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Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #23823 by Padfoot Treehuggers
May 24, 2006 5:54pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote We will be visiting your state for the first time this summer and we were wondering if anyone has any suggestions for places to visit, eat, or especially letterbox?


Hello,

I haven't started letterboxing yet, but my sister has. Her kids are 5 and 3, and I'll see what she suggests. For indoor fun, in case of rainy weather, the Portland Children's Museum is a great spot (www.childrensmuseumofme.org). Augusta and Bangor both have children's museums too. I've been to Augusta (www.childrensdiscoverymuseum.org) - it's homegrown and very cozy, and my kids (now 15 and 12) used to love it. I haven't yet been to Bangor but have read good things about it (www.mainediscoverymuseum.org). Are you driving up Route One along the coast? If so I can offer some further suggestions (we're in Newcastle, about an hour north of Portland).

Hop Toi
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #24021 by Padfoot Treehuggers
May 24, 2006 9:12pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Which highlands would that be? Our son Adam hikes in Baxter State Park a couple of times a summer--unfortunately his view of letterboxing is, well, trail trash. I have tried to educate him. We have a summer place in Aroostook County but I can't figure out dates we will be there yet. I delight in hearing that visitors to Maine have destinations other than the coast.

Now, about those blueberries--everyone has a job in youth that earns them a little money. Mostly, those jobs remind you why you want to study for the exam while friends are at the pub. My get an education job was picking potatoes. My husbands was----you guessed it! Raking Blueberries. As times get closer and it looks like we could work it out. Someday, an exchange???
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #24070 by Hop Toi
Jun 1, 2006 6:24am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thanks for the info and welcome to letterboxing! I am not sure what route we'll be taking yet, but I don't think we'll be coming up the coast. Our first stop is Mt. Katahdin so I am guessing that my husband (the family navigator) will be taking a direct approach to that region. I believe we will be near Bangor though so, should we experience inclement weather, I will be keeping the children's museum in mind!

Happy boxing,
Padfoot Treehuggers :)
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #23823 by Padfoot Treehuggers
Jun 1, 2006 9:24am
Thread (disabled) Board
Maine is one of my favorite places... Visited there last Fall and did some letterboxing in the York/York Beach area. We noticed the clues were a bit more "cryptic" than we were used to, but a lot of fun. Had to visit the public library in York to get some background information, and met some nice people while searching and asking for directions as well. There were a few boxes we weren't able to find, but plan to do another trip and will try again. We also noted that some of them are not listed on Atlas Quest, but are on LBNA. Good luck and enjoy your trip.
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #24911 by Padfoot Treehuggers
Jun 1, 2006 9:39am
Thread (disabled) Board
I asked my sister for suggestions (I told her what parks you would be visiting), and she had this to say:

That's a big trip! I looked up letterboxes by county on letterboxing.org. There are 4
listed in Piscataquis County, 31 in Hancock County and 14 in Penobscot County. That's
where all their parks are located. (I found more this way than searching by town on
Atlasquest.) And at least one mystery one is listed to be in Ellsworth.

Have a wonderful trip!

--Hop Toi
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #24925 by ringnsing
Jun 1, 2006 12:31pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Quote We noticed the clues were a bit more "cryptic" than we were used to, but a lot of fun.


My sentiments exactly!
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #24968 by Lundy and Vickster
Jun 3, 2006 8:07am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thank you Hop Toi for the info ... I have checked out LBNA for clues. I think the biggest problem is just not being familiar with the region to know the counties and cities in a given location ... your advised cleared that up a bit!

As for the clues, I noticed as well that the clues in Maine are a bit cryptic compared to those here in WNY which may prevent us from doing more boxing. On my own, I love the cryptic clues, have even written some myself, but when boxing with a 10 year old and especially a 3 year old, they get frustrated, so we tend to avoid those boxes.

Thanks to everyone! I am sure no matter how many boxes we actually hunt or find, we will love Maine ... we still have a month before we leave, and we are already anxious!

Padfoot Treehuggers :)
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #25159 by Padfoot Treehuggers
Jun 15, 2006 10:14am
Thread (disabled) Board
Well if you are in Southern Maine anytime this summer, would love to meet you folks and possibly do an exchange. We are planning a trip to Acadia in July, so maybe we can meet up then.

-BuxtonFFEMTI
of Buxton Boxers
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #26106 by buxton boxers
Jun 19, 2006 3:12am
Thread (disabled) Board
As a suggestion, MDI is a mess in the summer. July might be one of the few months during the year that we never even go close to the island for that reason. If you want a suggestion as to the best time of year for not only boxing, but nice hiking and weather, I'd suggest late September and early October. Though it might not be as warm, the bugs are gone and so are the tourists.

It's not as much fun in July.
phyto

p.s. Sangfroid is a JERK!
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #26536 by phyto
Jul 3, 2006 8:29pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Yes, Sangfroid is a jerk!

Myself, LIMUR, am not a jerk and I second Phyto on the stay away from Acadia in July thought. We live on Mount Desert Island and I took my one summer daytime trip to bar Harbor and almost had a nervous breakdown. Ack...I could go on but I won't.

