MTM Maine Tour Magazine
TM
Touring New England and Eastern Canada Fall / Winter 2019
From the Trap A Brilliant Season
Along for the Ride With the Heritage Club
New England Ă la carte Something for Everyone
Destination Small-town Secrets from Ogunquit to Bar Harbor
Group Tour Solutions
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 1
Minutes from Maine scenery.
Route One, Wells/Ogunquit, Maine Angela.Murphy@hilton.com 207 646 0555
• Luxurious newly renovated rooms and suites • Fitness facility and conference room • Welcome reception (optional) • Full hot buffet breakfast • Indoor heated pool/spa • Luggage handling • Business center
www.hamptoninn3.hilton.com
Table of Contents www.mainetour.com • Fall/Winter 2019 • vol. 24/2
Get ready for
Plymouth’s
400th Anniversary
with our Pilgrim trivia:
1. The Pilgrims first landed at: a. Provincetown b. Clarke's Island c. Plymouth
New England à la carte
4. What animal was with the Native Americans on the beach? a. Goat b. Horse c. Dog 5. What eating utensil would not have been found at the harvest feast of 1621? a. Fork b. Knife c. Spoon
Small-town Secrets
Notes From the Trap • 4 A Brilliant Season
New England à la carte • 6
2. What is a shallop? a. something to eat b. the collar of the Pilgrim's clothing c. a small boat 3. How long did the first Thanksgiving festivities last? a. 1 day b. 3 days c. 1 week
Along for the Ride
Something for Everyone
Signature Tours • 14 Along for the Ride • 16 With the Heritage Club
Destination • 22 Small-town Secrets from Ogunquit to Bar Harbor
The Bus Stops Here • 30 Maine Tour Magazine is published biannually for an audience of over 2,500 domestic and international tour operators and group travel planners, as well as others interested in New England and Eastern Canada tourism. Direct information and inquiries to: Maine Tour Magazine, 96 Ocean Street, Suite 3, South Portland, ME 04106 • Copyright 2019 by Maine Tour Magazine (207) 878-8400 • 800-554-6246 • Fax (207) 878-9300 • All rights reserved. • www.mainetour.com • e-mail: Loblady@mainetour.com. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Maine Tour Magazine cannot be held responsible for unsolicited material. Publisher: The Maine Tour Connection; President: Chris Rackmyre; Art Director: Christine Richards; Advertising Sales: Chris Rackmyre; Alice Mazurie; Director of Sales & Marketing: Heather Levesque; Writer: Robert Witkowski; Cover: Photograph ©Marie G. Shelden
Be sure to take a look at our website for new packages: The
MAINE TOUR
CONNECTION
Trivia answers are on page 14.
www.mainetour.com
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 3
Notes from the Trap Chris Rackmyre, CTIS
foster’s Clambakes & Catering
Del igh ted to gui de the exp erie nce .
A A
s the fall foliage comes to an end, we couldn’t be more excited. The leaves were more colorful than usual, and we saw an expanded line-up of fall festivals and fairs. And, if that’s not enough, Maine is in pre-party mode as it prepares to usher in its Bicentennial, and Massachusetts is celebrating the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims arriving in the Commonwealth.
We welcome motorcoaches and tours from all over the world to join us in discovering this area of the country. The history and importance of so many places in Maine, and all of New England, is inspiring and humbling. Whether it’s a tour of the home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, walking in the footsteps of the first Pilgrims in Massachusetts, or simply the taste of a Maine lobster, we at Maine Tour Magazine and The Maine Tour Connection are delighted to guide the experience. It’s a special joy to watch visitors anticipate the iconic Portland Head Light as the motorcoach crests the hill at Fort Williams Park and passengers see the lighthouse and ocean—often, a first for many. In the “Trap,” we’re pleased to welcome Heather Levesque as our new director of sales & marketing. Heather found her passion in the travel industry early on, spending hours researching and planning a three-month trip across the U.S. with her best friend. These days Heather spends her free time traveling throughout Maine and New England with the same dedication to experiencing the beauty, food, culture, and people, as she did on that first cross-country trip. Give Heather a call; she’s cooking up some fabulous New England à la carte options. And a special thank you to Donna Hanson for the many years of dedication to The Maine Tour Connection. Although Donna moved out of the “Trap,” she continued to help detail our itineraries this past year. We wish her well in her new adventure with the student performance group travel market. I wouldn’t be surprised to see her on stage with her groups. We look forward to seeing you in the new year. Our guides will be ready to welcome your groups with a broad smile, an interesting tour, and a tall tale or two. Chris Rackmyre, CTIS President 4 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
Watch a live clambake:
fostersclambake.com/clambake
Authentic Downeast Maine Clambakes Located in historic York Harbor Minutes from scenic light houses, beaches, famous outlet shopping, group hotels and much more!
Handicapped Accessible Bus Parking Complimentary Meals Provided
fostersclambake.com
Call 800-552-0242
WHERE HI S T O R Y
The essential Living History experience.
CO M E S
P L I M O T H .O R G (508) 746 -1622
alive
137 Warren Ave Plymouth, MA 02360 Exhibits open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through November 17 T H - C E N T U R Y E N G L I S H V I L L A G E WA MPA NOAG HOME SI T E • CR A F T CEN T ER THEMED DINING • PLIMOTH GRIST MILL
W AT E R F R O N T E X H I B I T : S H O U L D I S TAY O R S H O U L D I G O?
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 5
Photograph courtesy Ogunquit Playhouse
BY ROBERT WITKOWSKI
Ogunquit Playhouse, Maine
NEW ENGLAND à la carte Destinations are finding great success attracting diverse groups with varying levels of interest by offering multiple options. by
Robert Witkowski
I
n the culinary world, most understand the French term à la carte: a menu of separate dishes designed to enhance your dining experience. It’s a fitting term that conveys the same idea with group tours traveling through northern New England’s rich history. Destinations are finding great success attracting diverse groups with varying levels of interest by offering multiple options. It increases economic opportunities for more businesses in the area and visitors leave fulfilled with a positive impression to share with future travelers. New England towns offer a virtual smörgåsbord of tourism options for groups to chew on.
