Day Trips from Ocean Point

Summer Theatres in Maine

One of Maine’s summer treats is an afternoon or evening at the theater. Maine hosts many summer theaters and I am going to tell you about some of the most well known.

The Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick is closest to Ocean Point. Victoria Crandall opened the summer playhouse in the Pickard Theatre on the Bowdoin College Campus in 1959 with “The Song of Norway.” She produced nine shows with full sets, costumes and chorus!

In 1967 the name was changed to Brunswick Music theatre. By the late 60’s summer theaters were cropping up all over Maine and New England. In the 1970’s the theater became non-profit allowing for an intern program.

Inn 1988 the name became Maine State Music Theatre. The 2016 summer will be the thetre’s 58th season! The following shows will be presented.

Ghost the Musical June 8-25

Earta June 29-July 16

Fiddler on the Roof July 20 - August 6

Momma Mia August 10 - 27

Jack and the Beanstalk June 15 and 18

Aladdin August 22

Call the Box Office at 207-725-8769

The Ogunquit Playhouse got its start in the 1920’s and 1930’s during the depression when Walter Hartwig brought the Manhattan Theatre Colony to Ogunquit, Maine. After Walter died, his wife Maude kept the theater going until her retirement in 1951.

2016 will be the 84th season for the Ogunquit Playhouse and they will be producing the following plays.

Let It Be May 18 - June 11

Anything Goes June 15 - July 9

Hunchback of Notre Dame July 13 - August 6

Priscilla Queen of the Desert August 10 - September 3

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers September 7 - ctober 1

Million Dollar Quartet October 5 - November 6

Call the Box Office at 207-646-5511

The Theatre at Monmouth is a year round company started in 1970. The performances are held in the Cumston Hall which is on the National Register of Historical Buildings. Their goal is to present “innovative approaches to Shakespeare and other classic plays.” During this 47th season the following performances are scheduled.

Cyrano

Love’s Labor Lost

The Barber of Seville

Henry

The Illusion

Puss in Boots

Boeing Boeing

Call the Box Office at 207-933-9999

The Lakewood Theatre opened in 1901 and will be celebrating its 116th season in 2016. Originally, the grounds of the theater was a Native American campground and a meeting place for spiritualists. One of the longest running plays on Broadway, “Life with Father,” premiered at Lakewood in 1939. Many amazing changes have taken place at this beautiful theater over the years. The 2016 season will include the following.

Money Matters

Last Round of the Guacamole Queens

Always Patsy Cline

Cheshire Cat

The Full Monty

Hello Dolly!

Of Mice and Men

Confessions of a Dirty Blond

Call the Box Office at 207-474-7176

There are many more options in Maine but the above are favorites of mine. Growing up in central Maine, I have fond memories of the Lakewood Theatre. To a child they were magical evenings!

Maine Picnics

You may think that Picnics is an odd topic for January! Well, start dreaming of an oceanfront Picnic at Ocean Point Inn. When I lived in Vermont, we often backpacked a picnic lunch on a cross country ski adventure even in below zero weather. It was delightful.

Another type of winter picnic is great for mothers of young children. Let them have a Beach Picnic inside. Don bathing suits, put beach towels on the floor and have a picnic in front of the fireplace!! Read a book about the beach and do a shell craft. Blow up lots of blue balloons to cover the floor and hide little sea creatures under the balloons. Pretend to be wading in the ocean looking for sea creatures. This is also a fun way to have a birthday party for young children.

Picnics evolved from the traditions of elaborate outdoor feasts the wealthy. Having picnics is credited to the Europeans but today it is enjoyed around the world. The word picnic can be traced back to 1748 in a 16th century French text.

Hundreds of years ago picnic meant a pot luck. By the 1860s it started meaning everyone eating outdoors but not bringing food. By the mid 19th century Americans developed an interest in picnics.

Picnic foods tend to vary according to regions of the country. New Englanders love a thermos of clam chowder, southerners love barbeque and mid-westerners like chili and biscuits.

If you are staying at the Ocean Point Inn, think about having picnics on the rocks, at the beach, at a lake, on a mountain or on a dock. Life is good at a picnic!! You can order box lunches at the Inn’s Front Desk the night before and designate the time you wish to pick them up. The East Boothbay General Store is also a great source of picnic food and drink.

