Some of my favorite Maine towns

Was just musing over lovely places I have been in the state of my birth; good old Maine. Her lovely oceans, endless forests and ubiquitous ghosts haunt my dreams to this day. While it is hard to say which places really are my “favorite” in Maine, I will share a few with you today.

Rangeley

Rangeley is a wonder. It’s mountains, waterfalls and lakes are full of eye-popping beauty of a sort I did not know existed in Maine; all that surrounding a charming town by the water full of character and good food. My mother and I stayed a night at the “Loon Lodge”; an old inn full of wood and motorcycle enthusiasts right on Rangeley Lake. The next day we ate breakfast in town and stopped at the overlook on the way to "Smalls Falls" ; a deceptively named string of waterfalls in the forest that do not seem to end.

Spouts and sprays spill into pool after pool; most ripe for swimming.

I feel I barely touched the surface; there is so much more to do in the area. My favorite memories are of just sitting by the lake reading with my mom our first night there.

Ogunquit

Ogunquit holds a lot of lovely memories for me; walks on the cliffs by the ocean, eating burgers at a beachside restaurant and listening to bagpipes while watching the sun descend.

It has two main villages; downtown Ogunquit near the well known beach and Perkins Cove with its beautiful harbor. If you like a hike I would suggest parking at one and walking down "Marginal Way" to the other; about a half hour walk. Both villages have restaurants, shops and their own special charm.

I would suggest coming in the early fall or late spring if you have a choice because it can be impossible finding parking.

It is so nice to just sit and look out at the cove over a cup of coffee.

Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor is your quintessential little New England town by the ocean without the tourists you will get in Camden or Bar Harbor. It is open year round and is a great destination for Christmas shopping.

For such a small town there is a lot to do; pin bowling, whale watching, a small aquarium and a huge and beautiful botanic garden are a few of the attractions. The last time I was there I enjoyed eating on the deck of “The Tugboat.” I love the ride there down the River Road ,with its mystical scenery and old stone walls; the only time in your life you absolutely must blast Enya outside of Ireland.

Rockland

Rockland is the town of my birth and uniquely impressive. Besides being the “Lobster Capital of the World” it is also an art capital of sorts; with two high class art museums featuring renowned artists, tons of galleries and inspiration.

You really could not go wrong using it as a home base while exploring the area. Besides great art there are ferries to the islands, windjammer tours, puffin-watching tours, boat rentals, some lovely hikes and amazing restaurants. The shops are full of unique items and the hotels are charming and some feature high tea.

Hallowell; When I lived in nearby Randolph I loved day trips to Hallowell. Smack between Gardiner and Augusta, it has better nightlife than either of the larger towns; lined with top tier shops restaurants and bars. There is also an old, timeless feeling to Hallowell; there is something about the buildings and the people that make you feel you are at the start of a story. (Which is why the rumor that Stephen King wanted to move there made a lot of sense to me)

I would suggest you eat at Slates, explore the shops and bars, and visit “Hobbitland” (Vaughan’s Woods), the town of Gardiner and one of the “Most Haunted Forests in the World” in nearby Randolph.

It took a while to finish this; just too hot for me to think properly I am sure there are still some mistakes. Hopefully it will not be long until my next installment. Until then:)Dania