MTM Maine Tour Magazine
TM
Touring New England and Eastern Canada Spring 2018
Maine Seafood Stops Lobster Plus
Along for the Ride Inns & Coves of New England, a Warther Tour
Destination Timeless Destinations of the Northeast
The Lobster LadyÂŽ
Charlotte and Cocoa
Group Tour Solutions Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 1
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Table of Contents www.mainetour.com • Spring 2018 • vol. 23/1 RIVER TRIVIA Match these rivers with their group attraction: 1. Outtaquechee River 2. Blackstone River 3. Charles River 4. St. Lawrence River a. Boston Duck Boats, MA b. Quechee Gorge, VT c. Quebec Winter Carnival d. Slater Hill Historic Site, RI 5. Which is the largest river on the Eastern Seaboard, “The Rhine of North America,” stretching 400 miles? a. St. John River, NB b. Connecticut River c. St. Lawrence River, QC d. Charles River, MA 6. The river separating Maine’s southernmost town from New Hampshire? a. b. c. d.
Portsmouth River Piscataqua River York River Saco River
7. When will the St. Lawrence Seaway celebrate 60 years of navigation from Lake Superior to the Atlantic? a. 2018 b. 2019 c. 2020
Maine Seafood Stops
Along for the Ride
Timeless Destinations
The Lobster Lady® • 4 Charlotte and Cocoa
Maine Seafood Stops • 6 Lobster Plus
The Lobster Lady’s® Signature Tours • 14 Along for the Ride • 16 Inns & Coves of New England, a Warther Tour
Destination • 22
Timeless Destinations of the Northeast
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 2018 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: Jeanne M. McGurn, CTP; Editor: Mary Lyons; Managing Editor: Chris Rackmyre; Art Director: Christine Richards; Advertising Sales: Chris Rackmyre; VP Sales & Marketing: Donna Hanson; Contributing Writer: Mary Lyons. Cover: Boston Esplanade and John Hancock Tower, ©Ken Lane/ Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism
ANSWERS on page 15.
The
MAINE TOUR
Be sure to take a look at our website: www.mainetour.com
CONNECTION Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 3
The Lobster Lady® Jeanne M. McGurn
foster’s Clambakes & Catering
Dear Colleagues and Friends, After ABA in Charlotte, I figured why should I rush back North, since I was already three quarters of the way down the coast. So I was able to be in Florida when SpaceX was launched from the Kennedy Space Center, and was lucky enough to witness that once in a lifetime event. It seemed eerily quiet watching from Cocoa Beach, but the rocket broke the sound barrier and its flaming red tail soon disappeared. Watching the return of the booster rockets was fascinating, too, as they landed exactly on the designated pads. The cheers from hundreds of thousands of people at Cocoa was louder than the engines! Can’t imagine what it must have been like at the space center! Weather in Florida upon my arrival was a bit chilly, but a February temp of 65 degrees versus 5 degrees at home in Maine works for me. While at ABA in Charlotte, I got to see a number of industry friends that I haven’t seen in a while. If you need a keynote speaker for your State tourism conferences, CVB, board meetings, or statistical analysis, you need to take a look at Berkley Young of Young Strategies in Charlotte. Berk is a fountain of information, plus he tailors his information for your area, and is a speaker all will enjoy. I am sure John Percy and numerous other tourism offices will vouch for him as well.
Emily Walker and Talia Carswell are my “Kids” from Chimney Rock. They are working to provide new programs there, from nature talks about birds—or animals like Grady the Groundhog—, to engagement with the top of Chimney Rock. Tour groups have a lot to pick from here. And of course the VA contingent, TAP President Nick Calderazzo of Twin Travel Concepts, our bubbly Maria Manouvelos-Baker from First Choice Tours, Cam Morris from Hale Transportation--and how did I miss the Wolf’s Bus Lines crew? When it comes to tour planning, some destinations seem to always be on the radar, no matter how many times they’ve been visited. We’ve written about them in our “Timeless Destinations” story in this issue. Personally, Camden is one of my picks as a timeless destination. From the mountains to the sea, Camden has maintained its coastal community atmosphere. As you enter this pretty town, you see the white steeple of the Congregational Church, unique shops lining the main street, and schooners departing from the wharves. The atmosphere says “This is Maine.” And, when tours get to Maine, there’s something that’s on all their lists. Read about it in our “Seafood Stops” article. Lastly, I will admit my disappointment that the Patriots lost the Super Bowl, but at least it was to a team that never has won a ring. Congrats to the Eagles.
Jeanne M. McGurn, CTP President The Lobster Lady®
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
207.646.5511 OgunquitPlayhouse.org 10 Main St. (Rte 1) Ogunquit, ME
All titles subject to
change.
MAY 16 - JUN 9
JUN 13 - JUL 7
JUL 11 - AUG 4
AUG 8 - SEP 1
SEP 5 - OCT 28
Enjoy Dinner or Lunch at JONATHAN’S OGUNQUIT located right around the corner from the historic theatre!
Your Group Will Enjoy • Award-Winning Broadway shows! • Plenty of free coach parking • Handicap-accessibility • Special menus and discounted ticket rates • A delightful meal before or after the show
92 Bourne Lane • 646-4777 Visit: JonathansOgunquit.com Over 40 years serving the traveling public.
Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 5
ŠDamariscotta River Cruises
ŠShutterstock/Darryl Brooks
Maine Seafood Stops By Mary Lyons
To sit on a rustic dock in a summer breeze and eat a steamed lobster caught the same day is a complete travel experience of its own.
