A Fine Find at the Four Points by Sheraton Bangor

The Bangor area is host to many travel opportunities that might ordinarily be overlooked by people who are unfamiliar with this area of Maine. Bangor serves as many things to many people. A gateway to the great North Woods if you are headed South to North. If you are traveling from points North, you may find Bangor the gateway to the Midcoast region of Maine, or a convenient "left" to the popular Acadia coast. Business and leisure travelers are sure to appreciate the convenience of Bangor International Airport. Yes, international!

Whether you have business or pleasure in the immediate Bangor vicinity, or you need a place to regroup before heading North, or to Bar Harbor, Grand Lake Stream, Katahdin, or perhaps coming back from Nova Scotia or Canada, the Four Points by Sheraton at the Bangor Airport is a wonderful find.

In the 1950's this was the site of the Dow Airforce Base, affectionately called "the campus". Land once owned by the Godfrey family soon became the longest landing strip on the Eastern seaboard at 11,440 feet. In 1973, the hotel was built as a Hilton, and operated as Marriot before it's 9 million dollar renovations in 1997. These renovations were so amazingly planned and executed that they will soon be a featured story in Architectural Digest. From that point forward, the hotel operated as a Starwood Hotel.

Known to cater to the self-sufficient traveler, Starwood and the Four Points by Sheraton Bangor offers guests plenty of amenities in a casual, upscale and welcoming atmosphere. I was more than surprised upon my arrival. Parking was convenient and complimentary. The lobby was chic and warm, graced with the signature Starwood "scent". Warm wood tones complimented by a large stone fireplace make the lounge an inviting place to enjoy an Irish Coffee or Martini while you get settled. Oversized sofas and plenty of windows allow you to enjoy the comings-and-goings of "the campus".

Your guest room is well appointed with an unexpected cheery carpet and "Pottery Barn" color scheme. Everything is modern-inspired with homey touches. A fabulous Four Comfort Bed by Sealy is a focal point with abundant pillows. Business and leisure travelers will equally enjoy the flat screen t.v., ergonomic work station with plenty of space, and free high-speed internet.

We had a crib for our young son, and I was delighted to see the soft cuddly sheets already on the crib mattress! (Normally, you get those scratchy boring sheets). The bathroom is immaculately clean, and your towels are folded comfortably in cheery baskets. The counter is topped with amenities that are bright are and whimsical.

Dinner was illuminated by candlelight, and exquisite. The wine list extensive and well-planned including the "Cellar Collection" for the discerning palate. A whimsical giant clothespin boasts the Apple Pie, and the Panko Haddock was positively succulent! The Steak with 3 Pepper Sauce melted in your mouth and had the true "off-the-grill" taste. Molten Lava Cake and Apple Pie was enjoyed en suite and delivered in a very timely manner.

If you can, get your breakfast delivered to your room. You can conveniently pick your time and selections the night before. The presentation is gorgeous and it's so sweet to relax in that lovely bed while enjoying really great coffee, (Seattle's Best Coffee), fresh squeezed orange juice, and french toast. Every detail is considered, including individual tiny ketchup bottles!

You will find the staff at Four Points Bangor to be exceptionally accommodating, gracious, with genuine concern for your comfort. The sales department is eager to assist you with business meeting planning or social events. Offering a gamete of menu services, Four Points Bangor can easily make certain that your function delivers a welcoming atmosphere for your guests who will enjoy superb dining selections.


To make your stay even more enjoyable, Four Points by Sheraton Bangor offers Park and Fly packages, a state-of-the-art fitness center, indoor heated pool, and seasonal travel packages. In fact, plan now for the Bar Harbor Package! Two nights at the Four Points Bangor, and take the shuttle to Bar Harbor for a day of exploring, shopping, and oceanside dining.

Summer Has Arrived!

It's all about the lobster at the Maine Lobster Festival. Kelly Woods, photo

It was in the high 80's today and I couldn't have been happier. A fan of 70 - 75 degrees, I would normally be complaining of "extreme heat" for anything over 78 degrees. But not this year! We've had more rain here this summer than I can remember. And we've had to get pretty creative to make the best of it.

If you are looking to get into the "thick of it", the 62nd Annual Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland. This will be my son's first year. The festival is a nice blend of activities for the children and adults, alike. There is surely something to please everyone!

