State’s festivals, hikes, parks can fill vacation days Many sites for families to visit

There’s a new word in our ever-expanding lexicon and it is one which I (and I hope some of you) will not encourage to become permanent. Dare I say it, and therefore risk another link to legitimacy? Yes you may have guessed it: “staycation.” Ugh! (Even my spell-check doesn’t recognize it, and rightly so.)

Those of us lucky enough to have a summer home, camp, cottage, or even a tent, know very well the meaning of that word. Apparently the high price of gasoline (who would have thought that $3.83 was cheap?) is forcing many people to remain closer to home than usual, perhaps foregoing lengthier and more costly summer sojourns. A variation on this theme would be the always-popular day trip.

So where do you go and what do you do under these self-imposed limitations? Here are a few suggestions and some of our family favorites:

Festivals, state fairs

Look for one of the many ongoing local festivals or state fairs. In Down East, the annual Machias Blueberry Festival on Aug. 15-17 always has something for everyone – the obligatory parade, as well as crafts, a book sale, flea market, musical performances, and of course everything blueberry – pies, pancakes, pies, muffins, pies, and pie-eating contests. This celebration of the state’s premier crop should not be missed.

And on the way to Machias, some stops you should make include Reny’s and the L.L.Bean outlet in Ellsworth for those favorite bargains, Joshy’s in Milbridge for ice cream and root bear floats, and Elmer’s at the 4-Corners on Rte. 1A in Columbia. Well, just trust me on this one, you’ll see what I mean.

Coming up soon, Aug. 22-24, will be the American Folk Festival on the Bangor waterfront. A better deal could not be found. Great food, fabulous entertainment, and Free! (donations will be “accepted with gratitude”).

Check your local newspaper, or online, for more fairs and festivals in your area. Local Chamber of Commerce sites are a good place to start.

Take a hike!

Right here in the Bangor area we have several opportunities and locales to enjoy the outdoors. Have you been to the Bog Boardwalk? According to its Web site, this walk has become a premier destination in the Bangor/Orono area “for persons wishing to experience the beauty and fascinating plants and animals of a Maine bog.” And I agree!

The 1-mile boardwalk loop trail begins at the forested wetland edge in the Bangor City Forest, and after 800 feet crosses the town line into the University of Maine-owned part of the bog in Orono. (You can actually stand with one foot in Bangor and one in Orono.) Along the way, it passes through changing vegetation and environments on its way to the open, peat moss carpeted center of the Orono Bog. Benches for rest and contemplation are provided at least every 200 feet. Access is from Tripp Drive off Stillwater Avenue, 1.6 miles north of the junction of Stillwater Avenue and Hogan Road. Keep driving until you’re in the parking lot.

And of course on Mount Desert Island you will find trails from rugged and strenuous to easy and flat – always my criteria! The Wonderland trail, also known as Ship Harbor Nature Trail, in Southwest Harbor is particularly enjoyable for families – through spruce woods and ending on the pink granite rocky shoreline. Bring a lunch and enjoy the surf, sea, and fresh air.

Check with your town office for local hiking trails.

Parks and cycling

Visit a state or national park: Moose, Sebec, and Swan Lakes are all easily accessible. One offers picnicking with an ocean view and the other two picnicking with a lake view as well as swimming and playgrounds. And Camden Hills State Park with Mt. Batty (hike or drive up) offers an equally pleasant day out.

Go for a bike ride: What? The adults in the family don’t have a bicycle? Check out yard sales or the local newspaper. The aforementioned Bangor City Forest has great trails for both hiking and biking. Encompassing some 650 acres of working forest, it has four miles of access roads and some nine miles of trails for running, hiking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing in addition to biking.

And of course the carriage roads in Acadia reward you with both exercise and beautiful views, whether biking or walking.

Places to visit

Birdsacre Sanctuary, Ellsworth – A 40-acre woodland sanctuary with adjacent museum and home of ornithologist Cordelia Stanwood. See owls and other rehabilitated birds. There are eight wooded trails and three small ponds. Donations are accepted.

Fort Knox, Prospect – Begun in 1844 to offer protection to the Penobscot River region just following the Northeast boundary dispute. It is the only Maine fort with some of its original cannon emplaced. A great cool place on a hot summer day. I wonder it we’ll get any more of those?. It is stated owned and there is a fee. For a list of special events click on www.fortknox.maineguide.com

Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory – While you’re visiting Fort Knox, why not take the extra time and visit one of only three observatory bridges in the world. Or you can pay the observatory fee ( $5 adults; $3 children, $2.50 children ages 5-11, no charges for under age 4) and get into Fort Knox for free.

The observatory sits 42 stories high above the Penobscot River providing commanding, eagle eye views of upper Penobscot Bay and Fort Knox below. It is open for business through Oct. 31 and will be open late into the night for the full moon Aug. 15-16 until midnight, according to the Friends of Fort Knox. The Observatory’s regular daily operating hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. will also extend to 7 p.m. during August.

To get to the Penobscot Narrows Bridge that connects Prospect and Verona Island drive to Bucksport, cross over to Verona on Route 1 and be prepared for a treat. Follow the signs to Fort Knox. If you’re coming from afar and to the south, take Interstate 95 north to Augusta, take exit 113, Route 3 east, to Belfast, where Route 3 joins Route 1. Follow Routes 1 and 3 north to Prospect. If you’re coming from the east, follow Route 1 to Bucksport and if you’re coming from the north, get off I-95 in Bangor, cross the Veterans Remembrance Bridge to Brewer and follow Route 15 (South Main Street) to Bucksport (about 15 miles, give or take). For more information check out their Web site at: www.penobscotnarrowsbridge.com/

Fort Point State Park, Stockton Springs – Located on a scenic peninsula, with fishing off a 200-foot landing pier. Also home to Fort Point Light – built under the orders of Andrew Jackson in 1836 and was the site of two revolutionary battles. The tower is 31 feet in height with a granite foundation and brick tower construction. The original fog-bell house still exists.

West Quoddy Head Light, Lubec – The light adjoins Quoddy Head State Park at the easternmost point of the United States. Erected in 1808 and rebuilt in 1858, its distinctive tower is pointed in red and white horizontal stripes. On a clear day you can see Grand Manan Island. The Park has hiking trails along the shore.

Campobello Island, New Brunswick – Reached by bridge from Lubec, this scenic spot is known for the summer home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (a free museum) as well as East Quoddy Head Light. This light is reachable by a hike at low tide only and is a great whale watching spot. Go now, next year you will need a passport!

So that’s my short list of family-friendly suggestions. I could go on, but space limitations and the editors would probably intervene. What’s your favorite thing to do or place to go that keeps you close to home? Go find one, and get out and enjoy!