One Big Maine

Building a Log Home in Maine

Joe — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 16:28:02 +0000

Southern Maine is increasingly becoming a prime spot for those looking to buy land and build their own home. While the rest of the East Coast is overpopulated, Maine continues to offer peace and tranquility to those who desire it. With plenty of land and hundreds of acres available for purchase, and many nearby lakes, many people are choosing to relocate to Maine for retirement or to build a second home.

Perhaps the most popular style of new home these days is the log home: an American tradition. Most log homes have a modern flair, designed to give a rustic look, yet provide a comfortable, open and warm environment. In this article, we detail some of the steps that you can take to build the perfect log home in Maine.

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Acadia National Park

Kathy Hawkins — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 15:03:48 +0000

If you’re a lover of the great outdoors, no trip to Maine is complete without a visit to the state’s only national park, Acadia. The park is situated on beautiful Mount Desert Island, and boasts a wide array of beaches, rocky cliffs, forestland, mountains, and even more stunning scenery. Whether you’re only driving up for a day trip or plan to camp out and take time to explore the island, you’ll find plenty to do here.

Photo by Justin Russell

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Great Restaurants in Portland Maine

Kathy Hawkins — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 14:45:47 +0000

For a small city, Portland sure has a lot of restaurants. When you wander through the cobblestone streets of the Old Port, tantalizing scents mix and mingle in the air — you’ll find seafood, steak, Mediterranean, Asian, and all sorts of other cuisines, all within mere feet of one another. According to some, Portland has more restaurants per capita than any other city in the United States besides San Francisco. If you’re looking for a memorable upscale meal during your time in Portland, Maine, here are a few places to try.

Cinque Terre Restaurant
Photo by Shards

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Leaf Peeping in Maine

Kathy Hawkins — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:40:44 +0000

No matter what time of year you visit Maine, the scenery is breathtaking — but if you want to see something really spectacular, make your way up in September or October, when all the leaves on the trees are changing color, transforming into rich shades of gold and red. During fall, Maine receives visitors from all over the Northeast who are passionate about leaf peeping. If you’d like to join in and visit Maine at its most beautiful time of year, here are some tips for getting the most out of the fall foliage season.

Photo by pfly

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Farmers’ Markets of Maine

Kathy Hawkins — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:37:19 +0000

Every summer and fall, Maine’s farmers grow all kinds of delicious fruits and vegetables, including corn, strawberries, tomatoes, zucchini, and much more. With more rural properties per capita than nearly anywhere else in the United States, Maine has ample land for growing produce. No matter where you go in the state, you’re bound to find a farmers’ market nearby.

Photo by Jennifer Dickert

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Quebec City: The Quick Trips From Maine Series

Kathy Hawkins — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:19:22 +0000

Though the Canadian province of Quebec is just across the border from Maine, as soon as you’ve arrived, you’ll feel as though you’ve flown straight to France. This French-speaking province has preserved the language, food, architecture, and style of its European ancestors, making for a cheap and easy alternative to a vacation on the Continent.

Chateau Fronetac. Photo by SqueakyMarmot.

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A Boston Break: The Quick Trips from Maine Series

Kathy Hawkins — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 19:08:59 +0000

Maine is quiet and peaceful, with beautiful starry skies, ocean vistas, and thick green forests. But every once in awhile, you start itching for a little more excitement. Maine may seem pretty remote, but luckily, you don’t have far to go to get back into the swing of things: one of America’s largest and most fascinating cities, Boston, is a mere two-hour drive from Portland. You can shop, stroll through the historical neighborhoods, even catch a concert — and still be back in Maine by bedtime. With tons of great restaurants, shops, and cultural events, Boston is a great getaway for a day.

Fanueil Hall. Photo by Walter Parenteau

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Dog-Friendly Portland

Kathy Hawkins — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 18:59:15 +0000

With historic cobblestone streets, funky independent shops, and all kinds of great restaurants crammed within its tiny downtown area, there’s a lot to love about Portland, Maine. But one of the city’s best features is its love for all things dog. Walking down by the harbor, it’s rare that you won’t see a few furry friends, and Portland has a variety of shops to cater to them — there are also quite a few restaurants that welcome dogs to dine with you (on the patio, of course), and numerous B&Bs and hotels that welcome pets with open arms. Here are some of Portland’s best places to bring your four-legged friend.

Photo by Eva Marieville

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Great Hotels in Maine

Kathy Hawkins — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 15:19:34 +0000

If you’re visiting Maine, one thing’s for certain: you need a place to stay. There are quite a few options — you can rent a vacation property for a week, stay at a bed & breakfast, or stay at a hotel. Though I’ve profiled some of Maine’s best and most renowned bed & breakfast accommodations, it’s not the right fit for everyone.

Some people have trouble with climbing many flights of stairs, which is a common trait in historic bed & breakfasts. Others are traveling in groups that are too large to be accommodated by a single B&B, and do not want to split up. Some enjoy luxuries such as a pool or gym while traveling, while others prefer not to eat a large breakfast, and would rather not pay the price for something they won’t take advantage of. Whatever the reason, if a B&B isn’t right for you, don’t resort to a generic Holiday Inn — there are plenty of beautiful independent hotels that are sure to suit your needs.

Photo by marcomazzei

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Maine’s Best-Value Bed and Breakfasts

Kathy Hawkins — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 14:34:27 +0000

In the last article, I shared details about some of Maine’s most beautiful and luxurious bed & breakfasts. Though we’d all love to stay in a room with an ocean view and a whirlpool tub, sometimes our budget just doesn’t cut it — many of these upscale B&Bs cost more than $400 a night, especially in summer.

Even so, there are many other wonderful bed & breakfast inns throughout Maine that offer comfort and convenience at affordable prices — all of these B&Bs have an average price of $150 a night or less, but don’t sacrifice any of the quality.

The Hartstone Inn

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