W
ith nearly 3500 miles of coastline, counting the pretty coves and pine- covered peninsulas that edge its bays and ocean, the state of Maine has always had a close and consequential relationship with the sea. Mariners settled the state, and boatbuilding, maritime trade, and the fisheries prospered it. The lumber from its Great North Woods was turned into ships, and the men of its coast into captains and sailors. As times changed, sea trades became more sophisticated, but even today it is often one or two men or women in a boat who take the chances that bring in the fish. Lobstering has long been an attraction for visitors to Maine, who are interested in how the lobsters are caught, and also in eating the lobsters that are caught.
6 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
©Shutterstock/Lisovskaya Natalia Lobster Art ©Shutterstock/Engraving Factory
Photos L to R: Lobster Roll; Oysters & Champagne Tasting; Steamed Mussels And eating lobsters in the state of Maine is a pursuit unequalled elsewhere. To sit on a rustic dock in a summer breeze and eat a steamed lobster caught the same day is a complete travel experience of its own. The sweet flavor of a fresh lobster makes for delightful eating. And many pounds and restaurants offer such an experience to tours, as a group dinner or a classic lobsterbake. Lobsters, which have been through lean years, are now being landed in ever-increasing numbers, a boon to the state’s economy, to the continuation of the fishery, and
to the hungry visitor. Because the catch is so fresh, the eating experience is topnotch. The same is true of much of the state’s scallops, which are brought in daily or captured by divers, rather than spending time frozen at sea. Also prominent in Maine’s fishery is aquaculture, the beginning of an effort to increase the ocean’s productivity in a sustainable way. A January 2018 report from the University of Maine’s Aquaculture Research Institute states that “Since 2007 the total economic impact
of aquaculture has almost tripled from $50 million to $137 million dollars,” and notes “substantial optimism in the aquaculture sector.” The report also says the biggest increase in sales is from shellfish. Making a name for themselves, in particular, are oysters and mussels, with farms established in numerous state waters. Restaurants are lining up to buy from shellfish
Continued on Page 11
Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 7
Maine Prison Showroom
CASCO BAY LINES VOTED BEST BOAT TOUR*
Handcrafted Goods Since 1824
GROUP RATES
10 daily cruises lobster bakes • private charters • beautiful scenery • cool ocean breezes • sun and sea www.cascobaylines.com Portland, ME (207) 774-7871
Nautical Items Birdhouses Home Goods Keepsake Boxes Wooden Toys & Games and much more...
*Maine Sunday Telegram and Down East Magazine
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 8 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
207-633-4727 margaret@railwayvillage.org
RailwayVillage.org
EXPERIENCE OUR NEW BUTTERFLY HOUSE B E G I N N I N G J U N E 2 0 18
M A I N E G A R D E N S . O R G B o o t h b a y , M a i n e
Cap’n Fish’s Waterfront Inn & Nature Cruises
Waterfront Inn 53 Air Conditioned/Heated Rooms, All w/Private Baths, Cable TV, Phone, & Free Wi-Fi • Hearty Buffet Breakfast in Our Coffee Shop • Special Group Rates Sundecks w/Picnic Table & Lounge Chairs • Beautful Waterfront Location • Minutes to Shops, Restaurants, Lobster Docks & Music Theater
Waterfront Inn 1-800-633-0860 www.boothbaywaterfront.com
Nature Cruises Seal • Lighthouses • Puffins • Whale Watches • Lobster Hauling
65 Atlantic Ave. • Boothbay Harbor, Maine
Boat Trips 1-800-636-3244 www.mainewhales.com
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 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 air-conditioned galleries. Food service available by special arrangement. New: Into the Lantern: A Lighthouse Experience 243 Washington Street • Bath, Maine • 207-443-1316 x0 • www.MaineMaritimeMuseum.org
Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 9
• Easy access to I-295 and downtown • 1.5 miles from the heart of Portland’s Old Port • Ample, secure coach parking • Interior corridors and two elevators • Microwave and refrigerators in every room • Indoor heated pool, hot tub and fitness center • Luggage service available • Onsite restaurant and lounge • A full American breakfast buffet • Banquet facilities with customized menus to meet your budget and dietary needs
The Clarion Hotel Portland, Maine, is the right “choice” for your group!
Complimentary room policy, welcome receptions and other specials are offered or may be included!
