Mt. Washington Auto Road
Hiking Mt. Washington is a popular thing to do for outdoor enthusiasts visiting the Mt. Washington Valley. Getting to that summit is an attainable goal and the view from the summit is an apt reward. If, however, you happen not to want to execute that climb to get those views, there is an alternative.
The Mt. Washington Auto Road near the Pinkham Notch Visitor’s Center on Rt. 16 is a thrilling way to go. You, your family and your vehicle can make this climb yourselves at your own rate and attain the summit and its rewards, including a ‘This car climbed Mt. Washington’ bumper sticker!
The weather on Mt. Washington is the most unpredictable in the world. No two trips to the summit are the same. The option to drive yourself isn’t available when the snow flies, but if you’re in the area in temperate weather, consider the drive. It’s amazing, memorable, and the story will be worthy of the retelling.
Photo credit: zappowbang
Cruise the Kanc – Bear Notch Rd.
As a person who lives near the White Mountains, I frequently like to combine a trip to Conway/No. Conway with a ride on the Kancamagus Highway (aka “The Kanc”). There are a few ways to do this for those ‘in the know’ without backtracking. My favorite is to connect from Rte. 302 in Bartlett to The Kanc via Bear Notch Rd.
Bear Notch Rd. is a 9-mile road that is only open from May to November for wheeled vehicle access. Snowmobiles take over in the winter months. It is very popular in the warm months with bikers, to mention one group. There are several scenic turn outs along the way, and foliage season viewing is exceptional on Bear Notch Rd.
To find Bear Notch Rd. from Conway/No. Conway, head west on Rte. 302 out of No. Conway. In Bartlett, NH, turn west (left) onto Bear Notch Rd. The road ends at The Kanc.
Photo Credit: walknboston
Fireworks in Maine 2010
What a great way to finish a great day in Maine! Because of the more rural nature of Maine, the skies are dark and the fireworks are brilliant as a result. We love our fireworks up here, and there are many displays planned throughout the summer.
The State Fire Marshall has conveniently provided a listing of approved fireworks displays for 2010 on their website. This is a great place to start your planning for including a fireworks display in your visit to Maine. Weather in Maine is variable, to say the least. Always confirm locally that the fireworks will go off as scheduled.
Photo credit: Sabrina Fobes
Scribner’s Mill Back to the Past Celebration
This annual event is the major fundraiser for the Scribner’s Mill Preservation group. They pull out all the stops and it is a great historical event. The Back to the Past celebration is always the first weekend in August. The efforts of dozens of volunteers and exhibitors help make this a great experience for the whole family.
There are people demonstrating and selling hand crafted items — e.g., spinners and knitters, a tatter, weavers, and a beader. There is a pig roast. There is music. There are diversions for children. There are antique vehicles like a fire truck that periodically shows how water was taken from the nearby stream to put out a fire. There is the mill itself, an amazing feat of restoration. There is a working blacksmith’s shop. There is the house, which is itself being put back to how it looked in it’s hey day.
It is a marvelous way to spend a day. It helps with the mill restoration and is a great step into Maine history.
Photo credit: Sharife
Yarmouth Clam Festival
It’s July in Maine and time for the annual Yarmouth Clam Festival, an event which involves about 3000 volunteers united to earn funds for Yarmouth’s non-profit organizations, school groups, and churches. This event begins at 6 p.m. on Friday with a parade which is as much fun for spectators as it is for parade participants. Following is three days of wonderful entertainment for the whole family.
Stuff you’ll find at the festival are a broad listing of competitions and events, an impressive craft and art show, and of course, lots and lots of good food, featuring clams — steamed clams, fried clams, clam cakes — lots and lots of clams. If you happen to be in Maine this weekend, check out the Clam Festival website for a listing of events and other information, including directions and parking suggestions.
As a side note, from personal experience, I can tell you to keep an eye out for any of the many yard sales in Yarmouth that are sure to be under way this weekend. As these are generally found on the way to or from the Festival doings, they help make the whole experience interesting.
Photo credit: KitAy
Car Shows in Maine: Inexpensive Family Summer Fun
I like car shows. Always have. It’s just really big fun to me to go and see old cars, new cars, foreign cars, stock cars, custom cars. It’s fun to talk with owners. It’s just fun.
In Maine, there are several such shows throughout the summer. Some are based on a specific theme (e.g., antique) or can be completely free form. As far as family entertainment is concerned, all are very affordable — most often, $5 or less for adults; $3 or less for kids under 12. I found one site that helps with looking for car shows in Maine and includes a description of the show, location of the show, and cost of the show. It depends on car show organizers to keep current, but a visit here will give you an idea what’s going on car show-wise while you’re in Maine.
Consider it at least once. It’s really a nice way to spend all or part of a day.
Photo Credit: mikebaird
Krongut Bornstedt
Krongut Bornstedt in Potsdam, Germany is one of those destinations that leaves you feeling like you stepped away from every day life. The grounds of Krongut Bornstedt are filled with beautiful flowers and plants and there’s a rose garden where weddings can be held. Krongut Bornstedt has a wonderful old world restaurant which serves good german fare and offers a nice selection of Bornstedter beers made on property.
Krongut Bornstedt By: GertrudK Flickr Creative Commons
Along with the restaurant and garden are a row of cobbler style shops where you can hand dip your own candles, watch a loom weaver, see hand blown glass pieces created and so much more. It’s a day trip to savor in all seasons. I particularly enjoyed the Krongut Weihnachtsmarkt held every Wednesday through Sunday from Nov 27th until December 26th. The Weihnachtsmarkt has many wonderful European creations and German treasures for purchase. While you shop you can listen to groups singing Christmas carols, take a photo near the oversized Christmas tree or pause for a moment at the manger scene. Along with treasures, music and festivities you will find food, beer and spiced cider a plenty. My sweetest memory of Krongut Bornstedt is of eating German sausages and drinking spiced cider in freezing temperatures as snow fell around us and seeing everyone celebrating the season with laughter and fun. It is a magical place and enfolds visitors in the spirit of European Christmas.
Krongut Bornstedt also offers outdoor activities to enjoy with friends and family during the warm, sunny summer months. This years Krongut Bornstedt Summer Concerts Series will include the Philharmonic Orchestra perfoming Pink Floyd rock music, an outdoor performance of the stage play Carmen and a performance of Nabucco accompanied by a 100 person choir and the orchestra.
The Magic Lantern – Bridgton, Maine
The old-fashioned charm of a roomy, plush home town movie theatre with hundreds of seats is the stuff of nostalgia for a lot of people. Those theatres often have been restored and used for different purposes or have been replaced with sterile, non-descript multiplexes that are synonymous with cinema to at least one or two generations of movie goers.
On Route 302 in Bridgton, Maine, the best of both worlds exists in the Magic Lantern theatre. The original Magic Lantern, where Steven King’s “Carrie” premiered in 1976, was leveled in 2006, rebuilt and reopened in 2008. It contains 3 theatres. Each theatre includes a small balcony only accessible to adults age 21 and older. There is ample parking behind the theatre.
There is also a cinema pub on the premises, making dinner and a movie virtually seamless. Sometimes in the same room! Movies are always first-run, and the price of admission is unbelievable. Adults pay $6.50. Children, seniors and matinees are $5.00.
If you find yourself in Bridgton, Maine, with time to spare, consider a movie at the Magic Lantern. It’s an experience you’ll remember at a price you can’t forget.
