A Day Trip to See Moose in Maine

One thing our guests staying in Freeport Maine at our Bed and Breakfast often ask is where you can see a moose in Maine.

Just a mile or two north of Brewster House on US-1 is a "Moose Crossing" sign, though we've never seen a moose in that area (we thought perhaps they couldn't read the sign, so didn't know that was their designated "crossing"). However, a few weeks ago, an early-rising guest drove up that way in search of a local donut shop, and happened to see a moose not far from the sign! The next day he saw it again!

If you aren't interested in an early morning moose-hunt from Brewster House, you may prefer a day trip to see moose in a location with a much higher probability of success.

A drive of just a bit more than two hours to the north and west of Freeport will take you to Rangeley, Maine, where Maine Route 16, affectionately known as "Moose Alley", can be found. If you arrive in the middle of the day, there is little point in looking for moose, as they are most likely to be napping. They usually are out near dawn and dusk. Instead, spend some time driving around Rangeley Lake - it is surrounded by Maine Routes 4, 4 and 16, 17, and South Shore Drive. The drive around the lake is stunningly beautiful, and the mountains around it give it something of the appearance of Lake Tahoe in California (and Nevada).

If you go before September-October, the bulls will still have their antlers, which they lose during their annual rut in the autumn, then grow them back in the spring.

As dusk nears, head out of Rangeley on Route 16 (being careful to drive at or even below the speed limit - you do NOT want to collide with a moose when you crest a hill or go around a bend in the road). Keep your eyes on the road, and especially along the shoulders, as the fading light, and the dark color of the moose, can make them appear out of the shadows quite suddenly. Keep your camera handy, and be ready to stop!

When we went in October, there was a moose just a short distance from Rangeley, standing along the shoulder of the road. Another time, in the spring, there was a moose drinking from a small creek along the road.

Enjoy the search as much as the discovery, as the area is beautiful, and well worth a visit for that reason alone.

As darkness falls, carefully return to Brewster House and your bed!

Freeport Highway Construction, August 23-25, 2011

If you're planning to drive to Freeport next week, you should be aware of construction plans for I-295 that may affect you.

From Tuesday, August 23 through Thursday, August 25, Exit 22 (the exit nearest to Brewster House) will be at least partially closed. Details are at the Maine DOT site.


View Alternate route to Brewster House - August 2011 in a larger map

We recommend you take Exit 20 (Desert Road) as an alternate, and then follow US-1 north through Freeport, past Mallett Drive, to Brewster House.

A Day Trip to Owl's Head

Yesterday was a bit rainy, which, for guests in our bed & breakfast in Freeport Maine, usually means shopping at the Freeport outlets and shops. However, this time the guests had done all the shopping they wanted for the moment, and were looking for a great rainy day sightseeing adventure.

One of our favorite suggestions is a day trip north up US-1, and the Owls Head Peninsula, on Penobscot Bay. Turning north from Brewster House, US-1 passes through Brunswick and Bath, then Woolwich and then Montsweag, on to Wiscasset, Damariscotta and Newcastle, Nobleboro, Waldoboro, and Thomaston, before reaching Rockland, where you'll turn right on Maine Route 73. Nearly all of these towns have interesting places to visit, and side trips down the peninsulas and islands take you to Bailey Island, Harpswell, Popham Beach, Five Islands, Boothbay Harbor, and Pemaquid Point and yield the beauty of sandy beaches, old forts, beautiful harbors and magnificent lighthouses, though some may not be quite the same on a rainy day, as you would see on a bright, sunny day.

If you enjoy lighthouses, you should stop in Rockland for a visit to the Maine Lighthouse Museum for a view of their extensive collection of lighthouse information and artifacts.

Turning down Route 73 into Owls Head, be sure to visit the Owls Head Transportation Museum. In addition to their huge display of collections of aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles, carriages, bicycles, and engines, they have special events throughout the year. From fly-ins to drive-ins, to antique auto auctions, there is something for everyone. What a wonderful way to spend a rainy day!

If the weather clears (or if you want one of those mystical photos of the lighthouse appearing through the fog, clouds, or rain), go the short way down Shore Drive to Owls Head State Park, where you'll find Owls Head Lighthouse. The view of Owls Head Bay to the right is gorgeous, but when you climb the steps to the base of the lighthouse, you suddenly see that all of Penobscot Bay is revealed over the hill! What a magnificent sight!