Contact: Heather Levesque heather@pwmclarion.com
1230 Congress St. • Portland, ME 04102• www.clarionportlandme.com • 207.553.9544
Add Some Maine Merriment to Your Next Trip! n n n n n n n
Southern Maine / Traditional Maine storytellers abound, “Ayuh, guess you CAN get here from there. You made it, I see!” Old Orchard Beach-Portland-Freeport–Lewiston / Play Music Trivia Bingo with 50’s & 60’s favorites Portland Area / Maine Coast Legends with a costumed ‘Lighthouse Keeper‘ Rangeley Lakes / 3 D Historical Presentation step back in time after dinner Bath/Brunswick / Sea Shanty Singalong for your welcome reception Boothbay Harbor / Maritime Mysteries of the region with the local lantern lady in costume The Bar Harbor / Lobstering talk with a captain
www.mainetour.com • info@mainetour.com
MAINE TOUR CONNECTION
WvaneHorizThirdMTMFall2017_Layout 1 6/30/17 1:09 PM Page 1
Call today to book your tour! 1-800-554-Maine
, 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
10 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
Visit: www.weathervaneseafoods.com
Photograph by Ryan Burnham
©Bar Harbor Lobsterbakes ©Damariscotta River Cruises
Photos clockwise: Bar Harbor Lobsterbakes; Red’s Eats, Wiscasset; Damariscotta River Cruise mussel farm
Maine Seafood Stops Continued from Page 7
farms because, as oyster entrepreneur Brendan Parsons says, “What’s special about Maine’s oysters is that they are growing in cold, clean water, which is really ideal for oysters, resulting in a better product.” Parsons is an oyster distributor, and has just opened River Bottom Raw Bar, where he offers an informed staff whose mission is education, as well as such menu items as “Taste the River,” a variety of oysters from the seven different farms on the Damariscotta River. Mussels, too, benefit from growing in Maine’s pristine waters: Bangs Island Mussels takes advantage of “the cool, clean waters of Casco Bay,” where they also grow kelp. A Maine family company, they raise the mussels at Clapboard and Bangs Islands. Recognizing the interest in their innovative undertakings, several shellfish aquaculture operations offer tours, including the River Tripper boat tour of Damariscotta oyster operations, Nonesuch Maine Oyster Tasting
Tours in Scarborough, and other stops along the Maine Oyster Trail. Seafood aficionados might also want to consider the 45 salty Maine sites on the Downeast Fisheries Trail, ranging all the way from Schoodic to Roosevelt Campobello International Park. However a tour itinerary incorporates interest in Maine’s fisheries, at least one component needs to be sampling their product. For tour-friendly lobster bakes, Foster’s Clambakes in York Harbor offers an informal pavilion setting along with entertainment; for those whose appetite is stimulated by a boat ride, Cabbage Island Clambakes adds the island experience to the classic bake, and, in popular Bar Harbor, Bar Harbor Lobsterbakes gives groups the total feast, too. Lobster is also the centerpiece at Cook’s Lobster & Ale House on Bailey Island. Tours can combine their visit to Cook’s with a Casco Bay Lines sightseeing cruise. For lobster as well as a large
variety of other fresh seafood choices, group itineraries might include Warren’s Lobster House on the Kittery waterfront directly across from Portsmouth, New Hampshire; and DiMillo’s On the Water, a floating restaurant in Portland. Not far from Portland is The Clambake, a casual restaurant in Scarborough with an expansive view of saltwater marshes. Moving up the coast, groups will find The Pearl Restaurant in Rockland, the Lobster Capital of Maine; Fisherman’s Wharf Inn and also McSeagull’s in Boothbay Harbor; and Beal’s Lobster Pier in Southwest Harbor. For a more traditional group dining experience, The Bull and Claw in Wells, elegant Joseph’s By The Sea in Old Orchard Beach, and Kennebunkport’s On the Marsh Bistro, Ogunquit’s Clay Hill Farm, and Jonathan’s Oqunquit are worthy of consideration. So make a splash with a few different seafood stops, and add a savory maritime flavor to your tour. n
Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 11
Photos: Lucas Sharpe
Latitude 43° 45’ 1”
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”
Lenny ad master corrected 8.25 by 10.75.indd 1
2/21/18 3:10 PM
The Lobster Lady’s®
Call today to book your Signature Tour!
Signature Tours The
MAINE TOUR
CONNECTION
Maine
BEST OF BAR HARBOR June - October 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!
BEACHES & BUOYS May - October • 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 BETHEL, 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 at Sunday River in the Mountains. Includes guided moose-watching, Maine gem sluicing, balsam fir factory tour, guided tour of Pineland Farms, and the Maine Wildlife Park where you will see Maine black bears, bald eagles, rescued animals, and a “guaranteed” moose.
NEW! BOOTHBAY SCENERY & SHOW June 22 - September 30, 2018 3 days / 2 nights / 4 meals
Salt air, spectacular sunsets, and salty breezes abound on the Boothbay Harbor waterfront. Includes boat and train rides, garden tour, and Carousel Music Theater performance.
NEW! LOBSTER LOVERS TOUR BOOTHBAY HARBOR Late June – early September 3 days / 2 nights / 4 meals
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 moose-spotting 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.
MUSICAL MAINE SUMMER TOUR
A classic Maine island lobsterbake— with twin lobsters—highlights this two night stay at the Tugboat Inn on Boothbay Harbor’s bustling waterfront. Includes a fun train ride, guided sightseeing tour, and enchanting garden excursion tour.
MAINE LOBSTER FESTIVAL
August 1-5, 2018 • July 31 - August 4, 2019 5 days / 4 nights / 8 meals
Book the Maine Lobster Festival (71st Anniversary in 2018!) 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.
14 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
MAINE MOOSE, LAKES, AND LOONS
June - August 3 days / 2 nights / 5 meals
Two show-stopping Broadway musicals at Ogunquit Playhouse and the Maine State Music Theater, plus a sea shanty sing-along and special organ concert.
RANGELEY LAKES: LOONS, LOGS, AND MOOSIN’ June – September 4 days / 3 nights / 7 meals
Settle in to the charming Rangeley Inn for three nights, cruise the pristine lake to hear the loon’s eerie cry, see the quaint log church, and learn about lumbering at the Forestry Museum. Go “moosin” with a local guide to spot the gentle giants, and pan for gold at one of Maine’s classic little canyons.
