Attractions in Maine
Maine Is An Extraordinary Place to Visit
For over 150 years now people, each year, have made the journey to the state of Maine to partake of its vast, diverse and appealing attractions. Why not do as many people have learned to do over the years and make this a family vacation. Consider staying at one of the extraordinary oceanfront or lake shore resorts scattered here in Maine and partake of the auction while your family enjoys the amenities of Maine. There are so many potential possibilities:
1. THE MAINE COASTLINE Some clients have elected to stay on the coast and travel back and forth to the auction while their
family enjoys the local attractions of this region. The Maine coastline is one of the most picturesque in North America and artists have traveled to Maine for approximately 150 years to capture its beauty on canvas. There are so many possibilities, but here are some of the selections that we personally like:
Ogunquit–Kennebunk Region (Approximately two hours from our auction facility.) If you love an expansive array of boutiques and small shops all clustered in a coastal historic community with exquisite lodges and accommodations located virtually on the Atlantic Ocean and picturesque ocean vistas such as historic Perkins Cove, etc.
Camden–Rockport (Located approximately one hour from our auction facility.) Some families have participated in our auction while staying at a facility in the Camden–Rockport region and traveling the approximate one hour drive to our auction facilities to attend the auction during the day while their family partakes of the many amenities available in this picturesque harbor community. Day cruises, saltwater fishing, exquisite Maine coastal villages, boutiques, antiques and art galleries and much, much more.
Mt. Desert Island–Acadia National Park (Approximately two and a half hours from our auction facility.) Some families have rented places to stay in this exquisite region of the coast, and while their families partake of the many amenities, made the trip to the auction during the day to return at night to be with their families. Acadia is a National Park and one of the most picturesque of all of North America’s National Parks. Incredible rockbound coastal vistas, biking and hiking trails, Maine lobster, day sailing opportunities, saltwater fishing and wildlife excursions, boutiques, cultural events, art galleries and antique shops are just some of the many reasons people have been drawn to Acadia National Park. In the 19th and early 20th century, some of the wealthiest families in North America built palatial summer cottages on Mt. Desert. In fact, for a period of time the summer domiciles being erected by the DuPonts, Fords and Asters competed with the posh and luxurious summer estates being developed in Newport, Rhode Island, by the Morgans, Vanderbilts and others. Acadia is truly a special place to visit.
Down East Maine such as Lubec (Approximately three and a half hours from our auction facility.) The Maine coastline is very much developed and modernized from the Ellsworth region and south. However, once you go north of Ellsworth, many of the coastal villages and communities still retain the flavor of an old time Maine village of 75 to 85 years ago. Lubec is an excellent example of this. Approximately three and a half hours from our auction facility, Lubec is a small peninsula of land that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Campobello Island is nearby, where the Roosevelt family, including Franklin Delano Roosevelt summered. The late 18th century village of Lubec is an extraordinarily beautiful but reclusive piece of Maine. Do not expect Gucci or Cartier stores, but do expect a beautiful old time, pretty much, unaltered or untouched Maine community.
2. SHORELINE RESORTS Maine has approximately 2500 lakes and ponds. Many of the large ones have beautiful resorts, lodges and bed and breakfasts which have a great deal to offer.
Belgrade Region (Approximately 30 minutes from our auction facility.) This is where the book “On Golden Pond” was written some years back and there are various lodges and amenities. One of our favorite restaurants, The Village Inn, is located right there on the body of water. The Village Inn has both lodgings as well as wonderful dining. They feature roast duck which is nationally acclaimed. They are the largest purveyor of duck in North America. A great place for the family to stay and/or dine while at our auctions.
Rangeley Lakes (Approximately two hours from our auction facility.) A historic resort area and fishing area with a number of old lodges and amenities and wilderness vistas, beautiful vast bodies of water, majestic moose, old time lodges and shoreline cabins, great fishing and more in this historic region.
Greenville–Rockwood–Moosehead Lake(Approximately 2+ hours away from our auction facility.) Moosehead is the largest lake in the State of Maine and for over 150 years has been a renowned spot for hunting and fishing and just luxuriating in the vast beauty of the Maine wilderness. North of the village of Greenville is essentially all wilderness. Literally 100 miles of the Maine woods north of Greenville consist of dirt logging roads connecting you to various bodies of water, streams, rivers, etc. In Greenville, the greater Moosehead Region is a prime spot for viewing moose. It offers tremendous trout and salmon fisheries and a number of places to stay, some of which are elegant. Our favorite place is the Blair Hill Inn which is a mansion located on the side of a large hill overlooking Moosehead Lake. In the evening plan to sit out on the wrap-around porch in a large wicker chair with a glass of wine and watch the sun set across the lake. Later enjoy an elegant meal prepared by one of Maine’s finest chefs. The rooms are truly elegant and many have spectacular views. Almost across the road from the Blair Hill Inn is another favorite resort, The Lodge at Moosehead, which offers similar views, rooms and food. If you think you would like to try a day of drift boat fishing down the historic Kennebec or Penobscot Rivers, contact one of Maine’s premier guides at The Maine Guide Fly Shop, just as you enter Greenville, Maine. Dan Legere and his staff of trained guides are some of the best in Maine.