6 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
n Vermont A stop in Burlington, Vermont, on the shores of the expansive Lake Champlain, offers some surprising options. Narrated lake cruises on Ethan Allen III or a sail on the Friend Ship, which expound on the city’s involvement in the Revolutionary War and relationship with neighboring Canada. And the lakeside ECHO Leahy Center, Lake Champlain’s aquarium and science center, will fascinate more landlocked visitors. n Maine Groups in Maine may be surprised by the options open to them. In Portland’s harbor city, patrons of the
n New Hampshire In New Hampshire, Portsmouth’s Strawbery Banke and surrounding Prescott Park are historic steps back in time to the Colonial period—perfect for self-guided visiting time travelers. Across town, military enthusiasts will enjoy navigating the steep steps and narrow passageways of the USS Albacore submarine and museum. And visitors interested in getting on the water can board a tour boat to see the Portsmouth Naval Continued on Page 8
Hartford Yard Goats, Connecticut
Photograph courtesy Hartford Yard Goats
arts may soak in masterworks in the Portland Museum of Art, while history buffs will be transported in time in the halls of the Victoria Mansion; literary scholars will marvel at the Wadsworth-Longfellow House where the poet found inspiration; nimble-minded sleuths may solve a Portlandthemed mystery in The Escape Room across the street; pharologists can see beloved lighthouse beacons by water on a Casco Bay Lines cruise, while others chug along the coast on the vintage Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad. In the majestic mountains of the Rangeley Lakes region, sporting and hiking enthusiasts will be enthralled at the Outdoor Heritage Museum, as foodies taste a true à la carte experience at local restaurants. If the 1916 non-denominational Oquossoc Union Church (Log Church) built from spruce trees doesn’t inspire, then perhaps the Maine Forest and Logging Museum on Route 16’s Moose Alley corridor will please those more interested in knowing how it was accomplished.
Continued on Page 8
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 7
©Shutterstock/ Adwo
Rosecliff Mansion, Newport, RI
à la carte
Continued from Page 7
Shipyard, which ironically sits across the harbor in Kittery, Maine. The Isle of Shoals and White Island Light, six miles off shore offer still more boating adventure. n Massachusetts The ramps that climb the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, along with the markers noting all the towns founded in the years shortly after their arrival, offer a welcome distraction to the seemingly difficult ascent to the 360-degree view of Cape Cod that awaits. But this Massachusetts port has more to offer. Art’s Dune Tours bring beachcombers along Cape Cod National Seashore to Race Point Beach. The more adventurous can walk from town to Herring Cove Beach, while others can board a whale watch to spot one of Melville’s mythical behemoths. Provincetown is a true artist colony with galleries, performances, and unexpected delights like the halfscale replica of the Rose Dorothea built inside the public library. n Rhode Island Newport is Rhode Island’s Gilded Age showplace. The “Cottages” lining the coast and sprinkled through town are opulent mansions, with beauty and grace 8 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
that defy time. Though scenes in The Great Gatsby and True Lies were shot on location at Rosecliff Mansion, the silver screen cannot capture the extravagance that tours offer. If the ocean air is more alluring, walking the Cliff Walk allows an easy stroll between crashing waves and grand facades. Sports buffs will want to jump the net at Newport’s International Tennis Hall of Fame, hiding in plain sight in a Victorian-era casino—the term for one of the first tennis clubs, though it is devoid of slot machines and gaming tables. The Newport Car Museum and National Museum of American Illustration close by expand the options for the interests of the mechanically inclined and artistically minded. n Connecticut Connecticut’s Mystic Seaport has more to offer than Julia Roberts’ film-famous pizza joint. Tall-ship masts of landmark sailing vessels anchor the Mystic Seaport Museum, and guided tours of this historic port town are offered by land and sea. In the center of the state along the banks of the Connecticut River, Hartford, is the site of historic homes of two literary icons: Mark Twain, and neighbor Harriet Beecher Stowe.
Tim Grafft/MOTT
A few blocks east, baseball fans can take in a game with the Hartford Yard Goats (minor league affiliate for the Colorado Rockies), or explore the cluster of the Wadsworth Atheneum exhibits, an eclectic collection of art and literature. The Old State House displays the early years of this capital city, while the Connecticut Science Center captures the imagination with its space-age structure.
Much like a dining experience, visitors like to savor their travel experience.
Provincetown, Massachusetts
The Clarion Hotel Comfort & Convenience Near the Maine Coast
Not all aspects of a trip will be to everyone’s taste. À la carte excursions make the overall experience enjoyable for all, and each person is satiated with what they ordered. n
Making Your Stay Easy, Affordable, and Enjoyable. • Less than 2 miles from I-295 and Portland’s Old Port • Complimentary Coach Parking • Recently Updated Guest Rooms • Customizabale Tour Menus • Indoor Heated Pool, Hot Tub, Fitness Center • Included: Full American Breakfast Buffet • Over 5,000 Square Feet of Banquet Space
Contact: Kayla Garcia / dos@pwmclarion.com
1230 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04102 • www.clarionportlandme.com • 207-553-9544
SEACOAST SUPER SAVOR June-Sept. • 5 days/4 nights/8 meals Includes super-savory seafood meals at a super-saver package price! Unpack just once in Portland, your base for day trips to Kennebunkport and Boothbay Harbor. Two cruises, a traditional island lobsterbake, a private lighthouse tour, and stops at the Maine Maritime Museum and The Boothbay Railway Village MAINE TOUR CONNECTION make this a tour to remember! www.mainetour.com Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 9
WvaneHorizThirdMTMFall2017_Layout 1 6/30/17 1:09 PM Page 1
, Come Taste NewEnglands Favorite Seafood!
E SINC 1969
Complimentary meals for the driver and leader of your tour group of twenty or more. Always plenty of Motor Coach Parking. 306 U.S. Route 1, Kittery ME 207-439-0330 2 Dover Point Road, Dover NH 603-749-2341 174 Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua NH 603-891-1776 379 Dover Road, Route 4, Chichester NH 603-225-4044 Weathervane Drive, Rte 12A, W. Lebanon NH 603-298-7805 Like Us On Facebook
Visit: www.weathervaneseafoods.com
Portsmouth, NH…YOUR PERFECT HUB & SPOKE Experience New England from this historic Port City Portsmouth Points of Interest: • Dining options available on and off-site • Trendy downtown • Strawbery Banke – living history museum • USS Albacore – submarine experience • Isles of Shoals Harbor Cruises
Located an hour from Boston and less than 2 hours from the White Mountains of New Hampshire. • Easy on and off of I95 • Complimentary bus parking • Complimentary escort room • Bus driver room ½ price Contact: Tanya MacLean 603-431-8000 sales@hiportsmouth.com
www.hiportsmouth.com 300 Woodbury Avenue, Portsmouth NH
A Visit to New England is not complete without a cruise on beautiful Lake Winnipesaukee, NH aboard the historic
Cruise Lake Winnipesaukee New Hampshire
M/S Mount Washington Breakfast, dinner, lunch & cocktails are available on board. Scenic Cruises Fall Foliage Cruises Dinner Cruises Sunday Brunch One way or round trip (Season: Mid May–late October)
603-366-5531 www.cruiseNH.com 10 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
cruiseNH.com
We’ve got a full line-up!
FESTIVALS
& Fairs August 8, 2020 n 5th Annual Gray
Blueberry Festival Congratulations to our “Lobsterette” Lacy. Lacy Antonson was an instrumental part of starting the festival and was honoroed with the Spirit of America Award.
©ClipArt.com
We are so proud of you!
