Monica & Rock’s Top Ten Rainy Day Activities

It’s cold, it’s raining, it’s time for these activities -

There are so many other fun things to do whether it is raining or sunny! Check the list of Maine things to do here.

Monica & Rock’s Top Ten Maine Adventures

No matter how long you have in Freeport, let us help you find some fun, out-of-the-way places to discover the real Maine. Don’t forget your camera!

This is just a short collection of things to do in the area. For more Maine adventures, check here.

Would you like us to plan a Maine Adventure for you? Take a look at our Summer Camp for Adults.

We know there are so many different places to go and things to see that you’ll never see all of them this trip. Check out the calendar to plan your next getaway!

Monica & Rock’s Top Ten Lobster Shacks

You know you want lobster. Unless you’re allergic. In which case, skip this page.

There are so many more places we haven’t tried yet. Go out exploring; bring back tales of lobster found far and wide. Enjoy!

Looking for other restaurants? Check our Freeport (and surrounding area) restaurant page.

Fall foliage in Freeport is one of the most beautiful times of year. Sure spring is wonderful when all the new buds and flowers start popping out all over. And, yes, winter is lovely as well with the fresh coat of new snow every other day. Summer? Well, summer is not my favorite season, but it is grand in its own little way.

But, fall? Love it! The colors, the crisp air, the flannel! All good. I’m going to leave you (get it?) with these photos to encourage you to visit Maine this fall.

Plan a fall vacation now! Best foliage along the coast is generally the 2nd and 3rd weeks of October. We have a fun foliage package that includes a lobster boat cruise, dinner, and chocolate lobsters! It’s been a crowd fave for years.

Why fall in Freeport?

• Lobster shacks are open until Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples’ Day).
• Coastal drives are less crowded now.
• Apple orchards abound for cider and donuts, not to mention apple picking.
• Check out the Damariscotta Pumpkin Festival for zany activities (pumpkin boat races, pumpkin toss, pumpkin painting) and great food.
• Freeport’s Fall Festival drew over 40,000 attendees last year and is expanding again this year with new locations around town. Come for the music, food, and amazing crafts.
• Camp Sunshine’s Pumpkin Fest on the LL Bean campus is a fun family-centric activity with face painting, pumpkin carving, and a costume parade with pumpkin lighting.

Check the availability calendar here and start dreaming. Recent research shows people who are planning vacations in the next few months are all around happier than people who aren’t. (No, I didn’t ask who sponsored the research, I’m just going with it!)

We’ll be trying new recipes this fall - Pumpkin French Toast is one of them. See you soon! Fall foliage in Freeport is only here for a short time. Don’t miss the gorgeous colors and yummy lobster.

Looking for more ideas? Check out the Maine Pumpkin Trail.

M is for Museum

The museums of Maine are far-ranging in depth and scope. I’ll try to sort them out here into some semblance of order! I know I’m going to miss dozens, but you can let me know about them and I’ll add them later on. Not included in this list individually are the historical society museums in every little town and city across the state. That’s where you go to track down the comings and goings of the citizenry back to the start of the village.

It’s not always easy to select the correct box to put each museum in. This museum has wicked good art, but it also has an interesting side building with toys. Is it ‘Art’ or is it something else? Forgive me if I put your fave in the wrong bucket! Do I include the homes of famous people if they are open for visitors? If they were collectors does their house go under ‘Historic Sites’ or ‘Art’? Maybe both?

Maybe I’ll just start and let the museums sort themselves out -

Art Museums of Maine:

• Portland Museum of Art (Portland)
• Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit)
• Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland)
• Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick)
• Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston)
• Colby Museum of Art (Waterville)
• Abbe Museum (Bar Harbor) *one of those multiple option museums - Native American art, but also a museum of Native culture
• University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor)
• LC Bates Museum (Hinckley) *another museum that spans the genres - art, local history, family history

Car Museums:

You know I can’t do a post about museums without hitting on the car museums!

• Owl’s Head Transportation Museum (Owl’s Head) *also has planes and motorcycles
• Motorland (Arundel) *combo of car museum and sales and repair
• Goldenrod Garage (Freeport) *not a museum at all, but oh, the cars!
• Seal Cove Auto Museum (Mount Desert)
• Stanley Museum (Kingfield) *Stanley Steamer-centric
• Boothbay Railway Village (Boothbay) *car section, even thought mostly about trains

Odd Museums:

You’d know one if you saw it!

• Fawcett’s Toy Museum (Waldoboro)
• Umbrella Cover Museum (Peaks Island) *yes, just like it sounds
• International Cryptozoology Museum (Portland)
• Vintage Snowmobile Museum (Turner) *does this go here or with the cars?
• Antique Snowmobile Museum (Millinocket) *yes, TWO museums for snowmobiles!
• Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum (Bowdoin College, Brunswick) *could belong under ‘History’
• The Telephone Museum (Ellsworth)

Lighthouse Museums:

Many lighthouses have a museum attached telling about the history of the local area.

• Maine Lighthouse Museum (Rockland)
• Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Museum (Pemaquid Point)
• Portland Head Light (Portland)

Historical Museums:

• Maine State Museum (Augusta) - Maine history through the ages
• Victoria Mansion (Portland)
• Longfellow Museum (Portland)
• Old Fort Western (Augusta)
• Kittery Naval Museum (Kittery)
• Maine Maritime Museum (Bath)

Children’s Museums:

• Children’s Museum of Maine (Augusta)
• Portland Children’s Museum (Portland)

I know I am missing so many more. There are museums at almost all the historical sites around the state. Every fort tells a story if even there are no plaques and markers. Every lighthouse has seen its share of tragedies and rescues. Let me know if you’ve found a museum we need to share!

