Fall Colors well under way!

This week's fall foliage report from the State of Maine reports that fall colors are well underway, with the northern part of the state having a high degree of color.

True to prior patterns, the color has begun in the western and northern parts of the state, and will be moving east and south over the coming weeks.

The highest color areas thus far are north and west of Bangor, with the areas from below Bangor to the coast and southern borders showing low to moderate color changes.

We look for good color to be present in spots throughout the more populated areas, increasing over the next two weeks, when we would normally expect to see peak color along the midcoast region.

Fall Foliage and Lighthouses - What a Great Tour!

Up and down Maine's midcoast region, really from Freeport north to Camden, fall colors are starting to appear, and the promise of really nice fall foliage is apparent.

At Brewster House we always enjoy guiding our guests on our Lighthouse Tour of the Maine Coast, but we take special enjoyment when we can combine it with parts of our Fall Foliage Surf & Turf special - recently named one of the 10 Great B&B Escapes for Fall by Smarter Travel magazine.

For those who want the best of the lighthouse tour and the foliage areas, we start by sending you north to Brunswick on US-1, then out Route 24 from Cook's Corner, across Great Island, then Orr's Island, across the Cribstone Bridge to Bailey Island and Land's End. Along the way you'll see beautiful coastal scenery, and, as the trees begin to turn, some wonderful fall colors. From Land's End you can see Halfway Rock lighthouse, almost appearing to float on the waters of Casco Bay.

Returning to the mainland and US-1, we turn north again, then take Route 24 toward Boothbay Harbor, but at Boothbay we turn off, heading for Newagen, where you can see the Cuckolds Lighthouse from the picturesque little harbor. After a brief side trip (and maybe a quick stop for an ice cream cone in Boothbay Harbor), we return to US-1, and continue north to Damariscotta, where the quintessential New England fall foliage photo-op appears, with the lovely New England village in view across the river, with a wreath of fall colors surrounding it.

Continuing out the peninsula to Pemaquid Point, the foliage can be magnificent, and the trekker is rewarded by the majestic beauty of Pemaquid Point lighthouse perched high on a rocky bluff, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

For most, this would be a full day, but for the hard-core foliage enthusiast, on the return south on US-1, you can exit at Woolwich, and Route 127, to Georgetown Island, where you can view wonderful foliage along the island, and stop at Reid State Park, where you can walk on the beach and see Seguin Island lighthouse about 2.5 miles offshore. On a clear day you can also see the Cuckolds light.

What a great way to combine a drive through the fall colors with a tour of midcoast lighthouses!

Great New Photos at Brewster House

Many of our friends know that, while we often get (and appreciate!) compliments on our web site, we have wanted to upgrade the photos, especially the photos of the food and the rooms, to top-notch professional photos.

This past week we were able to do just that!

We worked with Jumping Rocks Photography, widely regarded as one of the best photographers of small lodging properties - in no small degree due to their past ownership of a highly regarded Inn. We met Mark and Matthew at an innkeeping conference over a year ago, began talking, and eventually scheduled their visit for early September of this year.

Before their arrival, we were given a list of things to prepare, from props (pillows, flowers, etc.) to scheduling, plans were made to ensure that the time the team was here was used most effectively.

When they arrived, Matthew and Mark went right to work, learning about Brewster House's rooms, our plans for food shots, and arranging to work around occupied guest rooms. We had scheduled a day and a half of shooting, and had wanted to include some exterior shots, but rain made that unlikely (but also meant we had more time for the other shots). The first day they were able to shoot a couple of rooms, getting things well underway.

Following breakfast the next morning, Matthew and Mark shot several more rooms, then we all re-convened in the dining room and kitchen for some food shots. The afternoon saw them back in the guest rooms, getting more amazing shots.

The final morning provided time to finish the last of the guest rooms, and, with a bit of parting sunshine, some quick shots on the guest entry porch.

We're thrilled with the results, and have already put many of them up on the Brewster House web site. You'll find them on our home page, each of the rooms pages, and the breakfast page, as well as appearing here and there throughout the other pages of the site.

Look for changes to the website, itself in the winter months, as we make even more use of the wonderful photos from Jumping Rocks.

