Maine
Treasures

© copyright 2007
by Lin Stone

Maine Family Adventures offers fun activities the whole family will enjoy, spend days exploring the Maine coast, biking, walking, sea-kayaking, swimming, whale watching and relaxing - all at an easygoing pace and in small groups of 12 - 16 people.

Bullfrog Adventures offers a variety of Maine canoe trips to suit all interests! Our Maine canoeing day trips can range from a challenging whitewater river trip to a paddle on one of Maine's calm lakes or ponds. Overnight canoe camping trips are also available. Bullfrog's Maine canoeing adventures include family canoeing as well as Boy Scout High Adventure Trips. Check out Bullfrog's canoe trips on these fine Maine waters: The Kennebec, Narraguagus, Penobscot, Pleasant, Piscataquis, St. Croix, St. George, Roach and East Machias Rivers as well as Wyman and Spednic Lakes, Donnell and Flood’s Ponds and also Kenduskeag Stream.

Aysgarth Station offers year round accommodations on Mt. Desert Island. Our Bed and Breakfast extends New England hospitality and quiet comfort in a uniquely casual atmosphere. The Inn is situated in downtown Bar Harbor....and you are only a short stroll to the harbor, many distinctive shops, an abundance of eateries and the Shore Path ocean-front walk. You are also only minutes away from both the CAT Ferry Terminal for traveling to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia as well as Acadia National Park.

The Maine Campground Owners Association invites you to discover Maine - Her rugged coast, clear lakes and tranquil woods. Our campgrounds and RV Parks offer unique opportunities to experience the wonders of Maine. Lots of pictures and lots of information.

As I have explained to you before -- when you go adventuring with professional outfitters you will find more adventure, more safety, less work and more pure fun. Outfitters in Maine offer a variety of trips including lower river trips for youngsters and seniors, float trips and row-frame trips. Along with these river trips, you can participate in other outdoor adventures including whitewater rafting, lake and inflatable kayaking, canoeing, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, mountain biking, moose and bird watching safaris, ATV tours, paintball and sky-diving.

You've probably never put white water rafting and Maine together in the same sentence before. I know I haven't. But Maine, especially in the early fall and right on through September, is prime white water rafting country, and if it is closer for you than Utah, Arizona or Colorado, have at it.

In the fall of the year you can expect no kids, no bugs, and no hassle. River rafting in Maine begins May First and continues daily through early October. Thanks to hydropower dams generating daily water releases, Maine is the only state in the Northeast that can provide water levels for whitewater rafting and kayaking over a five month season.

A survey of outfitters and guests revealed five reasons to take a raft trip in September or early October. Reduced rates - On an overall average the price of a raft trip is discounted 15-30%.

- Warm Water - The temperatures are up in the 60's after a hot summer.
- Less Crowded - The tourists have gone back to work and the kids back in school.
- Flora and Fauna - The wildlife are less scared now and thus more abundant. Don't forget, the fall foliage colors are absolutely spectacular in Maine.
- Special Dam Releases - We are talking up to 8,000 cubic feet per second will be released on September 8 and September 22 on the Kennebec River and 3,500 to 6,000 cfs will be released on the Dead River on September 2, and on September 15 and again on October 7, 2007.

RAFT MAINE, an association of seven professional outfitters, maintains a one-call reservation telephone service at 800-723-8633. Information on outfitters, the rivers, the weather -- present and predicted -- and they'll help you with trip planning too. For more casual information you can go browsing on line at www.raftmaine.com .