Looking for more museum ideas? This is the state list of museums.

Ready for vacation? We’ve got the maps so you can plan your Museums of Maine road trip. Check here for availability.

K is for King - Stephen King

Stephen King’s Maine is both beautiful and haunting. Driving around the backroads and through the cities you can see inspiration around every corner. Oh, you can’t? Well, take a look at that innocuous storm drain, the one right down the street. You see it every day. Then imagine looking down one day and there’s a clown looking back. Yeah, that kind of inspiration.

Come along on a drive around Maine, Stephen King’s Maine. Oh, before we take off, lock that door will you?

Maine is known for its writers. It’s hard to swing a lobster buoy without hitting a writer. Famous, not-so-famous, totally unknown, Maine has a writer on every corner. (I should know, I’m one of them.) Maybe it’s something in the air. Or the water. Or the long winters. Whatever it is, Maine ranks right up there in number of libraries per capita and someone has to fill those shelves.

Maine’s most famous author?

Is Stephen King Maine’s most famous author? Depends on who you ask. Some people have never heard of him, but will go into raptures about Edna St Vincent Millay or Katherine Hall Page. So, depends on your audience. For this piece, we’ll focus on Mr King.

Driving Stephen King’s Maine

Here’s a short tour of Stephen King’s Maine. These are places you can visit that are either mentioned in his books, obliquely referred to, or are possible points of inspiration.

1. West Durham Methodist Church - Runaround Pond Rd, Durham, Maine (childhood church)
2. Governor Percival Baxter’s pet cemetery - Mackworth Island State Park (possible inspiration for Pet Sematary?)
3. Worumbo Mill - Lisbon Falls (most of the mill has been torn down, SK mentions working here)
4. Railroad Diner - Lisbon Falls (possibly the inspiration for the diner in 11/22/63?)
5. Dysart’s Truck Stop - Bangor/Hermon (inspiration for Maximum Overdrive)
6. Thomas Hill Standpipe (aka The Standpipe) - Bangor (aka Derry)
7. Paul Bunyan statue - Bangor
8. Mount Hope Cemetery - Bangor (actual filming location in Pet Sematary)
9. Bangor International Airport - Bangor (Langoliers)
10. Stephen King’s house (photo above) - Bangor
11. Z-107.3, Bangor’s radio station has this list of places to see.
12. There are also guided tours you can take in Bangor. SKTours is one of them.

If you find yourself sitting dockside enjoying a cold beer and a lobster as a summer fog rolls in off the ocean, engulfing the horizon, shoreline, boats, the house next door, you’ll realize how incredibly scary ‘The Mist’ is in real life when the whole world is suddenly muted and impossibly gray and you truly cannot see your hand in front of your face.

Ready for vacation? (We promise - no sewer drains on our property!) Check here for availability.

L is for Lighthouse

You could spend a month tracking down the lighthouses of Maine by car, foot, boat, and plane and you might still miss one or two. Sure, they’re on the coast, but there are over 3500 miles of coastline in the state and you could be forgiven for missing a turn off here and there. And, lets not forget Ladies Delight, a landlocked lighthouse in Lake Cobbosseecontee aka Cobbossee Light.

We’re happy to give you a copy of the Lighthouse Guide with directions on how to get to over sixty lights along the coast. Using White Cedar Inn as your home base gives you the ability to drive to, or catch a boat to, over 20 lighthouses. If you’re also going to Downeast Maine, you can stop along the way to pick up a few more, then catch 10 more in and around Mt Desert.

How to find a lighthouse

There is no better day for getting inside a Maine lighthouse than Maine Open Lighthouse Day, which occurs every September. Use the link above to find which lighthouses are open and how to easily get to them. Although the lighthouse tour may be free, you may need to pay for a boat to get there.

If you’re not planning on traveling on that one day in September, use the light house guide to find your favorites.

A few of our favorites

These are a few of our favorite lighthouses of Maine you can get to within an hour’s drive from White Cedar Inn. The Casco Bay area affords a view of 6 separate lighthouses within about 10 miles of each other. 3 of them you can walk right up to and touch. 1 is out on Ram Island Ledge and almost impossible to get to. 2 more are located on shore, but not accessible. You can drive by them, but there is no place to stop.

Spring Point Ledge Light and park. This light is at the end of a granite jetty. You get to it via Southern Maine Community College roads.

Bug Light and Park. There is an outdoor museum of liberty ship info here. It is also the site of the kite festival every spring.

Portland Head Light is at the top of the page.

Other lighthouses you can see

Doubling Point on the Kennebec River. View this one from shore or on a river cruise with the Maine Maritime Museum.

Nubble Light aka Cape Neddick Light. About 1.5 hours south. Go to Fort Clary in Kittery on the same drive to see the Whaleback Light.

And, the lighthouse on the back of the Maine quarter - Pemaquid Point.

Pond Island and Seguin Lights can be seen from Popham Beach or on the Kennebec River cruise.

Of course you’ll want to stop for lobster along the way. Just ask! We have maps and can point out our lobster faves!

Ready to vacation? Check here for White Cedar Inn availability. See you soon!

A is for Alewives

Every spring the alewives return to Maine streams and ponds to spawn. On any given day during the April - June migration see them at at the Damariscotta Fish Ladder. The access from the ocean to the pond behind the dam is maintained by the Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration organization. They host an annual fish fry to help pay for the cost of repairs and additions to the ladder. Come July, the process is reversed and the young alewives begin the journey back to the ocean where they live until mature enough to return to their home pond.

