OT: Maine residents - seeking recommendations

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Maine residents: We've got to be in Portland for couple of days in October on business. Mrs. Rimmer and I are thinking of taking a few extra days and making a small vacation out it. Maine is one of the few states in the US that neither of us have been to before and so we thought we'd ask the folks who live there about what there is to see and do.

We like nature, wildlife, ocean, good food (especially lobster) and fall colors. Suggestions posted here or to my email are fine. Thanks.

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), September 19, 1999

Answers

You've come to the right place!!! Lot's of stuff to do, especially hiking, kayaking,etc. I live in the midcoast area and any place north of Portland is really wonderful. Portland has become the northern most terminal of the eastern metropolis running all the way down to DC. Look up on the internet Ligature.com ,(sorry I'm not computer literate enough to provide the link) which will give you an idea of Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville. Also,try wabi.com which also has load of info. Suggestions: Visit LLBean in Freeport for lots of hiking, camping,(y2k) supplies and info. Think about going out to Monhegan Island and watching the hawk migration. Go up to Bar Harbor and go around Acadia National Park. There are loads of trails, parks, guides everywhere. Maine still has a very small population and is still 90% forest!!! From a y2k perspective, lots of fresh lakes, lots of clean streams, lots of land, lots of people living alternative life styles, meaning lots of fresh eggs,llamas for wool,sheep-ditto, cattle and ostrich farms,etc. We have a huge organic farmer base and in fact, the Common Ground Fair sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers Association is the coming weekend in Unity. It's a celebration of rural life and spans the gamet of spinners, weavers, blacksmiths, ropemakers, cobblers, basketweavers, heritage seedsavers,old species livestock, moccasin makers,(custom!!), and god-knows-who-else. This is a teriffic time of year to come; weather is perfect- warm days, cool nights,and last but by no means least, the Red Sox are playing some kind of baseball. Of course, they haven't taken their traditonal swan dive so the tension is building; will they wait until the tension is unbearable during the last week of the season and then slit their wrists? Ah yes, autumn in Maine......

-- Jan Cunningham (janhame@midcoast.com), September 19, 1999.

Well, OK, I'll jump in here, since I'll be up in Maine in a few weeks:

Can you recommend a good restaurant, preferably seaside, down around Kennebunkport, or Kittery, or that general area? Thinking of a Sunday afternoon dinner with family, incl. kids.

Thanks

-- Spanky (spamfree@tra.la), September 19, 1999.


lol! maine is huge! check out old orchard beach,there are millions of lobster joints all over the place! even at gas stations!(yep! pull in to fill up, they have a pot of water boiling, throw some in... lobsters to go!)all of coastal maine is really cool! up north, the mountains! state parks? take your pick! do a web search! hope this helps! eddy

-- eddy (xxx@xxx.com), September 19, 1999.

Thanks for the comments thus far. Please keep 'em coming. It sounds like we would really enjoy it. The more we hear, the more a fall vacation in the area sounds like good place to relax and rest up before heading into the unknowns of Y2K.

Also, one of my coworkers suggests that we take the time to ride a ferry over to Nova Scotia. Apparently there is some kind of 'super-fast' ferry near Bar Harbor?

If we make it that far, I'd like to see some of the tide action around the Bay of Fundy. I've known since high school that some of the world's highest tides are there. Suggestions???

Thnaks again.

-- Arnie Rimmer (Arnie_Rimmer@usa.net), September 19, 1999.


Hi Arnie

The farry is called the Cat it can reach a speed of 55 and that is in Barharbor. I love Acadia park and so will you but don't drive in take the bus ride.I loved it.Also boat rides you can go on a whale watch but the ride can be very very cold.Take a look at

http://janus.state.me.us/homepage.asp

Have fun while your here.

Darlene

-- Darlene (boomer@tdstelme.net), September 20, 1999.



Would any of the Maine Y2Kers be interested in a Y2K Lunch on a Saturday, meeting at the Weathervane restaurant in Kittery? I could bring a group from the Boston area up with me. E-mail me if you are interested

-- ExCop (yinadral@juno.com), September 20, 1999.

Maine is my dream! sigh Can't talk Hubby into it.

-- Mumsie (Shezdremn@aol.com), September 20, 1999.

Try the Clambake in Pine Point for the best seafood. Also the Weathervane in Kittery. This is actually a good time because most of the tourist are gone and you actually get more food at restaurants. This is a known fact of locals. For a lighthouse tour try Nubble Light in Ogunquit or Portland Head light, further north near Rockland there is Owl's Head lighthouse and numerous others. For shopping, Kittery and Freeport win over any other areas, as well as the Maine Mall in So. Portland. If you are going further north along the cost, Bar Harbor, Boothbay Harbor, Camden and Rockland are great. Camden is especially beautiful for the fall foliage and shopping in quaint shops along Main Street. The Maine Diner in Wells also has great food and there are shops in that area also. As you can see, you will be a no lack of things to do once you get there. Have a great time and let us know how it all went. We plan on a trip to Nova Scotia this fall so let me know if you get there! Diane - A Mainer always at heart!!!

-- Diane (prepare@highlandtraders.com), September 20, 1999.

excop

Thanks for the invitation but between my job and kids I just never have the time.I'm a bit far anyhow up near Oakland - Waterville.It's been sometime sense I posted just been lurking.

Take care

love,light and peace

Darlene

-- Darlene (boomer@tdstelme.net), September 20, 1999.


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