The MAINE TOUR CONNECTION
June 19-21, 2020 n Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival Quechee, VT June 27-July 4, 2020 n Royal Nova Scotia Int’l Tattoo Halifax, NS July 17-19, 2020 n Yarmouth Clam Festival Yarmouth, Maine July 29-August 2, 2020 n Maine Lobster Festival Rockland, ME October 1 - November 1, 2020 n Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular Providence, RI June 21-29, 2020 n Windjammer Days Boothbay Harbor, ME December 4-13, 2020 n Christmas Prelude Kennebunkport, ME
Book your tour today!
800-554-6246 • www.mainetour.com
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 11
12 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
HUB-N-SPOKE TOUR More scenery, less luggage. Make Augusta, Maine’s capital, or LA (Lewiston or Auburn) your home base for super easy and exciting explorations.
©ClipArt.com
Day trips take you to Freeport, Boothbay Harbor, Rockland, and Portland. Excursions include a scenic cruise, oyster farm outing, and private lighthouse tour, plus stops at the Maine Maritime Museum, as well as Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens or the Boothbay Railway Village. Enjoy all the mid-coast has to offer, while unpacking only once!
The
MAINE TOUR
CONNECTION
MTM
In Our Next Issue:
Destination: Halifax n Along for Ride: Mountains to the Seacoast n Cruising New England n
www.mainetour.com
Get carried away with Maine’s festivals and attractions Great Falls Balloon Festival • Great Falls Brewfest Dempsey Challenge • Emerge Film Fest Museum LA • Many Local Restaurants A Convenient Stop on the Way to Acadia National Park!
15 Lincoln Street • Lewiston, ME 04240 207.344.1000 www.lewistonauburn.hamptoninn.com
14 Great Falls Plaza • Auburn, ME 04210 207.784.4433 www.auburnriverwatch.hgi.com
Call and book your group today! Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 13
The Lobster Lady’s®
Signature Tours
Call today to book your Signature Tour!
The
MAINE TOUR
Maine
BEACHES & BUOYS May - Oct. • 3 - 4 day options available
A special seacoast tour with evening DIY art program—make a souvenir decorated buoy, maritime ornaments, or beachy driftwood sign to take home. Visit coastal villages from York Harbor to Kennebunkport, sing along with a barbershop quartet, ride on a lobster boat, and collect seashells!
BEST OF BAR HARBOR June - Oct. • 4 days / 3 nights / 6 meals
Ahhhh…three nights to enjoy ocean breezes and views from your balcony overlooking Bar Harbor’s splendid bay. Features a guided tour of Acadia, horse drawn carriage ride, lobstering cruise and lobster bake, spine-tingling lumberjack show, and more!* * Optional Campobello Trip – full day guided tour to the famed New Brunswick Island on Maine’s border. Includes FDR cottage, box lunch with “Eleanor,” and blueberry pie!
LOBSTER LOVERS TOUR BOOTHBAY HARBOR Mid June - Mid Sept. • 3 days/2 nights/4 meals
A classic Maine island lobsterbake—with twin lobsters—highlights this twonight stay at Boothbay Harbor’s bustling waterfront. Also included are a fun train ride, guided sightseeing tour, and enchanting garden excursion.
CONNECTION MAINE LOBSTER FESTIVAL
July 29 - Aug. 2, 2020 5 days / 4 nights / 8 meals
Book the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland early to have your choice of coastal accommodations. Seafood dinners, a lobster boat ride, souvenir Maine lobster hat, and spectacular coastal vistas are all in the mix. Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, and a whale watch put the finishing touch on this Maine coastal tour.
MAINE MOOSE, LAKES, & LOONS June - Sept. • 3 - 4 nights
The historic Rangeley Inn is your destination for two nights. Hear the loons on a narrated lake cruise, pan for gold, and ride with your guide to the best moosespotting locales. Makes a nice loop tour with a Maine seacoast night and New Hampshire’s mountains with two unique bear offerings, or Squam Lake wildlife program.
MIDCOAST MAGIC HUB & SPOKE
May - Oct. • 3 - 4 nights
Hub-n-spoke from water view accommodations at the Rockland Harbor Hotel. Enjoy Maine’s scenic villages with local guided tours of Boothbay, Camden, Rockport, Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park! SEASHORE SUPER SAVER May, June, Sept., Oct. • 4 days / 3 nights /6 meals
Stroll along the quiet, sandy beaches of southern Maine on this hub-n-spoke tour for the budget groups. Soft sands and sea breezes will be at your doorstop from your Old Orchard Beach or Ogunquit area hotel. Enjoy a guided tours of Portland and Kennebunkport, and a harbor cruise.
THE PRACTICAL THEATRICAL TOUR May-June, Sept.-Oct. • 3 - 4 nights
Get your toes tappin’! Take advantage of the value season with accommodations on the south coast and a fabulous, funny Ogunquit Playhouse musical. Experience the scenic south coast at a quieter time with a host of sightseeing options.
MAINE TRAINS May - Oct. • 4 days / 3 nights / 6 meals
A Maine coast getaway from Kennebunkport to Bar Harbor with abundant scenery, historic train and trolley rides plus Acadia National park tour. Overnight in the south coast, then 2 nights in mid-coast Maine overlooking the ocean in the mid-coast.
WICKED GOOD COASTAL MAINE June, Sept. & Oct. 6 days/5 nights/10 meals
2 nights Portland, 2 nights Bar Harbor, 1 night Boothbay Harbor. Three guided tours: Kennebunkport, Portland, and Acadia National Park. Four evenings of live entertainment, two harbor cruises, a lighthouse tour, and visits to Maine Maritime Museum and the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
Book your tour today! 1-800-554-Maine www.mainetour.com info@mainetour.com
Trivia Answers from page 3: 14 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
1: a, 2: c; 3: b, 4: c, 5: c
New England CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS May - Oct. • 4 days / 3 nights / 6 meals
All the sights from Hyannis to Provincetown, plus a day exploring Nantucket Island or Martha’s Vineyard. Choice of dune ride or whale watch on this fully guided tour. Optional Newport, Plymouth, and cranberry bog tour.
NEW! COASTAL RAIL & SAIL BOSTON & BOOTHBAY HARBOR May - October • 4 days / 3 nights / 5 meals
Sail scenic Boston Harbor as well as Maine’s classic Boothbay Harbor! Sightsee on southern Maine trolleys and narrow gauge trains, and take a behind-the-scenes tour. 1 night Boston’s North Shore, 2 nights Boothbay Harbor or Bath waterfront with lobster dinner and maritime presentation featuring “The Lady in the Red Cloak.”
CONNECTICUT COASTLINE May - Oct. • 4 days / 3 nights / 6 meals
Hub-n-spoke from a beachfront resort or casino hotel. Explore Mystic Seaport, step on board a submarine, ride the Essex Steam Train and set sail to Block Island for the day. Makes a great combo tour with Cape Cod, Plymouth, or Boston.
