Rasika DalviHow about gorging on a big lobster lunch and steaming bowl of chowder while enjoying the breathtaking mountain view of bold reds, and striking oranges on the backdrop of blue-green waters?? Doesn’t it sound exciting? If yes, then one must visit Maine in the fall. Each Fall nature paints forests in hues of yellow, orange, and red for a few short weeks every October (usually the first two weeks in October are the best) and this is when the trees truly shine.
Having lived in New England for 5 years and explored New Hampshire and Vermont; I can safely say that Maine flaunts the best foliage I have ever seen. As most of the crowd is attracted to New Hampshire, this time we decided to explore the state whose slogan itself says “The Way Life Should Be”, MAINE.
So, we planned to go from Connecticut – Boston ( meine Deutsche Klasse) – Augusta, ME. But something must happen to make the start memorable, rather gives you jitters. This time our car battery just died. Phew!! After a jump start, we somehow managed to reach Augusta, ME at midnight. One more point was added in our “to-do-list” for tomorrow: Battery change.
Having lived in New England for 5 years and explored New Hampshire and Vermont; I can safely say that Maine flaunts the best foliage I have ever seen. As most of the crowd is attracted to New Hampshire, this time we decided to explore the state whose slogan itself says “The Way Life Should Be”, MAINE.
So, we planned to go from Connecticut – to Boston ( meine Deutsche Klasse) – to Augusta, ME. But something must happen to make the start memorable, rather than give you jitters. This time our car battery just died. Phew!! After a jump start, we somehow managed to reach Augusta, ME at midnight. One more point was added to our “to-do list” for tomorrow: Battery change.
Day 1
After getting a new battery installed, with a big sigh of relief, we started our journey toward Greenville, ME.
Moose Safari :
Apart from enjoying the foliage, we decided to do something different this time. So, we booked a moose tour with Northwoods Outfitters (Greenville). There are two options for doing this: Water tour or Land tour. We booked a water tour and I was also excited about canoeing. But, after reaching there we came to know that the chances are much higher to spot moose on the land than around the water. The main reason behind this is “rutting season” (mating season for moose). Due to pumping hormones they would be interested in lovemaking and hardly care about grazing. Therefore, very few chances of spotting them near water. Spring would be the best season to spot them near water.
As this would be my first time to see this magnificent animal, I was way too excited. The tour was for 3 hours which would take us through the vast backcountry area of Moosehead Lake region. It was the peak of foliage when we arrived in Greenville, and it was so visible.
As we entered the jungle, both sides of the unpaved, dusty road were covered with red, orange, yellow, and green trees. I was enjoying this bumpy ride which was giving us an authentic wilderness experience. Our guide, Tim, was so knowledgeable and fun. He was sharing all the interesting facts about moose and overall about anything in Maine.
Suddenly he stopped the van and asked us to look in the trees. Holy moly!! There were two bulls (male moose) standing still looking towards us. Our excitement was beyond words. This was a lifetime experience to see this beautiful creature in its natural habitat.
Maine has designated the moose as the official state animal. The iconic moose is the world’s largest member of the deer family, which inhabits northern forests of North America, Europe, and Russia. A bull moose can grow to over 6 feet tall at the shoulder and can weigh over 1400 pounds. Males grow an enormous spread of antlers each year (antlers may span over six feet, but are shed after the mating season).
As we drove further, we spotted a cow and a calf drinking water at the pond. This time they were much closer to us.
One of the best places to see a moose is the Moosehead Lake Region. The best time for viewing is in the early morning or evening time before sunset. May, June, September, October, and December are the prime months with September and October being the best time to spot a fully antlered Bull…now that is an impressive sight!
Maine is lucky enough to be one of only a few states in the U.S. that has a sizable moose population. State biologists estimate the Maine moose population to be around 75,000—that’s the largest concentration of moose in the country next to Alaska.
It was an exclusive and memorable wilderness experience to see such a glorious animal in its natural habitat.
We saw a total of 8 moose, including 2 bulls, 3 cows and a calf. To add a cherry on the cake, on our way to Bangor, we spotted a cow (female moose) right on the road. The whole experience of this moose tour was memorable, delightful and once-in-a-lifetime. I recommend this moose tour in Maine. What an epic day!!!