Children love to go on picnics. The following food are favorites with children.

opi-picnic2 ABC Pasta Salad
Nutrella on Crackers
Melon Swizzlers
Fruit Salad in an Ice Cream Cone
Fruit Punch with Fruit in Ice Cubes
Sandwiches cut with Cookie Cutters
S’More Bars

Pack the kids lunches in beach sand pails with a shovel. They will have a toy to play with after the picnic. Don’t forget antibacterial lotion and hand wipes.

For an adult picnic on the rocks, you can easily pick up the following while traveling:

Fresh Bread
Cheese
Cold Meats
Fresh Fruit
Wine

Create a gourmet picnic with your own imagination, maybe with some Maine lobster salad.

If you are close enough to Ocean Point, a picnic on the rocks in the winter is fun as well. Bundle up! If it is too cold and windy to eat out on the rocks, park your car next to the ocean where you can enjoy the view and hear the surf from your car. The following foods are great for a winter picnic:

Hot Soup
Hot Chili
Hot Cider
Hot Cocoa
Energy Bars

Make picnics a part of your next vacation at the Ocean Point Inn.

Crafting in Maine

Crafting has always been an important part of my life and I know it is for many of the guests at Ocean Point Inn. It is fun to talk with guests about the crafts they like to do. The Maine crafts I will mention here are all an easy drive from Ocean Point Inn, a fun craft day trip.

September 23, 24 and 25, 2016, Ocean Point Inn will be hosting the “Oceanside Bead Retreat” with bead artist, Sherry Serafin. The group will work on beading projects for three days in our spectacular seaside setting. The projects are simply amazing.

Locally in mid-coast Maine we have the Aboca Bead Shop at 157 Maine Street in Damariscotta, an easy drive from Ocean Point, to see this unique and fantastic bead collection. Stop by and put together a unique piece of jewelry from their great Maine bead selection.

For those who enjoy quilting, sewing and home decorating we have some fabulous shops in the area. My favorite is OnBoard Fabric in Edgecomb. Molly Hutchins, the owner, is a delightfully creative woman with a great eye for color. Her shop is a must see but her website will give you a nice preview. She also hand crafts Maine bags, pillows, placemats, aprons, and much more. The fabrics I used in redecorating Ocean Point Inn living room, dining room and the library are from OnBoard, we love to buy and support local crafts people and Maine artisans.

Another great fabric store is Alewives Fabric in Nobleboro, near Damariscotta – a short drive from Ocean Point Inn. They have amazing fabric for quilting and they are arranged on the shelves by color and shade beautifully. The ladies who work here are very helpful and also offer great workshops. Check to see if they will have any workshops while you are in Maine staying at Ocean Point. They also carry hand woven yarn now for you knitting friends.

Maine Quilts 2016 is a Maine craft event that is hosted on by the Pine Tree Quilters Guild, taking place July 29-31. 2016 Augusta Civic Center. This quilt event is an enormous display of fantastic fabric art including Maine shops selling quilting supplies and offering quilt workshops in a variety of techniques. These Maine quilt workshops fill up quickly so early reservations are a necessity. Late July is also prime time at Ocean Point, so reserve your space and your quilting seminar now- its going o be such fun for crafters and quilters,.

Knitting is back in vogue and new Maine yarn shops have popped up over the past decade. The following shops, near Ocean Point, have excellent selections and will not disappoint you.

Halcyon Yarn at 12 School Street, Bath, Maine

Heavenly Socks Yarn at 82 Maine Street in Belfast, Maine.

Over the Rainbow Yarn at 18 School Street in Rockland, Maine

The Cashmere Goat at 20 Bayview Street in Camden, Maine.

Bartlett Yarns, Inc. in Harmony, Maine, is famous for the wool yarn they make.

String Theory in Blue Hill, Maine, does hand dyed yarns.

Grace Robinson at 208 US Route 1 in Freeport, Maine, has a large stock and needlepoitn materials.

The Maine Fiber Frolic will take place June 4-5, 2016 on the Windsor fairgrounds in Windsor, Maine. There are many yarn vendors, great demonstrations and workshops. I have taken workshops at this event and enjoyed them very much. Felters, spinners and weavers will enjoy it too.