But if the reality is that you are coming in early July (now) I can make many suggestions of places to avoid and hidden gems to visit. Do you like hiking? If so, stay on the west side of the island (Southwest Harbor, Tremont) You will hardly bump into anyone on some of the trails. There is a great little nature cruise out of Bass Harbor. Take the boat to Cranberry Isle and eat lunch or dinner at Islesford Dock. Go for a sail on one of the charter boats out of southwest Harbor. Look for my boxes, or those from Memlilli, Queen Tiffana, Sangfroid or Mr. E B. Check out Schoodic Penensula for a slice of Acadia not everyone sees. Go on a kayak trip from Pretty Marsh/Bartlett's Island. Have a picnic at Rhoades Park in Southwest Harbor or watch the lobster boats come in and out of Bass Harbor from Bernard's Back Beach.

All things said, really try to avoid Bar Harbor at all cost. It isn't pretty! Traffic-choked streets, T-SHirt shops, grumpy tourists and even grumpier locals trying to get to work. It can get nasty! If you MUST go try to take the free Island Explorer bus. You get into the park for free and get through the traffic a lot faster and you don't have to park!

As for food, I honestly do not eat in Bar Harbor until late September, but if I had to I would go to Mama Dimatteo's, Geddy's, Cafe This Way or 2 Cats. In Southwest Harbor it would be Little Notch for sandwiches, Quietside cafe for dessert and great conversation, or Maddie's diner for breakfast/lunch. Red Sky is a FABULOUS fancy and elegant place for dinner (and the owners are my neighbors!) XYZ in Manset has some pretty good but very expensive authentic Mexican food (no tacos or burritos here) and REALLY powerful margaritas.

In Ellsworth Maidees is good but SLOW and the tapas place, Cleonice, is fabulous too.

Feel free to email me at limurme@yahoo.com if you would like more info on the area!

Lisa
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #23823 by Padfoot Treehuggers
Jul 3, 2006 8:37pm
Thread (disabled) Board
Oh, I should also add some fun things for the kids...

The Ellsworth tennis center has an amazing indoor climbing structure for under 12s. My 5 year old LOVES it there!

Pirate's Cove on Rt 3 toward Bar Harbor (on the island) is the best mini-golf around.

The Mount Desert Island Elementary School in Northeast Harbor has the best playground on the island, second would be behind COnners-Emerson School in Bar Harbor.

Glen Mary wading pool is good for swimming and splashing, but the best swimming spot is the Bluffs at the Acadia Mountain parking lot. Instead of crossing the street to hike the mountain, take the path down through the woods and you can leap off the giant boulders into the water. very popular, but not as popular as Echo Lake beach!

Good hikes for your younger one are Beech Mountain (from the lot at the end of Beech Hill Road) Flying Mountain, The Triad and Day Mountain. Even easier are Wonderland and Ship Harbor. Giant Slide trail might be fun for your older child...lots of big boulders to hop on and climb around.
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #27606 by limur
Jul 6, 2006 11:05am
Thread (disabled) Board
Agreed - stay away from Bar Harbor this time of year. Too loaded with touristy-shops that you can find at any other summer vacation spot (reminds me of Key West, FL) and overloaded with folks coming off of the cruise ships.

Just got back from a week in Goulsboro, across the bay from Bar Harbor. I thoroughly recommend taking the hour ride to go to Schoodic Point. It is the highlight of our trip every year. Very disappointed that there were NO letterboxes to be found on the Schoodic Peninsula. Also, try hiking Schoodic Mountain. Took me five years, but finally took the "right" turn and made it to the top. Stunning view, and so different from MDI!
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #27895 by Boston Terrorboxers
Jul 8, 2006 6:39am
Thread (disabled) Board
Very disappointed that there were NO letterboxes to be found on the Schoodic Peninsula. Also, try hiking Schoodic Mountain.


Schoodic is primarily Acadia National Park land - therefore no boxes.
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #27608 by limur
Jul 15, 2006 8:01am
Thread (disabled) Board
Thank you all for your suggestions! We are now back from our trip ... which was fantastic, even though we did visit Bar Harbor in July! :D The crowds were not bad at all, the natural spaces were a treat, and the weather was perfect. It was a bit foggy at the top of Cadillac Mountain when we ventured up there, but otherwise we couldn't have asked for a better vacation. The kids especially liked Wonderland in Acadia for it's tidal pools and Sebec Lake in the Highlands. And of course, we did the touristy thing and went on a whale watching cruise ... our youngest got seasick, but the rest of us were thrilled to see 2 whales, several seals, a few sunfish and the puffins around Petit Manan. Thanks again to all of you. If you ever need info about visiting Pensacola, FL or Buffalo, NY give me a shout out!

Happy boxing,
Padfoot Treehuggers :)
Re: Visiting Maine soon
Board: State: Maine
Reply to: #28962 by Padfoot Treehuggers
Jul 15, 2006 10:44am
Thread (disabled) Board
The kids especially liked Wonderland in Acadia for it's tidal pools and Sebec Lake in the Highlands. And of course, we did the touristy thing and went on a whale watching cruise ... our youngest got seasick, but the rest of us were thrilled to see 2 whales, several seals, a few sunfish and the puffins around Petit Manan. Thanks again to all of you. If you ever need info about visiting Pensacola, FL or Buffalo, NY give me a shout out!

I'm so happy you enjoyed your stay. I feel priveleged to live here and to have places in the north and in the south of the state. There is an enormous range of weather, sceanery and culture poised as we are between Canada and the rest of New England. Come back soon!

Eaglewatcher