NEW! HISTORIC INNS OF MASSACHUSETTS May – Dec. • 5 days / 4 nights / 8 meals
Discover Massachusetts heritage sites from the Berkshires to Pioneer Valley. Includes Norman Rockwell Museum, Historic Deerfield Museum, Old Sturbridge Village, a fireplace feast with dessert demo at the Salem Cross Inn, dip your own Yankee Candle and dine at the historic Red Lion Inn. — Makes a fun 3 night holiday tour with Springfield’s Bright Nights (Nov.-Dec.) display and outlet shopping. Or attend New England’s largest fair – the Big E in September!
LEAVES & LOCOMOTIVES Sept. & Oct. • 5 days / 4 nights / 8 meals
A spectacular New England foliage tour featuring New Hampshire gourmet dinner train, mountain rides, and two Maine train excursions. Two nights New Hampshire, two nights southern Maine.
LAKES & LIGHTHOUSES, NH & ME May - Oct. • 3 days / 2 nights / 5 meals
Lunch with Little Red Riding Hood accents a journey north to the New Hampshire Lakes Region. Spend one night in Laconia, NH, and one night in Ogunquit, ME, accompanied by a tour of Castle in the Clouds, a bountiful buffet lunch cruise, and unbeatable Maine coast scenery!
MAINE COAST & NH MOUNTAINS June - Oct. • 6 days / 5 nights / 10 meals
Discover Maine’s southern coast, then travel north to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. Swing home through the spectacular White Mountains, dotted with summer wildflowers or autumn splendor. Three nights Maine and two nights New Hampshire with train ride, nature cruise, and step-on guides.
NEW! 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAYFLOWER May –Oct. • 5 days / 4 nights / 8 meals
Celebrate the 400th Anniversaries of Provincetown & Plymouth that were once inhabited by the Pilgrims. Sightseeing tours of Cape Cod coastline and Plymouth with stops at Pilgrim Monument, Provincetown Museum, National Monument to the Forefathers, and Plymouth Rock. Includes Plimouth Hall, Harbor cruise and dining with a pilgrim at Plimoth Plantation.
NEW ENGLAND DELUXE FOLIAGE WITH NEWPORT Sept. - Oct. • 8 days / 7 nights / 14 meals
Put it all together, it spells New England in capital letters: the mansions of Newport, RI; haunts of Salem, MA; and the rocky coastline of Maine (Rockland & Bar Harbor). Then, New Hampshire and Vermont for fabulous foliage, White Mountain dinner train, and Shelburne Museum. Head south to the Berkshires for final night and dinner in Norman Rockwell’s Stockbridge. Step-on guides included!
NEW ENGLAND FOLIAGE LOOP WITH MARTHA’S VINEYARD Sept. - Oct. • 8 days / 7 nights / 12 meals
Cape Cod’s Hyannisport and a scenic cranberry farm, Martha’s Vineyard and Maine’s south coast, plus the Conway Scenic dinner train and White Mountains foliage tour. Loop closes with Vermont sightseeing and stay at Lake Morey Resort. Lake Placid add-on also available!
TOP OF NEW ENGLAND
Sept. - Oct. • 5 days / 4 nights / 10 meals
A classic trip following the Top of New England color trail—two nights in Vermont, and leaf peeping through the mountains with a night in central New Hampshire. Final night is north of Boston with a tour of Cape Ann’s Gloucester, MA, and a traditional lobster dinner!
TOP OF NEW ENGLAND BACKROADS FOLIAGE
Sept. - Oct. • 6 days / 5 nights / 10 meals
Spectacular foliage views on the road less traveled with two nights and moose-watching at the charming Bethel Inn followed by 2 nights in Lincoln, the heart of NH White Mountains and final night in eastern Vermont.
JACK-O-LANTERN SPECTACULAR Oct. 1 - Nov. 1 • 3 - 4 nights
Explore the Ocean State with guided tour of Newport, plus an opulent mansion, culinary museum, and harvest buffet dinner at Providence’s Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. Mouth-watering foodie tour option, too! Add a night for Plymouth or Salem activities.
VERMONT VISTAS
October • 3 days / 2 nights / 4 meals
Get a taste of real Vermont from the maple sugarhouses to Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, with scenic views and unique rural stops. Customized tours for foodies and foliage fans staying in Killington, Stowe, or Fairlee, Vermont!
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 15
Along for the Ride Cadence Bank’s Heritage Club BY ROBERT WITKOWSKI
©Shutterstock/ mervas
The Heritage Club,
Château Frontenac, Quebec
16 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
a group of travelers from Middle Georgia, explored the rich histories and rolling landscapes of Quebec, Canada, and the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York. “The trip was just perfect!” “Canada was so pretty, so clean, and felt incredibly safe, and we loved Lake Placid,” said June O’Hanlon of Cadence Bank (formerly State Bank) in Georgia. O’Hanlon arranged the July motorcoach tour for the institution’s prestigious Heritage Club. When the Heritage Club’s travelers convened at the Frenchspeaking Montréal Delta Hotel by Marriott, they were welcomed with a warm, “Bonjour!” “The language wasn’t a problem,” O’Hanlon said, “everyone was very welcoming and went out of their way to be accommodating.” The group explored Montréal’s metropolitan area with a city tour that included the bustling downtown, towering Mont Royale, sprawling urban neighborhoods, and the Colonial-era Olde Montréal area. Stops to experience the grandeur of Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal (NotreDame Basilica) in Old Montréal was of special interest to the largely faith-based visitors. “I really enjoyed the Basilica because it reminded me a lot of our church back home, but a lot more beautiful,” O’Hanlon said. The 1823 Gothic Revival church, with vaulted ceilings and Casavant Freres pipe organ, is considered one of the most architecturally dramatic representations of its style, and belies the deep religious heritage of this French-Catholic enclave. Afterwards, the bank group was exposed to some of the most beautiful
©Shutterstock/ FrankDeBonis
Lake Placid Ski Jumps
ecosystems in the Americas at The Montreal Biodome and adjoining gardens before finishing the day with a wine tasting, followed by a lavish French meal at Le Festin du Gouvenor restaurant. An early morning ride transported the group from modern Montréal to the Medieval-looking Quebec City, capital of Canada’s Quebec province. As the first permanent colonial settlement in New France, founded in 1608, with close proximity to rival New England, it remains the only entirely fortified city in North America. The castle-like Château Frontenac and La Citadelle de Quebec tower over the St. Lawrence River giving the city its old-world-style feel. O’Hanlon admits, “It does look like Harry Potter’s Hogwarts School.” Centuries of Quebec City’s French-Canadian history kicked off the two-day stay. Highlights included the Old City neighborhood’s Place d’Armes, Notre Dame des Victoires, and the Citadel. The panoramic view from the Chareau’s Terrasse Dufferin capped the tour 200 feet above the river. On the second day, the French countryside beckoned with a stop at the 272-foot Montmorency Falls, higher than Niagara’s 167-foot drop, and an evening voyage on the St. Lawrence River aboard the Louis Jolliete. But the highpoint of the city for O’Hanlon was “The Fur Trade” at Lachine National Historic Site.
