Downtown Waterville

In recent years, downtown Waterville really shown some growth and improvement. Growing up in the area, it seemed that many businesses would move in but not many would stay. These days, the area really has grown to a budding neighborhood with cute shops and tasty restaurants. Even the Waterville Opera House, which has long been a fixture in the downtown area, has recently been renovated and is better than ever.

There are a number of businesses in the area that I am fond of, but first I'd like to mention a few annual events that are worth checking out. For me, they definitely are tinged with nostalgia, but there are definitely some enjoyable events that are improving every year. First, (and since it's getting to be that time of year) is the set-up of Kringleville in Castonguay Square. Every year, the square sets up for the arrival of Santa and his helpers--and of course Santa has visiting hours so that you can make sure he gets your Christmas list right. It was always a very exciting and magical event for me as a kid, and it is always preceded by the Parade of Lights. I have not attended in recent years, but it is my fervent hope that some of the older decorations have been replaced by now. The animantronic elves and reindeer were definitely seeing some wear and tear in my childhood; I can only imagine that by now they would be downright frightening. Either way, it is a great event for children and parents alike.

Foliage

Another favorite event of mine happens every August. If you are ever in the area, or feel like visiting, the Taste of Greater Waterville is really fun and worth checking out. Main Street shuts down for the day and local restaurants set up booths so that people can walk around and get a taste of everything. There's also live music and rides set up in the square. It's great to walk around and try out everything, and the event has blown up in recent years.

Hardy Girls and Foliage

On a regular day, it is fun to walk around Main Street and check out all the shops. I've always enjoyed looking at the window displays, especially at the jewelry stores ;). Many businesses have been in the area for a while, such as Jorgensen's. Jorgensen's has been serving the coffee and sandwich addicted crowd for years, and it was once one of the only coffee shops in town (besides Dunkin' Donuts). It's popular with Colby students, and it has a nice seating area perfect for sitting down with a book or some work. Recently, Selah Tea has opened down the street, and I have to say that it is giving Jorgensen's a run for their money (especially in terms of desserts. Tiramisu? Yes please!).

City Hall

For beer lovers, Mainely Brews has recently opened and they feature a number of their own brews on tap. Their trivia night and other events are fun, and it is fast becoming a popular hangout. There are several other restaurants and pubs to choose from (Cancun, You Know Whose Pub, Amici's Thai Bistro, and plenty of others!), so there is something for everyone. For you local foodies out there, The Waterville Farmer's Market is held every week in the downtown area, and Barrels Market is open 24/7, serving and selling locally grown produce and products.

Downtown Waterville

Recently, Sean and I were in the area visiting family, and we were able to get some nice shots with some great fall colors in there.

Abby and Penny

Rolly's Diner

If you are ever passing through Lewiston/Auburn one morning, and the craving for fresh pancakes and hot coffee hits you, then you might want to head over to Rolly's Diner to satisfy your needs. The place is nearly legendary in the area, but travelers might not be aware of it just yet.

Whether you're a local or just passing through, know this: the place is always PACKED. I wish you the best of luck finding a seat on a weekend morning. On my first visit to Rolly's, the line went all the way out into the parking lot, but if I remember correctly it moved fairly quickly.

The other thing to know about Rolly's (aside from the awesome breakfast foods, which we will get to in a moment) is that the atmosphere is so darn friendly. It just feels homey, almost like you're sitting amongst family, waiting for the pancakes and bacon to be ready. Even with the hoards of people, it still feels this way to me. The decorations inside add to that effect as well; the last time Sean and I went, the ceiling was done up to look like the sky, and dozens of colorful balloons hung from it (in honor of L/A's Balloon Festival). The place is so cheery, it's no wonder people flock there.

But enough of this pretending to care about the decorations and such; what about the food? Well, it's good. The place stays open until 2 pm, so I have only eaten their breakfast. I can't say that this fact bothers me a whole lot; while I'm sure Rolly's lunch offerings are very tasty, breakfast features some of the greatest comfort foods in the world. I am never one to pass up on a good breakfast menu. Rolly's offers a lot of your standard breakfast fare, like eggs, omelets, bacon, etc. They do, however, serve up some pretty tasty crepes, and the fillings are very decadent. They have the fruit fillings, like blueberry, raspberry, and strawberry, and the brown sugar filling. They also have their special recipe called Sadie's crepes, which are chocolate crepes filled with mocha Bavarian cream. Yeah...this is a real thing. I am a terrible blogger who has NOT tried any of these crepes yet, but Sean has and he assures me that they are every bit as delicious as they sound. I mostly stick to my hash browns, eggs, and toast, and Rolly's has never disappointed me.

You can visit Rolly's website to check it our for yourself--and to plan your next meal! It's a great place to visit, and I promise you won't be sorry that you went.