1-800-554-Maine
www.mainetour.com • info@mainetour.com
NEW! SEACOAST SUPER SAVOR
LEAVES & LOCOMOTIVES
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 Boothbay Railway Village make this a tour to remember!
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.
June-Sept. • 5 days/4 nights/8 meals
New England CAPE COD AND THE ISLANDS May - October 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-thescenes tour. 1 night Boston’s North Shore, 2 nights Boothbay Harbor waterfront with lobster dinner and mystery presentation featuring “The Lady in the Red Cloak.”
CONNECTICUT COASTLINE May - October • 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.
MAINE COAST AND NH MOUNTAINS
Sept. & October • 5 days / 4 nights / 8 meals
LAKES & LIGHTHOUSES, NH & ME May - October 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!
NEW ENGLAND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY
Oct. 8 - 13, 2018 • 6 days / 5 nights / 10 meals A scenic fall tour of Maine’s coast from Portland to Bar Harbor features African-American historical sites and knowledgeable guides in both Portland and Boston. The Harriett Beecher Stowe House in Hartford, CT, caps off this informative tour.
NEW ENGLAND DELUXE FOLIAGE WITH NEWPORT September - October 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, 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 October 4-11, 2018 8 days / 7 nights / 12 meals
June - October 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. TOP OF NEW ENGLAND – PEAK SEASON! October 10-14, 2018 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 tour of Cape Ann’s Gloucester, MA, and a traditional lobster dinner!
NEW! RHODE ISLAND FALL FOOD & FUN Oct. 10 - Nov. 5, 2017 3 days / 2 nights / 4 meals
Explore the Ocean State with guided tour of Newport, plus an opulent mansion, culinary museum, and harvest buffet dinner at Providence’s Jack-OLantern Spectacular. Mouth-watering foodie tour option, too!
VERMONT VISTAS
October • 3 days / 2 nights / 4 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!
Get a taste of real Vermont from the maple sugarhouse to Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, with scenic views and unique rural stops. Customized tours for foodies and foliage fans!
Trivia from page 3: 1=b, 2=d, 3=a, 4=c, 5=a, 6=b, 7=b Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 15
Along for the Ride
Photograph by Mark Warther
Warther Tours
At the covered bridge, Jackson, New Hampshire
Inns & Coves of New England, a Warther Tour “The first thing that went right on the Inns & Coves Tour was that there was enough interest to fill two motorcoaches.”
16 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
MARK WARTHER, head of Warther Tours in New Philadelphia, Ohio, has been in the travel business “my whole life,” and owned his tour company for about a decade. Talking to him, you can tell he loves what he does; in fact, he says, “I personally love to serve. Being on the tours I’m there to make sure the i’s are dotted and the t’s are crossed and all goes well. If everything is done right at the beginning, tours turn out almost flawless, and everything goes right.” The first thing that went right on the Inns & Coves Tour was that there was enough interest to fill two motorcoaches. And it got better from there. Being, as Warther says, a company whose tours are “a little more upscale—we don’t do cookie cutter tours,” participants were treated to special inns, including the Hilton Boston Back Bay, the White Mountain Resort Hotel, Bar Harbor’s four-star Blue Nose Inn, and the Colony Hotel, a historic property in Kennebunkport.
Photograph by Mark Warther
Warther group at Nubble Light, Maine Photograph courtesy White Mountain Resort Hotel
The week-long tour hit the highlights in a big way, from Boston and Cambridge heritage tours to the best of New Hampshire, and on to a glimpse of Maine’s wildlife and a smorgasbord of the coast and its coves. Out of the seven dinners served, one was on the Café Lafayette gourmet dinner train, and three were lobster dinners. “They had a blast at Foster’s,” Warther says, and he also singled out the On the Marsh Bistro in Kennebunkport, saying “they loved that. It was a quality place.” In New Hampshire, the tour enjoyed a pontoon ride on Squam Lake and a Mt. Washington lunch cruise. With a Castle in the Clouds visit, and a guided tour of the White Mountains—including a maple sugaring program at The Rocks Estate—it was a great overview of the Granite State, framed by luxuriating at a classic inn, the White Mountain Resort Hotel. There was an assured moose sighting at the Maine Wildlife Center on the route to the Maine coast, and then another outdoor experience with a guided tour of Acadia National Park and a Park carriage ride. In Bar Harbor, tour participants could visit the nationally recognized Abbe Museum. Also on the itinerary was the Great Maine Lumberjack Show, an exceptional entertainment bringing the flavor of Maine’s North Woods to spectators. Camden offered a spectacular photo stop on Mt. Battie, made famous by the poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, and a look at Camden Hills State Park. In South Portland, a private tour of Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse opened a window into Maine’s maritime past and was a special perk for participants. Kennebunkport’s beaches, the point where the Bushes
White Mountain Resort Hotel, Cliff View
have their estate, and the Wedding Cake House were focal points of a narrated tour, and a Maine lobstering cruise put visitors right in the heart of one of the State’s most important pursuits. Warther says the visits to Maine’s sea towns were something the tour also “really enjoyed,” along with their stays in such excellent inns. On the way back to Logan airport, the tour took in York’s famous Nubble Light, and views of the Portsmouth seacoast. When a Warther tour is over, though, it hasn’t really ended. Warther, whose hobby is photography, gives everyone a coffee table photo book of the trip. Not only is it a terrific souvenir, but it creates interest and keeps it alive. Must be a win-win, because the array of Warther Tours are successful, and, Warther says, “I don’t advertise.” n Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 17
We LOVE
Tour Groups We Love Having Your Tours Here • Tour friendly hotels, all accessible rooms and public areas • Complimentary Hampton Hot Breakfast • Complimentary Welcome Reception • Shuttle upon request to local restaurants and businesses • Indoor pool, hot tub and fitness facility
Wells/Ogunquit 207-646-0555 • Fax 207-646-2228 vernon.briggs@hilton.com
AND we know how to work with tour operators: Customized tours Enthusiastic guides Easy parking, Loading & unloading Museum Store Coffee/snacks available Meal Service with advance notice
Seashore Trolley Museum 195 Log Cabin Rd PO Box A Kennebunkport, ME
Reservations:
207-9637-2800 ext 111 finance@neerhs.org trolleymuseum.org Open May - October & first two weekends December
Sumptuous SumptuousBreakfast BreakfastBuffets Buffets Lip Smackin’ Luncheons Lip Smackin’ Luncheons Fabulous Downeast Fabulous Downeast Lobster Clambakes Lobster Clambakes 45 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
18 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
Visit the Longfellow House & Garden, the enchanting boyhood home of the beloved poet.