“We had no idea how interesting that would be,”she said. Inspired by a previous trip to the Canadian Rockies, the bank scheduled this eastern trip north
of the border. Many of the Club members had never ventured to this part of the Great White North. “We did not expect it to be so warm. It was in the 80s most of the time,” O’Hanlon said. “It was so beautiful. The flowers in baskets hanging up high throughout Quebec City. The colors were amazing.” A visit to Ausable Chasm was the first stop when the bank group crossed back into the states. Known as the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, this natural wonder of New York state entices visitors to explore the bridges, waterways and waterfalls, walkways, 500-million year-old rock formations, and views throughout the chasm. Lake Placid, New York, welcomed the tour for the final leg of the trip. As home of the Winter Olympics in 1932 and 1980, this mountain town is the site of USA’s “Miracle On Ice” hockey victory over the USSR. The Lake Placid Olympic Center includes the Olympic Jumping Complex and Lake Placid Olympic Museum, as well as the training facilities for future competitors. “It was wonderful to see Olympic hopefuls practicing skating,” O’Hanlon said. The slopeside chair lift elevates visitors 26 stories to the Sky Deck for a skier-eye view of the descent and commanding vistas of surrounding peaks. No matter the season, the facility hosts athletes practicing their freestyle skills. Bank group visitors alternated cruises on the famed lake with strolls through the village after a lake-side lunch at Jimmy’s 21. “We will definitely do this trip again,” O’Hanlon said. n
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 17
www.mainetour.com
Hear the
UNTOLD STORIES the Roosevelts so loved !
Come Experience our Hospitality
CALL AHEAD TO RESERVE • FDR Cottage guided tour • Tea with Eleanor daily • Box lunches available • May 23thru October 17 • FREE Admission
— MAINE MALL/ SCARBOROUGH — - Accessible rooms and public space - Complimentary Full Hot Breakfast - Complimentary Welcome Reception - Shuttle to the local area - Airport Shuttles - Fitness Facility - Outdoor Seasonal Pool (May-Sept) - Complimentary tour bus parking
Roosevelt Campobello International Park
Vernon Briggs, General Manager 207-883-0300 ext. 714 vbriggs@girihotels.com 2 Cummings Road, Scarborough, ME
New Brunswick, Canada 877-851-6663 fdr.net
MAJESTIC ADIRONDACK MOUTAINS
! May – September • 4 days / 3 nights / 6 meals NEW HUB-N-SPOKE from a historic hotel. Explore the Guided Age of the Adirondacks. The museum on Blue Mountain, Great Camp Sagamore, and a scenic cruise. Experience the blend of history and natural beauty at Fort Ticonderoga, and the breath-taking views atop the Lake Placid Ski Jump.
The
MAINE TOUR
CONNECTION Book your Adirondack adventure today!
www.mainetour.com
Where Acadia meets the Sea
Overlooking a crystal blue harbor, at the edge of Acadia National Park, the Kimball Terrace Inn has all the amenities today’s travelers expect, in a picturesque setting. All rooms have A/C and most enjoy views of the harbor and luxury marina. Full service restaurant on site. Discounted escort rate and comp room for driver
The Tan Turtle Tavern Restaurant & Lounge on site Our friendly staff is ready to welcome your group for an unforgettable stay
18 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
The Kimball Terrace Inn
Huntington Road Northeast Harbor, Maine 04662 1-800-454-6225 • Fax: 207-276-4102 www.KimballTerraceInn.com Email: Info@kimballterraceinn.com
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Experience round-the-clock casino excitement on our expanded gaming floor, including nearly 1,000 slot machines and 30 table games! With a new hotel featuring over 100 rooms and a new pub-style restaurant offering the best in Maine and New England cuisine, we’re building excitement every day!
Oxford Casino Hotel is just minutes from the Maine Turnpike on Route 26!
Persons under 21 years of age may not enter the gaming area unless licensed as employees. Gambling problem? In Maine, call 2-1-1 or (800) 522-4700 for help.
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 19
A Land and Sea Adventure
View powerful & changing exhibitions that span centuries of life in Maine, up to the present.
through Portland
PORTLAND ME • Group rates over 10 people • Convenient drop off & pick up • Complimentary for driver/escort • Book your group now!
Guaranteed to
QUACK YOU UP! Contact Kris today!
207-770-2404
kris@maineducks.com
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 489 Congress Street Portland, Maine (207) 774-1822 mainehistory.org
BOOK Boothbay Scenery NOW! & Greenery Aug 30- Sept 3, 2020 5 days / 4 nights / 7 meals Salt air, sunsets, and summer breezes abound on this four night tour stay at Fisherman’s Wharf Inn on Boothbay Harbor’s bustling waterfront. Includes boat and train rides, enchanting garden excursion, and a classic Maine island lobsterbake – with twin lobsters.
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Sumptuous SumptuousBreakfast BreakfastBuffets Buffets Lip Smackin’ Luncheons Lip Smackin’ Luncheons Fabulous Downeast Fabulous Downeast Lobster Clambakes Lobster Clambakes 46 Years of Experience 35 YearsofofHappy Experience Thousands Groups!
Route 1, MEGroups! Thousands ofWells, Happy (207) 646-8467 Route 1, Wells, ME bullnclaw@yahoo.com (207) 646-8467 Just 30 min. to the Kittery Outlets bullnclaw.com 10 min. to Kennebunkport Village& Just 30 min to the Kittery Outlets View Group and Tour Menus at 10 min to Kennebunkport Village Next tobullnclaw.com Lighthouse Depot Gifts
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ConwayScenic.com Latitude 43° 45’ 1”
Located in Stowe, Vermont,
the Commodores Inn offer an array of
activities for the outdoor and sporting enthusiast, with music, art, and theater for the cultural buff, and an abundance of shops, restaurants, and sightseeing opportunities.
• Ideally located • Complimentary reception • Prompt baggage handling included • On-site parking for coaches • On-site restaurant and lounge
• Tour Friendly Hotel With Accessible Rooms and Public Areas • Complimentary Hampton Hot Breakfast • Complimentary Welcome Reception • Indoor Heated Pool & Fitness Facility
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carrie@commodoresinn.com
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Kennebunk
207-985-9200 • 207-985-9205 (Fax) Holly.pritchard@hilton.com
Photos: Lucas Sharpe
Experience old-fashioned train rides, all departing from our 1874 Victorian station in North Conway Village, NH.
From classic to contemporary...
from Maine boiled lobster to Maine craft beer You can get it all here at Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, where all great things come together for one
amazing experience!
Offering Coach Parking and a Complimentary Meal for escort and driver. For menu and tour information, please email jen@cookslobster.com
cookslobster.com
Longitude -69° 59’ 32” Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 21
Destination Maine’s Small Town Secrets
©Shutterstock/ Mihai Andritoiu
by Robert Witkowski
Bar Harbor, Maine
Small Town Secrets
What stories would the streets of Maine’s small towns tell if they could talk?
