Media Contact: Charlene Williams Publicist for the Maine Office of Tourism [email protected]
What’s New and Exciting in Maine for 2009-2010
Maine Huts & Trails Opens Second Hut In February 2008, Maine Huts & Trails opened its first hut, located in Western Maine's beautiful Carrabassett Valley, and situated near Sugarloaf recreation area and facilities. The hut includes a main lodge and several bunkhouses and accommodates 42 guests overnight with comforts such as home cooked meals, showers and toilet facilities. The experience is ideal for those wishing to hike, bike, ski or snowshoe a backcountry trail network of lightly groomed eight-foot wide, mostly gentle terrain, then retire to a comfortable remote setting for a relaxing evening and unparalleled star gazing.
Hydroelectric and solar devices generate power and heat at the hut, and full course dinner and breakfast meals are included in the starting rate of $55 per night per person. The next hut, recently opened in the winter of 2009 is situated at the East shore of Flagstaff Lake and offer water access in addition to the other recreation activities. Users will be able to experience a hut- to-hut adventure and link in with other existing routes and attractions of the region, such as white water rafting, hikes in the Bigelow Preserve or Appalachian Trail, and other Sugarloaf area facilities such as the Nordic ski center.
Upon completion, Maine Huts & Trails will consist of a 180-mile recreation corridor from Bethel to Moosehead Lake, and up to 12 huts with each designed to accommodate up to 42 guests. For more information, visit www.mainehuts.org or call in the U.S. (207) 265-2400.
New Birding Trail is Unveiled A new Maine Birding Trail map and brochure highlighting the best places in Maine to view birds was recently produced. The unique brochure, designed for both the casual and serious birder is a comprehensive guide to Maine’s natural places where wildlife and birds abound.
Being the most forested state in the U.S., Maine has one of the longest coastlines and hundreds of lakes and mountains is a haven for bird watching. Maine provides a wide range of habitat and offers unmatched opportunities to find some of the country’s most sought after species. The list of regular occurring birds now numbers over 330 species.
The new brochure is available at tourist information centers and selected state parks around Maine. For more information, go to: http://www.mainebirdingtrail.com
Point Lookout - Affordable Luxury on Maine's Mid-Coast Open to the public for the first time this year, Point Lookout Resort in Northport, Maine, on 397 dramatic acres overlooking the Penobscot Bay just north of Camden, is both the most head- turning addition to Maine's Mid-coast lodging options and the hands-down best value for summer, fall foliage, winter ski vacations and spring. Rates start at $125 US per cabin, per night.
Built as a corporate retreat for MBNA Bank, Point Lookout's 106 cabins, grounds and facilities are in pristine condition, welcoming leisure travelers and groups (with over 40,000 sq. ft. of luxurious conference facilities). The cabins are available in one-, two- and three-bedroom configurations. Each has its own screened porch and Adirondack chairs, polished pine floors, walls and ceilings; air-conditioning (and gas stoves for chilly nights), deep leather chairs in the sitting area and kitchen facilities.
Guests can enjoy the shady trails through the woods, the lake, the spectacular Summit and observation deck with panoramic views of Penobscot Bay the 36,000 sq. ft. fitness center, 8- lane bowling alley, regulation soccer field and private, sandy beach For reservations, contact the resort at 800-515-3611 or reserve a cabin online at www.visitpointlookout.com
Visit Portland for Maine’s Largest Fall Harvest Event Award winning chefs and cookbook authors; wine, cocktail and shellfish experts; and purveyors of fine local and regional foods will once again arrive in Portland in October for the 2nd Annual Harvest on the Harbor culinary event.
It’s the richest time of year for Maine’s culinary harvest and the perfect occasion for the food and wine festival set for October 22-24, 2009. The three-day event celebrates the food and the destination all in one and there’s much to celebrate. Creative chefs, locally grown and harvested foods and the excellence of Maine products is a bounty to be shared.
For more information about Harvest on the Harbor ticket options and programming, visit www.harvestontheharbor.com.
Summer Learning at an Island Lighthouse The restored keeper’s house at Whitehead Light Station in Penobscot Bay is now a classroom for adult enrichment programs. The 205-year-old station on Whitehead Island off the coast of Spruce Head offers three to five-day programs with instruction and discussion, along with transportation to and from the 90 acre island, all meals, and island excursions. Last year’s workshops included photography with magazine shooter and author William Abranowicz, sea kayaking, stress reduction, and cooking with television chef and cookbook author Daisy Martinez. www.whiteheadlightstation.org
Maine’s Wine Trail Beckons More than a dozen Maine farm wineries, distilleries and meaderies are turning orchard and field fruit into table and dessert wine, and crafting unique spirits. The state has four commercial vineyards growing red and white cold hardy grapes like Marechal Foch, St. Croix and Seyval Blanc. Discover your new favorite label along the Maine Wine Trail which meanders through the southern, mid-coast and downeast regions of the state. The wine trail also includes Maine-made spirit producers of vodka and gin. www.mainewinetrail.com.
