Summer & Fall: If you have a child who loves horses than you should check out Horse Island Camp located on Peaks Island in beautiful Casco Bay. Peaks Island is a short ferry ride from Portland’s Commercial Street port. The camp is designed for kids from age seven and up and is filled with learning about horses, from how to ride to how to care for them. In addition to horseback riding, campers days are spent swimming, kayaking and exploring the island and all it has to offer. The camp runs for the entire summer however, you can pick and choose weeks if you want. The camp is managed by a staff whose love of horses is apparent and who understand the need for safe and active fun. Besides offering a day camp for kids, Horse Island Camp also offers trail rides for all ages. These rides explore the island and beaches which are fun and scenic all at once. This is a wonderful camp for kids to attend by teaching them the fundamentals of horsemanship and an appreciation for island living. So if your racking your brain looking for a unique experience for your children this summer you should consider enrolling them in Horse Island Camp. Even if you don’t have children and summer camp worries, it’s still a great place to go for a beach ride along the rocky coastline or during the fall to enjoy all the colors of the season!
Tag: Summer
Wedding: So You Gotta Go, Find Plenty To Do While You’re Here!
Summer: So you just got an invitation from your college roommate, it’s a June wedding in Maine. Great you think, what am I going to do that far north for three days!? Why not make the most of it and find some great places to visit while you are here. There are so many beautiful spots in this state whether you are an outdoor enthusiast or not. If getting back to nature is your thing then check out kayaking along one of the rivers or lakes. The western half of the state offers great kayaking on Rangley Lake or if you are into sea kayaking the mid-coast area has some great spots in Phippsburg and Georgetown. Perhaps it’s a day of shopping if you are in the southern half of the state both Kittery and Freeport offer the best outlet shopping around. How about a relaxing day at the beach? Well of course you will find a multitude of salt water ones as we are known for our rocky coast but, the sandy beaches can be found from York to Calais. In-land there are so many great lakes to choose from, Moosehead, Sebago, Rangley with so many ponds to list it would take pages. Camden Hills is a beautiful spot to site see, especially from the top of Mt. Battie. The view of the harbor, the boats and the town are breathtaking and the perfect picture of Maine. Bar Harbor is a another great area to explore with Acadia National Park in it’s back yard. So don’t be depressed, weddings in Maine can be fun, you just need to be a little more creative in your thinking!!
Casco Bay Ferry: Islands, Scenic Cruises Discover It All
Summer & Fall: Casco Bay Ferry line serves as a lifeline to the islands in Casco Bay just off Portland. With hundreds of island residents counting on the ferry service to provide transportation and needed supplies the ferry line has become a part of their everyday existence. Hoping aboard the ferry is easy and both residents and visitors will find that the ferry schedule to the islands makes it easy to explore these tiny treasures. Casco Bay Ferry services Peaks Island, Little Diamond Island, Big Diamond Island, Long, Chebeague and Cliff Island. In addition to providing transportation to and from the island the Casco Ferry Cruise line also provides scenic tours that will enable visitors to catch glimpses of the beauty of Maine’s coastline and all the sea animals along the way. One of their popular day cruises is from Portland harbor to Bailey’s Island. This is a five hour cruise which runs by Potts Island and Eagle Island, home to Admiral Peary, world famous explorer and Bowdoin graduate. This is a narrated cruise where you will learn about the history of Maine’s coast and lighthouses along the way. Another great cruise is the Moonlight cruise where you will enjoy the Portland coastline while cruising in the twilight hours. Casco Bay Ferry Lines also offers a musical cruise series where guest can enjoy live music while enjoying the sights from the boat. If you are looking for a real “Maine” experience than a lobster bake cruise may be just what you’re looking for. Guest will be delivered to Greenwood Gardens located close to the docks on Peaks Island where they can enjoy a homestyle, lobster bake oceanside. Casco Bay Ferry is more than just a ride to the islands, be sure to plan your trip now seats are limited.
Craft Classes: Dare To Be Creative
Spring, Summer, Fall & Winter: People love to do crafts and it’s a great way to keep the kids busy during down time at home. From scrapbooking to painting and jewelry making there is plenty to choose from. If you are looking for craft classes a great place to start is your local adult education program at your area high school. There is usually a good selection that can be found and the prices are always very reasonable. Another place to check out is your local craft supply shops like Michaels. Often they will have a schedule available and classes range from wreath making and flower arranging to beading classes and jewelry making. The great thing about these classes are they are held on site and all the supplies you need can be found right in the store. If you are looking for more formalized craft classes the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts on Deer Isle offers a full range of craft classes using formats from clay, glass and wood to blacksmithing classes. They offer a wide variety of on-going hands on workshops to more intense 2 week training sessions and the best part is you don’t have to be an artist or have any artistic background to attend this school. Craft classes are not hard to find it just depends on what you are looking for. Consider taking a craft class, you could be opening the door to a whole new hobby and world of enjoyment for yourself.
Shark Fishing: If You’re Gonna Go Fishing, Go Big!
Summer: Imagine a warm summer day, calm seas, and you battling a ten-foot dwellerof the deep at the end of a fishing rod. If this sounds intriguing to youthen you should consider shark fishing off the Maine coast. There areseveral charter boat services in and around Portland, Maine that can hookyou up. Whether your preferred fishing style is trolling, drifting, spincasting, or fly-fishing there is an outfitter that can serve you. Sharkseason begins in July and really heats up in August and September. BlueSharks are the predominate shark found of the Maine coast. Thousands ofthese cartilaginous fishes are caught, tagged and released each year.Other shark species such as Mako, Porbeagle and even the occasional GreatWhite have been observed off Maine’s coast. Fishing takes place from 10-25miles offshore. These trips are not for those that suffer from motionsickness. The most common method of locating the sharks is by driftingwhile trailing a chum bucket. The smell and oil produced by the chum linewill bring the sharks within arms reach of the boat. The sight of a 10plus foot shark at close range will have you humming the theme from themovie Jaws. Although Blue Sharks are not considered dangerous they dodeserve your respect and caution. Blue Sharks have been known to grow to12 feet and weigh in up to 400 lbs. There is no doubt that when the battleis done, and you release this magnificent creature back to the sea, youwill.