The Splendors of Maine

Maine, the Pine Tree State, is 33,215 square miles of rivers, streams, forests, and coastlines. A wonderful place to visit anytime of the year, Maine experiences all four seasons, with summer temperatures that average 70º F and winter temperatures that average 20º F. You can ski during the winter months and go kayaking during the summer. Make sure that you try to time any fall visit to coordinate with the changing of the colors of the leaves, a real treat. What are some of the exiting places that are in Maine?

Maine Maritime Museum, Bath

You will take a step back into Maine’s love affair with the ocean when you visit the Maritime Museum. Your family can explore Maine’s relationship to the sea, from lobstering to shipbuilding. On the Museum’s grounds, you will be able to walk the Percy & Small Shipyard, where you can learn how wooden ships were built, including the Wyoming, the largest wooden vessel in the world, which was built on those very grounds. This is a terrific place to visit if you love history, love shipbuilding, or love the sea.

The Maine Maritime Museum is open every day except Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. Hours are between 9:30 AM to 5 PM. See site for fees.

For more information, see:

http://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org/index.cfm

The Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center, Rockland

The Farnsworth Art Museum is home to paintings by some of the most well-known 18th and 19th century American artists, including Gilbert Stuart, Frank Benson, and Childe Hassam. You can visit the Farnsworth Homestead, an elegant house with a Greek revival exterior and a fine Victorian interior, and the Olson House, where the artist Andrew Wyeth was a frequent visitor. The Wyeth Center features work from three generations of the Wyeth family, N. C., Andrew, and James. If you are interested in learning more about American art, are an art lover, or a fan of any or all of the Wyeths, this is a “must stop,” for your you and your family.

Admission is $10.00 for adults and $8.00 for seniors and students who are 18 and older. Those under 17 years old are admitted free. Hours vary.

For more information, visit:

http://www.farnsworthmuseum.org/general/general.html

Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island

Acadia National Park, Maine’s only national park, is a great place to visit for those who love the outdoors. The Park has over 120 miles of trails to hike, has beaches and swimming, and has the highest point on the Eastern Seaboard, Cadillac Mountain. You can also fish, boat, or climb small cliffs in Acadia. You can take ranger tours, where park rangers will talk about the history, ecology, the plants, and the wildlife of the Park. There are several museums to peruse, including Islesford Historical Museum and the Robert Abbe Museum. During the winter months, you can ski cross country and snowmobile in portions of the Park.

Admissions and hours vary.

For more information, visit:

http://www.nps.gov/acad/home.htm

Lighthouses, Various Locations

There are over sixty lighthouses in Maine. Many of these lighthouses, which beckoned ships home through fog and bad weather, are still in operation. One lighthouse, the Portland Head Light, located in Cape Elizabeth, was commissioned by George Washington. Many lighthouses, such as the Narraguagus Light in Millbridge, built in 1853, the Moose Peak Light near Jonesport, built in 1851, and the Boon Island Light near York, built in 1811, can best be seen by boat. While you will probably not be able to tour the inside of a lighthouse, just pondering the architecture of the structures, the beauty of the surrounding landscapes and ocean, and the change rapid changes in technology that we have been experiencing are well worth the time.

Admission fees and hours vary by location.

For more information, visit:

http://www.lighthouse.cc/me.html

Washburn-Norlands Living History Center, Livermore

Step back into a 19th century New England farm at Washburn-Norlands Living History Center. Covering 445 acres, the Center includes five buildings, a one-room school, a church, a library, a Victorian mansion, and a barn. There are tours of all of the buildings available.

Fees and hours vary.

For more information, visit:

http://www.norlands.org/

The Family Vacation Guide

The Splendors of Maine

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