M
any American small towns are full of intrigue, but few have captured the imagination of a nation like the secrets hiding in plain sight throughout the main streets of Maine. So what’s fanning the fires of our imaginations to keep the embers of intrigue burning? All the real-life, small-town secrets in Maine, of course! Bath—With towering cranes, navy-boat builder Bath Iron Works keeps many military secrets in the City of Ships, but the history of creating their state-of-the-art vessels is well documented in the Maine Maritime Museum down the road. The Kennebec River city boasted 22 shipyards in its heyday, and its tradition of wealth is visible in the gothic downtown bank buildings and grand mansions lining the streets. Belfast—Once a gritty port town, lobstermen now share coffee with painters and writers while enjoying local live music in this burgeoning artist colony. The town’s secrets are revealed through the Museum in the Streets with signposts and placards through town.
22 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
Train lovers will enjoy experiencing “Passy,” the Belfast Rail Trail along the Passagassawaukeag River, with trains running on summer weekends between downtown Belfast to the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad City Point station. Bucksport - References of Dark Shadow’s Collinsport sets the stage for this small, coastal fishing village in Hancock County about 50 miles south of Bangor. The town’s reputation for witchcraft and ghosts seems largely driven by the cult classic, but accounts of hauntings in 1844-built Fort Knox and town’s Victorianera mansions may very well have influenced the show. The connecting Penobscot Narrows Bridge towers over the bay. Its three-level, 360-degree-view bridge observatory is the tallest in the world. And a large footprint-shaped rock formation on the side of the cliff looks to be that of Paul Bunyan on his walk west. A priory of brothers still brew Belgian-style beer, serving it at Main Street’s Friar’s Brewhouse & Tap Room, including their Whoopie Pie Porter and Monastery Ale.
Camden—However you feel about the Real Housewives, it began with Peyton Place. The fictitious town, forever equated with moral hypocrisy, was filmed in Camden for the seaport’s quintessential New England flavor. With spectacular views from nearby Mount Battie, seeing a bald eagle is as likely as seeing famous authors like Tess Gerritsen and David McCollough roaming downtown.
Rangeley—As the hometown of actor Kurt Russell’s father and grandfather, many road signs and rustic camps still bear the family name. His grandparents operated lakeside sporting camps, and his grandfather
Photograph courtesy The Farnsworth Museum
Lisbon—Designated the Maine state soft drink in 2005, Moxie was created in this town 120 years earlier. The first bottled carbonated beverage made in America, it promised outlandish curative properties. Although purchased by rival Coca-Cola in 2018, the town still celebrates at the iconic soda’s Moxie Festival each year on July’s second weekend. Stephen King attended school in Lisbon while living in neighboring Durham, and both towns are often believed to form
performances. It remains one of the last summer stock theatres from the Straw Hat Circuit. Stars of stage and screen frequent these footlights and are known to belt out late-night tunes at The Front Porch’s rousing piano bar. Parking is available at the playhouse, but a seasonal trolley runs an 8-mile loop into the quaint village. Group dining is available close to the theatre. Perkins Cove’s charming footbridge is a perfect perch to take in working lobster boats in the bustling harbor. Popular restaurants, shops, and boat tours dominate this section of town and strolls along the Marginal Way Cliff Walk offer beautiful ocean vistas.
Andrew Wyeth’s painting: “Her Room” at the Farnsworth Museum, Rockland, ME his imaginary Castle Rock and Jerusalem’s (Salem’s) Lot. From his Carrie-like schoolmate to King’s Night Shift stories, Lisbon is rich with traditional small-town inspiration. Ogunquit—Few small towns share their secrets like this flamboyantly fun community. For over 85 years, Ogunquit Playhouse has been on the National Register of Historic Places, presenting Broadway-level
and father worked as Maine guides in the early-to-mid 1900s, leading Hollywood royalty to top hunting and fishing spots. Kurt’s father starred as Deputy Clem Foster on Bonanza, in 1959, and young Kurt followed in his dad’s footsteps, appearing on the western Gunsmoke in 1964 before turning to Disney films, and super stardom. Sarge’s Pub is still a frequent haunt when Russell is in town; his partner, Goldie Hawn, has been known Continued on Page 24
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 23
Maine Prison Showroom
Small Town Secrets Continued from Page 23
to shop Main Street; and Kate Hudson, their daughter, has been seen at The Rangeley Inn. With the Appalachian Trail meandering the lake’s west side, high-end boutiques and outdoor supply stores line Main Street, along with lakeside pubs, BBQ joints, and upscale eateries.
Handcrafted Goods Since 1824
Route 16 to Stratton is known as “Moose Alley,” with abundant sightings along its 24mile stretch.
Nautical Items Birdhouses Home Goods Keepsake Boxes Wooden Toys & Games and much more...
Engineering Experiences with Maine History Nowhere else in New England can you ride the rails behind a vintage steam or diesel train surrounded by an historic Maine village and view a superb antique auto collection.
Ask about exclusive group packages!
Open 7 Days, 9AM-5PM
Buses Welcome Until 4PM 358 Main Street, Rt.1 Thomaston, ME 207-354-9237
Facebook: MSPShowroom
207-633-4727 staff@railwayvillage.org
RailwayVillage.org
24 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
Rangeley continues to surprise with the bowling alley of the same name. Beyond bowling, the expansive entertainment center has a full island bar, indoor fire pit, pool tables, dart boards, and performance space with a large dance floor and gourmet bar menu. But the draw of the region is still the outdoors. The town embraces its rural culture at the Maine Forestry Museum, Rangeley Historical Society, and Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum, considered one of the “Best Sporting Museums in New England” by Yankee Magazine. But none have better secrets than the Wilhelm Reich Museum. The eccentric doctor’s estate, Orgonon, encompasses 175 pastoral acres with a large mid-century stone home. The museum is filled with inventions and experimental equipment designed to harness sexual energy. Rockland —In a scene from the television series Once Upon a Time, the fairy-tale town of Storybrooke appeared on a map in the same location as Continued on Page 27
G A R D E N S
NOV 14 – DEC 31
B o o t h b a y ,
M a i n e
BOOK YOUR GROUP VISITS NOW GROUPS @ MAINEGARDENS.ORG
Maine Holiday Sparkle • December Weekends
The
MAINE TOUR
Light up your holiday at Gardens Aglow holiday light extravaganza in Boothbay CONNECTION Harbor. Catch the holiday spirit at Portland Symphony Orchestra’s “Magic of Book your Boothbay Christmas” concert, an impressive tour of the Victoria Mansion, Maine Maritime adventure today! Museum, Kennebunkport Prelude, ride an old-fashioned trolley, and shopping www.mainetour.com in the quaint sea coast villages. • 5 days / 4 nights / 7 meals
MAINE MARITIME MUSEUM This is Maine. The rest is history. Experience the best of Maine, past and present. Bring your group to our beautiful 20-acre campus on the Kennebec River in Bath for lighthouse cruises and guided tours of our 1906 schooner Mary E, historic shipyard and Victorian-era home. You can’t miss the Wyoming, the largest sculpture in New England, and guests can enjoy our world-class collections in the comfort of airconditioned galleries. Food service available by special arrangement.
