Maine’s Historic and Beautiful Penobscot Bay

View of Penobscot Bay at Castine, Maine 

Since the very beginning of the colonization of what is now the United States of America, Penobscot Bay has been witness to some very important moments in the nation’s history. Walking through the streets of Castine, Searsport, or numerous other coastal Maine communities along Penobscot Bay, will point you to memories of a rich maritime past, as well as the historic charm so delicately woven into its present day beauty.

Castine provides signage for a walking tour of historic sights. 

By land or by sea, the area is well worth nosing around in for tourists and locals alike. I strongly suggest you enjoy it from both angles to fully appreciate Penobscot Bay from all perspectives. Guildive Cruises offers you an opportunity to do just that on its Down East excursions with Ports of Call in both Castine and Searsport scheduled through the end of September. Guildive's Captains, Zander Parker and Kate Kana, have both sailed the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans extensively and are pleased to offer public sails onboard the vintage 1934, 56’ long, 46-ton, motorsail, Guildive as an added summer attraction on picturesque Penobscot Bay.

Guildive Under Sail
Photo Courtesy of Guildive Cruises

The Guildive is docked in Castine with excursions departing from Dennett’s Wharf at 15 Sea Street. It also offers two-hour sails departing from the Public Wharf on Steamboat Avenue in Searsport on Mondays and Saturdays with Penobscot Marine Museum admission included in the ticket price; a great way to enjoy a complete seafaring experience from start to finish as you can even take a picnic lunch along to enjoy during your cruise. Besides its regular excursions, Guildive Cruises offers customized and specialty sails for bird watchers, artists and writers, private events, and even a full moon sail for stargazers on July 14-16 and August 12-14. Reservations are suggested, as space is limited to six persons per voyage.

In either Castine or Searsport, you can’t help but want to tour the town and soak in the history that’s so evident in its buildings and preserved by its dedicated historians and community members. Just walking through Castine is a history lesson as you read signage of major events that have taken place there. To view more treasures of the past, a visit to the Wilson Museum on Perkins Street is always a good place to start. Admission is free, except for guided tours of the John Perkins House. The Castine Historical Society on School Street is another great resource.

Summer Folk, Penobscot Marine Museum 2012 Exhibit

Searsport proudly hails the Penobscot Maritime Museum. It's Maine’s oldest maritime museum, and designed as a 19th century seafaring village, providing a home for a regionally important library and archives focused on maritime history—plus the genealogy of the Penobscot Bay area. The area has been a tourist destination for more than 150 years, the theme of Penobscot Marine Museum's 2012 exhibits and events is Summer Folk, The Tourists of Penobscot Bay, spanning time from steamship to motorcar.

For more information click these links:

Guildive Cruises

Penobscot Marine Museum

Wilson Museum

Castine Historical Society

Blae at Dyce Head Lighthouse
Castine, Maine

You can read more about Guildive Cruises and other coastal Maine attractions in an issue of theSCENE, an entertainment magazine published monthly by Courier Publications LLC in Rockland, Maine.

Reminder from Blae: If you are out and about on a hot summer day, be sure your dog is not too hot in the car. Sometimes it's best if a pet stays cool at home watching the house, especially if you plan to visit places he/she can't. 

© 2012 Copyright Gail J. VanWart All Rights Reserved

Making the Best of a Rainy Day in Bar Harbor

The recent string of rainy days, right at the onset Maine’s tourist season, has brought to my mind some special places in Bar Harbor a rainy day just can’t dampen. As a local, I especially enjoy Bar Harbor in the early spring, late fall, and on rainy days when things are quieter. That doesn’t mean, however, I would ever pass up spending a hot sunny day in Bar Harbor or beautiful Acadia NationalPark. But, rainy days, give me a reason, or excuse, for doing something inside.

Sherman's is Maine's Oldest Bookstore

I love history, books, and all things Maine, and Sherman's Book & Stationery Store, Maine’s oldest bookstore, has it all. When William Sherman set up his printing press in his Main Street storefront in 1886 to publish Bar Harbor’s news and sell a few books and stationery items, he probably didn’t imagine his business would last into the 21^st Century. Though it changed hands, from the Sherman family to the Curtis family in the mid 1900s, and no longer sports a printing press, it has grown tremendously over the years. The winning business philosophy has been to simply please their customers, the year-round residents and seasonal tourists alike. They’ve managed that so well, in fact, the business has overflowed into the towns of Freeport, Camden, and Boothbay Harbor. But, 56 Main Street in Bar Harbor will always be my favorite location. It is, after all, where it all began. Sherman's Book & Stationery Store is open 362 days a year and often thefirst stop repeat visitors to the area will make upon their arrival. Rain orshine, if you haven’t already done so, you should check Sherman’s out. http://www.shermans.com

Another place you might not notice on a sunny day is Bar Harbor’s unique movie theater, ReelPizza Cinerama, situated on the Village Green. This business took the novel idea of a dinner theater and turned it into a pizza and a movie. All movie tickets are priced at just $6 each, for everyone. And, as one reviewer pointed out, for under $20, you and a date, can actually share a meal with your moviethere, instead of overpriced candy and popcorn. Over their past sixteen years of operation, Reel Pizza’s specialty pizzas, each named after a blockbuster film, have become fairly famous in their own right. Wine and beer are served there and the atmosphere is casual and comfy. There’s always an art display in the lobby and a wide selection of films scheduled, ranging from the latest movie hits toeducational documentaries. On your mobile phone, you can email or text message times@reelpizza.net to receive a listing of the evening’s two film titles and show times. You can visit also them online. http://www.reelpizza.net

Another favorite haunt for animal lovers, especially dog owners, is Walkin The Dog at 164 Main Street, Bar Harbor. It not only carries a variety of Maine-made products for pets and their owners, it also offers an array of breed specific products, delicious treats and pet approved gifts. Shop owner, Lisa 
De Muro, invites you to drop in when you visit beautiful Mount Desert Island or browseher online store when you aren’t in the area. Walkin The Dog donates 5% of al ltheir website sales to animal rescue efforts. So, if it’s raining and you have to walk the dog anyway, you can duck inside Walkin The Dog. Your pooch is always welcome to come in out of the rain there. http://walkinthedogbarharbor.com

No matter what the weather, there is always something to enjoy in Bar Harbor. Lobster ice cream, anyone?

Want us to sniff out some particular item of interest in Maine for a Nosing Around Maine blog post? Just say so! 

© Copyright 2012 Gail J. VanWart  All Rights Reserved

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