The drive to the fish ladder is pretty straightforward - from White Cedar Inn head north on Rt 1 to Damariscotta/Newcastle. Turn off Rt 1 at Rt 129 (Bus Rt 1). At intersection, go straight onto Rt 215. Stay on there until you reach the fish ladder on the left (approx 2 miles).

Make a day of it

While you’re out near the fish ladder, stop by at Alewives Fabrics for some great quilting fabrics and notions. Lots of cool Maine fabrics!

Hike through the Great Salt Bay Marsh Trail to the shell middens.

Return to Newcastle for lunch at the Newcastle Publick House, or Damariscotta for a meal at King Eider Pub or Schooner Landing. Continue on Rt 129/Rt 130 to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. Climb the spiral stairs into the lighthouse, view the museum, wander the grounds of the park.

Also along this peninsula, stop at Ft William Henry.

Not tired yet? On your return from Pemaquid Point, take a right on Rt 32 and head for New Harbor. Stop at Shaw’s for an al fresco lobster dinner and hop on the Hardy Boat Cruises for a puffin watch tour (May - August). These tours are guided by a naturalist who works on the island all summer following the large variety of sea birds that nest there. You’ll see puffins, cormorants, black guillemots, razorbills, and more. Seals and dolphins are often seen while cruising the Muscongus Bay. Artists set up on the pier to paint a view of the scenic fishing harbor.

Or, continue on scenic Rt 32 to the Rachel Carson Salt Marsh Preserve for a walk along the shore. Afterwards, turn off at Round Pond where Muscongus Bay Lobster and the Round Pond Lobster Co-op are open in the summer. The Granite House is the perfect stop for ice cream.

Continue on to Rt 1, turn south and head home. Ask us for a map and we’ll highlight the locations in this post so you can find them.

Ready for vacation? Check here for availability at White Cedar Inn. See you soon!

We had a free day yesterday. It’s one of those odd twists in the space-time continuum where no one can find our website on the internet so we have no guests checking in that day. It’s a bit freaky in summer, but we take advantage and go for a drive. And, what’s a drive if you’re not going to look at vintage cars?

Rock has wanted to go to Motorland in Arundel ever since he read about it a few months ago. Other than all the wicked cool cars from all over the world, the show-stealer at Motorland is the Tucker.

Unlike other museums, there are no ropes or guards walking around so you can get pretty close to the cars. Keep an eye on the kids, though, you’re responsible for any necessary repairs!

Outside is an entire used car lot with all different vintages. They also have cars you can rent for a wedding.

You know me and my thing about radiator caps and hood ornaments. Even though I didn’t have the ‘good’ camera with me, I managed to get this shot -

After Motorland (Rt 1 in Arundel), we meandered over to Kennebunkport so I could go to Junebug’s Beach House. This cute little shop on Ocean St has the best pet-related, Maine-themed gifts around. Their original shop is in Ogunquit.

We wandered around KBPT for a couple of hours, taking pix, popping into shops, and having a late lunch at Federal Jack’s.

All in all a good day of summer fun in Maine!

Plan a vacation in Maine this year! We are conveniently located for day trips like this one. Check here for availability.

The LL Bean Concert Schedule for 2019 is here!

Break out your lawn chair, summer is almost here. Lobster shacks are all open, ice cream stands are, too. That means it’s time for the free LL Bean concerts to begin!

All concerts and events are on the LL Bean Campus in Discovery Park. Concerts start at 7:30 PM, other Saturday events generally start at 11 AM.

LL Bean Concert Schedule:

• • July 4 - The War and Treaty
  • July 6 - TBD
  • July 13 - Gone West with Colbie Cailliat
  • July 27 - AJR
  • Aug 3 - Mat Kearney
  • Aug 10 - Camp Sunshine Watermelon Fest
  • Aug 17 - Anderson East
  • Aug 24-25 - Dog Days of Summer Fest
  • Aug 31 - Gavin DeGraw

Other Discovery Park Events

Friday evenings starting Jul 5: family friendly movie, games, and food trucks in the park at 6 PM. Bring a blanket, watch a movie, hang out and play lawn games.

Yoga in the park: Monday - Friday, 8-9 AM, starting July 5.

The LL Bean concerts have been a long-standing feature of Saturday nights in Freeport. We hope you have the chance to join us this year for one or more of your faves. The concerts are free, and subject to weather. In case of rain, please check with the LL Bean store for details: 1-877-755-2326

Chairs may be put out on the lawn in Discovery Park at 6 AM on the day of the concert, they must be removed by one hour after the concert ends in order that the staff may clean the area for other events. No alcohol (Maine state regulation) or smoking is allowed at the concerts or on the campus itself. Dogs should be left at home given the size of the crowd.

If you are staying with us for the concert, feel free to grab a coffee and pop down to the park to set up your chairs before breakfast. You won’t be the only guest doing so!

Make a reservation here. See you soon!

A wedding in Maine

February starts the flurry of activities around hosting a wedding in Maine. Wedding planners are swamped soon after all those Valentine’s Day proposals! Every summer and fall we host hundreds of wedding attendees here to witness a sister, brother, cousin, daughter, son, or friend tying the knot with their beloved.

Lots of brides and grooms have long ties to Maine with families vacationing here for generations. Some went to summer camp in the lakes and mountains regions and want to show their families why they love Maine so much.

Whatever the reason, getting married here is a long tradition!

How to plan

If you are planning your wedding long distance, it’s best to have someone close by to work out the details for you, visit the venues, and speak directly with the vendors you are using for your special day. (We see a lot of moms and aunts who are taking over the onsite task of visiting and vetting all the properties. We can help with accommodating your wedding guests even though we don’t host weddings here on site. Give us a call or have someone stop by for more information and a tour! 207.865.9099)

If you are not working with a wedding consultant, grab one of those huge bridal magazines at the grocery checkout and go over their list of ‘when to do what.’ You’ll find that having a wedding in Maine in October, to take advantage of the foliage requires planning 2 years in advance for some of the primo locations. More couples are moving their wedding to June to avoid the higher seasonal prices and crowds.

