Don’t look now travelMainers, but Spring is budding across the state! As Daylight Savings and the first official day of Spring draw ever closer, pause for a moment and appreciate the finer points of a dawning new season.

To start, put away your snow shovels, ice scrapers and other winter survival tools. Then do a happy dance for every rainy forecast—because in March, rain can only mean one thing—it’s not snowing! No more icy roads and chilling winter winds to interfere with even the best laid travel plans.

So instead of planning a late season ski trip in the coming weeks, dust off your cruising car and watch the thermometer climb into the high forties. Just high enough, if you ask me, to roll down the windows or drop your convertible’s top, blast the radio and take some deep breaths of fresh Spring air. Take a leisurely drive on a Sunday afternoon and peek around for the growing traces of spring.

Some of these traces can certainly be greeted with a warm welcome as we watch the last snow drift turn to mud in our backyards. Ice cream shacks and joints throughout Maine are throwing open their shutters as March winds hint at warmer seasons to come. Keep an eye out for that perfect, sunny and warm Spring day and don’t waste the opportunity! Whether you’re at Beal’s in downtown Portland, or Gifford’s in Yarmouth, relish the joy of that first taste of creamy, Maine-made ice cream. Keep an eye out this month for opening day specials, as many places offer free or discounted cones to celebrate the arrival of Spring!

You may also have noticed another sweet confection in the works as warmer weather abounds. Across the state, the sap is flowing. And with sap comes Maine made Maple Syrup, fresh from the farms.

So please, travelMainers, take note of the exciting signs of Spring—winter is drawing to a close, and with a new season comes a host of new activities, foods and events to participate in.

Coming Soon: We’ll be featuring a complete blog entry with reviews and suggestions for great places to find genuine, delicious Maine Maple Syrup, and we welcome any suggestions or recommendations from you!

This has been a strange and delightful Winter here in Maine. I’ve been able to look outside and see lawn for most of the season and have even done some yard work. Most days have been in the low 40’s and we have not had a significant snowfall since January and that last one was washed away in the next days rain! I always wondered what it would be like to live in a place that does not get snow four months straight. It’s awesome!

We were forecasted to get 6 to 10 inches of snow on Tuesday which made me go over my mental checklist of “Snow Storm Things To Do.” I figured the party was over, Winter was back -  Gas for the snow blower -yup, snow shovel handy -yup, House buttoned up -yup, wood ready for the fireplace in case the power goes out -yup. …ready. Except it didn’t snow! Ah! -  missed us again!

This got me to thinking about the folks south of us that have had to deal with several feet of snow with their weekly snowstorms.  How could they possibly be ready? I have to admit I’ve enjoyed watching them–but it’s clear they really do not know how to deal with Mother Nature in February.

I thought I would help out and pass along some tips from many years of Maine snow storm experience.

1. Really… don’t try to shovel the driveway while the snow is still falling-you can’t beat it.

2.You need to use a snow shovel -that garden spade won’t do the trick.

3.Local TV forecasts are usually incorrect…you’re talking about people that stand outside in snowstorms to tell you it’s snowing -think about it.

4.If snow is forecast – Run to the grocery store and buy a months worth of provisions…including all the toilet paper and milk you can carry, we do this but I’m not sure why – I think it’s a Maine tradition.

5.If you do not have a plow or snow blower, your best bet is to hire the kid next door to shovel; it’s much less stress on the back and the heart.

6.Snow melts, But, if you leave it on your driveway for a couple of days it will turn into ice with the consistency of concrete and you will spend the next month chopping it off with a variety of tools.

7. You cannot drive over the snowbank the plow leaves at the end of the driveway. There is no Olympic medal for this so don’t try. You will be stuck and have to rock your car back and forth for an hour. Then call a tow truck.

8.You’ll find that newspaper at the end of you driveway…in April.

9. Snow tires are a good thing, they will help you get to the grocery store to buy toilet paper and milk.

10. Be patient – It will all melt by April Fools Day…really….or at least, hopefully…

These are some excellent tips from a long time survivor of Maine’s wacky winters…and now I’m off to do some more yardwork!