Friday Photo Delight

The Maine Mountain Adventurers: Tumbledown Edition

Today on the Maine Adventurers: We conquer a mountain!

This past September, Sean and I (and Sean's mom! Hi Linda!) climbed one of the more popular hikes in Western Maine. We took the trip over to Weld and hiked the Brook trail to the summit of Tumbledown. Tumbledown is a 3,068 foot mountain and has a really nice surprise waiting at the top: the pond! So rest assured, after all your hard work, you will be rewarded with a really serene spot to rest up and have a snack.

Pond at the summit

Now, the Brook trail is the easiest trail out of the bunch, but I don't think I'd recommend it for beginners. The trail starts with a steady climb up an old logging road, then veers further into the woods. The last part of the trail features some pretty rugged spots; I scrabbled up quite a few boulders in my desperate attempt to reach the top. However, it is very rewarding all throughout the hike because there are several nice small waterfalls and streams that pass through the trail. I would say that the climb up took the three of us an hour and a half, so it wasn't too bad. Plus, like I said, the top really is spectacular, and it's so nice to sit and stare out at the pond. It would be great for swimming during the summer, but it was pretty cold when we went, so I wouldn't have gone in if you paid me. Despite the cold, we did get to view some nice changing leaves and cooled off before the trip back down.

View of the peak

One of the many trail side waterfalls

Panorama of the summit 

Another waterfall

Of course, if you're a crazy advanced hiker, you have the other trails to explore, but I think I would need more experience before taking on any of those. You can also set up camp at the summit, and we passed a party of people who had just spent the night at the top. It really is a great experience for the intermediate to advanced hiker. If you are planning your hike in the summer, be sure to bring a swimsuit, and if you're going in the spring or fall, layers will be your best friend. Enjoy!

Andover, Maine

Whenever I tell someone about my camp, people say "Andover, Massachusetts?", and I tell them, no, Andover, Maine! Andover is a quaint little town nestled in rolling green mountains near the Appalachian trail. It is also known for having an amazing local ski shop called Akers Ski, which sells all your needs for cross country skiing. A few weeks back, Abby and I met up with my mother to have an end of the summer bonfire. Kicking back and enjoying a nice local beer, a roaring fire, and great family is truly awesome.

Andover is a great place to go if you are looking to do anything remotely related to the outdoors. You can cross country ski, snowshoe, hike, mountain bike, snowmobile, and cliff jump in a variety of places around the town. This past summer Abby and I invited our families to come check out the area. A great spot to go is situated right along the Appalachian trail, which we have now affectionately called 'the pools'. This spring fed stream offers amazing views, gorgeous waterfalls, and in some spots, deep shimmering pools.

Approaching the falls

Jumping into one of the many pools on the Appalachian trail

Action Shot

Top of the falls

Bottom of the falls

I cannot mention Andover without mentioning my favorite spot of them all: Devil's Den. Devil's Den is located about 6-7 miles on South Arm Road just outside of town. This spot offers a great view of a small canyon, from which it received its name. Another amazing feature of this spot is a small river running through an adjacent canyon that is deep enough to cliff jump from. Just a disclaimer, if you have never done cliff jumping before, please do not do it here. There are plenty of rocks to hurt yourself on and help is pretty far away. But if you are experienced or see someone jumping, just ask them the best spots to jump! There is a five footer, a twenty footer and a thirty footer that you can jump off. The water is deep enough even in the summer. So if you are looking for a thrill check out this spot, but remember to play it safe!


I must say Abby caught the photography bug when we were last up. At one point she was using my camera from a moving car as we were driving along on a dirt road. Below are some photos from our last trip. 

Old Shed

Little Stream

Dirt road at sunset

Sunset and willows

Ellis River

Old signage

Old gas station

If you are looking for a good place to go for a drive, check out Andover. There is a very beautiful bed and breakfast downtown and campsites available in South Arm. Driving through the town in the fall is truly spectacular.  

Friday Picture Delight

Here are some more pictures from our vault!

Baxter Brewing Company

Let me be abrupt and upfront with everyone who reads this blog: Abby and I love beer. If you know us, then you know we like to try as many beers as we possibly can. I remember back in late 2010 and early 2011, I heard about a new beer company starting up in Lewiston. Baxter Brewing bought a part of the old Bates Mill Complex, rebuilt it, and started up a brewery. Some of you may be asking, what makes Baxter so special? It all comes down to one word: cans! Cans block sunlight from entering and ruining the great taste of beer. Their cans are airtight, so the flavors never weaken from sun exposure. Plus, they are very portable for outdoors activities, and more eco-friendly, as people are more likely to recycle aluminum.