Where to have the wedding

Just in the surrounding Freeport area there are gorgeous venues for your wedding and reception! You can be near the water, on a farm, or in a Conde Nast-rated resort. Get married on an island with all your guests alighting from a ferry or water taxi. Hire a windjammer for your ceremony and host a lobster bake on the beach.

Options for a special day are endless.

Some venue ideas

Every year we are asked if we host weddings here at White Cedar Inn. We are too small to readily accommodate most weddings so we like to have a list handy of places nearby that have everything you need for the perfect Maine wedding:

The Harraseeket Inn can host your wedding and reception as well as your rehearsal dinner and a morning buffet breakfast for your guests. (We’re right next door so your guests can walk!)

Wolfe’s Neck Center is a farm on the Harraseeket River. They host outdoor weddings on the banks of the river.

William Allen Farm has a newly-renovated 200-year old barn to give your wedding an elegant, yet rustic feeling.

Maine Maritime Museum has indoor and outdoor facilities for weddings of different sizes. Right on the Kennebec River.

Happy wedding planning! Remember, we can host your guests in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere while they are here for your happy day.

Check availability for your guests here.

And, be sure to add us to your save-the-date cards and wedding website. www.whitecedarinn.com

It’s time to take a sunset cruise off the coast of South Freeport Harbor. On a glorious summer evening, I caught the shuttle bus in front of LL Bean for a ride to South Freeport Harbor and a sunset cruise around the islands off the coast of South Freeport and Harpswell on the Pamela B.

The boat cruises around the islands on a variety of different routes: heading to Eagle Island to Adm Perry’s summer home (a state park now), or hauling lobster traps and getting an overview of lobstering in Maine, or a self- directed private tour. No matter which cruise you choose you’re in for a great time seeing all the natural beauty of Freeport from the water.

Heading out of the harbor you pass Pound of Tea. (The absolute best name for an island yet!) Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park is off to your left and Winslow Park is off to the right.

This is a pic (above) from a few years ago of the Casco Castle. You can see this from the boat as you motor slowly out of the harbor.

Passing Bustin’s Island it’s always a treat to see the Octagon House. It stands on its own wee tiny island just off the mainland. You can walk to it at low tide, or if you have a boat you can pull up to the dock.

Bustin’s Island is a summer community. There is limited electricity and running water. Access to the island is via the Lilly B ferry or private boat.

Just cruising Harpswell Neck we passed the town of South Harpswell and the oyster farms which are popping up everywhere with the resurgence in aquaculture along the coast. These small islands had bald eagles, osprey nests, and seals basking on the rocks.

Heading back to the town dock in Freeport we were treated to a wonderful moonrise.

And a glorious sunset!

FMI: Seacoast Tours of Freeport. 207-798-2001

In summer 2019 we will have cruising packages available!

Ready to come to Freeport? Check here for availability.

Kittery Naval Museum

We made a mad dash down to Kittery yesterday to have a look at the Kittery Naval Museum. (Exit 2 off I-95) If you are coming up from Massachusetts, this is a good stop to make. Get out, stretch your legs, and learn a little about the history of Kittery and the Navy influence.

Remember ‘Diver Dan’ from the TV series in the 1960’s?

Fort Foster

After an hour at the museum, we took off for Fort Foster and Fort McClary out on Kittery Point. Along the way, we spotted some of the oldest houses in Maine. Kittery residents played important roles in the American Revolution, not all of them on the American side.

Fort Foster was only open to foot traffic the day we were there. Park along the road before the gate, watching for ‘no parking’ signs and side roads. The walk from the car to the Chapin Battery (above) was about a half mile. Below the battery there is a small sandy beach on one side and a rockier beach on the other.

There is a playground for the kids and large expanses of lawn with BBQ sets spread out around the park.

We met up with some scientists from UNH who were doing experiments on tidal currents in the harbor. A side road we did not take had signage pointing to areas for underwater diving and a longer sandy beach. The whole park is 88 acres.

The ‘cribs’ in the photo above are the remains of a harbor defense system from WWII. They were designed to thwart attacks from the sea. The building above, on Wood Island, has undergone extensive renovation and repair work in the past few years. It also stood guard over the Portsmouth Harbor defending against attack by submarines. Eventually, a museum will open when the renovations are completed inside and out.

Whaleback Light

Yes, found another Maine lighthouse on this trip!

Portsmouth Harbor

Across the harbor, in Portsmouth, NH are the remains of Ft Constitution. To the left is the Portsmouth Harbor Light. The imposing structure behind is ‘The Castle’ a former Navy prison.

Lobster Roll

No day out is complete without lobster rolls! We found this place ‘clinging’ to the side of the road on Kittery Point. Small sign and a long parking area are the only clues this funky place exists. It’s strictly BYOB and having a picnic tablecloth completes the ambience. The Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier is just that - a pier on the Chauncey Creek. It looks like you could kayak in at high tide.

Another fun day out comes to a close.

Planning your own vacation? Check out our packages and availability! We’ll see you soon.

Puffins in Maine

The puffins in Maine were hunted to extinction back in the early 1900’s. Careful resettlement from nesting colonies in Iceland has brought the population back to several hundred nesting pairs. Puffins go back to where they were hatched when they are ready to breed. Nesting pairs were brought in from other breeding grounds with the hope they would survive and thrive in the new location.

