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!

The Bread Shack

A visit to the Bread Shack on Center Street in Auburn is an absolute must if you are ever in the area. Their small but cozy location offers up a variety of freshly baked breads and pastries, coffee, and sandwiches. Their baked goods are pleasantly tempting behind the glass cases, and their small yet inviting tables are the perfect spot to spend an afternoon with a good book.

I have visited the Bread Shack multiple times, and they have never let me down. Their baguettes are perfect, crusty and brown on the outside with a light, fluffy crumb. I would highly recommend their homemade English muffins to take home with you. Toasted with a little butter and a mug of warm coffee? Unbeatable. The croissants are large, flaky, and buttery, and in the summer, their lemonade is so fresh that it's almost as if you're sticking your straw in a (lightly) sugared lemon. 

I have been the Bread Shack only once to sample their lunch items, and the Caprese sandwich that I ordered was very satisfying; the mozzarella was incredibly light and fresh, and the pesto added a nice complement. I was very happy to learn that any sandwich you order at the Bread Shack comes with 2 cookies. On my visit, I picked the chocolate chip, which were small, buttery, and crunchy. The perfect (and unexpected) accompaniment to my meal.

I have sampled quite a few other items that the Bread Shack offers, but my absolute favorite is their chocolate-raspberry croissant. The dark chocolate croissant envelops a rich cream cheese filling dotted with fresh raspberries that burst in your mouth when you take a bite. Sadly, it is not available on every visit (which I can only attribute to the fact that it is amazing and mouth-watering and you'd be crazy not to buy it), so be sure to check it out if it's there. I would say with absolute certainty that any item you choose on your visit will be fresh, delicious, and decently priced. The service there has always been quick and pleasant; in other words, there is no excuse for you not to visit the Bread Shack the next time you are in the L/A area!

If you'd like to visit their website for more information and menus, it can be found here.

Lewiston/Auburn Week

A year ago, the Maine Adventurers packed their belongings up into the back of a Uhaul, leaving small college-town life behind for the big city: L/A!

Well, ok, not that L/A, but rather the twin cities of Lewiston/Auburn, ME. It's hard to believe that it has already been a year, and yet already we have a few regular haunts that we would like to share with all of you.

While the area definitely has its fair share of problems, there are a number of local restaurants and businesses that are worth a visit. That's why, in honor of our one-year moving anniversary, we are loading up our website with reviews of places to go in Lewiston and Auburn. 

As always, thanks for reading, and we hope that you will enjoy Lewiston/Auburn week with the Maine Adventurers!