Named #1 Museum in Maine by USA Today! 243 Washington Street • Bath, Maine • 207-443-1316 x0 • www.MaineMaritimeMuseum.org
Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 25
The
MAINE TOUR CONNECTION www.mainetour.com
Holiday Hoopla
KENNEBUNKPORT CHRISTMAS PRELUDE Dec. 4-13, 2020, Dec. 3-12,2021 3 days / 2 nights / 4 meals
Get in the holiday spirit with Kennebunkport’s annual Christmas Prelude celebration. Shop the boutiques and craft shows, ride an old-fashioned trolley through the woods, and warm your soul with wine and cheese by the crackling fireplace. Outlet shopping and Ogunquit village festivities take place on the second weekend. CHRISTMAS AGLOW - PORTLAND & BOOTHBAY December Weekends 2020 & 2021
Light up your holidays with Freeport's Sparkle Weekend and the Gardens Aglow holiday light extravaganza in Boothbay Harbor. Old Port shopping in Victorian style and your choice of holiday performance.
VINTAGE PORTSMOUTH CHRISTMAS Dec. 5-7, 2020, Dec. 4-6, 2021
Celebrate the season in New Hampshire’s historic seaport. Enjoy a holiday theater performance, guided city tour, Holiday Stroll with carolers, and all the charm of colonial Strawbery Banke. One or two night options—including our favorite one-of-a-kind shops! NEWPORT CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL & FINERY Dec. 2020 & 2021 • 4 days / 3 nights
Tour several Newport Mansions decked out in Gilded Age Fashion, plus Newport Playhouse luncheon and holiday show.
TWO-NATION VACATIONS PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NEW BRUNSWICK & MAINE May - October • 6 days/ 5 nights / 12 meals
Photograph ©Tourism PEI
The
CONNECTION
www.mainetour.com
June - Oct. • 4 days / 3 nights / 6 meals
MARITIME NATIONAL PARKS
Discover the mountains of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom at Jay Peak Resort. Full day touring Vermont with a peaceful lake cruise and Trapp Family Lodge history tour, then a full day guided tour to Old Montreal with Notre Dame, Olympic Village, and authentic French dinner. MONTREAL & QUEBEC CITY
May - Oct. • 8 days / 2 nights Maine / 5 nights Maritimes / 13 meals
May - October 5 days / 4 nights / 7 meals
Travel through Maine to Saint John, taking in breathtaking parks along the New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia coasts. Includes astounding Hopewell Rocks, Bay of Fundy, Green Gables, Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail, and Nova Scotia’s Evangeline Trail. Ferry ride takes you back to St. Andrews, Campobello Island, or Acadia National Park (your choice).
Book early to snag the very best of two charming cities. You’ll savor historical sites, a river cruise, guided tours, a traditional Sugar Shack feast, and luscious French Quarter treats. Lake Placid, Niagara Falls, Thousand Islands, and Vermont stops can be added on!
Atlantic adventure with full-time Canada guide. Two nights in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and one night in St. John, New Brunswick, with Maine nights en route. Discover the astounding coastal scenery of PEI and Bay of Fundy National Parks, as well as charming St. Andrews-by-the-Sea. Toes will tap to Celtic songs and the heart-warming Anne of Green Gables musical.
MAINE TOUR
MOUNTAINS & MONTREAL
26 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
Small Town Secrets
BOOK N O W!
Continued from Page 24
Rockland. Like the show’s fabled characters, many are unaware of the iconic figures that contribute to this town’s charms. The Farnsworth Art Museum houses an extensive collection of the Wyeth family’s work, as well as important pieces by Robert Indiana, who ferried to his island home from the Rockland waterfront. The Center for Maine Contemporary Art, a short walk away, is a stunning addition on the waterfront. Tall ships and schooners tour the harbor while shops and cafés cater to the landlubbers. Owls Head Transportation Museum is an industrial-age dream showcasing every motorized mode of travel through the centuries. And home to the Maine Lighthouse Museum, Rockland is a must-stop for all lighthouse enthusiasts. Thomaston—This picturesque seaside town is the former home of one of Maine’s most notorious prisons, and the model for Stephen King’s Shawshank Redemption. The prison store, with beautiful woodwork and items created by inmates from around the state, still anchors the downtown. The prison store is self-funded with proceeds going back to the artisans’
MAINE & THE MARITIMES • TWO NATION VACATION Aug 31 – Sept 10, 2020 • 11 days / 10 nights / 20 meals Visit Portland, Campobello Island, St. John, Hopewell The Rocks, and the Bay of Fundy. Explore PEI’s Green Gables, MAINE TOUR Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail, and Nova Scotia’s Evangeline CONNECTION Trail. Return to Bar Harbor via The “CAT” ferry to visit www.mainetour.com Acadia National Park, Freeport and Kennebunkport.
Book your 2-Nation Vacation today! restitution fund making it unique in the nation. Most items are oneof-a-kind and unavailable online. Bar Harbor - While small in size, Bar Harbor’s secrets are large. It was a wealthy enclave in the early part of the 1900s, until a fire in 1947. Many of the blue-blood remained, however, including the DuPonts, Roosevelts, Astors, and Rockefellers—who not only left a legacy of majestic carriage roads to explore, but still welcome limited tours of heiress Abby Aldrich’s personal Asian gardens. The Abbe Museum houses an impressive collection from the
area’s native Wabanaki people, and consider a tour to learn what secrets Jackson Labs are discovering as they continue to explore genetic and genomic frontiers. Authors, celebrities, film makers, and TV shows gravitate to the Pine Tree State for inspiration. Whether you come from near or far, you, too, will have stories of your own after visiting Maine’s small towns. n
CAP’n FISH’S
WHALE WATCH & HARBOR CRUISES PUFFIN & WHALE WATCHES • SEALS & LIGHTHOUSES • CHARTERS AVAILABLE
Look for our red ticket booth at Pier 1 & 7 • 42 Commercial St. 207-633-3244 • 1-800-636-3244
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Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 27
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Six ways to spot a moose. 1) at dusk and dawn 2) moving from winter grounds to summer range 3) licking salt from winter roads 4) eating fresh greens along the river bottom 5) emerging from the woods to avoid the bugs and catch a breeze 6) roaming during the RUTT (mating season)
One way to guarantee a moose sighting? Visit the Maine Wildlife Park in Gray, May-October.