Moose Antlers
Only the bulls(males) have antlers. Mature males shed their antlers once a year in November/December and replace them with new larger ones beginning in the spring. They are formed of living tissue supplied by blood through a network of vessels covered with a soft smooth skin called “Velvet”. Eventually, the tissue solidifies, the velvet is scraped off and the antlers become completely formed of mineralized dead matter. Their main function is to display during the rutting season and to show dominance within the herd.
Day 2
We headed to Acadia National Park which is insanely beautiful in every season. Acadia is the nation’s easternmost national park and this time we wanted to enjoy the foliage in this park. Fall foliage generally peaks between October 13–22, but the dates vary from year to year.
Park Loop Road:
For a particularly beautiful fall scenic view, we drove along the Park Loop Road, a 27-mile scenic loop that begins at the Hulls Cove Visitors Center and winds through a large portion of Mount Desert Island. You can stop as much as you wish at pull-off points to enjoy an incredible panoramic view.
Be sure to stop at Cadillac Mountain, Maine’s highest peak, for even more amazing views.
Thunder Hole:
Your first main stop on the Park Loop Road is at Thunder Hole. This is a natural rock formation where high seas can cause a thundering boom and a huge splash. If you time it right, you can catch prime conditions for the thunder! The best time to visit Thunder Hole is 2 hours before high tide. This is when the waves are moving in and when booms and splashes are most likely.
Jesup Trail:
Jesup path is a 1-mile straightaway through the woods and meadows of Acadia National Park. We decided to take a casual stroll through this much-photographed path, which is partially a flat wooden boardwalk trail. It is a great way to enjoy the contrasting colors of the birches with the fall foliage. One must use all the senses here to experience nature. You may spot owls, deer, chipmunks, and a wide assortment of native birds.
Lobster eating
Maine is known for some great food: lobsters, blueberries, corn chowder, and whoopie pies. And autumn, harvest time, is when the flavors come alive. Approximately 40 million pounds of lobster are caught off the coast of Maine, accounting for nearly 90% of the country’s supply. I believe it’s a sin when one goes to Maine and does not relish lobsters. Needless to say, we too enjoyed “delicious autumn”.
Day 3
As we could not explore much in Northern Maine, due to our scheduled moose tour; we thought of doing that today. Greenville is a town in Piscataquis County, Maine. The town is centered on the lower end of Moosehead Lake, the largest body of freshwater in the state.
It was cloudy and drizzle till noon. The wet foliage colors popped along these gray clouds. Just the way we wanted to see them.
Mountain View Pond:
We decided just to randomly stop by all the beautiful spots. The first one in our route was Mountain View Pond (old Fitzgerald place, as locals call it), located just 6.3 miles from Greenville. It’s a 550-acre beauty, nestled into the surrounding Big Squaw Mountain range.
Mt. Kineo Cliff:
From Greenville, we headed to the village of Rockwood to view Mt.Kineo. Kineo is one of the few Maine State Parks that can only be reached by water, with the most direct route being launched from Rockwood.
Mt. Kineo on Moosehead Lake has an odd history. According to folklore, a very harsh, cruel and unrepentant American Indian chief was exiled from his tribe to live out the rest of his life – and redemptive afterlife – on the mountain. His name was – you guessed it – Kineo.
Wood Pond, Jackman:
The next destination was Jackman, a town in Somerset County, Maine. This beautiful town is tucked into Maine’s northwest timber country and close to the Quebec border. It is on the Old Canada Road (Route 201) National Scenic Byway, which connects northwest Maine to Quebec.
After looking at its serene beauty, I was not surprised to know that this town is being called the “Switzerland of Maine”. In the early ’60s, as a school project, the children of Jackman were assigned to come up with a tagline for the town of Jackman. The winning student was honored with the town adopting it.
Wayman Lake:
After indulging in such breathtaking beauty, we started our return journey to Connecticut. But that doesn’t mean nature stops throwing surprises at us. On ME 201 souths, in Somerset County, I just noticed a beautiful water body along a road and a tiny board saying “Wayman Lake”. I said we should not miss that, and like a loving husband, for whom wife’s wish is like a command, he took a U-turn and said let’s check it out.
As soon as we saw the lake, we were like “Whoa!”. The lake is rounded by dense red, orange, and yellow-colored trees which are reflected on the surface of the lake, creating a scenic beauty that inspires serenity. The view was gorgeous beyond description.
On such a beautiful note we leaf peepers bid goodbye to this “Vacationland”.
