Local Secrets, Big Finds - MaineLocal Secrets, Big Finds - Maine

Local Secrets, Big Finds - Maine

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Musquash Lake Bridge
Talmadge

207.796.2225
Follow West Lake Road to the Bridge at Musquash Lake in Talmadge for a refreshing dip "during those late summer days in Maine." The swimming hole is off the beaten path, near the boat launch. The bridge "covers a deep, crystal-clear pool," and there are "boulders on each side to jump from."

The Farmington Earmuff Parade
Farmington

207.778.6538
Farmington is considered to be the "Earmuff Capital of the World" because it is the hometown of earmuff inventor Chester Greenwood. At the age of 15, in 1873, Chester crafted the first pair of earmuffs with the help of his grandmother's sewing expertise. Now an annual parade is held on the first Saturday in December to honor Greenwood's birthday. Usually "vehicles, people, and pets are adorned in earmuffs to celebrate Chester and his inventions." Greenwood also invented the steel rake and held about 100 patents throughout his lifetime. The Smithsonian Institute listed him as one of 15 outstanding American inventors. Read more.

Morris Farm Education Center
Wiscasset

207.882.4080
Morris Farm Education Center
Started in 1994, the Morris Farm Education Center is "a working farm, with gardens and animals," pastureland, and woods dedicated to eco-related sustainability. It is also "a teaching farm that's great for kids" and adults alike. Currently about 50 acres are certified organic and support a Jersey cow dairy, dairy goats, apple orchard, raspberry bushes, vegetable gardens, and more. There are programs for children in classes K-12, adults, and there's also an organic farm apprentice program. Hiking trails are nearby, and "at different times of year, they have horse-drawn wagon rides." Good for the family, especially during the summer or fall. Read more.

Vaughn Woods State Park
Hallowell

207.384.5160
Vaughn Woods is 250 acres of forestland along the Salmon Falls River in central Maine's Warren Island. There are "miles of walking trails and a number of granite bridges that are more than 100 years old." Picnic facilities and trails near old-growth stands of pine and hemlock make for a convenient and scenic getaway. Read more.

York Beach Dairy Bar
York Beach

The York Beach Dairy Bar has a "picturesque view of the Atlantic and the Nubble Lighthouse" in addition to its frosty delights. Look for the swirl cone sign outside of York Beach Dairy Bar, right across from the beach. The "old-fashioned ice cream sign not only stands out among the cottages and shops that surround it, but also lends itself to its local nickname, 'the Blinky Cone.'" Famous for the monster cone or shake, it's "the best item to indulge in" because it's "enormous and wonderful." You can even ask them to dip the cone.

Bet's Fish Fry
Boothbay

Bet Finocchario owns Bet's Fish Fry and a 70-foot fishing boat. Rumor has it she catches fresh haddock frequently: "she goes out on her boat and gets it herself." For nearly a decade, Bet has been frying up and serving haddock and potatoes, and although "you can go to a lot of places in Maine for great seafood, there is only one Bet's!" Come here for heaping portions of "the best fresh haddock sandwiches or fish and chips." The servings are generous: "she gives you enough food for two people, in one sandwich." The grub is good, "but mostly you go to say hello to Bet and enjoy great conversation along with your sandwich!"

Maine Winter Sports Center
Presque Isle

207.328.0991
Maine Winter Sports Center
The Maine Winter Sports Center's mission is to re-establish skiing as a lifestyle in Maine and to further integrate that lifestyle into the economic plans in rural areas and for the youth in the community. The Nordic Heritage Ski Center in Presque Isle is "unique in its rank as a modern, world-class facility, and the cordial attitude towards all visitors." The Center is "located in a corner of the country that penetrates deep into Canada," with "exceptional reliability of snowfall and snow cover." It is in the "bilingual, French and English speaking, region of Maine" and has a rich heritage with a "local culture steeped in the great outdoors." Read more.

Goldenrod
York Beach

207.363.2621
Goldenrod's is a local lunchtime favorite and an "old-time ice cream and candy shop" in southern Maine. Through the windows you can watch them making saltwater taffy, or watch as they whip up "fabulous homemade ice cream." The setting is like a "summer cottage" with pine tables outside. Inside there is a soda fountain counter, and you can buy "chocolate lobsters and crabs" along with their famous Goldenrod Kisses at the candy counter. Plus, the York Beach Boardwalk is next door, with its arcades and gift shops. Read more.

The Lee Historical Society Museum
Lee

207.738.5014
The building that houses the Lee Historical Museum is "full of architectural charm." The museum itself is "indeed a hidden gem," and is "chock full of antiques from the area." Everything in the museum "comes with a story, from guns to gowns and books to buttons." Located in Elmwood Hall, the exhibit focuses on homes of the 1800s and 1900s. Many "families from the area settled here and have stayed, handing down antiques until they were donated to the museum." Read more.

Reel Pizza Cinerama
Bar Harbor

207.288.3828
If you like movies, pizza, and beer, Bar Harbor has the perfect place for you. Reel Pizza Cinerama might just be "the only local place where you can order a gourmet pizza, enjoy a beer or some wine, and sit comfortably to watch a movie--all at the same time."