Maine Fall Foliage is Offically Underway!

The official start of Maine fall foliage season has begun, as the state has issued its first 2011 foliage report, indicating there is a small amount of color in the northern part of the state, in the higher elevations.

Based on our (very) unofficial historical observations, you can expect the colors to change in a pattern that moves from west to east, and from north to south. That said, there are almost always areas within one zone that are well ahead, or well behind, their neighboring trees. That is why, while "peak" in a particular area is ideal, there are micro-locations that will peak earlier or later than the rest of the zone.

The Maine Foliage site also includes historical foliage peak information, which can help identify the best times to visit. The state is divided into 7 zones (Freeport is in Zone 1), then the peak date is charted by date and zone here. This chart makes it clear that, even though there will be good color near our Freeport Maine Bed & Breakfast from late September through all of October, the actual "peak" is likely to be between October 15 and October 20, if the past 10 years are any indication.

Some have asked about damage from the recent tropical storm. There are a few trees that have lost their leaves - most likely due to salt spray brought inland by the strong winds - but their number is not significant, and will not have much, if any, impact on the foliage viewing for 2011.

A Day Trip to See Fall Foliage, Lighthouses and Lobster!

The latest in our Day Trip series (see Boothbay Harbor, the Kennebunks, Owls Head and to See Moose) is here, just in time to plan the perfect trip to see fall foliage in Maine, Lighthouses, and Lobster!

From your base at Brewster House Bed & Breakfast in Freeport Maine, this day trip will take as much time as you want to give it. There are lots of choices, turning off the main highways to see fall colors, lighthouses and visit lobster shacks. Fall foliage season usually starts near the end of September and continues through October. You can check the status of the foliage at the State of Maine foliage website, beginning September 14. Peak foliage generally starts in the far north and west of the state, then moves east and south. Besides the peak (which doesn't last long), excellent foliage can usually be seen for quite some time on either side of the peak.

Since there is almost always a part of US-1 that is full of color during the fall foliage season, after your delicious breakfast at Brewster House, we suggest going north from Freeport along US-1, for about 45 minutes, to Damariscotta, where the fall foliage view of the town across the Sheepscot River is postcard-perfect. Exiting US-1 there, and heading out Maine Route 131, the peninsula is full of color, on the way to Pemaquid Point light house, one of the most spectacularly scenic locations along the coast.

Returning to Damariscotta, turn left just before US-1, and follow River Road through Newcastle and enjoy the foliage along the river, as you make your way to Maine Route 27, turning left toward Boothbay Harbor. Enjoy the lovely working harbor, and if it is time for a meal, try the Lobster Dock (they do close for the season some time between mid-October and the end of the month, so you may want to call ahead to be sure they're open). Find time for an ice cream cone at Downeast Ice Cream (at the end of Wharf Street), before continuing on Route 27 toward Newagen, where you can see the seldom seen lighthouse known as "The Cuckolds" offshore.

Return on Maine Route 238 to Boothbay, where you'll take Route 27 back to US-1, then head south to Woolwich. Just before crossing the river to Bath, take the exit for Reid State Park. You'll see nice foliage on Georgetown Island, and can enjoy the views at Reid, or continue on the Five Islands, and the Five Islands Lobster Shack for a wonderful meal on the dock (where you can also watch the lobster boats unload their catch, if your timing is right).

If you've had enough driving, just return to US-1 and head back to Freeport for a bit of R&R and retail therapy. If not, take one more peninsula, by exiting US-1 at Cooks Corner, and take Maine Route 24 to Orrs Island and Bailey Island. The road winds through wooded areas and seaside, with plenty of fall colors, across the Cribstone Bridge connecting Orrs to Bailey Islands, and taking you past Cooks Lobster House, well-known for its fine lobster dinners.

You can go the the end of the road (called, appropriately enough, Land's End) on Bailey's Island, where you can see in the distance the lighthouse called Halfway Rock Lighthouse. The lighthouse almost appears to be floating on the water, as the rock it sits on is covered at high tide.

Returning on Route 24, watch for Mountain Road and turn left, cutting over to Harpswell and Route 123, to provide a different route back to US-1 via Brunswick, then back to Freeport.