Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
These new owners have injected new energy and capital, and shifted use
patterns to include non-consumptive outdoor recreation such as photog-
raphy, hiking, mountain biking, cross-country skiing and nature walks.
Most camps feature a main lodge or dining hall, and small cabins, some
with cooking facilities. Guests can simply pay for lodging or purchase an
American Plan that includes meals.
For a detailed list of sporting camps contact the
Maine Sporting Camp
Association
at PO Box 89, Jay, Maine 04239.
800-305-3057.
Dining Out
After lobster buoys and motels, perhaps the most common sights in
Maine are restaurants. The selection ranges from fast food like
McDonalds and Burger King to elegant five-star bistros where both the
food and the prices are out of this world. Luckily, most places post their
menus outside, giving strollers a chance to peruse.
In high season most busy places will serve dinner until at least 10 pm. In
spring and fall the sign will probably say “Serving 5 pm until Closing,”
which means “we close whenever we dang well feel like it.” If you want a
nice, long, dinner with wine, dessert and all the trimmings, you may
want to start no later than 7 pm in the off season.
While cuisine of almost any country can be found in most Maine towns, I
happen to favor the flavor of distinctive local dishes. And you have to try
lobster at least once if you visit Maine. While every place serves lobster,
forgo the white tablecloths and stuffy waiters and head for a lobster pier
or, as they are called, lobster pound. Put that stupid white plastic bib on,
twist the cap off a frosty brew, crack into that steamy devil, and let the
juice, shells and drawn butter fly where it may. (See the section on lob-
ster, pages 13-18, for more detail on how important the lobster industry is
to Maine.)
Other delicacies on the must-try list are blueberry pancakes and muffins,
“bean-hole” baked beans (preferably slow cooked in a stone-lined pit in
the ground), lobster bisque, steamed mussels, and fried clams and fresh
crabmeat roll. Be sure to take a Maine baked potato on the side.
Often, items such as baked beans and pancakes are the focus of public
suppers, breakfasts and festivals. Not only will the food be good, it will be
cheap and your attendance will help support worthy local causes as well.
Prices for dining out vary widely across the state. While a two-item small
pizza delivered to your hotel will set you back only about $5 in Greenville,
that same pie comes with an $11 price tag in Bar Harbor.
