Summer & Fall: Have you ever dreamt of riding on horseback along the beach, waves crashing at your feet and the sun setting in the distance. If you are looking for a magical way to spend some time than you should travel to Portland, hop on the ferry heading to Peaks Island and find the Horse Island Camp. Here you will enjoy not only one of the most scenic islands in Casco Bay but, you will also find one of the nicest places to gallop on the sand. Horse Island Camp offers horseback riding tours either on the beach or on the trails, either way nothing beats the way riding horseback makes you feel. You don’t need to be an experienced rider, the folks at Horse Island Camp will give you the instruction you need to enjoy and feel comfortable riding horseback. While you are on the island make sure you stop in and enjoy a meal at the Cockeyed Gull just steps from the ferry pier. There you can enjoy the traditional fare or something more daring like the calamari with tomato saffron aioli, it’s wonderful. Peaks Island is only 3 miles from downtown Portland and with parking right at the ferry terminal, it makes your trip easy and enjoyable. Horseback riding on the beach is closer and easier than you think. Take some time this summer and discover the beaches of Peaks Island, Casco Bay’s most popular island.
Tag: Summer
Free Music: Portland Comes Alive At 5
Summer: Looking for something to do on Thursday nights this summer? If so, the middle of Monument Square in Portland is the place to be at 5PM. Call your friends and have them meet you after work for a great way to start the weekend a little early and enjoy live music as part of Portland’s Alive at 5pm concert series. The best part of this concert series is, it’s completely free! The musical genre changes each week starting in July and ending in August and the music plays rain or shine. In the heart of Monument Square you will find two great restaurants with outdoor seating, David & Shay’s. Invite some friends to join you and pull up a seat enjoy the music, some appetizers and cocktails, it’s a fun way to spend some time with friends. Whether you enjoy pop, rock, blues or salsa, there is music for every liking and the crowd is fun! There is always a beer tent set up if just feel like hanging and have a cold one while enjoying the sounds echoing down Congress Street in the heart of downtown Portland. The Alive at 5 series has become a Portland tradition and followers come from miles around to enjoy the scene. Another great place for free music in Portland is the Concerts in the Park series in Deering Oaks Park. Grab a blanket and head down to the park where concert goers enjoy live music every Tuesday night during the summer months. From a 16 piece jazz chorus to good ol’ fashion rock and roll, you will be entertained all summer and nothing beats live music on a warm summer night. Portland has some great free summer concerts for the whole family enjoy, so why not check them out!
Sebago Lake: Take A Leap
Summer: Sebago Lake has always been a great place to visit and stay and if you haven’t discovered Frye Island than this summer is the time. Located just off Route 302 in Raymond, Frye Island is just a quick ferry ride across the lake. There are summer cottages on the island for rent, a wonderful beach area, a nine hole- golf course and plenty of other things to discover like Frye’s Leap. Frye’s Leap is an 80 foot cliff that rises out of the waters of Sebago and has become a popular spot for visitors and boaters. On any given summer day you will find brave souls making the plunge into the deep waters of Sebago from the ledges of Frye’s Leap. The Leap is also a popular place for boaters to drop anchor and enjoy the views. After spending the day on the water or in the water, head over to Frye’s Leap General Store and Café to enjoy a bite to eat and a great view of the Sebago Lake. There is an outside deck for dining and this is one of the few restaurants on the lake that can be accessed by boat. The menu is varied yet, uncomplicated and the atmosphere relaxed. The General Store is the main hub for residents and summer renters offering groceries, newspapers, ice cream and all the things a good old fashion general store once offered. If you never had the chance to explore Sebago Lake, then take some time this summer and discover Frye Island. It just could become your annual summer destination.
Pleasant Mountain: Go Take A Hike
Summer: If you find yourself in the Sebago Lakes Region and want to do something other than lake activities, make Pleasant Mountain one of your stops. This is the highest peak in the southern half of the state and the views from the top will take your breath away. The mountain has a whole system of well maintained hiking trails that give visitors a panoramic view of Sebago Lake that go clear to Mount Washington. This is worth a stop if you find yourself in Bridgton, and it’s only a couple of miles past Shawnee Peak so it is easy to find. During the summer months, Pleasant Mountain is a host to several special events one is the annual Hike and Bike Trek. Whether you hike to the summit or choose to bike, this is a fun event designed for all levels of outdoor enthusiast. Bikers can choose between a 25, 50 or 100 mile trek while enjoying the views along the way. If you are planning a trip to Pleasant Mountain, you may want to consider staying at the Pleasant Mountain Inn which is just down the road from the trailhead. This way you can rise early after morning coffee enjoyed along with the cries of the loons on Beaver Pond. The Inn is comfortable and offers a restaurant right on site for your convenience. You may want to consider planning your trip in the fall during the Fryeburg Fair which starts the last week of September and is one of Maine’s largest and most popular fairs. Fryeburg is only 15 minutes away Bridgton so it’s an easy trip and a great way to spend a weekend.
Portland: Trolley From Portland To The Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse
Summer & Fall: A fun way to spend an afternoon whether you are a native or tourist and find yourself in the Portland area is to hop on Mainely Trolley Tours and enjoy the 90 minute narrative tour. You will learn all about Portland and its seafaring history about the trolley. You can catch the trolley on Long Wharf which is located on the waterfront on Commercial Street near the Old Port. There are four tours a day with the first departing at 9:30am and the last tour departing at 4:30pm. This is a great way to become familiar with the city with visits to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s home, past the Victorian Mansion, up through the Eastern Promenade where the views of Casco Bay are out of this world to Portland Head Light. At Portland Head Light, tour goers are given the opportunity to get off the trolley and take pictures of Maine’s oldest and most photographed lighthouse. While you are there stop in at the gift shop and grab a postcard and some saltwater taffy to take with you for the rest of the tour. Sit back and relax on the “Discovery” trolley while you discover all there is to see and do in Portland. After the trolley ride walk down to the Portland Lobster Company and sit out on the deck while you enjoy a cold drink and a delicious lobster or fried clam roll. The dining is casual and the views of the boats coming in and out of the harbor can’t be beat. On Friday’s there is live music during happy hour from 4:30 to 7 pm. It’s a fun place to hang out with friends and a great place to sample some of Maine’s local brews like the Shipyard Summer Ale or Sea Dog’s Blueberry Wheat Ale. Ah, Maine in the summer, nothing beats it!