Tag: Winter

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.

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall: Are you looking for a place where your children can be just that? The Children’s Museum of Maine is the place for your next family outing. Here your child can learn and explore using their imagination and other hands on activities. The only dilemma is deciding who is having more fun, the children or the parent, in the life size fire truck or space shuttle. All parents want their children to enjoy learning, so this is a great way to let them learn while playing. Your children will learn through dramatic play. They can pretend to dress up like a princess to be saved by a knight, a pirate looking for treasure, or a doctor preparing for a surgery. Children can also put on a show with other children in the museum’s theatre. There is a life size, bright red fire truck, where children can pretend to be a firefighter putting out a fire, driving the truck, or ringing the bell. There is also a space shuttle cockpit where children can pretend to be an astronaut flying to outer space using the fake controls and watching the video. Farmer collect eggs from chickens, milk the cow, and pump water from an old-fashioned well. Kids can also withdraw museum money from the ATM, and spend it in the grocery store where the children playing cashier scan the products and collect the money. The Children’s Museum of Maine is a wonderful place to spend the day; even the baby of the family has a safe and secure play area designed just for them. Remember, your children are always changing and the museum allows for a new experience each and every visit.

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Related Maine To Do’s: Sightseeing, Parks, Beaches, Camping, Cookouts, Lakes

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall : Deering Oaks is the largest park in Portland with year round potential. In the summer, the park hosts several concerts throughout the week and especially on the weekends. The concerts and events held in the park usually feature local bands and folk singers that cover virtually all types of music. These events are typically used to spread awareness or raise funds for local organizations. Also in the summer, a farmer’s market is held in the middle of the park by local farmers. The market provides harvest goods such as fruits, vegetables, flowers, jellies, maple syrup, and other Maine Maine made products. The newly renovated information center at the park provides local Portland information on historical sites. The park’s information center provides maps of Portland that show various historical sites within the city. At the information center, you can also grab a snack at the snack bar. Deering Oaks park also provides four tennis courts, two volleyball courts with real beach sand, and one basketball court. If you don’t have enough people for the game of your choice, you can usually find other people in the park and start a pick-up game. This is a great way to meet new people that share your interests. The park is also a great place to bring your kids. After a nice morning playing on the playground, which has a section designed for young children and another for older kids, take the kids over to the splash pool, where they can play in the sprinklers and cool off after an active morning. Just next to the splash park is a beautiful pond with an abundance of ducks and the occasional swan. In the center of the pond, there is an adorable red duck house that the ducks nest. You can feed the ducks or just sit and enjoy the view. In the fall, you can stroll through the 51 acre park on the winding trails. You can see the leaves change colors from green, yellow, orange, and red. This is a great opportunity to enjoy Maine’s stunning fall season. In the winter, the park is still a wonderful place to visit. The pond’s water level is drained to a foot or less of water and when it freezes, the snow is plowed off and is made into the perfect outdoor ice skating arena. The snow on the park trails is also cleared, so you can still enjoy walking your dog, a winter jog, or just a leisurely stroll through the park. The winter in the park is also a great place to bring your children for winter activities such as making snow men, snow angels, or building a fort. So don’t let cabin fever set in or get you down this winter, plan a visit to the park for the perfect cure.

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Related Maine To Do’s: Sightseeing, Parks, Family, Ice Skating, Cookouts, Walking Trails

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall: Seacoast Fun Park is Windham’s only amusement park. It is open year round and has something for everyone during every season. Seacoast is the home of the Sky Max, a 100 foot high swing. The swing lifts you up in a harness, and then it releases the harness for an exhilarating drop until you swing your to a stop. If you are a thrill seeker, this is just what you are looking for. In the summer, spring and fall, the park also offers bumper boats for all ages and an arcade with loads of of different games including single and double player games. There are also games where you can compete against your friends, such as air hockey, car racing games, and several others.Season Fun Park also has a driving range. Whether you are a pro golfer working on your swing or a novice practicing, the driving range is a great way to let go of the busy week and relax. A great family activity at Seacoast is the mini golf course, which is an 18-hole adventure. See if you can make it through the windmill or under the anchor for a hole in one. The course has several different obstacles to keep you guessing who will win. If golf isn’t your thing and you have a need for a little more action, you can race with your friends or family on the Gran Prix Go Karts. They have two seat car available for the young ones that need to have a buddy help them around the track. The fun park also has a rock wall to climb and a Sling Shot Trampoline. In addition to all the activities, there is a snack bar where you can get lunch or dinner, or just get an ice cream treat to finish off the day.Seacoast Fun Park is also open in the winter. The driving range is converted into a snow tubing paradise with a tube lift to bring you back to the top. Single and double tubes are available onsite. This is a great family activity for the cold winter days. Remember the snack bar is open and they will be serving hot cocoa so you can warm up and hit the hill again.

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Related Maine To Do’s: Mini Golf, Parks, Tubing, Family, Go Karting, Driving Range