Tag: Summer

Summer, Winter, Spring, Fall: Last Sunday I decided to take an unusal roadtrip which would include three very important stops…breakfast, lunch and dinner. This was not just any trip because I decided to do a tour of some of the local diners along Maine’s Route One. Anxious to start, I head out early on my way to Wells where I would sit down with the locals and tourist alike to enjoy an authentic diner style breakfast. The Maine Diner on Route One in Wells offered the goods I was looking for, homestyle cooking for cheap. The waitress delivered eggs and hash, a side of homefries, toast and hot coffee, nothing beats the taste of diner food especially for breakfast. The restaurant was full of people waiting to enjoy the same fare and the waitstaff buzzed around the room at a frenetic pace. With over 4 million customers served you can understand why… Pointing my car North on Route One, I headed for Brunswick where the Miss Brunswick Diner awaited. Now some folks think they have found the perfect lobster roll but, until you have had one here you are missing out! A perfectly toasted roll filled with pure lobster meat and just enough lettuce to give it some color, even the locals love these. Heck on a slow day, they sell between 20 to 30 so they must be doing something right. After enjoying lunch and enjoying the river walk path along the Androscoggin, I hopped in my car and this time headed east toward Waldoboro, home of the famous, Moody’s Diner. Now Moody’s has been serving diner fare for over 75 years and has become a Maine icon. Some of their recipes have been published in Gourment magazine and they’ve even recieved awards from the Culinary Hall of Fame but, there is nothing pretentious about this place at all. They have survived by serving simple, good food at a reasonable price. After enjoying a good ol’ fashion cheeseburger complete with fries and a chocolate shake I decided to indulge in a slice of heaven. Moody’s is famous for their pie and after one bite you’ll know why. So the day was done and I was ready to head home but, one thing is for sure, if you are looking for a way to spend a day then taking a ride along Route One and enjoying these great diners may be just the thing. Either way, you end up with a day full of good food and great memories.

Summer, Spring, Winter, Fall: The Amtrak Downeaster is a fun and easy way to travel from Maine to Boston. I was able to take a trip on the train thanks to my son…or actually his friend. You see we were invited to his friends 9th birthday which involved taking the train to Boston for the day. We boarded the Downeaster at Portland’s Transportation Center which is only minutes from the downtown area. There was plenty of parking available though the train was full for the Saturday 8:25 am departure. The train runs seven days a week with a couple of departure times daily. The kids loved the dining car which offered boxed meals for the morning commute such as breakfast sandwiches, muffins and bagels. I enjoyed a coffee and the beautiful scenes that fluttered past the window as I sat comfortably in the coach section.A train host made sure that everyone was enjoying their trip and broke out in a round of “Happy Birthday” for our friend. There were eight stops from Portland to Boston if you were interested in getting on or off at other locations. The passengers all seemed to be enjoying themselves, the scenery and mostly the fact they didn’t have to deal with traffic. I am sure this is a big plus for business travelers during the work week.Riding the train was kind of a nostalgic way of traveling and was definitely everyone should try at least once!

Summer Winter, Spring, Fall: One of my favorite places to go for a Friday night out with friends is located next to the Big Indian on Route One in Freeport. Conundrums is the spot and though it is small, it offers big atmosphere. This Wine Bistro offers alot more than meets the eye. This chic and cozy hangout offers patrons a wine list that will blow any wine connoisseur away. Not only does this place offer 20 red and 20 whites by the glass but, you can find a $1500 bottle of champagne in reserve for that special occassion. In addition to their extensive wine list, Conundrums offers a martini menu that is out of this world. My personal favorite is the “green demon” which I love to enjoy with the cheese and pate plate that is served with walnuts your choice of three cheeses and crusty bread. I love the lemon stilton although the menu changes so it may not always be available.My friends and I enjoy lounging on the leather couch in the back corner and are entertained by the variety of visitors that enter the door. They also offer a enclosed and heated deck area that is a great place for larger crowds. The food has an eclectic flair to it and is always satisfying and intriguing. This is a perfect spot for any occassion from the romantic rendesvous to just gathering with friends you won’t be disappointed in this jazzy spot.