The Travelin Maine(rs), George and Linda Smith of Mount Vernon, have spent their lifetimes enjoying all that Maine has to offer. Now they’ll tell you all about it — their favorite inns, restaurants, trips, activities, experiences, and travel books and websites — in their own personal style. They’ll be offering anecdotes, tips and all the details you need. So join them in exploring, experiencing and
enjoying the great state of Maine.

 

There are too many gems. That’s the only problem with the Gems of 26 — a clever collaborative promotion of food, lodging and attractions — on a 24-mile scenic stretch of Maine’s Route 26 from Gray to South Paris.
We had hoped to see all seven gems on a recent Saturday, but fell short by three. For the record, the gems are: Maine Wildlife Park, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, Poland Spring Resort, Poland Spring Preservation Society, Poland Spring Preservation Park, Harvest Hill Farms and Pumpkin Land, and McLaughlin Garden.
Now is the time to schedule your visit because the gems feature a lot of fall activities (including special Halloween events and attractions), and October is the best month to be out-and-about in Maine.

George
We planned to spend an hour at Shaker Village but we spent three hours. I can’t believe I’ve never visited this fascinating place.
The guided tour consumed 45 minutes and 200 years. Standing in the meeting house — unchanged since it was built in 1794 — and walking through the elders’ quarters above, was very special. As we progressed through the buildings, we also advanced through history. I had no idea the Shakers invented so many things, including permanent press cloth.
The Maine Wildlife Park is fascinating in a different way. I remember two times in the past 20 years when the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife almost closed the place. But the determination of DIF&W’s Lisa Kane and a wonderful group of volunteers kept the park alive and it is now thriving, attracting 70,000 visitors a year, many of them schoolchildren seeing some of these Maine critters for the first time.
Having only recently caught my largest-ever brook trout in Maine, a 19-inch 4 pound beauty, I was fascinated to see the large brookies of similar size in the Dry Mills hatchery pools on the grounds of the Wildlife Park.
The park includes a warden museum, food shack and Audubon store, lots of hands-on activities and many special events.
If you have never seen a moose, black bear, great horned owl, golden eagle, or mountain lion — well, these and a lot more wild critters are here in natural settings. Take your children, your grandchildren or just yourself and bring a picnic and camera.
Harvest Hill Farms — and its Pumpkin Land — is just the place to let your inner kid out — or let your kids and grandkids loose.  These folks have a great imagination. You really have to see this to believe it.   
We enjoyed a very tasty lunch at the Farm House Pizza and Farm Market, where a lot of Maine products are featured (including Harvest Hill’s own beef). Don’t miss the steak bomb. I had mine with a Belfast lobster ale. There are several food stands on the farm offering a good variety of choices.
As 4 p.m. approached, and exhaustion set in, we regretted the lost opportunity to visit McLaughlin Garden in South Paris and the historical buildings on the grounds of the Poland Spring Resort. The garden is open until the end of October but the historical buildings close for the season on Columbus Day.
It was time to check in to our room in the Poland Spring Resort’s Maine Inn where our second-floor room had a gorgeous view of the golf course and distant mountains. Initially, I have to confess that I found the room disappointing, missing many of the things I expect in a hotel.
There was no clock, no phone, no iron or hair dryer, no Red Sox (that turned out to be a blessing). The TV offered only a few channels.
But then I got it. As you enter the inn, a large sign notes that you are entering a “Stress Free Zone.” Who cares what time it is? Who wants to be interrupted by phone calls? Who wants to watch another disappointing Red Sox game?!!
At the Poland Spring Resort, you step back in time, stay in buildings steeped in history and have the opportunity to enjoy an astonishing variety of indoor and outdoor activities — from bocce to golf. Even the golf course is historic — the first one built at an American resort.  The Resort has a pool, workout room, wonderful library, game room, private stocked trout pond and much more.
This is the place to set the world aside and enjoy life as it should be.
   
Linda
The “Gem” that resonated the most with me was that of our visit to the Shaker Village. I appreciate the décor and furnishings of the 1800s. I can imagine what life must have been like and can certainly admire their hard-working lifestyle. We’ve decided that we will save our story of the Shaker Village for another column. My only advice is to make it a priority to go on their one-hour tour if you are a lover of historical things.
When George told me we were scheduled to visit a farm and eat lunch there I was intrigued. I thought of some of the working farms we visited in Italy, or maybe this farm was highlighting its harvest. Harvest Hill Farms is unlike anything I could have dreamed up.
This had the feel of an adventure park — rides and activities galore! From the new Giant Jumping Pillow (looked like great fun to me, and it was very popular), to a small Zipline, more than I could ever imagine for entertainment was here.
It does indeed have a focus on the harvest season with a six-acre corn maze, and kids can pick out their own pumpkin either from the patch in front of the “Field of Dreams” or by taking a haywagon ride directly to the pumpkin patch. I’ve never seen such a huge pumpkin patch!
If you want a reasonably priced get away that includes buffet style meals, put Poland Spring Resort on your list. The rooms are not fancy, but with the immaculate grounds and activities offered you probably will be outside more than in.
I remember coming to the Gray Animal Farm once as a teenager, and once as a teacher bringing a group of second graders. Our recent trip down to the park, now called the Maine Wildlife Park, was far more enjoyable than the extremely long bus ride with 30 children! I love what the IFW has done to keep the park in great condition. Clearly, the animals are well cared for. They’ve provided the type of habitat each animal needs within its penned-in area. The mountain lions are getting an impressive new house, currently under construction. This is a great wildlife experience for the young and old.
Lots of gems. So little time!

Visit George’s website: www.george
smithmaine.com for travel tips, book reviews, outdoor news and more.

 

WORTH NOTING

The Maine Lakes Resource Center at 137 Main Street in Belgrade Lakes Village is a beautiful building dedicated to conservation and environmental education. Displays of the work of local artists are available for viewing on Wednesdays through Sundays, 10 am to 3 pm. Through October 14 our Mount Vernon neighbor, Dona Seegers, a very talented artist, and Kathleen Kelley of Vienna, will be showing some of their artistry. Check it out!

 

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