Currently, Baxter has five beers: Pamola Extra Pale Ale, Stowaway IPA, Amber Road, Celsius (their summer ale), and Autumn Hay Ride. Recently, they announced a sixth beer, which will be a winter stout called Phantom Punch. Abby and I both agree that the Stowaway IPA is their best beer. Don't get me wrong; all of the other ales are great, but they just cannot beat the India Pale Ale. The beer is quite bitter, coming in at 69 IBU, or international bitter units. The beer starts off crisp with hints of citrus, followed by a hint of fruit at the end.

Recently, Baxter Brewing announced that they will be expanding beginning early next year because they cannot keep up with demand. They also have opened a tap room where you can go in grab a beer and a soft pretzel. Many people will overlook this great brewery because it is not located in Portland. Hop in your car (see what I did there?) and check out Baxter Brewing Company. They give amazing tours and at the end they will let you sample each one of their beers. At times, you can be a test subject for any future flavors they may have.

So all in all, go check out Baxter Brewing in Lewiston. It is a great young brewery, making great beers and offering a fun tour for all you beer fans!

Cheers!

Friday Picture Delight

George's Pizza

It wouldn't truly be Lewiston/Auburn week if we didn't cover George's Pizza. The place has an almost unbeatable reputation in the area, and consistently wins taste tests in the area (and is ranked #1!). They have also recently been named one of the best pizza places in Maine by Maine magazine. One bite of their pizza would give you a good idea as to why that is.

Now, I would like to make one disclaimer before you read any further: I am not very biased when it comes to pizza. I pretty much love it all. I dream about it. If I could eat pizza every day while still remaining healthy, I would do it in a heartbeat. With that said, I have also eaten my fair share of pizza, and I have a pretty discerning pizza nose.

Ok, end of disclaimer.

I can remember the first time I ate George's Pizza. Sean and I were visiting the area for the afternoon, and we stopped in for lunch. It was warm and cozy inside, and we sat in a red vinyl booth as we waited for our pizzas. Cars drove past the huge windows overlooking busy Center Street.

Then, our pizza arrived; warm, gooey, cheesy, with just the right amount of zest. The crust is one of the sturdiest I've ever experienced, which is great because you can pick up a slice and it won't flop down and dribble sauce and grease down your hand. It has a very satisfying sound when you tap the bottom as well, which you will of course want to do immediately (if you're me). The cheese is perfectly melted with beautiful brown spots bubbling on the surface. Really, what is better than golden brown, bubbly cheese? My favorite thing about George's pizza is that some of the cheese has made its way to the edge of the crust, and crust and cheese have fused into a deliciously crunchy bite.

George's provides you with a typical Maine pizza experience; it is very similar to a lot of our House of Pizza joints that are sprinkled throughout our towns, but in my opinion it is constructed a lot better. The interior of George's Pizza is, admittedly, not the most spectacular sight, but it gets the job done. George's also offers dinner baskets, pasta, and Italians (another uniquely Maine experience), but to be absolutely honest I have never tried any of them because the pizza is just too good. They do also offer a pizza buffet every Monday - Wednesday for only $6.80, and they have a great website where you can find their menu and coupons for special deals.

We are only on this planet for a very brief space of time. So really, get out there and start eating more pizza. Especially George's. What are you waiting for?

L/A River Walk

The Lewiston/Auburn river walk may not seem like your first destination in the area. But trust us when we say, rethink where you go first. The river walk is located behind Gritty's Brewpub and snakes along the bank of the Androscoggin River. It crosses the old Maine Central Railroad Bridge into Lewiston, and to fine establishments such as Fishbones and DaVinci's. A family could easily finish the riverwalk in under an hour. But check out the playground before crossing the bridge or bring a soccer ball to one of the parks.

If you start your walk near Gritty's, be prepared to see a few dozen ducks milling about around the bank of the river as you can see below.  As you progress further along the trail you can see remnants of the canal system used by many of the old mills in Lewiston. The trail perfectly blends together nature elements and art deco architecture from the turn of the century.

Ducks

A few more ducks

My favorite feature of the trail is the old Maine Central Railroad trestle that has been converted into a walking path. Although the railroad is gone now, it is a reminder for future generations that Lewiston/Auburn was once a rail hub of Central and Western Maine. Throughout the trail you will see sprinklings of railroad history. So be sure to check it out if you are a history buff!

Former railroad trestle

Last night, Abby and I took a walk at dusk and boy, was it worth it. The last vestiages of fall foliage were charming and in some cases still vibrant. We stopped on the railroad bridge and Abby took some lovely shots of the sunset and one of me because she was sneaky.

The L/A river walk is used quite a bit by locals, primarily as a site for exercising, crossing between the two cities, or just for the nice change of scenery and a break from everyday life. But as you can see from our pictures, it's a great spot for visitors to view the two cities from afar while also enjoying the outdoors. So don't forget about this hidden gem for your next visit!