Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for maine
The Nubble
By Linda Tancs
Affectionately referred to by locals as “the Nubble,” Nubble Lighthouse (formally known as Cape Neddick Light Station) is touted as one of the most photographed lighthouses in the world. That’s likely due to its iconic and picturesque setting on a small, rocky island (hence, the name) just off the coast of York, Maine. For shutterbugs, that means excellent vantage points for stunning images, especially at sunrise and sunset. Visit in the spring or fall when crowds are thinner and the lighting is soft and diffused. Sohier Park offers unobstructed views.
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From Maine to Mars
By Linda Tancs
Did you know that Maine is home to some of the most incredible gemstones on planet Earth? You’ll learn all about this geological history at the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in Bethel. Although minerals are the cornerstone of the museum’s collections (particularly the Perham Collection), it also boasts a formidable display of meteorites from Mars, the Moon and the Asteroid Belt that teach us about the origins of our solar system. Buy your tickets online or at the admissions desk.
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Maine’s Largest Lake
By Linda Tancs
Maine’s largest lake is Moosehead Lake. Spanning 74,890 acres, it’s one of the largest freshwater lakes in the country and the second-largest lake in New England after Lake Champlain. Just three hours north of Portland in the Highlands region, it’s great for fishing with plenty of landlocked salmon, brook trout and lake trout. If a leisurely cruise is more your speed, then rent a boat or take a narrated cruise on the steamboat Katahdin. As you might imagine, the area is known for moose. In fact, moose outnumber people three to one. Take a moose safari and spot the elusive creature with a guide. The best time of day to see moose is early in the morning or at dusk, from mid-spring through late June.
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The Oyster Trail
By Linda Tancs
Boasting some of the finest oysters on Earth, the Maine Oyster Trail features 75 one-of-a-kind oyster businesses to experience. There’s an option for everyone, including farm tours, raw bars, shuck trucks and boat/kayak tours. Your interactive experience comes with a Maine Oyster Passport; eligible visits earn points toward nautical swag.
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The Belfast Rail Trail
By Linda Tancs
Belfast, Maine, is a sister city to Belfast, Northern Ireland. Like its counterpart, it was once known for shipbuilding. These days, it’s a relaxing small town with a Harborwalk providing views of a shipyard that dominates the downtown waterfront. Another walking opportunity is the Belfast Rail Trail, a former railroad bed following the western bank of the Passagassawakeag River (the “Passy”). The route starts at the waterfront near the pedestrian bridge and is popular with pedestrians and bicyclists. In winter, the trail is excellent for snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing when it snows.
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Art and Architecture in Portland
By Linda Tancs
The McLellan-Sweat Mansion is a historic house museum on High Street in Portland, Maine. It forms the rear component of the Portland Museum of Art complex, the state’s oldest and largest public art institution. The Federal-style, three-story mansion was completed in 1801 for Major Hugh McLellan, a wealthy merchant who owned Maine’s largest shipping fleet. The house was thereafter owned by Margaret Jane Mussey Sweat, a writer and philanthropist who bequeathed the home to a society now known as the Portland Museum of Art. Admission to the museum is free to the public every Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.
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A Troll Hunt in Maine
By Linda Tancs
Boasting nearly a mile of tidewater shoreline, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay is New England’s largest botanical garden. You’ll find more than 300 acres of gardens and natural spaces featuring both ornamental and themed gardens like a children’s garden and sensory gardens. But the scene stealers may very well be the giant trolls found throughout the native, natural wooded areas. Designed by a Danish artist, they’re composed of recycled wood and other materials like oak bark and tree roots. It’s about a 3-mile hike to see all five trolls, which tower above the forest at about 20 feet.
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Height of Land
by Linda Tancs
Height of Land is an apt name for a viewpoint in western Maine offering views so sweeping that it’s been described as one of the finest in the state if not in all of New England. You’ll find it on state route 17 along the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway, a 52-mile-long national scenic byway that begins just north of Byron and features six major lakes. The photo-worthy spot boasts sprawling views of the Rangeley Lakes region and the mountains beyond. Bordering the Appalachian Trail, it presents a fine opportunity to hike at least a small portion of the trail while you’re there.
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Fall for Ogunquit
By Linda Tancs
Known for its beaches and thriving arts community, Ogunquit, Maine, is a popular tourist destination on Maine’s southern coast. Autumn is a good time to claim a good beach walk without the summer crowds. After all, the town’s beaches have been voted one of the best in the United States! Another great activity is a hike along Marginal Way, a 1.5-mile cliff walk with a paved path, between The Sparhawk Oceanfront Resort on Shore Road and Perkins Cove. The stunning views (along with benches to stop and enjoy them) will no doubt explain why the town is named Ogunquit, a Native American term meaning “beautiful place by the sea.” This time of year also brings OgunquitFest. One of the biggest fall festivals in the Northeast, it features arts and crafts, a classic car show, a Dogtoberfest costume parade and more.
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Billed as the Great North American Eclipse, a total solar eclipse will cross North America on April 8, 2024, passing over Mexico, the United States and Canada. The path of the eclipse begins in Mexico, entering the United States in Texas, and traveling through Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. The eclipse will enter Canada in Southern Ontario, and continue through Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Cape Breton. This will be the last time any solar eclipse will be visible within the United States until 2045.
Be prepared! So long as supplies last, you can purchase eclipse glasses and other accessories, like a phone app and photo filter, from American Paper Optics, a NASA-approved manufacturer. The link in the preceding sentence is an affiliate link, which means that if you click on the link and purchase merchandise from the page, then I may receive a small commission.
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The Liberty Ship Memorial
By Linda Tancs
Liberty ships were a class of cargo ship built in the United States during World War II to ferry supplies to Allies. A major site of this shipbuilding activity is the area now known as Bug Light Park in Portland, Maine. You’ll find a memorial to the liberty ships there, along with Bug Light, an elegant lighthouse so-named for its small size. The park is located at the eastern end of the Greenbelt Walkway, an off-road pathway that provides expansive views of Portland Harbor.
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