A great way to travelMaine may be by sled…dog sled!

Thousands of people turned out for the Musher’s Bowl and Winter Carnival Races  in Bridgton, Maine last weekend.

The event is produced by the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and is a huge sucess.  Highlights of the event are dog sledding, skijoring, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and for the brave taking a polar plunge! The Freezing for a Reason plunge at Highland Lake Beach raises money for the Harvest Hills Animal Shelter.

If you can learn a few commands,  you can become a Musher and go Mushing (dog sled riding) or try Skijoring (cross country skiing by a dog team).  So here you go…

Mush!: many people think this is the term used to get a team going  – HIKE! is the most commonly used.

GEE- The command to turn right.

HAW-The command to turn left.

EASY-The command to slow down.

ON BY!- The command to go by another team or distraction.

Maybe it would be safer to travelMaine as a passenger on a sled and it would be more fun to catch a dogsled ride with an experienced Musher.

You can make a reservation and go for a 30 minute cruise…or for the really brave take the plunge. Until then…MUSH …errr…I mean HIKE!

Maine lost an old friend recently.

An American Elm, named Herbie by a schoolgirl in the 1950’s, was a massive tree that stretched over 100 feet into the sky, Capturing the imagination of a state’s residents and earned the title of New England’s champion American Elm. Herbie was cut down last week  after a long battle with Dutch Elm disease. The rings were counted and this tree was 212 years old. To put this in perspective, Joshua Chamberlain of Civil War fame most likely rode by this Elm on his way home to Brunswick.  Based on its age, it is believed that Herbie sprouted around 1798, not long after the 13 original colonies battled for their independence.  Over the years, generations of Mainers traveled under the shade tree. It’s fun to think of who may have passed by.

Its top limbs ranged between 25 and 50 feet long, as big as most typical yard trees. The final cut that brought down its trunk was made by a logger wielding a 5-foot-long chain saw. The trunk weighed a massive 10 tons.

In attendance, witnessing the tree’s historic passing was Frank Knight, the town’s former tree warden, who cared for the beloved American Elm for a half-century. Herbie’s 101-year-old caretaker came to say farewell.  With its massive limbs removed, the tree’s  trunk was so heavy that it shook the ground when it fell with a dull thud.

Herbie won’t end up as firewood neatly stacked in cords, instead this Elm will be made into furniture, salad bowls, pens and Christmas ornaments so that more generations of Mainers can keep the story of the American Elms that lined our streets alive. The best news is proceeds for the sales of these items will be used to plant some disease resistant American Elms.

This is truly the ultimate Maine recycling project.

John Ford in the snow

snowy barn

In an effort to follow through with yesterday’s blog on yet again another snowy day.  Here are a couple of photographs taken while enjoying Winter in Maine!

You really can’t beat travelingMaine!

Ok. I was fine with January; the month seemed to be flying by. I was busy–in fact a little too busy to update this blog after the new year and then it happened…A January thaw with a couple of 45 degree days had me thinking  some early spring thoughts. Like will we go the rest of the month of January without significant snow fall? Here in Maine?

OH NO!

The forecast all this week called for a storm to brush south of us leaving us with a measliy dusting of an inch or two. I was pretty happy about that! And then it happened. I opened the garage this morning to find twelve inches of fresh powder! Now we’re back to reality in the midst of a Good old Maine Winter, with more snow forecast for mid week  and I’m now thinking it’s going to be a long one. My thoughts have veered from hoping for early spring to…I hope the snowblower keeps on truckin for a couple more months!

So now we need to think positive and come up with some thoughts to cure those Winter Blues!

Summer is coming but you may want to keep the electric blanket handy.

Cook some chilli or chowder it can heat you up one way or another!  Or just pick up our dineMaine guide for tons of great dining locations.

Buy a new plant – A nice tropical plant looks great in front of that snowy scene outside.

