Maine trip report 8/13 - 8/20

Old Aug 22nd, 2011, 07:09 AM
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OTB
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Maine trip report 8/13 - 8/20

We took three children ages 7, 9 and 11 to southern Maine for a week and were not disappointed. I'll give a day by day overview but first tell you we rented a beautiful cottage at Summer Village in Wells. The gated community is laid out well with three swimming pools, activity barn with game room and computers, a few playgrounds, basketball courts, bocce, baseball and a putting green. All cottages are very new and comfortable.

Saturday - check in went very smooth, within 2 minutes we had our cottage keys and instructions and we promptly put our stuff down and set about getting some food. We went to Spilers Farm store in Wells to get fresh fruits and veggies and were not disappointed. The blueberries were terrific and the corn very sweet. We also picked up some farm raised chicked brestst which were delicious. We stopped at the Hannaford and it was jam packed as Saturday is the big "check in" day but all in all we got what we needed and were set.

After some swimming at the pool we went to beach plum lobsetr farm and got 2 1 1/2 pounders cooked and packed up for take out. $25 total including butter seams like a steal and the lobsters were delicious. The kids had burgers and chicked we cooked on the grill.

After dinner we went mini golfing at Wonder Mountain on route 1 in Wells. The kids had a great time and after golf went through the maze they have onsite, then some games in the arcade.

We stopped at Scoop Deck ice cream in Wells for some great ice cream.

Sunday - we took the 2 hour drive north to the Skowhegan state fair and it was a blast. The fair was $8 to get in and $14 for ride wristbands which were well worth it. I watched the harness racing while my girlfriend and the kids enjoyed the rides. We then walked through the 4-H barns and wound up spending a total of 6 hours there.

We stopped at the Maine Diner on the way home for lobster pie and it was the best meal we had....highly reccomended.

Monday - the rains (the only rainy day we had) were coming in so we went in the morning to walk around Kennebunkport and enjoyed the quaint stores. We had an early lunch at the Clam Shack in Kennebunk and the lobster rolls were delicious. We took the kids to the 1 o'clock science show at the Southworth Planetarium at the University of Southern Maine which was fine for a rainy day. We then went candlepin bowling at the big 20 bowling center in Scarborough which was fun especuially for those of used to big ball bowling.

We then stopped at Cabelas to kill an hour or two and headed back to the cottage for fun in the game room and dinnr on the BBQ.

Tuesday - we booked an outdoor adventure with LL Bean in Freeport...kayaking. We got there at 11:45 to check in for our 1:30 and were told if we wanted to go earlier we could...so we did. This was a great excursion. They bus you 15 minutes from the store to the Haraskeet River where you recieve some instruction and set out with 2 guides for 1 hour 15 minute journey. The guides were greta at getting everyone in the water and explaining the landscape. Everyone including the 7 and 9 year old got the hang of the kayaks and at $20 this is a tremendous value. We then waked and shopped in Freeport and headed back to the cottage around 7 for dinner.

Wednesday - I took the two youngest to Aquaboggan water park in Saco. With discount coupons (found everywhere in town) it was $17 each to get in and the kids loved it. The lines were not bad at all and the kids stayed from 11 in the morning right until closing time at 6. Nice family place with many water slides, bumpin boats, go karts and mini golf. The kids did not want to leave!!

We headed out for dinner and went to Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery for Lobster stew and fried clams. the meal was tremendous and I highly reccomend the place.

We stopped in York Harbor and had ice cream at Browns. This place is in the middle of a residential neighborhood but was jam packed, the ice cream was excellent.

Thursday - by now the boys (me and my youngest) needed boys time and the girls needed girls time. My and my little guy headed over to Merriland Farms par 3 golf course to enjoy 18 holes. Great little layout and very challenging for not only a 7 year old, but for an adult as well.

We then headed to the Main Wildlife Park in Gray, Maine to see all types of animals native to Maine. The park has a great layout and we got to see moose, bears, deer, racoons and all sorts of other forrest animals up close.

After that the girls wanted manicures and pedicures so they dropped us off at Scarborough Downs where the boys enjoyed the afternoon of harness racing. We finished up there around 6:30 and headed back to the cottage for swimming and dinner on the BBQ.

Friday - after some morning swimmingwe headed to Portland top sightsee. fter doing some shopping on the Portland waterfront we had lunch outside at the Portland Lobster Company. The lobster rolls were fantastic, as good as the clam shack.

We then took the 3:45 lobstering/seal cruise from Luck Catch and it was a great trip. the get the kids involved in lobstering by having them put on the gloves and pants, bait the traps and even haul them in. The give you many facts about lobsters and have you measure the ones they catch for keepers. We saw many seals lounging out at "seal rock"....I highly reccomend this excursion.

It was back to Wells for take out from Mike's Clam shack....this dinner was just ok...kind of bland but we just had haddock so maybe we ordered wrong.

All in all it was a great trip and southern Miane is a great place to take the kids.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2011, 07:49 AM
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Thank your for the report. I kept waiting for the part where you turn into a lobster.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2011, 08:51 AM
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Nice report, OTB. I'm heading up to Maine in 2 weeks and can't wait to eat lobster every day, twice a day.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2011, 11:17 AM
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I am noting all your recommendations. Sounds like my kind of food, esp lobster stew and fried clams in one meal! Lucky kids!
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Old Aug 22nd, 2011, 11:47 AM
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Sounds like a great trip. Glad you had a great time.
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Old Aug 22nd, 2011, 01:10 PM
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Enjoyed your trip report.

Will second the positives you expressed about the Maine Diner and Bob's Clam Hut. The former may advertize a lot on the Phantom Gourmet show (for some Chowhounds, that alone is a deal-breaker), but not every place that does so stinks, and I very much liked my experience there. And my one experience at Bob's produced fried seafood done well.

Good choices.
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Old Aug 23rd, 2011, 02:26 AM
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Last year we ate twice at Mike's Clam Shack because the food was so good. Once fried clams etc. The second time for steamed lobster. This year it didn't seem as good. Maybe different cooks?
Sounds like you all had a terrific time. Great, detailed report.
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