Pierce Pond (Approximately one hour and forty five minutes away from our auction facility). At one time, most of Maine’s inland fish producing bodies of water had one or more sporting camps erected, usually log cabins with a large log lodge. In the early part of the 20th century these were commonplace, but today, very few exist. One of the premier places today is Cobb’s Camps on Pierce Pond chain of ponds. This set of sporting camps, now owned by three generations of the Cobb family, is one of the greatest and most pleasurable fishing experiences in Maine today. There is not an awful lot different from what it would have been like 75 years ago had you come to Maine. Log camps, in impeccable condition, overlooking the remote ponds, large log lodge which serves incredibly delicious meals morning and night. Experienced guides who will accompany you through the day via canoes to some of the hottest fishing spots in the chain of ponds. The region itself is a treasure, in that the woodlands encompassing this chain of ponds has, for some years now, been tied up in trusts and conservation deeds that prevent wood harvesting or developing. As a result, other than the Cobb’s Sporting Camps, there are only a handful of private camps located on this string of ponds and thus a truly remote wilderness experience and a rare step back in time.
3. MOUNTAINS Inland Maine features a number of mountain ranges including:
Carrabassett Village, Sugarloaf Mountain (Approximately one hour and a half from our auction facility.) Sugarloaf Mountain is a historic skiing region that offers one of Maine’s premier golfing courses built, literally, on the side of the mountain. Chair lifts are some times available during the summer time to take you to the top of the mountain for incredible panoramic vistas. There are lodgings and fine restaurants available in the region during the summertime and during the wintertime it is an extremely popular skiing site.
Mt. Katahdin (Approximately three to four hours away from our auction facility.) Mt. Katahdin is the largest mountain in Maine and is located in the heart of Maine wilderness. It is now a state park as a result of a generous gift from Percival Baxter many years ago. In the region there are some remote lodges and fishing camps, hiking trails, tenting sites, etc. The Appalachian Trail extends to Mt. Katahdin.
4. SUMMER THEATER At one time Maine was inundated with summer theaters supplied by professional summer stock which included some of the most popular actors of the day. Summer stock is now gone but in its place are some terrific entertaining theaters made up of professional and amateur local acting talent:
Lakewood Theater (Approximately one half hour north of our auction facility.) This is the oldest continually running summer theater in North America in fact, in 1967, the Maine State Legislature passed a resolution designating Lakewood as the Official Theater of the State of Maine. Located on beautiful Lake Wesserunsett, it features a wonderful lakeside restaurant with terrific food and a great ambiance. If you can’t make the theater, at least treat yourself to the dining experience!
The Theater At Monmouth, Monmouth, Maine (Approximately 1+ hours south of our facility). The Theater At Monmouth is a repertory company of professional theater artists from across Maine and the United States. In 2009, the theater celebrated its 40th season. Performances are held in beautiful Cumston Hall, listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings since 1976. The building’s architecture is a mix of a Romanesque style of asymmetrical columns and towers and varying external textures of the Queen Anne period. The 250-seat opera hall features elaborate plaster carvings, and a fresco mural ceiling. More than 100 stained glass windows adorn the Hall. Named The Shakespearean Theater of Maine by the Maine State Legislature in 1975, the Theater itself has developed a tremendous reputation for Shakespearean plays throughout the summer, but in addition, a number of popular works both current and older are performed as well. The village of Monmouth is equidistant between Augusta and Lewiston. It is a special gem here in central Maine and a great experience, we highly recommend it!
5. GOLFING During the summertime there are so many places in Maine to enjoy the sport of golf. Some favorite areas are:
Belgrade Golf Course (Approximately a half hour away from our auction facility.) Inspired and backed by one of Maine’s greatest philanthropists, Harold Alfond, who was, during his lifetime, an avid golfer. This course is truly stunning. Built recently by one of the nation’s foremost golf course designers. It is not only a world class course but features incredible vistas over the Belgrade Lakes Region.
Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine (Approximately two hours away from our auction facility). The Samoset Resort originally was a posh old 19th century resort built by the Hiram Ricker Family, founder of the Poland Springs Water Bottling Company. The original lodge burned down some years ago and has been replaced by another wonderful facility located virtually on the Atlantic Ocean. It features an 18-hole golf course on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean–and a wonderful golfing experience!