This colorful character is bringing food back to the nest. Before the eggs hatch, the adult puffins eat their catch at sea. After the eggs hatch, they return with small sardines and like fish for the nestlings.

Also nesting on the island are cormorants, razorbills, black guillemots, and terns. Taking a boat ride out to Eastern Egg Rock allows for beautiful views of the harbor, seals, lighthouses and sometimes Atlantic white-sided dolphins.

An excellent evening boat cruise to view the puffins and other pelagic birds is available from New Harbor aboard Hardy Boat Cruises.

Combine it with a day trip to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Fort William Henry, and Muscongus Bay.

Ask us for a map of the area to find all the hidden gems on the Pemaquid Peninsula!

Ready for vacation? Check here for availability!

Touring the forts of Maine

Fort William Henry - Pemaquid Beach

Forts of various vintages dot the coast of Maine. Not quite as ubiquitous as the lighthouses, there are still enough to make you realize Maine was on the front lines of possible water-based attack from Europe and Canada.

Ranging in age from Colonial times to WWII, the forts were built, used, abandoned, refitted, and abandoned again. Some are now privately owned, while others are part of a variety of state parks. You can see many of them via car, but some do require either kayak or boating excursion to reach.

Here are just a few that we have been to. Ask about them when you’re here and we can give you a map to find 10 of them within an easy drive! Many are open to walk through, others are in too rough shape for constant traffic. Some have faded so far into the earth, all that remains are the markers and a cannon.

Fort Popham, Popham Beach, Maine.

Fort Baldwin, Popham Beach, Maine.

Fort Edgecomb, Edgecomb, Maine.

Fort Gorges, Casco Bay, Maine.

Fort Knox, Prospect, Maine.

The forts of Maine are amazing works of engineering. Although many of them never saw ‘action’, they stood ready to guard the coast, the state of Maine, and the country from invasion. Check out the tower at Fort Baldwin that was used to scout the coast during WWII.

Planning a vacation? Check here for availability!

Vacationland

When you think about the mottoes and other ‘advertising’ states put on their license plates, there are a few that make you smile:

New Hampshire - Live Free or Die - pretty succinct and determined.
New York: The Empire State - also not messing around with the PR department.
New Mexico - Land of Enchantment - with a background illustration from Arches National Park.
Delaware - The First State - and don’t you forget it!

And, of course, Maine - Vacationland. And, it really is the land of vacations. We have guests who have been coming to Maine since they were babies and 70 is a distant memory for them! Generations of families have vacationed here, gone to summer camp here, attended college here because they came here on vacation.

What about us? My parents said they brought me here as a baby. Hmmm, I can’t quite call that to mind. I did come here when I was around 17 and I remember getting stuck on the Fox Islands off Popham Beach because the tide came in and I wasn’t paying attention!(It’s still one of my favorite places in the world.)

Rock remembers going to Old Orchard Beach with his family. It’s hard to find someone along the East Coast who doesn’t have at least one childhood memory of Maine.

Now it’s your turn! Come to Vacationland. Start a family tradition. Make some memories your kids will tell their kids about as they pile everyone in the car and head out for Maine. (Maybe by then the ‘license plate game’ will have some different slogans to gather.)

Ready to plan your vacation? Check here for upcoming availability.

LL Bean Summer Concerts

It’s that time of year again for the LL Bean Summer Concerts! We’re planning to get out lawn chairs out, how about you? Take a look at the schedule and then call to reserve your room for the weekend…

LL Bean Summer Concerts- Freeport

July 4: Events all day including the 5k road race. Parade in front of the inn at 10 AM.

July 4: Devon Gilfillian

July 7: Chase Rice and Cassadee Pope

July 14: Big Head Todd

July 21: Old Crow Medicine Show

July 28: Passenger

Aug 4: The Revivalists

Aug 11: Camp Sunshine Watermelon Fest (not a concert)

Aug 18: Teens to Trails with events throughout the day

Aug 25-26: Dog Days of Summer - All day events with dogs as the focus

Sept 1: The Fray

Check here for availability for your stay.

Every day it’s a little closer to looking like this outside. Now’s the time to plan that early season getaway to avoid the summer crowds. Everything is open, the lobster is fresh, strawberries are ripe, and school is till in session so it’s easy to get around. (Plus, rates are still lower than summer.)

Plan to come to Freeport for kayaking, biking, hiking and more this June. Take a trip on a lobster boat or cruise around the Casco Bay on a sailboat. Temps are cool in June, bring a fleece jacket for days on the water.

Check here for availability, then select your room! Up for a week? Try our ‘Summer Camp for Adults‘! See you soon!

Girlfriend’s Getaway in Freeport, Maine in June.

Freeport is the perfect hangout for a girlfriend’s getaway - you can walk to restaurants, shopping, adventure trips with LL Bean, and more.

Head on over to Freeport June 1 - 3, 2018 for Girlfriend’s Getaway weekend. Events around town all weekend (Fri-Sat-Sun) include discounts at shops, a free hot towel mini manicure, samples of Wicked Whoopies, jewelry design workshops, wine and cheese reception, chocolate factory tours and more.

We have a special treat for you, just for this weekend - Movies, Munchies & Moxie - stay two nights and everyone in your room receives a movie pass for Nordica Theater, chocolates from Wilbur’s, and a bottle of Moxie. ($40 value for 2 guests.)

Room rates start at $148+ tax. 2 night minimum. Reserve your room early for the best selection!

It’s a great time for a girlfriend’s getaway. Make it a complete vacation by taking the train from Boston!

How about learning a new sport? LL Bean Walk On Adventures can teach you SUP, kayaking, archery, fly casting. $30

Wine and cheese your thing? Bow St Market is hosting a wine tasting.