If counted cross stitch or needlepoint are your thing, you will enjoy Stitcher’s Corner in Wiscasset, Maine. Call 877-882-4141 for directions and times.

Fabric Art is a favorite craft of mine and some excellent work can be seen at the Red Studio at 13 Maine Street in Topsham, Maine. 207-721-0675

I hope you will be inspired by some of these Maine craft, quilt and bead shops on your next vacation at the Ocean Point Inn. Stop by the Front Desk and let me know which you visited.

Growing Christmas Trees in Maine

According to the Hope Maine Historical Society, the earliest European settlers did not grow, sell or use Christmas trees. German immigrants introduced the Christmas tree to Maine after the Revolution but it was well into the 19th century before it became a common practice with non-German Americans. Initially people cut down their own balsam fir trees which Mainers still consider the best Christmas tree.

Christmas trees as a business did not start until the early 1900’s. At that time some people cut and sold trees from pastures and others grew trees to sell. The trees were felled and bundles in bunches of three to four trees with heavy twine. In the early times good and bad trees were bundles together. The bundles (about 600 per boxcar) were loaded into boxcars at the railroad station and shipped to Boston, New York, Philadelphia and as far as Washington D.C.

In the early days animals in the pastures pruned the trees making good quality solitary trees. By the middle of the 1900’s tree growers started planting seedlings in rows. Acres of balsam and Douglas fir were planted. Planting trees is fairly easy but producing a well-shaped healthy Christmas tree requires a great deal of work. Pruning is the most labor intensive part of growing the trees. In Maine Christmas trees do all of their growing between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July. They are pruned after that time period. Most growers fertilize their trees to make them more dense and have slightly longer needles.

The last census in 2012 showed 5,694 acres in Maine producing Christmas trees, 195,833 trees were harvested and there were 310 tree farms. Throughout the state there are 1.2 million Christmas trees growing. Maine is the largest producer in New England, but California and Oregon are the largest producers.

1. Make sure the tree is not dry with needles falling off.

2. Select the correct height for your ceiling allowing room for the base and an ornament on the top.

3. Look for good symmetry.,

4. Select a full tree with no “holes.”

5. Know how tall and wide the space for your tree is.

6. Once you select a tree get it in water within a few hours. Once it dries up it will not draw water anymore. Water your tree daily.

About half of Maine’s Christmas trees start out in Fryeburg, Maine. The Western Maine Forest Museum grows about 500,000 seedlings each year.

I chuckle about the tree selection suggestion “Select a full tree with no holes.” As a child growing up in Maine, each year my father and I would go into the woods to get a Christmas tree. No matter how great we thought the tree looked, when we got it home my mother would see a “hole” in it. That problem was rapidly solved by my father cutting a really good tree and a not so good tree each year. He would drill a hole where she saw a “hole” and insert a branch from the not so good tree!

Trees for Rockefeller Center in New York City have sometimes come from Maine. Check out the photos. It is not easy to comeget that tree from a field on a Maine farm to the center of New York City!

Tree farms are great and it is a wonderful family adventure. Some offer sleigh rides, Santa, hot cocoa, music and more, Start a family tradition of cutting down your own tree at one of these farms.

Merry Christmas and Happy Tree Decorating from all of us at Ocean Point Inn!

Columbus Day Weekend Festivities

The last weekend of Ocean Point Inn’s 2015 season is just about here and promises to be full of exciting things to do. It is one of the most beautiful times of the year in Boothbay Harbor Maine.

H2015Results Our Maine foliage is turning brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. Against the deep blue sky and ocean, the vistas are simply spectacular. Driving the River Road yesterday from Boothbay to Damariscotta, there seemed to be a photo-op around every bend in the road! The road was lined with purple wild asters in full bloom and milk weed pods were bursting open shooting hundreds of seeds into the air floating away using their miniature parachutes. Chipmunks raced across the road with cheeks full of acorns for their winter stash.

The 48th Annual Fall Foliage Festival takes place at the Railway Museum on Saturday and Sunday, October 10-11. 9-6 on Saturday and 10-4 on Sunday. You will be treated to a top notch Craft Show with loads of different vendors, demonstrations by artists, rides on the narrow gauge steam train, 60 antique cars, restored buildings, live music, a wide range of delicious local food, a pumpkin carving contest and a children’s corner. There is something for all ages at this event which is not to be missed.