This perennial favorite draws crowds by the droves for five straight days of feasting, arts, entertainment, crafts, and fun for the kids. Activities include the 10k run, consuming 20,000 lbs of lobster, amazing blueberry crisp (provided by the Prismglass and the Gallery Cafe of Rockport), one of Maine's finest parades, Lobster Crate Races, the list goes on!

For art and boating enthusiasts, stroll the harbor, browse the exhibit tents and juried art show, eat. Musical guests feature Celtic fiddling sensation Natalie MacMaster with special guest Enter The Haggis, Eric Church with special guest Don Campbell Band, and the finale with Satisfaction: The Stones Experience, acclaimed tribute to the Rolling Stones.

If that doesn't float your boat, then I don't know what will! Feel free to email me for assistance in planning your trip. You can also visit the festival website at http://www.mainelobsterfestival.com/ or simply click on this blogpost title.

Stay tuned!

Thanks for visiting my blog! I am currently traveling in Maine and will be posting my latest experiences very soon. Learn about a colonial charmer in Camden. And, learn where to stay in Bangor whether you and your family are on your way to the Great North Woods or you are a seasoned business traveler headed for this
north /central Maine city.

Luxury is Easy to Find

Tonight is an easy entry. I had a pretty simple day with my husband and young son, Elliot. It was Elliot's first trip to the beach that likely made an impression on him. He's 14 months old now, and he finally fit into his spiffy swim trunks and looked darn cute in his floppy beach hat.

As a new mom, I relentlessly chased him around the shore with sunscreen while dad helped him walk along the waves hitting the beach. The water was too cold for him to go in much further, only the daring older kids who aren't old enough to realize it is truly freezing, were in the water. After stopping at Reny's in Camden to pick up our jelly-bean-colored beach umbrella, we headed to Lucia beach not far from our home in Owls Head. Granted, Crocketts Beach is just at the end of our road, but I was ready to brave the crowds who were out in full force to enjoy the heat and sun that has seemingly taken forever to arrive this year.

As I watched my husband and son build Elliot's first sand hump, complete with rocks and pebbles, I reflected upon how lucky I am. Covered in sand and zinc, my young son was feeling absolute luxury, squinting up at me in delight as he realized "the beach" like never before in his life.

Prismglass Gallery and Cafe - A Treasure in Rockport!

Start off with the Ginger Cosmo, the Gallery Cafe signature cocktail. Made with a home-made ginger simple syrup, it's a peferct way to settle in to this intimate location in Rockport. Prismglass Gallery and Cafe is a stunning marriage of food and art...glass art of course.

You will enjoy your cocktails, wine, and friendly fine dining in a pleasant, simple and elegant dining room accommodating only nine tables inside, and four additional patio tables under chic umbrellas surrounded by lovely gardens. Comfortably surrounded by a well-planned collection of glass art from around the country, you will be delighted by the collection of menu suggestions as purposefully selected as the glass. The atmosphere is intimate and magical, casually elegant.

Choose from lunch selections such as "Black & Blue" Steak Salad, Lobster Mac & Cheese (total comfort food!), Tuna and Artichoke Panini, The Tuscan Burger (three meats, provolone on ciabatta), or the amazing Lobster and Beet Salad. Do not forget to try the signature Tomato Basil soup!

For dinner, the lights dim and each table is graced with a custom glass piece containing an oil lamp. The atmosphere is aglow, romantic, glorious! Be tempted by appetizers; a Lobster Bisque, the Seafood Martini, or perhaps the Beef Carpaccio? Pace yourself!

Awaiting your selection are the entrees; Hickory Encrusted Flat Iron Steak, Pan Seared Duck with Maine Blueberry Sauce and Polenta, or Lobster Rockport. And this is just a glance! I'm certain that you have decided by now that dessert is not to be left behind. Creations include Maine Blueberry Fritters, Frangelico Creme Brule, Lemon Poppyseed Cake, and assorted home-made ice creams and sorbets.

