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.

Greenville Maine Vacation Getaway

Greenville is a tiny town located on the southern tip of Maine’s largest and most famous lake, Moosehead Lake. Greenville, with a population of just over a thousand, simply glows with small town charm.

The Greenville Inn, which has been recommended by Yankee Magazine, and was named one of the five best New England Bed and Breakfasts in both 2007 and 2008, offers a variety of special weekend packages. The Inn is something of a paradise for nature lovers who want to explore the outdoors and enjoy the finest amenities in the same weekend. The Inn offers views of Moosehead Lake from the rooms, as well as private entrances and whirlpool tubs. The Inn will arrange a moose tour for you with a Registered Maine Guide, who will take you to remote ponds in search of the largest animal of the northern Maine forest. The Inn also offers ice fishing trips, with ice shack included!

For a more affordable option, try the Greenwood Motel, in Greenville Junction, which promises its guests the lowest price in the region. (They also offer moose safaris!)

Or if you really want an adventure, consider camping at Lily Bay State Park, where you can pitch a tent only a few feet from Moosehead Lake, which offers what some consider the best kayaking in Maine. Create your own moose safari from your canoe or kayak.

During the day, take a cruise aboard The Katahdin, a historic steamer which will take you on a tour of Moosehead Lake, while you enjoy the spacious decks and scrumptious snacks and beverages.

A stay in Greenville puts you within spitting distance of some of the best hiking in Maine. Explore a stretch of the Appalachian Trail, visit Lily Bay State Park, or hike up Elephant Mountain to witness the remains of a 1963 airplane crash. After only a short hike, visitors can begin to see the refuse of the B-52 Stratofortress-C, an $8 million Air Force aircraft.

If you’re really looking for an adventure, consider dining at The Black Frog. The restaurant is located in downtown, right on the water and seating offers lake views. The food is standard pub fare, but the character of the restaurant will be what you’ll remember. The owners have a sense of humor, and were the subject of quite a scandal recently when they offered free meals to anyone who would skinny dip off their deck during the winter months. The local police had to be called a few times. But even if you’re not into nudity, the décor and ambiance is worth a visit.

For a slightly calmer dining experience, try Kelly’s Landing, a restaurant located just up the road in Greenville Junction. Kelly’s is family-friendly, with gorgeous lake views, and delicious Maine dining options, including steaks and seafood. During the summer months, ask to be seated on the deck for a view you can’t beat.

Greenville is a worthy destination during any season. No matter your pleasure: swimming, kayaking, hiking, biking, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, hunting, fishing, or ice-fishing, Greenville is an outdoors-person’s paradise.