Fifteen minutes away in the town of Damariscotta there is another spectacular fall event, the Pumpkinfest. Local people have been growing humungous pumpkins all summer for this event. The new champion for 2015 is Edwin Pierpont whose pumpkin weighed in at 1,725.5 pounds!!!!

The enormous pumpkins are brought into town and dropped in front of participating stores. Then
extremely creative people turn them into amazing creations. Be sure to bring your camera. On Monday, October 12, there is the Pumpkinfest Regatta which is one of my favorite events. People actually create boats out of the giant pumpkins and ride in them! Build a pumpkin vehicle and race in the Pumpkin Derby on Sunday, October 11. The Pumpkin Drop is also on Sunday, October 11. The Pumpkinfest Parade is on Saturday, October 10.

Lots of food made with pumpkin will be for sale along the main street. There is a pumpkin pancake breakfast on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Live Music and Entertainment take place all weekend at the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest.

Off the Beaten Path

When you first come to Maine, you visit all the well known points of interest, lighthouses, lobster shacks. If you are looking for a new adventure, check out some of these places more off the beaten path but not far from Ocean Point Inn and Boothbay.

Whaleback Shell Midden

Do you know what a midden is? It is an old dump for domestic waste. In this case, it is an enormous heap of oyster shells left by the Abenaki people who lived along the Damariscotta Rive before the colonists arrived. The shells date back over 1300 years. Originally the Whaleback Shell Midden was over 30 feet deep. From 1886-1891 many of the shells were processed into chicken feed to help harden the egg shells.

Coming from the south on US Route 1, turn left at Belvedere Road and go 0.1 of a mile to a stop sign. Turn right and follow US Route 1 Business/Main Street another 0.5 mile. The parking lot and trail head are on the right. The trail is a half mile loop past an apple orchard along the east bank of the Damariscotta River.

The Glidden Midden on the Newcastle side of the river is the largest shell midden in Maine and on the U.S. east coast north of Georgia.

Liberty Graphics

Liberty Graphics features wonderful designs from the natural world. The Maine printed T-shirts and long sleeved T’s for men, women and children are all printed with earth friendly water base ink. The Liberty Village Outlet Store at 58 Maine Street in Liberty is open daily 9-5 from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. They sell these great shirts at discount prices. Everyone loves a bargain and it is a scenic ride to boot!

Elmer’s Barn

Do you like to search for unexpected treasures and antiques? Elmer’s Barn in Coopers Mills along Route 17 may be of interest. It is a junk and antique mecca. If you love to dig through piles of “stuff” looking for the elusive find, Elmer’s Barn will be right up your alley. One could easily spend a day there looking on the outside and on the three floors of the barn. Elmer is a real Maine character. Have a chat with him!

The Moxie Museum

Ask any “Mainer” about Moxie and they will either say it is great or they hate it. It is a regionally produced soft drink that some say tastes like medicine. I had an uncle who liked Moxie so much that it was served at his Memorial Service! Take a trip to the Moxie Museum in Lisbon Falls. You can even try Moxie ice cream while you are there!

The World’s Largest Rotating Globe

You have probably driven past this globe on your way to Ocean Point if you live south of here. But, did you see it? The DeLorme Headquarters on Interstate 295, just beyond Freeport, in Yarmouth houses this amazing globe called “Eartha.” It takes about 18 minutes for Eartha to complete her cycle. Open 9:30 - 6 daily and fascinating to all ages. The shop is a great source of maps, travel guides and educational gifts for children and adults.

See other great day trips from Ocean Point Inn.

Looking for Moose in Maine

Maine certainly has a large population of moose, the Maine State Animal, especially in northern and western parts of the state. Although they are elusive, they can be seen all over the state. In fact, recently there have been sightings of a moose right here on Route 96 in Boothbay. Some years ago a moose actually swam out to Negro Island off Ocean Point Inn. The moose was finally driven off the island by blowing fog horns.

