Summer: Old Orchard Beach has a nostalgic feel of one of those seaside amusement parks with the boardwalk and smell of French fries. There is plenty to do and see in this town and it is a very popular destination spot for vacationers. The white sandy beach stretches for miles for sunbathers and surfers to enjoy. There is a whole amusement park area for everyone’s entertainment. The nightlife in Old Orchard is hopping with plenty of clubs and outside music venues to choose from. The town if filled with plenty of places to stay and along the beach you can find a whole host of houses and cottages to rent if an extended stay is part of your plan. The area also offers some great campgrounds and RV sites. The boardwalk leads to a 500 foot pier which is lined with shops, restaurants and a grand ballroom for dancing the night away. If you are there during the fourth of July you should swing over to Ocean Park and check out the sandcastle contest. It is truly amazing some of the creations that are built. Because Old Orchard is only 20 minutes from Portland you could easily be in the city if you decide you want to check out what’s happening in town. Kittery is not far in the opposite direction in case you decide you want to hit the outlets. Old Orchard has been a popular vacation spot for years because there is plenty to do and see.
Tag: Summer
Golf Course: Go Hit The Links!
Spring,Summer & Fall: Summer is fast approaching and for all you golfers out there you know what that means, time to play! Maine has some great courses ranging in all levels of difficulty around the state. These courses can be found in great condition throughout the summer and with so many options it can be tough to choose one. If you are in the southern part of the state you may want to check out Dunegrass in Old Orchard Beach. The course is well maintained and the club house is new and beautiful. I think the course is challenging and I particularly like the 18th hole which is a par 5 hole. Players tee off with a water hazard directly in front of the markers. Hole two is a quick and easy par 3 at 150 yards from tee to pin. Another fun and great place to play is Boothbay Country Club. Not only is Boothbay a gorgeous spot but, the course is very scenic and very close to all the downtown amenities. The fifth hole known as “Sea Smoke” is challenging with a blind drive to the pin as you tee off on top of a hill overlooking the fairway. The eighth hole known as “Widows Walk” is a par 4 with 3 water hazards one being a small pond. The course is very well maintained and fun to play. If you are in the mid-coast area, Goose River located in Rockport is a very challenging course with rolling hills and hazards scattered throughout. At some of the high points on the course you can see views of Mt. Battie. Now’s the time to make your summer golf itineraries and when you do, be sure to hit some of these great courses.
Ogunquit: Find Lobster, Antiques And The Beach All In One
Spring,Summer,Fall & Winter: Ogunquit is the perfect summer vacation spot with a wide choice of things to do for all ages. When you think of Ogunquit images of a seaside town littered with B&B’s, Inns and ocean resorts may come into mind. Then there is miles of white sandy beaches, a walking path along the cliffs of the Atlantic, great shopping and fine dining. What about entertainment you ask, well there is the famous Ogunquit Playhouse, local pubs and even a dance club or two. This is the perfect spot to enjoy fresh Maine lobster and warm, native blueberry pie. For all of you golfers, you will find some great courses close by. Looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon? Antiquing on Route 1 is always a great thing to do, you never know what you may find or perhaps you just want to relax and listen to the water crash on the shore, you can find it all in Ogunquit. Perkins Cove offers visitors the best views of the Atlantic and an opportunity to hop aboard a chartered boat to go on a whale watch or deep sea fishing. While you are there stop in at Barnacle Billy’s where the seafood is as fresh as it gets straight from the boats to the table. For breathtaking accommodations, you should check out The Cliff House which you will find perched high atop the granite bluff. It is the perfect spot for a weekend getaway or a spectacular wedding site. If you are looking for a way to burn some energy, hiking Mt. Agamenticus is a great place to spend a fall day. Portland is close by so if you feel like exploring hop in your car and head north. You will find plenty to do in and around Ogunquit so make it one of your stops this year and discover all it has to offer.
Flea Markets: Indoor, Outdoor, Hunt For Bargains!
Summer, Spring & Fall: There is something about flea markets that attract people in search of bargains. You never know what you may find and that is half the fun. You can usually find flea markets filled with off priced items that are sometimes seconds or salvage items as well as antique scattered amongst many other items. If you travel up Route 1 along the coast you will usually come across an outside flea market with vendors offering their wares. One such place is Cascade Flea Market on Route 1 in Scarborough. It is right on the corner of 1 and the road that leads you into Old Orchard Beach. There you will find a field of tables lined with everything from dishes, to jewelry to knock off Louis Vuitton bags. It’s fun to just browse through the tables to see what you will find. Most of the vendors come back every year but, there are some new ones offering great bargains for all the eager shoppers. Another place to stop is on Route 1 in Newcastle at Foster’s Flea Market. This is actually Foster’s Antique Auction hall which means that most of the items for sale here are the results of an estate sale. You will find some off priced antiques that may have slight damage but, the prices are great and a small chip on the bottom of a Fiesta plate may not be a big deal to you. Flea Markets are a great place to spend a rainy afternoon at one of the great year round indoor markets. Brunswick offers a huge indoor site at the Waterfront Flea Market on Maine Street and Route 201. Flea Markets are fun to visit and you never know just what you may find so take some time to check them this summer.
Gardening: Plant, Sprout and Enjoy!
Summer: Summer is fast approaching and it’s time to be thinking gardening. Whether you decide to plant and harvest your own vegetables, enjoy a perennial garden or just grow your own window box full of herbs good planning is the key. Greenhouses are full to the brim with seedlings that make gardening a snap. The quality of your soil is critical to growing and maintaining healthy plants. Enriching your soil with fertilizer will yield you heartier plants that will ultimately produce better crops and flowers. I enjoy planting perennials in my own garden and find that a great way to get new plants is to participate in perennial swaps. This is an inexpensive way for me to increase my garden and share the plants I have already in bloom. Gardens do not have to be complicated nor take up a large amount of space. Some of the best tomato plants I have grown have been done so in planters on my deck. Another great idea is setting a window box outside your kitchen window and filling it with delicious herbs that can be used all year long. The expense of herbs makes this an affordable and fun projects. Kids can get into the action planting watermelon and pumpkin seeds. These plants spread so you need to be sure you have room for them to grow but, how fun for the kids to pick their own pumpkins in the fall straight from their own garden. Consider planting a garden, the rewards of your labor will be great!