MAINE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 489 Congress Street Portland, Maine (207) 774-1822 mainehistory.org
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!
Let Maine art inspire you. Let Maine culture surprise you. No matter who you are or what brings you to Maine, you’re welcome at the Portland Museum of Art, where the state’s extraordinary heritage and vibrant future intersect in astonishing ways. Our docent-led tours are perfect for groups and can be scheduled in advance at special group rates. Call (207) 775-6148 today for pricing and booking details. Newell Convers Wyeth (United States, 1882-1945), Dark Harbor Fishermen, 1943, tempera on panel, 35 x 38 inches. Bequest of Elizabeth B. Noyce, 1996.38.63
(207) 775-6148 | PortlandMuseum.org Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 19
The
MAINE TOUR CONNECTION www.mainetour.com
Holiday Hoopla
KENNEBUNKPORT CHRISTMAS PRELUDE Nov. 30 - Dec. 9, 2018 & Dec. 6-15, 2019 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. PORTLAND & BOOTHBAY WEEKEND December Weekends 2018 & 2019
Light up your holidays at Portland Symphony Orchestra’s “Magic of Christmas Concert” and the Gardens Aglow holiday light extravaganza in Boothbay Harbor. Freeport shopping and Old Port dinner.
VINTAGE PORTSMOUTH CHRISTMAS Dec. 1-3, 2018 & Dec. 7-9, 2019
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 AND FINERY Dec. 2018 & 2019 • 4 days / 3 nights
Tour several Newport Mansions decked out in Gilded Age Fashion, plus Newport Playhouse luncheon and holiday show.
Recall the glory days of passenger trains! “New York Central” Whiskey Bread Pudding
Travel back in time to the Golden Age of Railroading! Unique hidden New England treasure housed within the 1884 Union Passenger Station. Close to Old Sturbridge Village, Norman Rockwell Museum and Yankee Candle. Exit 8 on the Massachusettes Turnpike, in Palmer. www.steamingtender.com (413) 283-2744
Open seven days a week for motorcoach tours. 20 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
PIONEERS & PILGRIMS • May – December Discover Massachusetts heritage sites from the Pioneer Valley to Plymouth. Includes Old Sturbridge Village, a fireplace feast with dessert demo at the Salem Cross Inn, dip your own Yankee Candle, and dine with a pilgrim at Plimoth Plantation.
Makes a fun 3 night holiday tour with Springfield’s Bright Nights display and outlet shopping. Or attend New England’s largest fair – the Big E – in September!
The Maine Tour Connection • Call today: 1-800-554-MAINE
PUT YOUR HANDS ON HISTORY AND BE inspired! • Discounted group rates • Special group tour menus and dining experiences • Close to NY, RI, Boston, Hartford and Cape Cod
• Special group lodging rates • Complimentary rates for drivers and tour guides • Free motorcoach parking • Onsite shopping at museum gift shops
Contact us today 508-347-0397 or osvtours@osv.org
Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 21
Destination Timeless Destinations of the Northeast
Hi Marsha and Bob, Wish you could be here to see this gorgeous island. Such fun seeing Anne of Green Gables com e to life in so many spots and then watching the musical about her. Not to mention the very mus ical College of Piping bagpipe concerts. A great time!