Looking for moose in their natural environment is a popular activity. It is so popular that Maine outfitters offer moose safari trips and personal moose guides. You can do this by paddling in canoes, riding in vans or walking through the woods. These safaris are a great experience. I went on one out of Bingham, Maine, a few years ago and we saw several moose, in Bingham early in the day! It’s lots of fun and a great photo opportunity!

Brake for Moose Moose Crossing signs should be taken seriously. There are many fatal accidents involving moose in Maine each year. Especially at night, it is not easy to spot these enormous, very dark, animals when they step into the road. May, June, September, October and December are the best months to see moose. September and October are best if you are looking for a fully antlered bull. Early morning and late day are the best times as they are feeding then.

Moose live for 15-25 years. Male moose weigh about 1200-1500 pounds and females weigh about 900 pounds. Calves are about 30 pounds at birth and weigh 300-400 pounds by the first winter. The young stay with the mother for at least a year. After their first birth, cows often give birth to twins but rarely to triplets. Moose have very poor eyesight but excellent senses of hearing and smell. Color can range from brown to a dusty black. Calves are a light rust color. The flap of skin that hangs below their throat is called a bell.

Mature males shed their antlers in November and December. In the spring they get new antlers which are covered in velvet. The velvet gets scraped off and the antlers become mineralized dead matter. The primary function of the antlers is for display during mating season and to show dominance in the herd. Moose are most active at dawn and dusk.

They are not usually aggressive but can be if they are hungry, tired or harassed. People should be warned that moose are wild unpredictable dangerous animals. The bulls are more aggressive toward people during mating season. The females are more aggressive when they are pregnant or have calves with them. If a moose is going to attack, it raises the long hairs on its hump, puts its ears back and licks its lips!!!

When I was a a child visiting in Canada, local men made horns out of birch bark to call moose. At dusk and into the evening the moose would congregate in the river about a half mile away. It was really neat to blow into the horn and then wait for the moose to call back!

Check out some of the roads where you are most likely to see moose in Maine. It is worth the search!!

Fair Time in Maine

It is the season for Maine State, County and Town Fairs that are full of interesting events and foods. All ages will find lots to enjoy. Animal pulling, harness racing, flower shows, demolition derbies, livestock exhibits, produce competitions, midway rides, entertainment, crafts, milking competitions, food booths, pony rides, truck pulls, pig scrambles, and MUCH MUCH MORE!!!

A highlight to Maine fairs are the food vendors offering all the traditional fair food like fried dough, sausage sandwiches, bloomin’ onions, cotton candy, candied apples and corn dogs. Put the diet aside for the day and have a gastronomical excursion. Fairs are often for multiple days. Google a specific fair and find events and times for a given day. Many of the fairs are an easy day trip from Ocean Point Inn.

The following fairs are coming up. Enjoy!!

August 13 - 22 Skowhegan State Fair in Skowhegan, Maine

August 17 - 18 Maine Farm Days in Clinton, Maine

August 22 - 29 Union Fair in Union, Maine

August 27 - 30 Acton Fair in Acton, Maine

August 30 - September 7 Windsor Fair in Windsor, Maine

September 4 - 7 Harmony Free Fair in Harmony, Maine

September 20 - 26 Farmington Fair in Farmington, Maine

September 25 - 27 Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine

October 4 - 11 Fryeburg Fair in Fryeburg, Maine

Shops and Treats in Boothbay Harbor

Boothbay Harbor, just 6.5 miles from Ocean Point Inn, is a bustling village of shops, restaurants, specialty boutiques and art galleries. There is definitely something for everyone. Finding a place to Accessory shop park during July and August is sometimes a challenge, but there are several public parking lots available. Follow the blue P signs or check a map ahead of time to spot the lots. It is not possible to cover all the shops so I will pick some of my favorites.

Calypso is a delightful boutique of stylish women’s clothing. Lyndy Bragg, the owner, has a real flair as a buyer and she brings the latest in fashion to Boothbay Harbor.

Tide Pools is a shared market of local artisans working in a variety of mediums from lovely sea glass designs to rugs from fish line. One of my favorite artists is Suzanne Norton and her sea glass mermaids, fish and jewelry. She also does beautiful furniture painting.

The Silver Lining is full of creative Maine designs in silver using lobsters, puffin, mussels, blueberries, etc. Take home something to remind you of Maine every time you wear it!