Or, take yourself off to the beach to hunt for sea glass and watch the waves roll by.

Easy walk from White Cedar Inn to all events in town.

Summer vacation will be here before you know it.

It’s never too early to start dreaming about your Maine summer vacation! Lighthouses, lobster, kayaking, hiking, there is so much to do across the state. Maybe you like history and museums or learning to build your own boat. We’ve got that here in Maine. Lazy days on the beach? Yup, we’ve got that, too. Odes to the lobster, blueberry, potato, whoopie pie, and the clam (aka festivals)? All lined up for you to enjoy.

Plan a few days or a couple of weeks. You’ll go home refreshed with the scent of pine and seashore captured in your suitcase from the cool breezes blowing from the ocean and mountains.

We’ve pulled together a couple of adventure packages to help you get organized so you can enjoy more of your stay doing, instead of planning. Select your room and you can reserve online whenever the mood hits you. Still wondering what else there is to do along the coast of Maine? We’ve got lists and ideas galore!

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast is located within an hour of many of the coast’s favorite attractions. (Plus, we know where some of the hidden gems are.) See you soon!

At the end of the world - Land’s End, Maine

Took a drive on a beautifully sunny, but remarkably frigid, day last week to Land’s End on Baily Island. Wandered around on the rocks, watching the surf pounding against granite cliffs. Cold as it was we decided to wait for sunset so I could freeze my fingers off taking some pix. Someday, I am going to get up with the dawn and take some sea smoke photos. But not this week.

Maine photographers are a hardy bunch, that’s for sure. We were not the only folks out there, tripods at the ready, or scrambling around for the best angle. The gift shop deck is a great place to park yourself for the daily show. They even left a couple of rockers out if you happen to be there on a relatively sunny, calm day. BTW, the ‘Road Ends’ sign should not be taken lightly. If you’ve never been out here and you’re barreling along, it’s best to slow down when you see the sign. Pull off into the parking lot on the right and enjoy the view!

Here are a few more pix I got before it was just too cold.

It will be here before you know it! Spa 2020 -

Spa 2020 - the best (wool)gathering of the year right here in downtown Freeport, Maine! Walk to all the events from White Cedar Inn.

We have lots of room and attractive prices for this weekend. Reserve early for the best selection! Breakfast is included.

The weekend runs from February 28 - February 29. Join your friends at the demos and vendor booths all day and then retreat to the quiet of White Cedar Inn for the evening.

Enjoy our historic inn with full breakfast in the morning. We are walking distance (100 yds) to the Harraseeket Inn and 3 blocks to the Hilton Garden Inn, where the majority of events will be taking place.

Vendor booths, massages and more:

Check out the vendor booths, massage stations, alpaca farm open houses and much more! Gather a group of friends and make it a getaway weekend. Even if it snows, we have a lovely fireplace in the gathering room. Make a cup of tea or cocoa and let it snow!

Our guests enjoy afternoon treats each day at White Cedar Inn. Tea, coffee and hot cocoa available 24 hours.

You heard all the great stories about the last Spa, Knit & Spin. Make sure you plan ahead for this one! Don’t miss a single minute of the adventure.

The exquisite lobster roll

Spring is here and so is lobster roll season. Never heard of lobster roll season before? It’s strictly a Maine season. Kind of like shrimp season in Louisiana. Not like mud season, which is pretty prevalent across the northeast.

It’s the time of year when lobster shacks get opened up and aired out after what seems like a forever-long winter. Suddenly, there are lines of cars and people where lines of cars and people have not been seen since October. Yes, lobster roll season is upon us.

We know where quite a lot of great lobster shacks can be found along the coast. Just ask us next time you’re here!

I’ll leave you with this to get you started:

Monica & Rock’s Top Ten Lobster Shacks

You know you want lobster. Unless you’re allergic. In which case, skip this.

There are so many more places we haven’t tried yet. Go out exploring; bring back tales of lobster found far and wide. Enjoy!

Great Egrets return to Maine.

It’s always fun to take a walk on the ‘wild side’. For us, that means a few special places we return to at different times of the year to experience the ever-changing landscape. Right now is the time of year to find the seasonal and migratory birds making their way home to Maine or using Maine as a stopover on their way north to breeding grounds in Canada.

The great egret is a summer visitor in Maine (just like you!) and spends its days fishing along the coast. They are regulars in the Scarborough Marsh. Check the tide charts for low tide and go for a walk on the wild side. This trail is mostly flat and wanders through the marsh and surrounding woodlands.

It’s also possible to bike this trail or rent a kayak at the marsh to paddle around.

Feathers over Freeport birding event.

The annual Feathers over Freeport is an excellent way to introduce children (or yourself) to the adventures of birding. Activities for a wide-range of abilities are scheduled for each day of the weekend. Plan a full day in both parks to hike and explore. Bring along a picnic lunch! Guided bird walks each morning at 8 AM. (Check schedule for full details.)

Date: April 28 & 29, 2018

Location: Bradbury Mountain

Location: Wolfe’s Neck Woods

Park entry fees apply, all programs and activities included with paid park admission.

A wonderful opportunity for birders of all ages to explore the birds of Maine. Watch for migrating raptors from the top of Bradbury Mountain. Chat with fellow birders and naturalists while scanning the skies for bald eagles, buteos, hawks, and more.

Walk along the cliff trail along the Casco Bay and search for nesting osprey. Woodland birds abound in the forested areas along the trail. Bring binoculars to search out harbor seals.

Picnicking in both parks is a great way to share the outdoors with children. There are easy trails in both locations for really young children to explore.

Staying for the weekend? Check here for room availability.