The hottub – if you have one use it– a water temperature of 90 degrees should do the trick.

Stay connected to friends and family.

Pick up a seed catalog, you can dream (a little) about that garden you’ll have this Summer.

Embrace the season, Maine is great for birding, skiing, sledding and taking photographs of all the fresh snow we have!

And my personal favorite…calculating the extra daylight we’ve gained since the Winter Solstice…we’re gaining on it–when I walk our dogs,seems like it doesn’t get dark until 4:30 these days! It only gets better from here!

It’s always baseball season for me but a great barometer that we have endured another Winter is that pitchers and catchers report for spring training exactly one month from today! So does that make this early Spring??????

Wow. Time sure does fly fast. It feels like just yesterday that I was trying to think up my New Year’s resolutions for 2009. With the New Year upon us, it is time to begin thinking about your resolutions for 2010.

While some think choosing a resolution is much easier than attempting to keep it, here is a new approach.

Consider what your New Year’s resolutions will be this time around, and instead of pledging to start going to the gym or eating better (which you’ll do, until February arrives); vow instead to try new experiences. If you are travelingMaine, here are some great places to visit and things to do in ‘10.

Visit Bath. Okay, so this starts on the last day of 2009… At 12:00 noon, but it’s a great experience as the community surrounds City Hall to ring in the New Year with its Paul Revere historic 1802  bell and the singing of auld lange syne.

Explore Baxter State Park.

The largest of Maine’s State Parks has an area of approximately 375 square miles and is home to the state’s highest peak, Mt.  Katahdin – Should you not feel like hiking the 5,267ft peak on a day trip,you can instead explore some of the 175 miles of interconnecting trails and array of ponds, lakes, streams and waterfalls. The sunset carriage ride is a favorite.

Tour Shipyard Brewing Company.

Located on the site of three historic 19th century shipyards in Portland’s Old Port, this award-winning brewery produces English style beer made with true English ingredients in an traditional English brewing process. Stop by to browse the gift shop, watch the brew video, visit the bottling line and take a taste of the Ales and sodas.

Dine at Dimillo’s.

Experience the romance of  Portland Maine’s waterfront. DiMillo’s is a converted car ferry that rises and falls with the tide twice a day, and because it’s surrounded by water, every table offers spectacular views of Portland Harbor. Over the years, DiMillo’s has become famous for their fresh seafood and lobster dinners. The outside decks are great spots to watch the sights and sounds of Portland harbor while enjoying a meal or cocktail. When you’re visiting Portland, be sure to stop at DiMillo’s on Long Wharf and experience the romance of Maine’s waterfront.  One of the most famous restaurants on the East Coast!

Tour the Portland Museum of Art.

Showcasing the unique artistic history of Maine, the Portland Museum of Art preserves and documents a variety of art from its collection. The museum gives visitors a flavor of past and present original work, ensuring a cultural community center for Portland and its visitors.   The Museum’s collection contains more than 17,000 fine and decorative works of art dating from the 18th century to the present. The collection includes paintings, sculpture, prints, photography, glass and ceramics, artists’ books, furniture, and much more. Works by artists such as Frederic Edwin Church, Marsden Hartley, and Winslow Homer, showcase the unique artistic heritage of the United States and Maine. The major European movements, from Impressionism through Surrealism, are represented by Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, René Magritte, Claude Monet, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, among others.

Play ball!

Hadlock Field is home to the Portland Sea Dogs, an Eastern League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Home games are played at the field from April through September.  A likeness of Fenway Park’s Green Monster was built in 2003 when the Red Sox became the Sea Dogs affiliate. Nicknamed the “Maine Monster” the Sea Dogs outfield was named one of the most unique in Minor League Baseball by At the Yard Magazine.

A lighthouse rises from the centerfield fence when a Sea Dogs player hits a home run and also when the Sea Dogs win. A ballgame makes for a great summer night.

Visit Belfast, Maine.

