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Spring in Maine:
Moose watching, maple cotton candy and picking flowers on horseback
Spring in Maine is highlighted by the reawakening of nature -- birds, animals,
flowers, rivers and waterfalls. It's also a season full of "bests": Best time to spot a
moose, best rates on ocean view rooms, best time to sample nature's sweetener
fresh from a sugar shack, and best time to explore quaint villages without the
crowds.
These spring traditions and activities are sure to make classic Maine memories.
Why a moose won't smile for the camera: May and June are the most likely
months to see a moose on a Maine roadside. They wander out of the woods to
stock up on sodium deposits found in mud puddles and water-filled ditches.
Moose also gather at open bodies of water to snack on aquatic plants. The best
times for sightings are early morning and at dusk. "Take things slow," says State
Deer Biologist Lee Kantar. "If you see a small body of water through the forest,
pull your vehicle off the road and take a good look around." You might find a
family ready for your camera. But don't expect them to smile because moose
don't have top front teeth.
The eagle has landed, and landed, and landed: A 2006 U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service count showed that Maine is home to 74 percent of the northeast's nesting
bald eagles. More than 400 eagle pairs breed in all 16 counties but are most
plentiful on the KennebecRiver in central Maine, CobscookBay and the
Penobscot River in the east, and the lakes of northern Maine. Spring is the time to
catch a glimpse of newly hatched eaglets in the nest.
A sappy story that turns sweet: Maine is one of the world's largest producers of
pure maple syrup and home to the top syrup producing county (Somerset) in the
United States. Each spring, nearly 100 sugarhouses collect sap from maple trees
and boil it to create sweet amber-hued syrup. Strawberry Hill Farms in
Skowhegan makes certified organic syrup, Kinney's Sugarhouse in Knox
specializes in maple candies, and Merrifield Farm in North Gorham whips up its
own maple cotton candy.
How four legs keep two feet dry on the trail: Yes, in order to enjoy the best of
spring in Maine you might meet up with mud. But if a horse is your mode of
transportation you'll be able to see your reflection in your footwear at the end of
the day. CF Farm in the town of Monmouth offers multiple trail rides through
forest, open meadows and down country roads. Pack a lunch and take a day ride
through the wilderness of the Moosehead Lake region with Rockies Golden
Acres in Greenville. Or, get that early summer treat the old fashioned way on a
one hour beginner ride to an ice cream stand from Carousel Horse Farm in Casco.
Charity brings quiet season to a hush: Now until Memorial Day weekend is the
best time to get the best value on a room with an ocean or lake view. The Maine
Innkeepers Association Hospitality for Habitat Program (www.maineinns.com)
makes that reality even more affordable during May 1-23 when participating
accommodations make select rooms available for half their regular price in
exchange for a guests $35 check to Habitat for Humanity. More than 40 coastal
and inland properties are taking part in this year's program.
For more information on springtime in Maine, visit the Office of Tourism's Web
site at www.visitmaine.com.
Moose watching, maple cotton candy and picking flowers on horseback
Spring in Maine is highlighted by the reawakening of nature -- birds, animals,
flowers, rivers and waterfalls. It's also a season full of "bests": Best time to spot a
moose, best rates on ocean view rooms, best time to sample nature's sweetener
fresh from a sugar shack, and best time to explore quaint villages without the
crowds.
These spring traditions and activities are sure to make classic Maine memories.
Why a moose won't smile for the camera: May and June are the most likely
months to see a moose on a Maine roadside. They wander out of the woods to
stock up on sodium deposits found in mud puddles and water-filled ditches.
Moose also gather at open bodies of water to snack on aquatic plants. The best
times for sightings are early morning and at dusk. "Take things slow," says State
Deer Biologist Lee Kantar. "If you see a small body of water through the forest,
pull your vehicle off the road and take a good look around." You might find a
family ready for your camera. But don't expect them to smile because moose
don't have top front teeth.
The eagle has landed, and landed, and landed: A 2006 U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service count showed that Maine is home to 74 percent of the northeast's nesting
bald eagles. More than 400 eagle pairs breed in all 16 counties but are most
plentiful on the KennebecRiver in central Maine, CobscookBay and the
Penobscot River in the east, and the lakes of northern Maine. Spring is the time to
catch a glimpse of newly hatched eaglets in the nest.
A sappy story that turns sweet: Maine is one of the world's largest producers of
pure maple syrup and home to the top syrup producing county (Somerset) in the
United States. Each spring, nearly 100 sugarhouses collect sap from maple trees
and boil it to create sweet amber-hued syrup. Strawberry Hill Farms in
Skowhegan makes certified organic syrup, Kinney's Sugarhouse in Knox
specializes in maple candies, and Merrifield Farm in North Gorham whips up its
own maple cotton candy.
How four legs keep two feet dry on the trail: Yes, in order to enjoy the best of
spring in Maine you might meet up with mud. But if a horse is your mode of
transportation you'll be able to see your reflection in your footwear at the end of
the day. CF Farm in the town of Monmouth offers multiple trail rides through
forest, open meadows and down country roads. Pack a lunch and take a day ride
through the wilderness of the Moosehead Lake region with Rockies Golden
Acres in Greenville. Or, get that early summer treat the old fashioned way on a
one hour beginner ride to an ice cream stand from Carousel Horse Farm in Casco.
Charity brings quiet season to a hush: Now until Memorial Day weekend is the
best time to get the best value on a room with an ocean or lake view. The Maine
Innkeepers Association Hospitality for Habitat Program (www.maineinns.com)
makes that reality even more affordable during May 1-23 when participating
accommodations make select rooms available for half their regular price in
exchange for a guests $35 check to Habitat for Humanity. More than 40 coastal
and inland properties are taking part in this year's program.
For more information on springtime in Maine, visit the Office of Tourism's Web
site at www.visitmaine.com.