Day Tripping EXPERIENCE THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE
Experience maine
in maine
BY ANNE GABBIANELLI
MAINE IS MEANT FOR EXPLORATION — especially in
PHOTOS: (TOP) ANNE GABBIANELLI; (MIDDLE) ADOBE STOCK: (BOTTOM) BDN FILE
the summertime — and summer cannot come soon enough for my household, which is why during the winter we begin brainstorming about trips around the state. We start looking at campgrounds and day trip possibilities, and we are not alone in this excitement. A friend has even started sharing links of possible adventures she and I can have with her twin boys. There is so much of Maine that deserves exploring and offers treasures, no matter our age. Here are a few adventures we’ve enjoyed and highly recommend. FLEA MARKET FINDS When Phil and I travel with our camper around the state, we aim to visit not only new places but also to seek out antique shops and to chase flea markets. Our flea market excursions always start on Route 1A in Searsport. As the saying goes, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” Other large flea markets we have discovered are in Woolwich, an indoor one in Scarborough and in Arundel. Last year when we set up our camper in the western part of the state, the plan included the flea market at the Fryeburg Fairgrounds. I scored some awesome Christmas gifts and Phil caught a real find of a fishing pole there. Then we heard of another flea market in New Hampshire. It didn’t take us long to travel through the exquisite beauty of the White Mountains. We never found the flea market, but we did learn that the boundary of the White Mountains National Forest actually begins in Gilead, Maine.
(Top) Campobello Island. (Right) The iconic fisherman statue in Eastport.
EXPLORE WASHINGTON COUNTY Early on in our camping days, we went to Cobscook State Park in Dennysville. We witnessed an extraordinary high tide, the first glimpse of the sunrise and fun day trips throughout Washington County. Eastport with all its islands boasts a couple of museums and a state park. Our biggest thrill was being reintroduced to the 12 foot, fiberglass statue of the Eastport fisherman. This iconic bearded old salt came into being more than 20 years ago courtesy of a TV film crew. Calais — the city with three Canada-U.S. border crossings over the St. Croix River — offered us a great day trip. There I was treated to the most magnificent visitor center that armed me with bags, literally, of brochures, BANGORDAILYNEWS.COM/SPECIAL-SECTIONS • 41