By Mary Lyons
Timeless Destinations of the Northeast What is it about the Northeast that is so appealing to visitors, who come by the score from everywhere on the globe? Part of the appeal must lie in the history that has soaked into almost every part of New England and eastern Canada. It’s hard to take a step without encountering a tale or two or three of a famous figure or event. Consider Boston, birthplace of a nation, and conservator of most of its revered landmarks. Boston understands its significance as a historic destination, treasures it, and does much to help visitors access and understand it. A good example is the Freedom Trail, incorporating so many of the steps on the way to the formation of the United States. Another is the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. In both places, tours can feel a sense of long ago times; on the Ships, they can even participate in throwing bales of tea overboard! The Boston Duck Tours take groups out on the same waters the tea was thrown into, and through unchanging streets full of lasting significance. Quincy Marketplace and legendary restaurants like Durgin Park, the Black Rose, Union Oyster House, and the No Name Restaurant emphasize the enduring nature of this “City on a Hill.” In Newport, Rhode Island, another classically timeless destination, gorgeous waterfront mansions speak of a more gracious era. Says Andrea Carneiro, Communications Manager for the Preservation Society of Newport County, “The Newport Mansions are living reminders of a bygone era. Reflecting nearly three centuries of the finest in American architectural and landscape design, decorative arts and social history, the 22 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
properties of The Preservation Society of Newport County host more than one million tours every year by visitors from around the world keen to experience their elegance and learn about America’s history.” Newport visitors can stay at the Hotel Viking, a Historic Hotel of America, with Gilded Age accents. Taking in timeless theater happens at the Newport Playhouse, and harbor cruises give tours striking waterside views of this classics-filled town. In the White Mountains of New Hampshire, themselves an enduring monument, estates like The Rocks or the Mountain View Grand Resort convey a delightful old-fashioned aura. Covered Jackson Bridge reminds travelers of older modes of travel, and the Cog Railway takes visitors to heights of timeless splendor. Rangeley Lakes, Maine, speaks of sports and guides in the days before snowmobiles and fourwheelers, when off-road meant
©Shutterstock/pavila
Anne Lake of Shining
Waters ©Tourism PEI/J
ohn Sylvester
d Prince Edward Islan
Part of the appeal must lie in the history that has soaked into almost every part of New England and eastern Canada.
view ©Shutterstock/Travel
©Art’s Dune Tour
s
Cape Cod Dunes
Dear Janet, Yes, the whales showed up for us on schedule ! Nice ride, and nice rides to the Vineyard and Nantucket, too. Cape classics. Plus a DUNE ride. And then we ended up in Kennedy territory — Hyannisport and the JFK Museum. What a great trip!
©Shutterstock/pavila
going by foot or snowshoe. The land is unchanged from those times, and the views remain magnificent. The Rangeley Inn is still a headquarters for things like Moosin’ Tours, or expeditions to museums about logging or the area’s outdoor sports heritage. A lake cruise may even reveal a shoreline moose or feature the haunting cry of the loon. Says Bill Pierce, Executive Director of the Rangeley Lakes Region Historical Society, “Regarding the over 150 year-old love affair that travelers to Rangeley have experienced with its breathtaking scenery and abundant natural resources, one can simply defer to the lady who was perhaps one of its greatest champions and admirers--Ms. Cornelia "Flyrod" Crosby. Crosby, Maine's first Registered Maine Guide, wrote the following in her weekly column in reference to her own deep love for the great outdoors of the region:
‘Someone once said of love, "For people who have never known it, any description seems overdrawn, and for people who have, it is quite beyond description." This is surely true of a life out of doors - on the lake, by the laughing brook, in the wilderness, on the mountain top, or in the valley... ‘ (from Maine Woods, Feb. 21, 1908).” RI The Breakers Mansion, Newport,
Continued on Page 24
Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 23
Timeless Destinations Continued from Page 23
Photograph courtesy Mount Was
hing Cruises
Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampsh ire
ock ©Shutterst
/ Christian
Delbert
©Shutterstock/pavila
Dear Jackie & Kurt, re by the Lakes: the Quite a full tour menu he at scenic rides on the Castle in the Clouds, ne and Mt. Washington Hobo/Winnipesaukee RR ough room left for an Cruise Line, but still en the one and only Hart’s old-fashioned dinner at t. Turkey Farm Restauran
shire ew Hamp N , e g d ri Covered B
24 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
Whether you wish to give your tours the timeless elegance of ageless buildings and resorts, or a look at nature in its preserved and magnificent state, the northeast offers you a beautiful palette of timeless options. On the southern coast of New Brunswick, St. Andrews by-theSea is another destination where echoes of the past are all around. The Algonguin Hotel opened in 1889, and is one of the classic Canadian Pacific Railway-era hotels. Its graceful look displays the careful craftsmanship and expansive architecture of a bygone age. In the same timeless category is the town’s Kennedy Inn, Canada’s oldest summer inn. St. Andrew’s 27-acre Kingsbrae Garden brings to mind ladies in parasols and estate gardeners. It further fascinates with its variety of gardens, including a Knot & Rose, a labyrinth, White Garden, and Butterfly Garden. The Garden Café and its gift shop enhance the visitor experience. St. Andrew’s website proclaims: “Everything about our town is special, including our status as a National Historic District, one of the oldest and loveliest in the Maritimes.” Offshore Minister’s Island gives an unforgettable glimpse of a Canadian Pacific magnate’s home when the railroad was at its peak. Whether you wish to give your tours the timeless elegance of ageless buildings and resorts, or a look at nature in its preserved and magnificent state, the northeast offers you a beautiful palette of timeless options. n
OPEN FOR SEASON!!!! Open fOr ITS itS 24TH 23 rd SeaSOn Our 14,000 item collection includes: WWii Military Vehicles & Weapons; a 1939-45 time tunnel; period toys, books, Music, clothing..and MOre.