Driving down from Bar Harbor towards Portland, one great stop is Belfast. It is a true “small town USA” that most visitors just love. Though there might not be much to keep you busy for more than an afternoon, one could linger longer if time allowed. There are great local food opportunities and some fine local beers as well. Learn the fascinating history of Belfast. Explore the examples of pristine architecture which enhance and create the charm of a New England Village still untouched by change and time.  It is a gem in Maine not to be missed.

Visit a Maine Lobster Shack.

While many of these take-out/”shacks” claim gorgeous views, fresh catches, and loyal followings, two of Maine’s best are – Shaw’s fish and Lobster Wharf, located in the salty fishing village of New Harbor (you may recognize the scenery from the Paul Newman/Kevin Costner film Message in a Bottle).  Shaw’s has perfected the lobster-roll recipe by serving some 10,000 each year. Harraseeket Lunch and Lobster, which dishes lobster out of  South Freeport  (just a quick drive from L. L. Bean), is also popular for its lobsters, steamers, and the best Whoopie pies in Maine!

Pick Blueberries.

Pick Blueberries,–next to lobster, this is Maine’s best delectable native food. They grow everywhere. Pick some, have them over ice cream, and read Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey, well-known author of Make Way for Ducklings, and who

chose the Maine coast as the settings for many of his children’s books. Maine’s 60,000 acres of wild blueberries grow naturally in fields and barrens that stretch from Downeast to the state’s southwest corner.

Go Snowmobiling

With its 13,500-mile network of groomed and marked snowmobile trails, Maine has to be the next thing to heaven for snowmobile enthusiasts. The state also hosts a bunch of snowmobile-related festivals and special events. They include the Rangeley Snodeo on January 21-23, 2010, with competitions, rides, children’s activities, a snowmobile parade, and fireworks.

Hike the Maine Wine trail.

No matter what part of Maine you visit, you’re close to one of our three Wine Trails.
The Maine Winery Guild invites you to come see them and stay awhile. Take a few day trips and tour the wineries, meaderies, cider works, and artisanal distilleries. Taste wines and other fine libations, and relax…It’s Maine the way life should be.

Cruise on a Mississippi Paddle Wheel: the Songo River Queen II.

The Songo River Queen is a true Mississippi paddle wheel sightseeing/cruise ship offering cruises on Long Lake and the Songo River and Songo Lock. Private charters are available for weddings, receptions, company outings & meetings, reunions and school graduations.

There are many, many more options and great things to do in Maine. Visit and bookmark our website: www.gotravelmaine.com and we’ll keep you up to date as we travel through 2010!

As we near the end of another great year, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for the time, energy, commitment, and trust you have shared with us in 2009. We are looking forward to working with you to build lasting success in 2010!

Happy New Year!

Christmas lights: we have all seen and enjoyed them and most of us have used them–from the old school large colorful bulbs to the trendy icicle strands. Do you remember, as a child,  sitting in front of the Christmas tree watching the lights twinkling? Wasn’t it  one of your  favorite activities throughout the entire Christmas season?  

It is impossible to forget your family decorating the Christmas tree and placing colorful lights on the tree branches. What would the season be without the Christmas Lights? Millions and millions of sparkling and dancing wonders. There aren’t too many things that give you that amazing Christmas feeling- but driving down the street and looking at the thousands of colorful lights lighting up the nearby streets certainly does.

As I drove through  my neighborhood this week, almost every house was decorated with some kind of light display for the season; I glanced at various windows to see the soft lights of Christmas bulbs shining from their trees. At one house, a single candle lit each pane. It was beautiful.

I began to think about the traditions of Christmas, and of how pleasant it is to have twinkly lights, delectable desserts, and great-smelling trees at this time of year. But it’s the lights that set the mood in this season.

I love the gaudy displays as well as the more discreet shows. I’m not a big fan of the LED lights even though they are more environmentally friendly and cost less to light.  The color just seems unnatural to me -maybe it will improve as more time passes by.