Fall Foliage in Freeport, Maine is a wonderful thing!

Just sharing a couple of photos from this week at Winslow Park. The fall foliage in Freeport is at its peak this week. We had a little grumbling in August and September that the foliage would be a bust this year due to the drought. Well, Mother Nature pulled through just in time with some soaking rains in late September and wonderfully crisp days in October that led to the brilliant colors we’re seeing this week.

There are still some trees that haven’t turned yet so I’m looking at another few days next week where you’ll find riotous color on every Main Street and back road in the area.

If you’re headed this way for foliage, we’ll be happy to show you our favorite drives and let you know which lobster shacks are still open. We generally tell you that the week after Columbus Day is the best one for fall foliage along the coast in Maine. Sometimes it’s a little later, sometimes a little earlier. This year it’s right on time.

There’s nothing to beat a fall foliage trip to Maine - deep blue skies and ocean; vivid red, yellow and orange maples; the black-green of the pines. It’s time for a road trip! See you soon.

Ever since we went to Campobello Island a few years ago I’ve wanted to walk out to East Quoddy Light at low tide. You really have to plan this well as the tide rises quickly and it’s pretty high up there in Canada (around 12-15 ft).

The photo above is one a guest took and sent to us. Now I want to go even more! You have to climb up and down these seaweed encrusted metal stairs, then cross the sandbar to the island.

This is as far as we got last time - East Quoddy Light

Time for a drive out to Bailey Island! Head all the way to the end for yummy fudge at Land’s End. View a lighthouse and the fisherman’s memorial. Along the way, stop at Mackerel Cove and the Giant’s Stairs.

An excellent 4 hour adventure meandering thru Harpswell, Cundy’s Harbor, Bailey Island, Orr’s Island and more.

Take a look at our trip to the Giant’s Stairs.

A lovely walk in the woods! We took a hike last week to find the Glidden Shell Middens at the Great Salt Bay. There are quite a lot of wonderful trails in the Newcastle-Damariscotta area. Read more about them here - Glidden Shell Middens

Maine Lighthouses

The lighthouse trail in Maine runs all along the 3500 miles of seacoast. Yes, 3500 miles. We’re counting all of those hidden coves, tidal flats, and tiny islands along the coast. You can start in Eliot, Maine and go all the way to Canada to see all the Maine Lighthouses. (There is one on a lake far from the coast, but that’s not in this list. It’s called Ladies Delight if you want to look it up.)

We have the Maine Guide to Lighthouses and Harbors here at the inn and you’re welcome to take a copy to help you find the hidden gems. I had my mom as my co-pilot one day and we hit the section of the book along the Kennebec River. The directions for the Doubling Point light take you from a nice, wide, paved two lane highway to a smaller paved side road to a smaller still unpaved road. Finally, you’re in someone’s driveway. It’s part of the fun to find the hidden areas along the rivers and coast. There are a couple more I have seen from the river (take the lighthouse cruise from the Maine Maritime Museum) that I need to find from the shore.

The above lighthouse is the farthest east one in the US. That one is about five hours from here in Lubec at the West Quoddy park. There’s a very rocky beach there and a hiking trail around the point. If you bring your passport you can also go across the Campobello Island to see the East Quoddy Light at the tip of the island. (On it’s own island!) Stop in to see Franklin Roosevelt’s summer White House on the way.

To see more of Maine’s lighthouses you can head over to our blog and follow along as we wander around Maine looking for those beacons of light along the coast!

Don’t forget Maine Open Lighthouse Day - one weekend only, in September. Get inside lighthouses all up and down the coast.

It’s always fun to run away for a day! We went to Rockland for lunch with our friends in Camden, Karen & Dave, from Timbercliffe Cottage. This is our view at lunch.

If you’re headed up Route 1 from here, ask us about places to stay and eat. We’ve got a list of our faves!

Gull over Scarborough Marsh

Scarborough Marsh

Scarborough Marsh is only a short drive from White Cedar Inn, but you’ll feel like you’re on a whole other planet. The Eastern Trail runs through the marsh so you are surrounded by water, marsh grasses and wildlife as you wander along. Bring a kayak or bicycle!

FMI: Scarborough Marsh Day Trip

New Year’s Day on Popham Beach

We like to start every new year with a hike on the beach. Some years I get to take my shoes off and walk on the sand barefoot and other years I’m loaded down with scarves, mittens, hat and heavy coat. This year was halfway between - a little too cold for bare feet but not so cold that we walk for ten minutes and call it quits! We were on Popham Beach for about an hour and a half this year. Lots of horses were just coming off the beach when we arrived. Still, there were probably a hundred people milling about as the tide came in. No better way to start the new year than with a walk on the beach.

Here are some pix from New Year’s Day on Popham Beach:

There’s always something to do in Maine, no matter the weather! Give us a call to make a reservation, we’ll be happy to tell you how to get to our favorites places. 207.865.9099

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast 178 Main St Freeport, Maine 04032

This was news to me but you can see Mt Washington (in NH) from a vantage point about 2 miles from here. For more details and photos on what the trails are like and how to get there, check out the blog post ‘Hedgehog Mountain‘.

Ever walk to the western end of Popham Beach and wonder how all those people got to the beach on the other side of the river? That’s the Seawall Beach and you get there by going over Morse Mountain. Parking is extremely limited in this conservation area and the hike from the parking area to the beach is 2 miles. However, this is some of the scenery along the way. It’s a gorgeous walk, uphill both ways.

Took a drive today to Land’s End. It’s a very scenic route if you stick strictly to Rt 24 from Cook’s Corners. But, every once in awhile you should turn off the main drag and take one of those side rides. Found these common eiders off Washington St near the Giant’s Stairs.

