celebratingour 2 0 thyear - The Parklander Magazine

TRAVEL INFOLakes and Lighthouses, RollingHills and a Rocky Coast Highlight aMaine VacationPHOTO CREDIT: MAINE OFFICE OF TOURISMPortland HarborMaine Maritime MuseumPortland HeadlightSand Beach, Acadia National ParkWhitewater rafting, The Forks, KennebecBy Bill JohnsonTo escape Florida’s summer heat and humidity,think about Maine, which offers manyvacation options.Rent a cottage on a quiet lake. Experience the thrillof whitewater rafting. Paddle a canoe down agentle river. Hike a mountain trail. Visit a popularnational park. Sightsee or explore museums andhistorical sites.Start by requesting a free travel guidebook fromthe Maine Tourism Association (www.visitmaine.com).And be sure to book hotel rooms early.Demand is high in summer.Because Florida has great beaches, you may notopt for a beach vacation in Maine, where thewater’s icy cold. So Maine beaches won’t befeatured here.To begin a varied vacation, start in Portland, ajewel on Casco Bay. Portland is big enough tooffer rich cultural events, yet small enough tonavigate comfortably and safely. Brick sidewalksand cobblestone streets dot the waterfront area ofshops and restaurants—the Old Port Exchange—where fishing trawlers unload their catch alongsidewaterfront condominiums.Day one: enjoy a great breakfast at a modest priceat Becky’s Diner on the waterfront (CommercialStreet), joining fishermen in yellow slickers amonglawyers, judges and city officials. It seems thateveryone goes to Becky’s.Take a 10-minute drive to Cape Elizabeth’s FortWilliams to see Portland Head Light, perhapsthe most photographed lighthouse in America.Commissioned by George Washington, it’s one ofthe oldest operating lighthouses.Return to Portland’s waterfront to explore the OldPort Exchange. You might take a commuter ferryride to Peaks Island and back, a trolley tour ofhistoric sites, or visit the Portland Museum of Art.Have lunch at one of the many restaurants.Consider the funky J’s Oyster Bar, a kind ofneighborhood tavern and a good place for a beerand some clams or oysters. Small fishing boats maybe tied up at the rear.There may be an afternoon minor league baseballgame at an intimate park with $7 tickets, $4 forchildren and seniors. Because the Sea Dogs areowned by the Boston Redsox, the left field wallduplicates Fenway Park’s famous “green monster.”Portland has many superb restaurants. For dinner,consider Fore Street (on Fore Street). A favorite oflocal folks, it features some unusual menu choicescooked over an open wood fire. In an old cavernouswarehouse, the restaurant can be noisy, but it’sworth it. In the alley-like cobblestone street calledWharf Street, you’ll find Street and Company,which serves thick and delicious fish steaks insizzling skillets placed on your coppertop table.Rooms are small with brick walls and beamedceilings.There, I’ve had the best fish steaks I’ve evereaten–salmon, swordfish, halibut and others. Themost famous restaurant among tourists is DiMillos,a large floating ship. Visitors enjoy its ambience.To enjoy Maine lobster (the real thing) andsteamed clams, you’ll find a good deal at PortWest restaurant at Verrillo’s Convention Centeroff Maine Turnpike Exit 48. Away from thewaterfront, it escapes attention of the tourist crowd.You may find a “Shore Dinner” that includeschowder, salad, a bowl of steamed clams or mussels,a lobster, French fries, an ear of corn and strawberryshortcake for less than $20. Call ahead to check, asit changes from summer to summer. On thewaterfront, a lobster and just a few clams may costmore than $20.62 MAY 2010