenance and building of trails are welcome and encouraged to attend.

More on the Maine Snowmobile Show, the winter sport that has over 14,000 miles of trails to help open up the state. This is the time of year when trail markets for safety and navigation are put into play on all the land owners of Maine who allow access across their property. Snow sledding trail use in Maine, it is gift, not a right. Respect the land, the surroundings called Maine. Tread lightly and carry in, carry out to be a responsible Maine snow sled operator for the next generator to model and pass on to future snowmobilers.

I’m Maine REALTOR Andrew Mooers, ME Broker

207.532.6573 | info@mooersrealty.com |

MOOERS REALTY 69 North Street Houlton Maine 04730 USA

October 15, 2017