Maine Crafts Now Found in a Surprising Place Travelers on Interstate 295 in Maine stopping at the West Gardiner service plaza are in for a surprise. The new service plaza offers the expected restaurants, rest rooms, fuel, and tourist information. What is unexpected is the beautifully appointed Center for Maine Craft. The Center is operated by the Maine Crafts Association (MCA) and is a showcase and retail outlet for several Maine artisans. Artwork and crafts from close to 300 Maine businesses in a variety of media, including ceramics, glass, wood, fiber, and photography, are on display along with Made in Maine food products, jewelry, personal care products, and books.
The Center will also host rotating exhibitions of art from members of the Maine Crafts Consortium, which includes such organizations as Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Maine Fiberarts, and the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship.
The service plaza is located where Interstate 295 and the Maine Turnpike meet in West Gardiner.
Find Your Own Muse In Maine's Woods on the Routes Traveled by Thoreau Follow in Henry David Thoreau footsteps (and canoe trail) as you traverse the routes in Northern Maine that Thoreau followed on his adventures in the mid 1800s. With guides leading the way, Thoreau set out along canoe routes used for centuries by the Wabanaki Indians and wended his way through lakes, rivers, forests and up to Katahdin's peak. He wrote of his travels in "The Maine Woods" and travelers along the Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail can read the memoir as they, too, experience Maine's wonderful forests.
The Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail makes a loop of more than 200 miles through Central and Northern Maine, starting on Moosehead Lake, following the West Branch of the Penobscot River to Eagle and Chamberlain lakes, and then continuing down the West Branch Penobscot River to Bangor. With a Registered Maine Guide you, too, can head out on a Thoreau-themed hiking, backpacking or paddling adventure.
Maine’s Recent Accolades
Adventure on the water The Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) was recently featured as one of the top five “Man vs. Wild” adventure trips in Outside magazine, a national publication that reaches more than 2 million outdoor readers each month. The 92-mile-long AWW is listed as one of five “ready-to- roll” itineraries in the 2009 Adventure Issue.
The waterway was officially established by the Maine Legislature in 1966 to protect the unique area. An entire trip of the AWW can be done between three to seven days. A long weekend in late May or June offers excellent fishing on Chamberlain, Allagash and Eagle lakes. The magazine recommends carrying a copy of Henry David Thoreau’s “The Maine Woods.” For more information, visit http://www.maine.gov/allagash.
Take a ride…..by bike The League of American Bicyclists recently ranked Maine as third most bike-friendly state in the U.S. Biking routes in Maine offer a variety of terrain and scenery which gives cyclists a range of experiences and options. The Maine Department of Transportation has produced a comprehensive guide of 25 Loop Bicycle Tours.
Eco-friendly lodging Maine has more green-certified lodging properties than any other state in the nation. To date, 99 hotels and inns in Maine have received the Green Lodging Inn Certification from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection for their commitment to reducing waste and minimizing their environmental impact. Throughout the state, hospitality services are protecting resources without sacrificing amenities. Enjoy grounds landscaped with local flora and fauna, hot water supplied by solar collectors and heat supplied by bio-fuel.
Nationally-honored chefs The prestigious James Beard Award for best chef in the Northeast was recently presented to Rob Evans; owner/chef of Portland's famed Hugo's Restaurant. With this award, Chef Evans joins a growing number of talented Maine culinary artists providing elegant, locally-produced cuisine.
A Cool Small Town The seaside town of Rockland was selected as one of the "Coolest Small Towns in America" by Budget Travel magazine. We're not surprised! Known as "The Lobster and Schooner Capital of the World," Rockland has recently undergone an extensive downtown renovation. Visit art galleries, see a show at the Strand Theatre, stroll downtown or along the waterfront and satisfy any craving with a variety of restaurants. Rockland has something for everyone.
Outdoor Adventures Recognized as one of the 50 Best American Adventures in the April/May issue of National Geographic Adventure Magazine, The Maine Island Trail is a 350-mile chain of over 150 coastal island locations along the coast of Maine. Kayak through the scenic Stonington/Deer Isle regions, explore mainland sites or island getaways.