Chef/Owner Lisa Sojka welcomes guests to enjoy this perfect marriage of food and art in a most intimate and inviting setting. The warmth of the glowing glass pieces, the exquisite culinary presentations, and gracious staff make Prismglass Gallery and Cafe a must do in Rockport. The repeat clientele (and there are plenty of them) will tell you that Prismglass is special, and consistency in service and presentation make it one of the Midcoast's finest. Reservations are suggested, and be sure to make time to browse the galleries.

http://www.prismglassgallery-cafe.com/

Thistles in Bangor

If you are in the Bangor area, and even if you aren't, I'd make a trip to Thistles Restaurant. Tucked into Bangor's financial district at 175 Exchange Street, Thistles makes an excellent stop for both business and pleasure.

My husband and I stopped in for lunch while we were waiting for the infamous pop up to be readied for the season. I might as well be honest, I lovingly refer to the pop up as my "lake house". I will have to post about it sometime. I digress...

I loved Thistles. With it's funky modern interior, I was welcomed by the smell of amazing food. I knew that the Latin-inspired cuisine was going to be a new and exciting experience for me. I feasted on Argentinian Beef Empanadas with the suggested Malbec Kaiken, Lujan de Cuyo. The grouping was so lovely, so alive with flavor! The chimichurro sauce absolutely burst in my mouth, perfectly complimenting the modestly seasoned ground beef and pastry.

My husband enjoyed the Argentinian seasoned steak, also with the Malbec. Although a more conservative selection on the menu, it was no less fantastic. Expertly cooked medium rare and seasoned just enough to add that special Thistles touch that chef/owner Santiago Rave has so exquisitely mastered.

www.thistlesrestaurant.com

Can't go Wrong With SummerMaine!

My best friend, Fletcher Smith, owns and manages an exquisite property management business here in Midcoast Maine. Her properties represent some of the finest luxury, yet explicitly "Maine", vacation rentals available for you to enjoy in this area. These homes are well-appointed, and you can choose from oceanfront, oceanview, harborside or lakeside. Some homes are enormous traditional "cottages", some are new and some are distinguished and have aged well over the years. Whatever your choice, traditional or modern, SummerMaine will deliver an unmatched vacation experience in one of my favorite parts of Maine...the Midcoast! You must visit the website, www.summermaine.com to get the full scope of what is available for you to enjoy. You will not be disappointed!

www.summermaine.com

Luxury, Um, Camping?

Ok, so now I have you scratching your heads, right? Luxury camping? As in, camping out-of-doors in the wild Maine woods? Absolutely! Believe it or not, a good Maine camping trip is not to be overlooked. But, be advised! Not all campgrounds are created equal. And being particularly particular about my choice of campgrounds, I am not easily converted into a "happy camper".

However, this changed for me last year on August 6th weekend for my husband's 35th-ish birthday, we headed for the great Maine woods of Grafton Notch, right up against the New Hampshire border just outside of Bethel Maine.

So often, when trying to select a nice place to camp that offers:

• Privacy

• Clean bathrooms

• Clean anything

Compounded by beautiful scenery, easy access, and little to no crowds can be a daunting if not impossible task. I can honestly say "Eureka!" The weekend that we chose to camp in Newry just so happened to be at the tail end of a massive rain spell, and these campsites were situated pleasantly along a river. There was a flood advisory that night, but off we went with our pop-up in tote. (Yes, I love my pop-up complete with shower, fridge, furnace, linens and tablewear).

Now I'm not sure if we had the place to ourselves because of the recent flood warnings, because Grafton Notch Campground is fairly new, or if it's really just that good. We chose site 13 which offered plenty of space and a nice short walk to an exceptionally clean outhouse. We enjoyed the beautiful night with our red zin, a wonderful meal of steaks, corn, and potatoes cooked fireside, and strawberry shortcakes.

In the morning, I was greeted by cool breezes and warm sunshine. I decided to stroll the rest of the campground and was absolutely delighted at what I found. I guess its fair to say that words cannot describe how immaculately clean the bathrooms were, big huge private walk-in shower with WATER PRESSURE! Outlets, clean sinks, the smell of cedar, it was truly as nice as any home or hotel bathroom. All of the outhouses were spotless and well-maintained. Nestled in a tremendous gorge surrounded by the splendor of the Mahoosuc Range with the river running by, Grafton Notch Campground gets my absolute approval should you decide to try a different kind of luxury.

www.campgrafton.com