Brassua Dam

Brassua Dam was a hop, skip, and a jump away from our campsite. Brassua Lake was once composed of two lakes- Little and Big Brassua Lake. The Brassua Dam was constructed in 1925 which caused the water to rise 30 feet and form one large lake. The lake is known for its fisheries and fishing opportunities. We also spotted a number of enthusiastic kayakers.

 If you are in the area, it is definitely worth a look-see.

A Little Country, A Little Rockwood (Maine)

Christopher and I just celebrated our first anniversary! In honor of our anniversary, we took a trip to Moosehead Lake. We stayed in a cabin in Rockwood, one of the prime places to spot a moose and the location of the dock from the mainland to Mount Kineo. Our cabin was on the Moose River, a waterway which connects Moosehead and Brassua Lake. Our cabin was also at the base of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We were surrounded by some gorgeous scenery to say the least!

Some tips about Rockwood:

1. This area has a ton of ATV trails, ski trails, and fishing spots. There are not however, a ton of designated hiking trails. We had a tough time finding a lot of the trail heads.

2. Mt. Kineo can ONLY be reached by boat. The ferry from Rockwood is $10 per person, round trip and the ferry leaves every hour on the hour until dusk. Mt. Kineo also has a golf course and a snack stand for golfers and hikers.

3. Rockwood is rather isolated. Stop for groceries in Greenville or you will resort to pillaging the small grocery section of the local gas station.

We already have a ton of plans to explore more of Moosehead Lake. Barrows Falls is definitely on our list next!

Best Inexpensive Date Ideas in Bangor, Maine

Many people complain that there is nothing to do in Bangor, but I have found that this simply is not true. Here are my best inexpensive (even free) date ideas in Bangor! Keep your eyes peeled for later posts, about best restaurants, parks, etc.

Image Courtesy of CinemaTreasures.org

Movies

• River City Cinema offers free movies in the summer at Pickering Square.
• The Bangor Drive-In just re-opened in Hermon! They charge $27 per car and $20 per car on Tuesday's or for members of the military.
• There are several movie theaters in the area, but the cheapest one is Hollywood Cinemas. Regular admission is $5 before 6pm and $7 after 6pm. Tickets are $3 all day on Tuesdays.

Music

• The Sound Stage Lounge in Hollywood Casino hosts live music for free! Shows are usually scheduled Friday-Sunday. 
• Several bars and coffee houses also offer free music and karaoke! Some hot spots include Nocturnem Draft Haus, Paddy Murphy's, and the Orono Brewing Company.
• If you are a band geek, then you will love the Bangor Band. They offer free concerts on the waterfront during the summer.
• The Bangor Public Library also offers a free music series.
• Attend a free Cool Sounds Concert in West Market Square. Concerts are typically in July and August. 

 

Image Courtesy of TripAdvisor.com

Sports

• If you love horse-racing, the Bangor Raceway is free. You can find the schedule here. 
• The Bangor Sports Arena has pool tables, bowling, mini-golf and an arcade. Check out this website for more details and individual pricing. 
• Nine-pin bowling is a big deal in New England. Check out the Family Fun Bowling Center in Bangor or the Old Town Bowling Center. 
• Ski or tube on the Hermon Hill. A full day of skiing is $27 per adult.

History and Science

• The Emera Astronomy Center on the University of Maine Campus offers public shows. Tickets are $6 per person. The show schedule changes monthly. 
• If you love planes, trains, and automobiles, the Cole Land Transportation Museum is for you. Tickets are $7 per person and $6 for AAA members.
• The Maine Air Museum is open only during the summer. Tickets are $3 per adult. 
• The Hudson Museum on the University of Maine campus has free admission and has several neat collections, particularly Native American and Southeast Asian exhibits.
• There are many active historical societies in the area. The Bangor Historical Society houses the Thomas A. Hill House and Civil War Museum. There is a suggested donation of $5 per person. They also offer tours, including a "ghost tour" in October! The Brewer Historical Society is home to the Clewley Museum and the Hampden Historical Society meets at the Kinsley House Museum.
• Learn more about the Penobscot nation at the Penobscot Nation Museum. You must fill out a request form before you can visit the island. 
• If you love forestry or are interested in learning more about Maine's logging history, visit the Maine Forest and Logging Museum at Leonard Mills in Bradley. Tickets are $3 per person. The Page Farm Museum on the University of Maine Campus is another great place for people interested in Maine farming history.
• Take a tour of the Thomas Hill Standpipe. 

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Arts

• The University of Maine Arts Museum is free! Exhibits change about four times a year.

Wine and Beer Tasting

• State Street Wine Cellar offers free wine tastings twice a month in their store.
• Bangor Wine and Cheese has free wine and beer tastings every third Thursday of the month.
• Winterport Winery/Penobscot Brewing Company offers a flight of four wines or beers for $4.
• The Orono Brewing Company is open seven days a week! Paddles are $7 and include 5 tasters. 

Canada Quirks

First off, some province signs! Whenever Christopher and I passed into a new state on our US road trips, we always made sure to snap a picture. I felt compelled to do the same thing in Canada.

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This was the first place I attempted to us Canadian cash. I felt like Arthur Weasley with muggle money. Why is it multi-colored? Why does it feel like plastic? What the heck are loonies and toonies?

I never got used to measuring in liters. Or reading kilometers. I always had to mentally convert while driving. MPH forever!

Apparently Canadian Lay's needed their own marketing.

I had a Keith's Amber beer at a library-themed called The Library Pub and Merchant Tavern. It was delicious.

Digby, Nova Scotia and a Short Ferry Ride

I decided to take the Digby-Saint John ferry on my way home to the states. I missed the morning ferry which means I got to know Digby, Nova Scotia really, really well. It is a itty bitty seaside town with a good bit of history.

Admiral Digby was the main person of importance during Digby's early history.

There was also a lovely Anglican church with a large, old graveyard and a church cat.

Saint John was gorgeous at sunset from the ferry.

Exploring the Bay of Fundy

Wolfville, Nova Scotia borders the Minas Basin, an inlet and sub-basin of the Bay of Fundy. The Minas Basin has one of the highest tides ever recorded. During low tide the bay behind my hotel would be completely empty. 

Grand-Pré- A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Grand-Pré is a beautiful site in Nova Scotia that was merely a ten minute drive from my hotel. Grand-Pré was the home of a group of French immigrants known as the "Acadians". The Acadians witnessed several European colonial wars. They were deported during the French and Indian War in order to make way for the "New England Planters", a group of farmers who had been promised farmland by the English crown.

The area was made famous by the poem "Evangline" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The poem follows an Acadian girl Evangeline as she searches for her lost love during the expulsion.

Grand-Pré is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is a museum at the entrance of the park which offers a brief history of the Acadians. Then area behind the museum contains several monuments in memory of the Acadians as well as relics of their way of life.

It was a moving experience and one I would highly recommend to anyone spending time in southwestern Nova Scotia.