Christmas trees have always been lit, even before electricity was widely available. People would simply use tiny burning candles to add a festive glow. The candles were either attached with pins or adhered to the branches with melted wax. In the mid-1800s, however, people began to use a candle holder to reduce some of the danger associated with the open flames. Small lanterns and glass balls to hold the candles became available shortly after, making the practice a bit safer, but I can’t imagine using a lighted candle on a tree!

In 1882, the first Christmas tree was lit by the use of electricity. Edward Johnson lighted up a Christmas tree in New York City with eighty small electric light bulbs. It should be noted that Edward Johnson created the first string of electric Christmas lights that were then mass produced around 1890. By 1900, department stores started using the new Christmas lights for their Christmas displays to attract customers as they still do today. A few years ago I bought a set of lights on eBay, they were from the 1950’s–big and bold with great color and you could actually smell the lights heat up after turning them on. Boy did they ever get hot! It was a treat for my holiday senses–instantly bringing back some memories of younger days.

Portland,Maine

York.Maine

Maine has some beautiful displays from the bright and cheery shapes that line Congress Street in Portland, to the old-time feel of the lights that are used in Belfast, to the lighthouse in York lit to help Santa find his way.

Enjoy the season, take a time out and travelMaine -the lights will be on…Merry Christmas.

There was special ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery this week–and there is a Maine tradition that goes with it, courtesy if the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine.

The annual Christmas wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery includes volunteers that decorate holiday wreaths and place them on thousands of headstones throughout the national landmark.

Morrill Worcester started what began as a personal way to honor veterans with 5,000 wreaths in 1992–the ceremony has blossomed into a national nonprofit organization with more than 100,000 wreaths sponsored by individuals, businesses and community groups from Maine to Alaska. Worcester says of his holiday contribution, “I’ve been lucky over the years to have what I have,” Worcester said. “Thanks for the freedom that we have to do what we can do. In this country, the harder you work, the better you can do. And that’s really not the case in other places.”

Originally, the 5,000 wreaths were all donated by the Worcester Wreath Company, located right here in Maine. This year they will bring 25,000 wreaths to pay respects and honor fallen U.S. service men and women, and other states will join in the ceremony.

Each year since 1992, the Worcester Wreath Co.  has made and decorated holiday wreaths and placed them on  headstones at Arlington National Cemetery. Then, the Arlington Wreath project, coordinated with the Cemetery Administration and the Maine State Society, adorns the white tombstones with evergreen wreaths and red bows to recognize the sacrifices our Veterans and their families have made for our country. — For the Worcesters’, it’s a campaign that started out of a personal family tradition. But for the families of the fallen heroes, it’s a holiday tribute to remember the sacrifice they have made.

Volunteers flood the grounds at Arlington National Cemetery to take part in the annual wreath-laying ceremony. On a brisk December morning, volunteers huddle together ready and willing to do their  small part in this giant show of holiday spirit and respect from our state of Maine.

“These are families here, they’re not stones, they’re not graves,” said Karen Worcester, who acts as a spokesperson for Wreaths Across America. “This is our history, and we need to take that and teach that to our children. Our mission is to teach our children the value of freedom.”

Volunteers observed a moment of silence before unloading three trucks that had made the long journey from Maine to our nation’s capitol. Thousands of white marble gravestones were decorated with a touch of the holiday season. For those who died in recent conflicts and are buried in Section 60, wreaths are not typically placed on their graves. This year, however, the USO asked to sponsor 1,000 wreaths specifically for that section, which is set aside for U.S. military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Nearly 300 volunteers, including 125 military family members, helped place the wreaths in less than an hour.

Wreaths were also placed at the USS Maine Memorial, the Kennedy grave sites, the Tomb of the Unknowns, the Pentagon 9/11 memorial, as well as Ground Zero in New York and Shanksville, Pa.     

The anonymous poem below was the initial inspiration for the wreath laying ceremony, and marks a fitting sentiment for the holiday season as we gather with our families, and remember those we have lost:

Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.

Know the line has held, your job is done.

Rest easy, sleep well.

Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.

Peace, peace, and farewell …