Carrabassett Valley, Sugarloaf Mountain (Approximately one hour and a half from our auction facility). Some years back, one of the nation’s finest golf course designers prepared this unique design for this mountainside golf course. Literally built on the side of the mountain, the course is one of Maine’s premier golfing attractions.
6. OUTLET STORES AND ANTIQUE SHOPS Maine features a couple of very special outlet centers and is literally inundated, particularly during the summertime, with antique shops. Almost any significant village or coastal community will feature one or more antique shops, some of which, historic purveyors of antiques.
Kittery (Approximately two hours from our auction facility.) Features a large chain of outlet stores. In addition, is the Kittery Trading Post; for many years now, one of the top sporting good stores in the State of Maine for all forms of sporting goods.
Freeport (Approximately one hour away from our auction facility.) Probably 50% of North America, at some time in their life, have heard of Freeport, Maine, the home of LL Bean Sporting Goods Store. Started shortly after the turn of the century, this institution has a world renown reputation as a purveyor of fine sporting goods and clothing. They are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year so you don’t have to worry about getting there in time. Freeport is also the home of innumerable outlet stores such as Cole Hahn, Ralph Lauren, London Fog, etc. A great place to shop and yet save money.
Wiscasset (Approximately two hours away from our auction facility.) Wiscasset is typical of a great number of wonderful Maine communities and is a special place to visit. It is one of (but certainly not the only) great antique centers of Maine today. A vast number of shops, many featuring wonderful high-style country antiques, art galleries, great places to eat, and small boutiques. A definite place to visit and don’t miss Red’s Eats. On at least two separate occasions, this small red shack which produces lobster rolls and some of the best fried clams you can ever expect to eat, has been featured on the front page of USA Today (expect a long line).
7. FOLIAGE SEASON Late September and early October features an absolutely glorious pallet of color throughout the state of Maine and no matter what direction you go in, whether it be the coast, the mountains, the wilderness and the highly populated areas, the coloration can sometimes be extraordinary. Many people travel from all over North America to experience this colorful phenomenon and depending upon what point in the season it is, it can be well worth it.
8. HUNTING For over 150 years now, Maine has been a destination for serious hunters and fishermen and the wild grouse hunting is some of the most sporting, upland bird hunting in North America. The dense cover provides a tremendous challenge to shooters. In October, the migrations of woodcock from Canada through the various fly-aways produce a tremendous sport also for the month of October. Deer season takes place in the month of November but in October, November, December and January is also sea duck hunting season. The Maine eider, scoter, and waterfowl presents a tremendous shooting experience. In recent years, we have used various guides, and would recommend the following:
Grey’s Outfitters located in Caratunk, Maine. This is a class outfit. They have a group of cottages located on a bluff overlooking the Kennebec River and a lodge where they prepare wonderful meals for their clients. They have great bird dogs, great guides, and if you like hunting the elusive Maine ruffle grouse and woodcock, this is the place to go. I personally schedule at least a couple of trips a year in the fall.
Sea Duck Hunting–Ernie Spaulding, Millbridge, Maine (Approximately two and one half hours away from our auction facility). Sea duck hunting can be a very fun experience. In addition, the coastal regions that you visit are frequently remote and beautiful. The guide that I regularly use for sea duck hunting is Ernie Spaulding who is highly professional and very skilled at his profession and has great equipment. Hunting on the ocean can be challenging at times and it is important that the guide be experienced and have good equipment. Those are two serious criteria for me and Ernie certainly fulfills that and does a great job guiding. As with Carol Ware, if Ernie is not available, he could probably direct you to someone who would do a good job as a guide for you.
Deer Hunting–Blaine Miller, Norridgewock, Maine (Approximately one half hour north of our auction facility). Blaine Miller has been a guide most of his life. During the summertime he does Allagash Wilderness Waterway camping and canoe trips and occasional trips into Canada and to the Labrador region. During the fall he is available for guided deer hunts. He is a long, long time registered Maine guide, both extremely enthusiastic and knowledgeable about hunting, different covers and terrain, and likely to put you onto the elusive Maine whitetail. For years, the species of the Maine whitetail strain has been known to have produced some of the largest whitetail dear ever. In fact, in the mid 1940s the world record whitetail deer (for size) was shot approximately 1-1/2 hours north of here in Bingham, Maine. That whitetail deer weighed 440 lbs. With the declining cover for deer and the recent serious winters, the deer population has dropped off somewhat and hunting has become far more challenging than in the past and a guide can be crucial if you definitely want some success hunting.