Maine Moosin’ Tour
©clipart.com
Look for Maine’s gentle giants on a customized tour to southwestern Maine. JUNE - SEPTEMBER 4 days / 3 nights / 6 meals Enjoy spring flowers or fall foliage on this trip designed to spot the gentle giants of the north. Spend three nights in the Rangeley Lakes Region or the Mountain Region of Bethel. Includes guided moose-watching, balsam fir factory tour, narrated lake cruise or Pineland Farms tour, and the Maine Wildlife Center where you will The see Maine black bears, bald MAINE TOUR eagles, rescued animals, and CONNECTION a “guaranteed” moose.
www.mainetour.com
1-800-554-Maine • info@mainetour.com Maine Tour Magazine • Fall / Winter 2019 n 29
The Bus Stops Here Searching for something new?
Maine’s Premier Science Museum is open! Come to Bethel, Maine and visit the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum!
Step back in time on Cape Breton Island’s coast entering Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site. One of the top seaports in the colonial era, this French city was destroyed in the 18th Century before being partially restored in the 1970s. The Evangeline Trail hugs the Nova Scotia coast with spectacular vistas reminiscent of California’s Pacific Coast Highway.
n Connecticut Visitors walk into a 16th-century coastal Pequot village at the tribally owned Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center complex featuring exhibits of New England’s Native Americans and their history in the region. Windsor Locks’ New England Air Museum spans two hangars for its 70 aircraft, including helicopters, amphibious aircraft, jets, WWII aircraft, interactive science demonstrations, and a flight simulator exhibit engage visitors.
n Maine In Bethel, Sud’s Pub beneath the Sudbury Inn is the town’s own subterranean Cheers bar, where everybody knows your name. Main Street’s Maine Mineral and Gem Museum exhibits some of the state’s most dazzling gems and the Stifler Collection of Meteorites. And leaf peepers rise to new heights riding ski-lift chairs and gondolas for a bird’s eye view along the mountain peaks of Sunday River.
n Massachusetts In both Nantucket and New Bedford, Herman Melville’s literary legend Moby Dick mixes with the literal science of these undersea behemoths at their Whaling Museums. Whale skeletons, large-scale reproduction of whaling vessels, and luxury items resulting from the wealth generated provide unexpected insights into this lucrative industry that is still driving the species to near extinction.
30 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
n New Hampshire Explore masterworks by Matisse, Picasso, and Monet at Manchester’s Currier Museum of Art. In Holderness, Squam Lakes Natural Science Center offers a self-guided tour of the animal exhibits and hiking trails. Visitors can also enjoy a 90-minute Squam Lake cruise, or take in the lush flora and fauna of Kirkwood Gardens. Franconia Notch was carved through the White Mountains by glaciers, and the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway carries passengers to the 4,080-foot summit since1938, making it the first aerial tramway in North America. Mountains as far as Canada and NY are visible. The observation tower offers breathtaking views straight down into the notch.
n Quebec Watch the changing of the guard at the Citadelle de Quebec or take a guided tour. This historical property is the largest and only active fortress in Canada. Traveling north be sure to visit Our Lady of the Cape Shrine, Notre-Dame de Quebec Cathedral-Basilica, Shrine of Sainte Anne de Beaupre, and Ermitage Saint Antione de Lac-Bouchette.
n Rhode Island A must see is WaterFire’s “bonfire art” exhibit in Providence. Each bonfire is engineered to sit just above the water, stretching along a one-mile stretch of the Providence River. This 3-D interactive exhibit is set to music and takes place several times a year.
n Vermont Enjoy the new exhibit at the Vermont Institute of Nature Science that overlooks the Ottauquechee River. Or take a walk through the forest canopy for a new perspective—65 feet above the forest floor. Step back in time at The Shelburne Museum, a mini-village with over 39 buildings and 20 gardens. Visitors can also board the historic Ticonderoga and see European and American dolls, dollhouses, and toys.
Images ©ClipArt.com
n Atlantic Canada
Bar HarMbor aine
Oceanfront
Our f a m il y o f hot el s w i l l m a k e ea c h t r i p un f orget t a b l e
Atlantic Oceanside (800) 336-2463 www.aobarharbor.com Bar Harbor Inn (888) 859-1572 www.barharborinn.com
Downtown Bar Harbor Grand (888) 766-2529 www.barharborgrand.com Quality Inn (800) 282-5403 www.barharborqualityinn.com Villager Motel (888) 383-3211 www.barharborvillager.com
Maine Stay Acadia Inn (800) 638-3636 www.acadiainn.com Best Western (207) 288-5823 www.acadiaparkinn.com Comfort Inn (207) 667-1345 www.ellsworthcomfortinn.com Hampton Inn (207) 667-2688 www.ellsworthhamptoninn.com Hampton Inn Saco Maine (207) 282-7222 www.hamptoninnsaco.com Ramada (207) 667-9341 www.ellsworthramada.com
Contact our Sales Team today to discuss special packages including lodging, dining and customized adventures for your group! Samantha Towne • grouptravel@withamhotels.com • 888-296-0403
Experience
Northern New England
... with these and other exciting
Tour Packages Coastal Maine Getaway (4 Days / 3 Nights)
3 Night’s Accommodations at the Fireside Inn & Suites - Belfast, Maine • • • •
Acadia National Park Bar Harbor Nature Cruise Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Maine State Prison Gift Shop
• Wine Tasting • A Guided Tour of Mid-coast Maine • Lunch & Shopping on your own in Camden
Includes breakfast each morning, a Maine Lobster Bake and 2 Dinners
Spring Time in The Harbors of Maine (5 Days / 4 Nights)
One Night at Aspinquid or Norseman Resort Two Nights at Fisherman’s Wharf, Tugboat or Boothbay Harbor Inn One Night at Best Western Merry Manor Inn or Fireside Inn & Suites Portland
• • • • •
Tour of Kennebunkport & York Lunch and Shopping in Kennebunkport Boothbay Railway Village Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens A Harbor Cruise in Boothbay Harbor
• • • •
Shopping and dinner on your own in Boothbay Admission to the Maine Maritime Museum Lunch & Shopping on your own in Freeport Tour of Portland with a stop at Portland Head Lighthouse
Includes breakfast each morning, a Maine Lobster Bake, Lunch and 2 Dinners
Autumn at Ogunquit and on Lake Winnipesaukee (4 Days / 3 Nights) 3 Night’s Accommodations at the Aspinquid or Norseman Resort
• Castle In the Clouds • A Coastal Nature Cruise • MS Mount Washington • Tour of Kennebunkport, York and Ogunquit • Dinner & Shopping on your own in Portsmouth • Lunch & Shopping on your own in Kennebunkport Includes a hot breakfast each morning, a Maine Lobster Bake, a Lunch and a Dinner
All packages include luggage handling, taxes and gratuities. Call The Maine Tour Connection at 1-800-554-6246 for information on these and other Lafayette Hotels Tour Packages.
See Our Other Lafayette Properties www.lafayettehotels.biz
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MAINE TOUR CONNECTION