Turning down the Cundy’s Harbor Road I found myself at the Holbrook Wharf watching lobster traps being made. From start to finish it takes about two hours to complete one trap. The order I saw being worked on was for six hundred four foot traps. The guy working on them very generously explained what he was doing and why and the different gauges of coated wire that are used. The body of the trap is assembled from a 4×4 sheet of coated 12 gauge wire mesh. 10 gauge mesh can be used for sturdier construction of the hauling end and the midsection.

Here’s a partially completed stack of traps at the end of the dock.

Take that side road. You never know what you’ll see!

BTW, some of the locals hanging around chatting with me recommended stopping in at the Holbrook Wharf in season to try out the tasty offerings at the restaurant there operated by Danny Gilmore. You may remember Gilmore’s Seafood in Bath. This is where they are now.

Pulled together a little list (with a map!) of different places in Freeport where you can find antiques, uniques and fun Maine gifts. It seems like this spring was the time Freeport got its own little corner of the antiques market. All of a sudden shops were opening along Rt 1 taking advantage of the larger spaces and easier parking than we sometimes encounter in downtown.

It’s now pretty simple to plan an antiques roadshow of your own with White Cedar Inn as your home base. From Freeport to Brunswick (Cabot Mill) to Montsweag (flea market) to Wiscasset (Avalon Antiques) and south to Portland (Flea for All and Portland Architectural Salvage) you can find the parts to build your house and then furnish it. Plus having great dining within walking distance and coastal hikes to clear the cobwebs from your brain.

Plan an antiques and uniques trip to Freeport today!

Here’s the map of Freeport antiques and uniques.

You can take an old dresser and refresh it pretty easily with paint and new knobs as I did over the winter. The sky’s the limit when you use a little imagination. And these antique shops will give you plenty of ideas! Even repurposing clothing can update your look in a flash.

The Maine coast is dotted with picturesque lighthouses that guide sailors home in all weather. Several lighthouses are open during the summer (such as Pemaquid Light, above) so you can get an up close look at the lenses and the views!

For more lighthouses you can visit during your stay, take a look at the lighthouse page on our blog. We haven’t seen all of them, but we’re working on it.

And don’t forget Maine Open Lighthouse Day in Sept!

We have the Maine Lighthouse guide here at the inn. Get your free copy with photos and directions and plan your day of lighthouse sightings.

Time to hit the beaches here in Maine! The skies are brilliant blue, clear and sunny. The air is still crisp. None of the humidity that comes later in the summer. Here are a couple of our favorite beaches. We even go in the winter!

Popham Beach is our all-time favorite. Here are some pix from one of the trips we made to the beach.

Just across the river is Reid State Park. This beach has several separate areas including a tidal pond where kids can explore.

Of course, there’s Old Orchard Beach, Ogunquit Beach, Wells Beach and the beaches in York. As you get farther up the coast the sandy beaches give way to the rocky shoreline, great for hunting beach glass and heart-shaped rocks.

The new schedule for the LL Bean Summer Concerts is out. All shows start at 7:30 PM and are free. Bring your own lawn chair and relax. No smoking or alcohol allowed on Bean campus. Discovery Park is a short walk from White Cedar Inn. Bring a picnic dinner to the park!

Here’s the schedule - LL Bean Summer Concert schedule

Wandered around in the Owls Head Transportation Museum on Friday. Rock likes everything but I pick one item to focus on while he reads all the information placards. Today it was antique radiator caps. Enjoy!

Check out more of our trips to OHTM on our blog! Also note we have discount admission tix for sale when you make your reservation. Select OHTM from the Add On tab.

White Cedar Inn Bed and Breakfast

Looking for up to 10″ of the fresh stuff today! Here’s hoping it stays cold enough so there’s no rain. We’ll go play in the snow tomorrow at one of our favorite trails. January is when we try to get out at every opportunity to enjoy all that Maine offers in the winter season.

Take a peek at some of our previous trips to the park:

Wolfe’s Neck Woods in winter.

Us, horsing around in the snow - video

Other hiking areas nearby:

Bradbury Mountain

Tidebrook Trail

Gilsland Farm Audubon Center

Winslow Park

Make a reservation - come see for yourself all there is to do in winter in Freeport! After your day in the great outdoors, enjoy relaxing in front of the fireplace in the living room with a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie. Make plans for dinner at one of Freeport’s excellent restaurants.

Went out yesterday for a ‘First Walk’ on Popham Beach. I know you really want to see the photos instead of reading about how cold and windy it was. Really, though, it was a beautiful day! Sunny and brisk but any day at the beach is a good day. Happy New Year!

Popham Beach is a wonderful day trip no matter when you come to Maine. It’s amazing to see the changes wrought by storms and tide as the beach is constantly shifting and moving. Some years we can’t walk to the islands. This year it was easy to get there at low tide. Check the tide charts before you go to insure there’s ‘enough’ beach for a long walk. High tide here can be 11-12 feet, which eats up the shoreline pretty quickly. Another option is to go to Fort Popham, farther down Rt 209. Or Fort Baldwin and the Phippsburg Colony, along the road to Fort Popham.

Looking for winter activities in Maine? Here’s a list from us of multi-season adventures. Snowmobiling, skiing, dog sledding and more can be found here on the Maine Tourism website. Not everything on the Maine list is available in Freeport. But you can stop here on the way to there and gear up!

Make a reservation - come see for yourself all there is to do in winter in Freeport! After your day in the great outdoors, enjoy relaxing in front of the fireplace in the living room with a cup of hot cocoa and a cookie. Make plans for dinner at one of Freeport’s excellent restaurants.