Ahh . . . Spa Time a Part of a Relaxing Maine Vacation

There is nothing quite like a massage after a long day in the sun and surf. Add to that a facial and perhaps a pedicure, and you’ve arrived at virtual bliss. A spa vacation in Maine can be made complete by securing accommodations that not only provide access to Maine’s beautiful seacoast, mountains and rivers, but also allow you and your significant other the opportunity to be pampered while enjoying your time away.

Many resorts in Maine provide their guests with spectacular ocean views and luxurious lodgings. While for many, a Maine vacation is comprised of lakeside cottages and camping, others have a more comfortable retreat in mind and will easily find accommodations to suit their desires. Southern Maine features beautiful seacoast towns like Ogunquit and Cape Elizabeth which each have lovely spa lodgings that offer complete packages for their visitors. Up the coast a bit one finds Sebasco Harbor Resort, a lovely property overlooking Casco Bay in the midcoast region of Maine. This resort has a spa that provides full service treatments for guests, from facials of many kinds to massage, manicure, pedicure and even energy therapy known as Reiki. Beyond the relaxation provided through the spa, the Sebasco Harbor Resort features packages that include its world-class golf course, lobster bakes, and other dining options in their exceptional restaurant. The location of this resort is particularly well suited to an active vacation, as it is close to rivers where whitewater rafting and kayaking can be enjoyed; mountains for those who enjoy hiking; and the beach for those whose vacation goals are more the fun-in-the-sun type.

No matter how you choose to spend the bulk of your stay in Maine, choosing a Maine resort that features a spa is bound to take your holiday to the next level and provide a special treat for you and your loved ones.

Boothbay Harbor Maine Vacation Getaway

If you are in the mood for the legendary charm of midcoast Maine, consider spending a weekend in Boothbay Harbor. Boothbay offers all that coastal Maine has to give. Whether it’s shopping for contemporary fine art, dining on a deck over the ocean, or riding an antique train, Boothbay Harbor probably has what you want.

You might want to stay at The Anchor Watch Bed and Breakfast, which features ocean views and a private pier. You will feel like guests, not customers, in this cozy but well-appointed two-room inn.

Or you might consider The Thistle Inn, Boothbay Harbor’s only bed and breakfast with a pub and fine dining restaurant.

And for those who demand the finest, there is Sur La Mer Inn, with 600 feet of waterfront and a deep-water dock for boating, fishing, and swimming, as well as two moorings for large yachts.

For a more affordable option, The White Anchor Inn is a popular choice for families. Offering the basic amenities, along with stunningly friendly and helpful service, the White Anchor Inn is a comfortable and reliable lodging option located just a few miles out of the harbor.

Or, if you are looking for oceanfront camping, consider nearby Hermit Island, which promises peaceful camping at its best, catering only to tenters. The island offers seven white sand beaches, with ample swimming, hiking, and kayaking opportunities. Wake up in the morning and unzip your tent to greet the ocean. Camping here leaves you with a short drive to Boothbay Harbor, as well as Reid State Park.

For fine dining in Boothbay Harbor, visit The Thistle Inn, where chefs use only the freshest local produce and seafood. Everything at The Thistle Inn is homemade, including the salad dressings, breads and desserts. Offerings range from Damriscotta Oysters on the half shell to Angus hamburgers and crab cakes.

For the best family dining in Boothbay Harbor, don’t miss the chance to dine at Kaler’s Crab and Lobster House. The family who owns and operates Kaler’s strives to cater to families of all sizes with children of all ages. Just be prepared, because if your visit coincides with high tide, you will be part of quite a celebration, one Kaler’s has coined, “ringing of the tide.” (Don’t worry – they will warn you first.) While you are waiting for your food to be prepared, children and adults alike are invited to visit the touch tank. The food is delicious and the prices are the most reasonable in town.

There’s plenty to do in Boothbay Harbor. While shopping till you drop is always a viable option, you can also visit the Maine State Aquarium in West Boothbay Harbor, where you can hold a live sea cucumber and pat a live shark. Or ride a real train at the Boothbay Railway Museum. Or visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. There is enough to do in the Boothbay Harbor region to keep you coming back for years.

Maple Syrup Not Just For Pancakes Anymore

There are many recipes that have maple syrup as an ingredient. One can go to the store and purchase the syrup or make it homemade. Any way you prefer it will taste good when used in a recipe. People can search online for multiple recipes that use this ingredient or people can search threw numerous cookbooks to find different recipes. Some people just use it on their pancakes and waffles others in recipes and some even use it in a diet to loss weight.

There are ways to make a substitute in case none can be found in the pantry. If there is granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, maple extract or vanilla extract then a good substitute could be made so it might be used on pancakes and waffles. Nothing is better than the real thing but this substitute would make a really close second.

This product can be tasty in recipes and by it's self as a topper but some people have even use it as a diet. When mixed with the right ingredients some people reported that they even used it as a detox for cleansing their body. Do some research before detoxing the body to get familiar with some of the affects of doing this. Several symptoms need to be addressed before making the detox decision so all of the factors are well known.

