Winter,Spring,Summer & Fall: Creating beautiful works of art using natural fiber materials is what inspired the creation of The Maine Fiber Arts Visitors Center. The Maine Fiber Arts Visitors Center in Topsham is the place to find unique and handmade items. With a spinning wheel in the center of the room you will often find one of its members spinning local cut wool into yarn or you may find a group of knitters making handmade scarves and mittens. There are felted items, hats, bags and framed art pieces, quilts and hooked rugs all of which are on display and have been created by Maine’s fiber community. The Visitors Centers serves as a showcase of these fiber artist wear with various rotating exhibits throughout the year. It also is a valuable resource center of fiber art techniques and trends with volumes of books, magazines and catalogs in their library. Visitors will delight in all that they will find in this unique art center.
Tag: Fall
Seafood: Maine, It’s All It’s Cracked Up To Be!
Winter,Spring,Summer & Fall: Growing up in Maine you tend to forget that your ability to get some of the freshest seafood is right in your own back yard. As a youngster, I remember driving to the fishing docks to get our lobsters for the family reunion each summer. Maine is known for its sweet, succulent lobster but, it wasn’t long ago that this delicacy was used for chicken feed. Things have changed significantly since then. Whether you cook it yourself or decide to stop in at one of the lobster shacks that litter the coast line you’ll never be disappointed. In additions to lobster, Maine also offers sweet and tender shrimp. Often times a quick drive on route one you will find trucks with signs offering it on the side of the road. These small, tender morsels are sold at a fraction of the coast of their gulf coast buddies and can be used in so many delicious ways. Crab and clams are plentiful along the coast. As a matter of fact, you can get a one day permit and go clamming yourself to dig up some of these tasty treats. We have spent time with a bucket and rake on Head Beach and ended up with enough to enjoy steamers with hot drawn butter for dinner. Maine seafood is definitely all it’s cracked up to be so enjoy!
Boothbay Harbor: Fun Things For Families To Do
Winter,Spring,Summer & Fall: Boothbay Harbor is a tiny lilttle coastal town with some great things for families to do. Along your way into town you will pass the Boothbay Train Museum. This is a great place to stop and take a train ride around the grounds which are filled with reproduction buildings dating back to the early 1800’s. Another place to spend some time is the Maine State Aquarium where you will learn about the life of a lobster, enjoy a petting tank and see a rare blue lobster. Maybe your family would like to hit the links and play a round of golf. The Boothbay Country Club is a great course with some great views. They also have a driving range on-site in case you just feel like hitting some balls. Once you are in town, you can take your pick of boat tours. From seal watches to whale watches the choice is yours. Does the family feel like taking a cruise to Cabbage Island and enjoying an old fashion lobster bake? Not into boats well, the town is filled with gift shops, antique shops and a wonderful candy shop that makes it’s own salt water taffy while you watch. There is an antique candlepin bowling alley in the middle of town for those who want to try their luck. It’s also fun to just walk around town and over the footbridge to get to the other side of the peninsula to enjoy some great seafood out on the decks. Boothbay is a great family getaway and offers visitors plenty of things to do.
Island Vacations: Find Your Perfect Island
Summer & Fall: If a trip to one of Maine’s islands is on your agenda for the summer then you may want to consider one of the midcoast islands located in Penobscot Bay. Access to all these year round islands are made easy with a ferry service. The first island to consider is Vinalhaven, the largest of Maine’s islands located 15 miles off the mainland. The best way to get there is by ferry out of Rockland. The island is visitor friendly with lot to do. There are places and places to eat and shop. The island has some great places to explore but, the best find is the spring fed granite quarries. The hike to them is easy and the swimming is incredible. If you are looking for another great island to visit then head toward Port Clyde and hop on the ferry to Monhegan, artist, poetry and absolute beauty await you on this island. When you arrive you will see immediately why Jamie Wyeth was so inspired to paint the landscape. The coastline is amazing and with over 17 miles of hiking trails there is plenty to see. Make sure that you take a special trip through Cathedral Woods so you can spot the fairy houses. These fairy houses have been around for generations and are fun to spot during your hike. Maybe it’s just quiet from the hustle of everyday life that you are yearning for. Head down the coast to Lincolnville and take the two mile ferry ride to Islesboro. Noted as one of the “most exclusive summer resorts”, Islesboro is like stepping back into time during the turn of the century with Victorian Inns with expanding open porches filled with rocking chairs and wicker settees. You can bike on the island and there are some great small, private beaches which are the perfect setting for enjoying the surf and a great book. Whatever type of island vacation you are looking for you can find it on one of Maine’s islands.
Brunswick: Discovering The Town With Lots To Do
Winter,Spring,Summer & Fall: Brunswick is known for the Naval Air Station but, there are plenty of things to do and see for visitors of all ages. Home to Bowdoin College and within the walls of this campus you will find the Maine State Music Theater which has been offering show goers some of the best live musical performances for over 40 years. Bowdoin is also home to the Peary-MacMillian Arctic Museum, which is a tribute to these two great explorers who attended Bowdoin. Inside this museum visitors will find a great collection of the explorers original equipment as well as historic photos. Another spot to check out while you are in town is the historic Fort Andros. Inside this restored mill you will find shops, restaurants and even a movie theater. There is a great antique shop that is choke full of some great finds ranging from furniture to jewelry and everything in between. After browsing around the mall for a while take a walk across the bridge into Topsham and head to the Sea Dog Brewing Company for lunch. They have a great deck that overlooks the river and its fun to watch the fish jump and the water rush over the damn. Blueberry Ale is in season come summer so it’s the perfect drink on a hot summer day. Once you are finished with your lunch a trip down the river walk. This pathway along the Androscoggin River is a scenic way to enjoy some time outside. Remember, Brunswick is not far from historic Bath and Portland is only thirty minutes south so it’s a great place to spend the day or part of your day on your way to other destinations.