2017 SpecialEXHIBITS exhibit 2018 SPECIAL
“The Best 20Th Century St St July 1 – OctOber 31 August 20 – October 31 June 24 – August 12 history Museum” Manufacturing Victory, The Forgotten War: “The American Soldier, From the in New England! —Yankee Magazine 2016
Korea 1950
WWII / The Arsenal of Democracy
Civil War to the War in Iraq”
Open Daily May 1st thru Oct. 31st 2016
603-569-1212 • 77 Center St., Wolfeboro, NH • www.wrightmuseum.org
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
M/S Mount Washington Breakfast, dinner, lunch & cocktails are available on board. Scenic Cruises Foliage Cruises Dinner Cruises Sunday Brunch One way or round trip (Season: Mid May–late October)
603-366-5531 www.cruiseNH.com/tours.php
cruiseNH.com Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 25
2018-SWM-MaineTour.qxp_Layout 1 2/20/18 1:58 PM Page 1
Experience 350 years of stories at The House of the Seven Gables
Start with...
Salem’s Most Visited Museum
Because…History Matters
Celebrate an American Icon In 2018, The House of the Seven Gables turns 350 years old. Join us for a year of special events and programs to celebrate this milestone. Embark on an unforgettable tour of this National Historic Landmark. Take part in family activities. Shop for unique gifts. Be inspired as visitors, authors, & artists have been for centuries. Open year round.
Open Year Round 19 1/2 Washington Square North Salem, Massachusetts 01970
978.744.1692 • salemwitchmuseum.com
115 Derby St . | S alem MA 01970 | 978 -74 4 - 0991 | 7gables.org
Peabody Essex Museum Salem, Massachusetts Find us across the street from the Visitor Center!
@cassthetiic
Make your own
Magic
From the arts, food and history, to the shops, ships and spooky tricks. Salem, MA is still making history. How will your group be a part of it?
Open Tuesday–Sunday | 10 am–5 pm Closed Mondays (except holidays) 161 Essex St. | Salem, MA | pem.org
VISIT SALEM.ORG/GROUPS TO FIND OUT.
QUEBEC’S NATIONAL SHRINES (Canada) Free Webinars + Fam Tour
We offer accommodation, pilgrimages, family and multigenerational vacations, performance venues, music concerts, nature trails, retreats, gastronomy and much more.
First 25 registered will receive a FREE guide “Guide to Spiritual and Religious Journeys in Quebec”.
Five national shrines in the province of Quebec in four major cities: SAGUENAY, QUEBEC CITY, TROIS-RIVIERES & MONTREAL. To learn more about us, visit our website and consult our calendar of events: WWW.SANCTUAIRESQUEBEC.COM
REGISTER HERE:
www.sanctuairesquebec.com/en/survey
TWO-NATION VACATIONS PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, NEW BRUNSWICK & MAINE
MOUNTAINS & MONTREAL June - Oct. • 4 days / 3 nights / 6 meals
May – October • 6 days/ 5 nights / 10 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!
Photograph ©Tourism PEI
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.
The
MAINE TOUR CONNECTION
www.mainetour.com
Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 27
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
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
Frenchman Bay’s Longest Running Nature Cruise – Since 1934 • 3 Trips Daily!
3 Trips Daily: 10am, 1pm & 4pm, & Sunset Trip, 6:30pm, June 23 to July 31 • 6:00, Aug. 31 to Labor Day. Buses Welcome with Free On-site Parking
Enjoy a 2-hr cruise narrated by professional Naturalists Three viewing decks, enclosed heated cabin, restrooms & snack bar See & learn about Bald Eagles, Seals, Harbor Porpoise, Seabirds, Egg Rock Lighthouse, & Acadia National Park
Sailing Daily from the Atlantic Oceanside Hotel, 119 Eden St., Bar Harbor
Like Us!
Lake Morey Resort is the idyllic location for New England and Canadian tours.
• 130 guest rooms • Lakeside Dining Room • Lake and golf activities such as pontoon rides, putting contests, and garden tours • Located directly off Exit 15 off I-91 • Near dozens of popular attractions including maple sugaring, local artisans and natural wonders. 28 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
Fairlee, Vermont Tel: (800) 423-1211 lakemoreyresort.com Visit us today!
Property managed by uncommon hospitality
MTM
ALL ABOARD!
Coming this Fall: • Living History Tours • Destination: Playhouses of New England • Along for the Ride: Maine Hub-N-Spoke Tour
Vintage seacoast charm meets classic New England style Experience old-fashioned train rides, all departing from our 1874 Victorian station in North Conway Village, NH. Choose from two Valley routes or the legendary Notch Train Excursions from April - December First Class Dining: June-October
800-232-5251 ● 603-356-5251 ask for Sandy Janvrin, ext. 13
ConwayScenic.com
• Tour Friendly Hotel With Accessible Rooms and Public Areas • Complimentary Hampton Hot Breakfast • Complimentary Welcome Reception • Indoor Heated Pool & Fitness Facility
Kennebunk
207-985-9200 • 207-985-9205 (Fax) debbie.mireault2@hilton.com
Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 29
Catch the Spring Fever in New England: Minuteman re-enactments, maple sugaring and flower festivals!
n Atlantic Canada
n New Hampshire
A National Historic Site, as well as Canada’s last existing immigration terminal, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, offers tour groups a variety of Hands-On History programs, including help with genealogy, researching records from Canada, the United States, and internationally. With advance notice, this research can be started previous to a group’s arrival.