Harvesting this ingredient starts with the sugar or red maple tree. One will need to drill about four inches into the tree add a spout for it to travel down and a bucket to catch it. Once this process is complete then it will need processed and brought to tables everywhere.

Some prefer it warm, others cold either way there are may uses for this product. If it's from scratch or right from the store it is still a good ingredient to use in recipes. People have used this product for many years and they will continue using it from years to come.

The Old Port, Portland, Maine

Did you know that Portland has more dining spots per capita than any other city in America? And many of them are nestled into the area of the city fondly called the Old Port. The Old Port is Portland’s revitalized warehouse district. Cobblestone streets span the waterfront, offering oceanfront dining, entertainment, and chic shopping opportunities. Yet the Old Port is also a working waterfront, which provides visitors with a taste of real Maine.

Dining options abound in the Old Port. For an original fine-dining experience, Five Fifty-Five, located at 555 Congress Street, is the area’s high end, award-winning restaurant, specializing in local, organic ingredients.

If you’d like to eat on the ocean, literally, try DiMillo’s Floating Restaurant. What was once a car ferry is now a restaurant that rises and falls with the tide each day. Every table in the restaurant offers water views, but DiMillo’s is famous for more than its views. They are also well known for their Admiral’s Portion of Lazy Lobster!

For affordable, authentic, and delicious Mexican fare, visit Amigos, on Dana Street. Or if it’s authentic Italian you crave, visit Cinque Terre on Wharf Street, the area’s leading Italian restaurant. Or, if you are in the mood for an exhaustive wine list and exquisite desserts, be sure to check out The Wine Bar on Wharf Street, one of the finest places to relax in the entire city.

For those who want to embellish in luxurious and stylish lodging, The Danforth Hotel has been welcoming visitors for nearly two hundred years. Another popular destination is Portland’s new downtown luxury hotel, the Portland Harbor Hotel, which is located right in the heart of the Old Port. And the Holiday Inn by the Bay is only a few blocks from the Old Port, offering rooms with ocean views.

If possible, plan your visit to coincide with Portland’s First Friday Art Walk. On the first Friday of every month, from 5 to 8 p.m., Portland’s art galleries open their doors to the public, while other artists exhibit work in the backs of pickup trucks. Design your own self-guided tour and watch local performance artists dazzle the streets of Portland. If you can’t make it for an art walk, be sure to visit Aucocisco Galleries, a contemporary fine art gallery located in the heart of the Old Port. This renowned gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 to 6.

Many attractions are packed into the Arts District of Portland. Visit the Portland Museum of Art, which is home to a permanent collection of paintings by Winslow Homer, Renoir, Degas, Monet, and Picasso. Check out the Maine Historical Society and adjacent Longfellow House. Families adore the award winning Children's Museum of Maine. Or see what’s happening at Portland Stage Company.

Parking is sometimes a challenge in the Old Port, as the old streets are narrow, especially in winter, when vehicles have to compete with snow. Many downtown businesses offer parking stamps, which cover one hour of parking in many garages and lots, so be sure to ask, and collect those stamps! In the summer months, several bike racks are available. Many people choose to leave their cars at the hotel, and explore the Old Port the old-fashioned way, on foot!

Warren Island - Lincolnville Maine

Have you ever dreamed of spending a few days on your own Maine Island? It can happen. Well, you might have to share with a few other folks. Or, you might not. Warren Island of Penobscot Bay is one of Maine’s best kept secrets.

This 70-acre island is a State Park located off the coast of Lincolnville. The only way to reach Warren Island is by private boat. No public ferries go to the island, but the Maine State Ferry System provides transportation to the nearby island of Islesboro. Then it is up to you to get yourself over to Warren Island. (It is about one half mile from the public boat launch on Islesboro to the pier at Warren Island.) Warren Island is equipped with a pier and dock. The Island also offers a limited number of courtesy moorings in deeper water adjacent to the pier.

The Island features 10 campsites (2 of which are group sites) and 2 Adirondack Shelters (three-sided wooden lean-tos). Imagine unzipping your tent and the ocean being the first thing you see. Imagine cooking your own food over the campfire, and watching the smoke blow away in the ocean breeze.

Warren Island is paradise for bird watchers. The Island has resident Ospreys. A pair of Great Horned Owls is often heard at night. Great Blue Herons, ducks, loons, cormorants, and sandpipers are frequent fliers.

For those brave enough to brave the Maine ocean temperatures, there is a beach at the southern tip of the island. Of course, this is not your typical swimming area, so be aware that no lifeguard is on duty, and that vessels may be sharing your waters. It is always advisable to swim with a friend. And of course, hiking the island and exploring the shores are a must-do for visitors old and new.

Some campsites are available by reservation through the Maine State Park Reservation System. Others are available by first-come, first-served. All camping must take place in designated campsites. From Memorial Day through mid-September, Warren Island is regularly patrolled by park rangers.

There are no phones and no electricity on Warren Island, so it is truly a rustic Maine experience. Drinking water is available from a hand pump on the middle of the island. Privy toilet facilities are available. Visitors are asked to carry all trash off the island.