Augusta: Five Fun Things To Do

Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall: Find your way to the capital city of Maine and you will find more than government buildings and bureaucracy. Give this town a chance to prove all it has to offer! You can find more to do than exploring the State of Maine Museum, touring the governor’s mansion or hanging out in Capital Park. Here are some things to do that won’t leave you disappointed! During the winter months pack up your cross country skis and head to the Pine State Arboretum where you can enjoy six miles of groomed trails through some of the prettiest woods in the area. During the summer months you can enjoy these same trails along with all the wildlife that comes out to enjoy the weather. The best part about the Arboretum is entrance to the park and trails is always free. Perhaps you are looking for a little more adventure, then get in the car and head over to Wright Way Stables and sign up for horseback riding instructions. They offer lessons for all ages and all levels of experience. Horsing around is not your thing? That’s fine, stop in at the University of Maine in Augusta and take some time to enjoy a performance at Jewett Hall Auditorium. Whether it be jazz or a night of blues Jewett Hall offers a great concert series that shouldn’t be missed. Augusta also has a great historical site known as Old Fort Williams. Located on the banks of the Kennebec River, this fort is over 250 years old and is one of the oldest surviving forts in the country. You can take a guided tour throughout the fort and really see what it is like to step back in time. Don’t miss out on the things to do in Augusta, check it out today!

Lewiston/Auburn: Five Fun Things To Do

Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall: Lewiston Auburn has some fantastic art venues that are filled with very impressive art from both local and national artist. With Bates College located in the heart of these twin cities you will also find a thriving theater and museum which is open to the public. Bates College Art Museum is definitely a place to check out where you will find some of the finest art exhibitions in the area. The Bates College Museum combines a mix of student, artist and faculty pieces that reflect what is happening in our world both locally and nationally. Another stop if you are interested in art is the Creative Photography Center which is located in the heart of Lewiston’s Bates Mills complex and offers visitors over 40,000 square feet of some of the best photography exhibits in New England. This is a great way to spend an afternoon perusing through a very impressive collection of photography from many well know artist. After you are finished exploring Lewiston/Auburn’s art scene, stop in for a great meal at DaVinci’s Restaurant also located in the Bates Mills complex. Here you will find some of the best Italian food in the area with huge portions, so be sure you arrive hungry. If you are looking for some fun without a big price tag then head over to Sparetime Recreation and bowl a few strings and have a blast while you are at it. If you want to take it outside, check out either Lost Valley Ski Resort or Pine Haven Fun Park. Lost Valley is a family friendly ski mountain that offers lessons, night skiing and a manageable size mountain if you want to ski with kids. If skiing is not your thing but, you want to take it outdoors then check out Pine Haven Fun Park where snow tubing rules! The trails are groomed to perfection and one ride down the hill will keep you wanting more! Lewiston Auburn has a lot to offer visitors so take a ride to central Maine today and discover all there is to do!

Waterville: Five Fun Things To Do

Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall: Waterville is one of central Maine’s best kept secrets. Home to Colby College, residents and visitors alike can find plenty of things to see and do. Located on the campus of Colby College is one of the areas best art museums. Choke full of both contemporary art from well known artist as well as many temporary exhibits from locals and students alike. The museum is free and open to the public and is a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. The museum also has a on-going events schedule that includes lectures, workshops and classes for adults and children. Waterville also has a small downtown area that offers some great restaurants and pubs to check out. Mainely Brews Restaurant and Tavern is the perfect place to hang out with friends. Whether it be inside, where you can enjoy a cozy pub atmosphere, great food and entertainment or take it outside to the patio during the summer months and listen to the music while sipping a cold one under the stars. Either way, this is a great spot to meet up with friends and enjoy a night out on the town. Another thing to do is to check out what is playing at the Flagship Cinema. With eight screens you will be sure to find something that will appeal the crowd no matter what their age. If you are looking for movies but, not quite the mainstream type, you should check out the Railroad Square Cinema. This alternative cinema brings to Maine some of the best foreign films and was named by Sundance Film Institute as one of twelve cinemas that were included in their “art house project”. During the winter months you can pack up your cross country skis and head over to the newly cut 3.5 miles of trails located just off Quarry Road. These trails are both serene and scenic. Parts of the trail run parallel with Messalonskee Stream which makes for some pretty views and solitude. This new trail system is going to be eventually expanded but, for now, the trails are groomed and ready to go.

Discovery Museum: Bangor’s Center For Children

Fall,Spring,Winter,Summer: Bangor is home to the largest children’s museum north of Boston, The Maine Discovery Museum. Kids love this place because of all the interactive displays. My kids love the hands on” learning areas that the museum has set up. Each floor offers visitors a chance to explore the world of nature, geography, children’s literaturel music, art and science. If your kids love to sing or have dreams of becoming a recording artist, the “sounds abound” karaoke studio will be a big hit. If reading is their preference than a tour through “booktown” where each doorway opens up to a page of children’s classic books such as Charlotte’s Web or Tidely-Idely will be fun. For those who long for adventure and global travel a trip through “Passport” may be just in order. Kids can visit the Australian outback or a marketplace in Ghana. “Artscape” allows that budding artist to create kenetic art and sculpture, learn about patterns and colors. “Mission Discovery” is my boys favorite part of the museum. Here kids can get involved in a hands-on exhibit where they learn the science behind movement, gravity, robotics and astronomy. “Body Journey” will be a hit for that upcoming nurse or doctor. The Maine Discovery Museum is three floors of fun and learning for your children and definitely worth the trip.

Book Club: Start Your Own Reading Group

Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer: If you want to increase your reading capacity this fall then you should consider starting a book club. If you decide to start your own group, your first task is to recruit members. The number of members you have in your book club will be determined by where you decide to have your meetings. Another thing to consider before you invite your participants is that more people leads to more discussion which can make it confusing unless you have a good moderator who is skilled at keeping discussions on track. On the flip side, too few participates will lead to littley discussion and so you really need to think about achieving the perfect balance. Most people recruit solely from friends or coworkers although you don’t need to stop there. Once you have a solid group of people together, it’s time to set some guidelines for your group. Things to decide are how and who picks the books and when and where you will meet. Most book clubs typically meet once a month and discuss one book per meeting. In the past, we have had each member recommend a book for their month and they are responsible for leading the discussion on that book. To be sure, planning and running your own book club can be a challenge. But if done properly, your book club will prove to be a rewarding and fulfilling experience for you and your peers.