Domestic Tours - Maine XVII
Dates
October 5 – 10, 2006
Our Maine tour begins and ends in Portland. On the motor coach we go as far northeast as Rockland, but on our all-day boat cruise of Penobscot Bay, we go as far north as Castine.
Itinerary
Thursday, October 5
Check in at the Hilton Garden Inn, near the Portland Airport. There is a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel and those who drive may keep their vehicles at the hotel for the duration of the tour. We have no planned dinner Thursday night. The hotel has a small restaurant and will provide shuttle service to the nearby Maine Mall, which has several restaurants.
Friday, October 6
We'll board our coach at 8 a.m. for a one hour trip to Portsmouth, NH and a 4-½ hour cruise around the White Islands. We'll pass the Portsmouth, Whaleback, Isle of Shoals, Boon Island and Cape Neddick (The Nubble) Lighthouses. The cruise will include a box lunch on board.
After lunch, we head back to Portland and visit the Portland Head Lighthouse for a tour of the tower and museum, then visit the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse for photos. We return to our hotel to change for dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Saturday, October 7
We take a short ride to view the Cape Elizabeth twin tower light station and then Spring Point Ledge in Portland. Leaving Portland we head north through the fall color foliage and lunch at the Wiscasset Yacht Club.
After lunch the group will visit the summer home of a Society member, the Hendrick's Head Lighthouse. We arrive late afternoon at the beautiful Samoset Resort Hotel for three nights. Dinner is at the hotel.
Sunday, October 8
Travel to Boothbay Harbor and board a vessel for a half-day cruise of lighthouses. We pass the Burnt Island, Ram Island, Cuckolds and Seguin Island Lighthouses and then head up the lovely Kennebec River passing lighthouses of Pond Island, Perkins Island, Squirrel Point, Doubling Point Range Lights and Doubling Point. Our vessel then heads back to Boothbay Harbor through a picturesque inland waterway where we often observe bald eagles, herons, osprey and occasionally seals. Leaving Boothbay Harbor we drive to Pemaquid Point for a picnic and tour of that tower and Fishermen's Museum located in the old keeper's dwelling. Return travel to the Samoset. Dinner that night is at the nearby Lobster Pound Restaurant.
Monday, October 9
Travel to Rockland Harbor where we board the Elizabeth Ann for our full day cruise around Penobscot Bay passing the Rockland Breakwater, Indian Island, Grindle Point, Dice Head, Pumpkin Island, Eagle Island, Mark Island, Goose Rocks, Brown's Head and Owl's Head Lighthouses. A hot lunch will be served aboard the vessel. We return to the hotel for dinner and the night.
Tuesday, October 10
Visit the new Maine Lighthouse Museum, then travel a short distance out to the Owl's Head Lighthouse where the Coast Guard will provide access. The next stop is a short visit to the grave of lighthouse heroine Abby Burgess and finally our last lighthouse, Marshall Point, where we will enjoy a picnic lunch and tour the museum.
We return to Portland, stopping at the Portland Airport about 4:30 p.m. for those who will fly out that day. Then we return to the hotel for members to retrieve their vehicles or who wish to stay overnight.
This is a fabulous tour with plenty of lighthouses, many only able to be viewed from a vessel. And almost every year we have been treated to a glorious splash of vivid fall colors as Maine's trees do their thing. Lighthouses and lobsters, what a natural and nautical pair!
The tour includes all meals from Friday breakfast through Tuesday lunch, five nights lodging, coach, three cruises, all entrance fees, tips (except the driver) and donations to the lighthouse we visit and the Society. We estimate the cost for this extended tour at $2,100 a couple, $1,375 single. As always we can attempt to find roommates for singles. Extra nights are available at the tax free tour rate.