9. FISHING For over 150 years Maine has been a major destination for serious fisherman from all locations throughout North America and the world. With over 2,500 lakes and ponds here in the state of Maine, many are filled with some of the prized of all game fish including the elusive landlocked salmon, the beautiful eastern brook trout and the ferocious fighting bass and many more. Maine offers a fishing opportunity most of the year; the spring, summer and early fall represents some tremendous opportunities for fly fishing. During the winter, many of the large lakes and ponds throughout Maine are open to ice fishing. At one time, many of the ponds and lakes throughout Maine featured rustic lodges and/or sporting camps where sporters could find comfortable cabins or lodging, great home-cooked food and if they wished, a knowledgeable guide. Today, only a few of those rustic lodges exist and they are treasures. They are an experience from the past and one that you won’t soon forget. In addition, if you don’t wish the rustic sporting camp experience, there are many skilled, knowledgeable fishing guides who can accompany you for a day’s fishing or a weeklong expedition of fishing. Some of our favorite places are:
Pierce Pond Camps (Approximately one hour and forty five minutes away from our auction facility.) At one time, most of Maine’s inland fish producing bodies of water had one or more sporting camps erected, usually log cabins with a large log lodge. In the early part of the 20th century these were commonplace, but today, very few exist. One of the premier locations today is Cobb’s Camps on Pierce Pond chain of ponds. This set of sporting camps, now owned by three generations of the Cobb family, is one of the greatest and most pleasurable fishing experiences in Maine today. There is not an awful lot different from what it would have been like 75 years ago had you come to Maine. Log camps, in impeccable condition, overlooking the remote ponds, large log lodge which serves incredibly delicious meals morning and night. Experienced guides who will accompany you through the day via canoes to some of the hottest fishing spots in the chain of ponds. The region itself is a treasure, in that the woodlands encompassing this chain of ponds has, for some years now, been tied up in trusts and conservation deeds that prevent wood harvesting or developing. As a result, other than the Cobb’s Sporting Camps, there are only a handful of private camps located on this string of ponds and thus a truly remote wilderness experience and a rare step back in time.
West Branch Pond Camps (Approximately 3 hours north of our facility.) West Branch Pond Camps, located just north of Greenville, Maine, are the oldest continuously run set of rustic sporting camps in the state of Maine and probably in the Northeast. The camps have been in business since prior to the turn of the 19th century and for approximately 80 years have been in the same family’s hands. The log camps are nestled along the shore of West Branch Pond, a pond noted for eastern Brook trout. The camps are situated across the pond from a beautiful mountainous range. There is a main lodge where home-cooked meals are prepared every day, including breakfast, dinner and a packed lunch. Fisherman can not only stay and be fed, but can employ a guide to fish on the pond or a guide to take them on a fishing experience on some of the other many ponds, lakes and streams nearby. Not only is this a special, treasured old-time experience, but it is also an extraordinary bargain and in keeping with the rustic camps of old, the price is exceedingly low. The summer of 2009 their rates were as follows: $95/day for a single person. For that $95 it included a camp, three meals, a boat and all the firewood you need! This is truly a piece of the past and one of the rare.
Fishing Guides We’ve personally used a number of fishing guides here in the state of Maine, however there are a vast number available from all over the state of Maine. Those that we have used and can specifically speak of are:
Dan Legere–Maine Guide Fly Shop, Greenville Maine (Moosehead is about 2+ hours north of our facilities). Danny and his wife Penny own an Orvis fishing supplies shop at the very entrance to Moosehead Lake. They have been in business for many years. Hand tied flies, Orvis products and just about anything you might need for your fishing experience is available there at their store. Most importantly is Danny himself and his team of skilled guides. They are consummate professionals. They know where the fish are biting, what they are biting on and have a good idea of when they’re biting and can almost always get you into an active fish experience. Drift boats are their specialty although they’re available for just about any type of wilderness fishing experience. Spring and fall are some of the best times for serious fishing, but they are available throughout the entire fishing season and can usually get you into fish.
Blaine Miller–Allagash Guide, Inc., Norridgewock, Maine. (Approximately a half hour north of our auction facility.) Blaine, fishing guide, deer hunting guide and Allagash wilderness waterway/ canoe guide, was a science teacher for many years in Winslow, Maine and during the summer time, provided wilderness canoeing trips for families and large groups in the Allagash/St. John region. Since his retirement from teaching, he has expanded his canoeing adventures to also include trophy trout and salmon fishing not only in Maine but in Quebec and Labrador. I personally have been on a number of trips with Blaine, he is an extraordinary guide with years and years of experience. Enthusiastic, knowledgeable and his services are available for very reasonable prices. Whether you want a personal fishing or camping experience or you’re looking for a special wilderness experience for your entire family, he is equipped for either one. Not only have I gone on numerous trips myself, but my sons have accompanied me on trips in the past and now my grandchildren. He does a great job!
This is just a brief overview, touching on just a few of our favorite regions and things to do. There are so many other things, some of which can be learned