Not every Trading Post has a bear. But at Clark’s Trading Post, celebrating its 90th Anniversary this year, the bear show is just the beginning of the fun. Situated in Lincoln, in the beautiful White Mountains, Clark’s offers a Steam Train, Water Blaster Boats, an Old Man Climbing Tower, a Wolfman, five museum buildings, and Segways to get around on. Happy Anniversary!
n Connecticut
n Quebec
A perennial group favorite, Mystic Seaport celebrates New England’s seafaring heritage in a re-created village along the Mystic River. Exciting work is happening in the Seaport’s Henry B. DuPont Preservation Shipyard, where Plimoth Plantation’s Mayflower II is being extensively renovated for the 400th Anniversary of the Pilgrims’ 1620 arrival in the New World. Also on view is the world’s last wooden whaleship, the Charles W. Morgan.
So, if you had an expo of Barbie dolls dressed by top fashion designers, could it be anywhere else but in the heart of Montreal? Mais non. See Barbie wearing haute couture daily in the BarbieExpo at Les Cours Mont-Royal. Then enjoy a creative copper workshop at the Copper Art Studio and Museum in Chateau-Richer, accompanied by Tea Time cake or Terroir Treats.
n Maine
n Rhode Island
It’s been 90 years since the Abbe Museum was founded in its first incarnation at Sieur de Monts Spring within Acadia National Park. The Abbe in more recent years has added an architectural gem located in downtown Bar Harbor which continues to gain in reputation and acclaim for its well-curated exhibitions and cultural education mission. It is Maine’s only Smithsonian affiliate.
Groups can take private tours of the breathtaking autoas-art collection at the Newport Car Museum. The car exhibit, representing six decades of design, is complemented by a mid-20th century furniture collection. Those who would rather take a ride than view one can do so with Rail Explorers, an eco-tour company featuring pedal-powered rail bikes on scenic Aquidneck Island.
n Massachusetts Mass MoCA in North Adams has a new, unique neighbor right on the Mohawk Trail. It’s the Museum of Dog (M.O.D.), featuring a private collection of all things dog—art and accessories with a canine connection. Housed in a historic space, there are over 180 pieces, including work from William Wegman and Mary Engel. Group tours, plus an evening tour with a dancing dog program.
30 n Touring New England and Eastern Canada
n Vermont
Your tour can find an activity-filled hub ‘n spoke destination at Jay Peak Resort for itineraries involving Canada, New Hampshire’s White Mountains, or Burlington, Vermont. Jay offers a huge water park, NHL-size ice arena, 45-person tramway, indoor rock climbing, movie theater, and eight onsite restaurants. Nearby attractions include the Boyden Valley Winery and Old Stone House Museum.
©ClipArt.com
The Bus Stops Here
Group Tours a Specialty
A TIMELESS TRIO Booking custom tours to timeless destinations!
Ride the Trolley!
The Best Way to See Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park!
for tickets and information log onto OlisTrolley.com
From Cape Cod to New England to Atlantic Canada, book your tour today!
CAPE COD CUSTOM TOURS
THE MAINE TOUR CONNECTION
René Pierre Poyant
Jeanne M. McGurn, CTP
rene@capecodcustomtours.com 1-888-793-8687 capecodcustomtours.com 41 years in the group travel industry.
ATLANTIC TOURS LTD. Richard Arnold
loblady@mainetour.com 1-800-554-6246 mainetour.com
rarnold@atlantictours.com 1-800-565-7173 atlantictours.com
Personally designed tours with local flavor for 34 years.
“The Company with the Kilts” Specializing in Atlantic Canada for over 41 years.
These pros have you covered: 1 West Street Bar Harbor
207 - 288 - 9899
• Cape Cod & The Islands • New England Foliage • Atlantic Canada/Quebec Provinces Maine Tour Magazine / Spring 2018 n 31
Experience
Northern New England
... with these and other exciting
Tour Packages Ogunquit Land and Sea Package Tour
Walk on the beach and enjoy this fresh air tour - staying close to the sand! Experience the best of the Southern Maine seacoast during May, June, Sept & Oct. • Two Nights Accommodations at the Norseman Resort or Aspinquid Resort Located at the end of the famous Marginal Way walking path, just steps from Ogunquit Beach & charming village shops • Ogunquit Lighthouse or Lobstering Cruise • Guided Tour of Kennebunkport • Hot breakfast each morning in a beachfront restaurant • Two dinners including traditional Maine lobsterbake dinner with entertainment
Acadia National Park & Campobello Island Tour
Discover all the treasures Downeast on this Two Nation Vacation! • Three Nights Accommodations at the classic Bluenose Inn or economical Wonder View Inn ~ Enjoy spectacular views of Bar Harbor • Guided Tour of Acadia National Park • Narrated Bar Harbor Nature Cruise including motorcoach permit • Full day guided tour to Campobello Island, New Brunswick • Box lunch with “Eleanor” and Roosevelt Cottage admission • Wreaths Across America exhibits & Downeast blueberry pie stop • Full breakfast, 3 dinners including an indoor lobsterbake at a pretty cove • Nightly piano entertainment
Heart of Maine Tour
Save big while visiting the highlights of Midcoast and Central Inland Maine. Midweek summer and fall dates still available!
• Three Nights Accommodations at the Senator Inn & Spa in Augusta, Maine A first-class gem just two hours from the Maine border, an hour from the coast! • Performance at Monmouth Theater • Day trip to Boothbay Harbor with harbor cruise • Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens guided tour • Guided tour of Camden including Camden Hills photo stop • Choice of: Winery, Wyeth Center, Owls Head Transportation or Maine Lighthouse Museum tour • Hot breakfast each morning • Three dinners including an authentic lobster dinner at Lincolnville Lobster Pound
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
The
MAINE TOUR CONNECTION