Boothbay Harbor Artisans carry a wide variety of creative work by local artists. A great place to find a “gift from Maine.”

Sweet Bay specializes in the unique with many items by local Maine artists. Look for the Sea Bags -Maine made tote bags constructed from sail cloth, outside the shop!

The Smiling Cow has been a favorite for generations and still brings smiles as people enter the store. They have something for all ages in the souvenir department. If you are here at the end of the season, do not miss the 50% off sale. It is a great source of goodies for Christmas Stockings and Advent Calendars. Have fun to get your holiday shopping done in Boothbay in summer.

The House of Logan carries an excellent selection of higher end clothing from casual to formal. The Village Store next door and part of the same ownership has spectacular home décor, kitchen items, and children’s clothing. Sweet Bay specializes in the unique and has many items by local artists. Look for the Sea Bags outside the door! A source of great hostess gifts.

While you are shopping you will be passing many shops that sell delicious treats. Pick something up and find a seat in the Whale Park to enjoy.

The Red Cup Coffee House offers sandwiches and sweet treats along with a variety of specialty coffee drinks. Downeast Ice Cream serves amazing homemade ice cream that is made on site. Bailey Island and Jamocha Almond are two of my favorite flavors and their hot fudge sauce is out of this world! They have a make your own sundae bar that is a special treat.

Daffy Taffy and the Fudge Factory make their own salt water taffy and fudge in a variety of flavors. It is fun to watch them make it, to say nothing of how much fun it is to eat!! The peanut butter salt water taffy and the penuche fudge are two of my favorites. Ornes Candy is like stepping into an old fashioned 19th century candy shop. Fun for all ages. Remember shoelace licorice and beer barrels? Coastal Maine Popcorn carries a wide range of popcorn flavor from lobster to dill pickle to buffalo wing. What will be your new favorite popcorn flavor??

Teci_summer_SM Enjoy your days in the Boothbay Harbor Region while staying at Ocean Point Inn. See our other day trips to Damariscotta, Bath, Camden and Rockland, and Monhegan Island.

Maine- the way life should be!

A Day Trip to Damariscotta and Newcastle

A forty minute scenic drive from Ocean Point Inn will bring you to the charming coastal village of Damariscotta Maine. The town of Newcastle is just before you cross the bridge into Damariscotta and is home to the oldest Catholic Church in New England. This beautiful worship site is open to the public for viewing.

Further up the Damariscotta River is the Damariscotta Mills Fishladder Restoration. This is a must see!! The ladder helps the alewife run go from the river up the hill to the Damariscotta Lake to spawn. If you are a quilter or love fabric, be sure to visit the Alewives Fabric Store in Damariscotta Mills. I love the fact that the interior of the store is like a giant rainbow with all the bolts of fabric arranged by color. They are open seven days a week year round.

When you cross over the bridge into Damariscotta take a right into the town parking lot. You can always get a place to park there! The Maine Coast Book Shop and Café is a first class book store with an attached café for a delicious treat. They carry an excellent selection of adult and child books, magazines and newspapers.

If you want a trip down memory lane, across the street from thee on Main Street the book store is Waltz’s Soda Fountain, an authentic old soda fountain. Just like 50 - 60 years ago.

The Weatherbird at 132 Main Street has wonderful clothes and accessories for women. The Weatherbird at 72 Court Street carries specialty foods and kitchenware. The Accessories Shop on Main Street has unique gifts for your home and cottage. The shop carries lots of sea related items. Behind and under the Weatherbird shop on Court Street is the Damariscotta Pottery which makes spectacular pieces of pottery in all sizes and shapes.

Damariscotta River Cruises will take you on a 50 foot River Tripper to see osprey, seals, bald eagles and seven oyster farms as you cruise down the river and back.

King Eider’s Pub and the Damariscotta Bar and Grill both serve a nice variety of meals using local ingredients and presented with flair. The staff in both restaurants are very friendly. Reservations are recommended in both places. These are only highlights of shops, restaurants and places to visit. Explore and find your own favorites as well.

Enjoy your days in the Boothbay Harbor Region while staying at Ocean Point Inn. See our other day trips to Boothbay, Bath, Camden and Rockland, and Monhegan Island.

Maine- the way life should be!