If time and weather permit, go south on Route 73 to Saint George, then turn left on Route 131, through Tenants Harbor to Port Clyde. Near Port Clyde, Marshall Point Lighthouse sits at the entrance to picturesque Port Clyde harbor, where you'll find photographers waiting for the sunset to take their photos. You may recognize Marshall Point lighthouse from the film, Forrest Gump.

After returning to US-1 via Route 131, be sure to stop at Moody's Diner in Waldoboro for dinner (they serve everything from a grilled cheese sandwich to a full lobster dinner) or at least for some of their wonderful blueberry pie! It's a genuine, old-fashioned, Maine diner experience.

From that point it is less than an hour back to Brewster House Bed & Breakfast in Freeport.

A Day Trip to the Kennebunks

Another favorite day trip from our Bed and Breakfast in Freeport is a trip to the Kennebunks.

If you would like to enjoy the drive down US-1 to the south, we suggest wandering until just north of Portland, and when I-295 crosses US-1, you should enter I-295 to the left, taking you on to I-95 South, as far as Biddeford. At that point US-1 is only a short distance from I-95, and you've bypassed the congestion in and around Portland.

After the pretty countryside you come to the village of Arundel, where there are a number of interesting antique dealers and antique malls.

Continuing to Kennebunk, notice the First Parish Unitarian Church, at the intersection of Route 35. The bell in the steeple was fashioned by Revolutionary War hero Paul Revere. Turn left on Route 35 and enjoy the drive through the old homes, to Kennebunkport. Along the way, don't miss the Wedding Cake house, on the left side of the road.

Once in Kennebunkport, enjoy walking through the lovely town square, with its planter box near the center of town, and across the small bridge to see the boats anchored in the marina. There are many lovely homes, churches and bed & breakfasts, making it a pleasure to walk the tree-lined streets.

If you drive out Ocean Avenue from the town square, you can see the lovely beach, then farther on, Walker Point, where the summer home of President George H.W. Bush is located.

If you return to Route 9 from Ocean Avenue, it will take you to Cape Porpoise, a charming, hidden, village, with a lovely harbor and Goat Island lighthouse.

When you finish enjoying this delightful area, return to Brewster House for snacks, and later a dinner at one of the Freeport restaurants, then a browse through the Freeport outlets. Another nice day out!

Is it Time for New England Fall Foliage Yet?

Now that July is past, and the prime time for an August getaway has arrived, the news media has begun to talk about summer "drawing to a close" and getting ready for "back to school."

Here in Maine, it seems that summer has just begun. The guests at this Freeport Maine Bed and Breakfast have been happily touring lighthouses, visiting lobster shacks, and generally enjoying all that Freeport and the coast of Maine have to offer. And all these things will continue through August, and even after "back to school", throughout September.

That said, while the annual Maine fall foliage color changes won't begin until about the first of October, it is time to begin to make plans to see it. In addition to checking availability and selecting your room, you should consider just how you will go about viewing the fall color.

One option, of course, would be to just come up here and explore by seeing where the roads lead. Another would be to buy a guide book.

Our suggestion is to try our Fall Foliage Surf & Turf package. In addition to two nights at Brewster House, and Ruth's fantastic breakfasts (a guest today said it was the best breakfast he'd ever had), you'll also get a self-driving tour of some of our favorite foliage areas, with maps and turn-by-turn directions and commentary (we even include a lighthouse or two). But there's more! There is also a two-hour cruise on one of Portland Schooner Co.'s antique, Maine-built, schooners, so you can see the foliage along Casco Bay from the water. All this, plus a dinner gift certificate, an L.L. Bean gift card (and a gasoline card to help with the driving costs), and a Maine welcome basket with souvenirs.

With the Fall Foliage Surf & Turf package you'll see foliage by land and by sea!

This is not your ordinary fall foliage tour!

To expand your fall foliage viewing even more, you can also do as one of our guests did, and drive across Maine to New Hampshire, and enjoy the foliage along the Kancamagus Highway - which is absolutely breathtaking!

However you decide to see the New England fall foliage, we are here to help you with suggestions, maps and directions.

Don't miss it.