7 minute read
SUMMER DAY TRIPS
Day Tripping
EXPERIENCE THE WAY LIFE SHOULD BE
in maine
BY ANNE GABBIANELLI
PHOTOS: (TOP) ANNE GABBIANELLI; (MIDDLE) ADOBE STOCK: (BOTTOM) BDN FILE (Top) Campobello Island. (Right) The iconic fisherman statue in Eastport.
MAINE IS MEANT FOR EXPLORATION — especially in
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.
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,
(Above) The West Quoddy Head Lighthouse. (Left) Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies on Deer Isle.
(Right) Mary Goodman and Anne Gabbianelli try letterboxing. magazines and endless literature of all the wonderful activities going on in our state. Another camping trip to Lubec gave us a day trip to the West Quoddy
Head Lighthouse loaded with history along with hiking trails throughout the state park. Just over the border, we spent a day on Campobello Island where I relived my childhood visit to the Roosevelt home, and Phil and I were captivated by the breathtaking coastline with its nooks and crannies.
ISLAND HOPPING Speaking of the coast, Maine has exquisite islands deserving of exploration. One day we hopped on the ferry out of Rockland to Vinalhaven with some friends. The day was picture perfect, the waters were calm and the day trip was lots of fun. We discovered amusing shops, the museum in town and a hidden lighthouse on the far side of the island. An island day trip is highly recommended, and there are many to explore.
FOOD FINDS & LETTERBOXING Last fall, my friend Mary organized an excursion to Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies on Deer Isle. Now that is quite the place, offering an eclectic spread of sculptures of recycled metal and machine parts throughout the wooded grounds and just pure fun at seeing the creativity of one artist. This place is a must on your day trip list for any age. This excursion also took us on a hike through a preserve. What I soon learned is that we were on a quest I had never heard of — “letterboxing.” Mary describes this as an intriguing mixture of hiking, puzzle solving, treasure hunting, and rubber stamping. As we meandered, we found Mary’s destination — a “letterbox” with an official stamp and a notebook secured in a weatherproof box affixed to a tree. She explained how you leave a message in the notebook secured at the site and leave an imprint of your stamp in the letterbox notebook, like leaving a calling card. You can also enjoy the notes left by previous travelers. Finally, you leave an imprint of the letterbox’s stamp in your notebook with the date and a quick note of your adventure. It was a new one for me!
FOR THE YOUNG AND YOUNG AT HEART Day tripping has been a norm for my eager, energetic eight-year-old friends and their mom, who crave adventures and exploring. While they were remote learning early in the pandemic, we all needed a break from the computer, so we headed to the coast on a quest to find author E. B. White’s home and gravesite in Brooklin. I added a three-mile hike to our day, landing us on a beach with spectacular views across Blue Hill Bay to Mount Desert Island. While enjoying our lunch in the crisp ocean air, we joked about being in Brooklin, overlooking Long Island, yet we were still in Maine. We have enjoyed exploring Sears Island, visiting the shores of Bar Harbor, learning about the history of the lighthouse in Stockton Springs, and hiking through the Orono Bog Boardwalk while appreciating and observing all that nature offers.
Now is the time to think about what day trips you can create. Plan ahead with a map and directions, pack a cooler, grab a change of socks and footwear and a book of Mad Libs for the kids. Despite all your planning, however, be ready to embrace every wrong turn because you could be treated to an adventure you didn’t expect while exploring our beautiful state of Maine.
(Above) Frankie and Don Veneziano pose in front of the home of E. B. White in Brooklin. (This photo) Kids explore the Orono Bog Boardwalk.
BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE:
Brookfield Renewable develops innovative natural power solutions that accelerate the world toward a carbon-free future. We do so by combining 100 years of operating experience as a developer, owner, and operator of renewable power facilities with a commitment to health, safety, security and environmental stewardship.
As Maine’s largest generator of renewable energy, Brookfield Renewable proudly operates hydro, wind, and storage facilities throughout the state. Our Maine facilities provide more than 840 MW of power, a generation equivalent to powering more than 500,000 homes annually.
Now and into the future, our facilities remain critical in helping Maine meet its carbon emissions targets.
When it comes to environmental stewardship and river restoration, we are committed in our work with state and federal agencies and environmental stakeholders to advance these goals. We operate fish passage facilities on Maine’s largest rivers, including the Penobscot, Kennebec, Androscoggin, and Saco.
Furthermore, we are passionate about the role we play in highlighting the natural beauty and recreational benefits of this great state.
THESE CHALLENGING TIMES GROW THE VALUE OF OUTDOOR RECREATION
Did you know? We operate more than 200 recreation sites throughout Maine and provide daily releases from May through Columbus Day on Class 2, 3, and 4 whitewater. Each year thousands of private and commercial paddlers enjoy Maine’s pristine waterways as a result of these scheduled releases.
In addition, we provide recreational access to some of New England’s best fly-fishing locations including the Rangeley Lakes region renowned for their native Brook Trout.
We provide real-time flows and elevations for our facilities via our waterflow website at safewaters.com.
Remember, river systems are wonderful resources, but they can also be dangerous. Conditions can change quickly and without notice. While the waters above and below a dam may look safe, conditions below the surface can present serious risks.
Be aware of your surroundings and observe all warning signals, sirens, and barriers. Please respect all signage, recreation rules, and be a good environmental steward wherever your next outdoor journey takes you!
COURTESY BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE
