Maine Emerging As A Rising Sports Destination In The U.S.

Known primarily for its rugged coastline and outdoor recreation, Maine is quickly gaining recognition as one of America's most exciting new sports destinations. This past spring, Maine's first professional soccer team, the Portland Hearts of Pine, created a buzz even before they took to the field. From the start, the club has framed itself as not only a sports franchise, but as a community-forward movement: “culture-led, community-built, and city-backed.” The team and their fan base signaled a new era for sports in Maine.

The buzz was amplified to a roar this summer when the Hearts of Pine played their inaugural international friendly against the Halifax Wanderers under the lights at Portland's Fitzpatrick Stadium. The game, which was added to their regular schedule, came about when Maine Governor Janet Mills, on behalf of the Hearts of Pine, asked Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston if the Halifax team would consider a cross-border match. The international friendly made sense geographically and symbolically – a chance to show that Maine is welcoming on the field and for a visit.

A video from the Maine Office of Tourism and the Hearts of Pine captures the excitement and community spirit surrounding Maine's first professional soccer match. The piece celebrates how sports unite fans and foster pride across borders—reflecting the energy and authenticity that define Maine's emerging sports culture.

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_9IGnKpawY

The Portland Hearts of Pine join a roster of established teams that bring year-round excitement to Maine, including the Portland Seadogs (Double-A baseball) the Maine Celtics (NBA G League) and the Maine Mariners (ECHK hockey). Together, these teams give fans the opportunity to see tomorrow's stars up close in an intimate, community-driven setting.

Maine's growing sports profile extends beyond the stadium. Fort Kent's Can-Am Crown International Sled Dog Races and the Camden Classics Cup sailing regatta are long-time events that highlight Maine's heritage; races and marathons like the Enduro Race Series, several gravel grind races, Beach to Beacon in Cape Elizabeth, the Dempsey Challenge in Lewiston/Auburn and the Mount Desert Island Marathon; and major endurance events like Ironman 70.3 Maine in Augusta and the XTERRA Trail Run World Championship at Sugarloaf have cemented the state's reputation as a premier destination for world-class competition surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty.

As sports take center stage globally with next year's FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, Maine is proving that a rural state can make a big impact on the sports stage with new teams, major events, and a passionate fan base. From the stadium lights of Portland to the mountain trails of Carrabassett Valley, Maine's love of sports runs deep. Whether you come to cheer, compete, or simply take it all in, Maine offers the perfect backdrop for unforgettable athletic experiences in every season.

Arrival Of Cruise Ships Could Boost Tourism Figures In Maine

BAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — The arrival of the first large cruise ship in two-and-a-half years in Maine is another signal that tourism is getting closer to pre-pandemic normalcy.

Last year, more than 15.6 million visitors came to Maine in 2021, a third more than made the trip the year before, at the start of the pandemic, officials said.

But there were no large cruise ships until the arrival of the Norwegian Pearl in the waters off Bar Harbor. The ship dropped anchor in Frenchman Bay, and visitors were ferried to shore on tenders.

“It’s exciting to see these ships and their passengers coming back to Maine,” said Sarah Flink, executive director of CruiseMaine.

Cruise ships could restore some visitation. The number of visitors last year remained about a million below 2019, before the pandemic. Cruise ships made 409 port calls and brought 450,000 passengers in 2019.

One positive sign from the 2021 tourism numbers is that spending soared. Spending grew 63.7% from 2020 and 20.3% from 2019.

Maple Celebrations Return In Some States, With Precautions

Maple season is a time-honored tradition in the Northeast, when sap starts to flow in maple trees and is collected and boiled into syrup, with visitors coming to sugar houses to see the operations firsthand.

But the pandemic forced some states to cancel or postpone their annual sweet celebrations last year, and now some producers are welcoming back the public with safety precautions in place.

Maple weekends are happening Saturday and Sunday in Massachusetts and Connecticut, and Maine’s annual celebration is being held March 27-28 with precautions recommended by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention. But those statewide events are off for a second year in a row in Vermont, the country’s top maple producer, and New York.

Maine Maple Sunday was postponed last spring, which was a disappointment for syrup producers, some of whom counted on it for 50% of their annual sales.

“It was a huge loss last year,” said Jo-Ann Merrifield, who said the event normally accounts for 75% of sales at Merrifield Farm in Gorham, Maine. That included valued added products like nuts and candy, in addition to syrup.

Her farm normally would have about 4,000 to 5,000 visitors over the weekend. This year, the event is scaled back. Gone are the free samples of maple ice cream, the pancake breakfast, blacksmith demonstration and animals, she said. But people can still purchase products as well as enjoy coffee and a pastry, she said.

Despite the loss of the maple open house weekends in Vermont, some producers say sales have been up with more people staying home and cooking for themselves.

“I just think people are staying home more and using more syrup,” said Jim Wells, of Olde Carriage Sugarwoods in Charlotte, Vermont, who said his sales increased at a local market, online and to people stopping by the house. “I almost ran out of syrup, which is unusual.”

Others reported a drop in sales after restaurants that they supply shut down.

Sales are down slightly for Turkey Street Maples, in Chocorua, New Hampshire, because restaurants weren’t using as much syrup, but grocery stores are still taking their syrup, which they also sell online and curbside, said Kate Stanley.

New Hampshire is having a maple month, with some producers allowing limited visitors, with social distancing, face masks, and other requirements.

Normally about 600 people visit Turkey Street Maples during their maple weekend. They usually have two or three other businesses come and sell their products but this year, their event next weekend will be smaller, she said.

The sugarhouse is too small to have other people inside and maintain a safe distance but French doors built into it allow people to see the process from outside, Stanley said.

“We’ve pared it back to just us and another local farm,” she said.

By LISA RATHKE

This Coming Weekend Is Best For Viewing The Fall Tapestry Of Color In Maine

Fall Foliage Report Week 4

From Fort Kent in the north down through Bangor in the central part of the state, the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry is now reporting peak leaf color with low leaf drop of less than 30%.

 

“The colors of fall are reflecting off the water throughout Moosehead Lake in Greenville (Zone 5) as the foliage is approaching peak conditions this weekend,” according to Gale Ross, Fall Foliage spokesperson.  “Forest rangers are reporting that the maples throughout Maine are casting fiery red colors in central and western Maine as well, with low (30%) leaf drop,” Ross noted.

 

Maine’s official foliage website www.mainefoliage.com provides weekly reports by e-mail and an opportunity to share photos of favorite spots in Maine to watch the leaves turn color.

 

This upcoming weekend the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s Bureau of Parks and Lands is offering ranger-led fall foliage hikes at Mount Blue State Park in Weld and Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal.  www.maine.gov/dacf/fallfoliagehikes.  

 

In addition to viewing the spectacular fall foliage, there is a lot to do in Maine this weekend.

Enjoy wagon rides, making homemade cedar shakes, fresh cider and more on October 4 and 5 as part of Living History Days in Bradley. www.leonardsmills.com.

 

Travel to Freeport this weekend for the 16^th Annual Fall in the Village Art & Music Festival at the LL Bean Discovery Park.  View the works of talented artists and artisans while enjoying great live music, refreshments and more. www.freeportusa.com.

 

Enjoy the foliage while visiting the galleries of downtown Bar Harbor.  On October 3 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Art Walk Bar Harbor will include traditional and contemporary art including sculpture, glass, pottery, jewelry, fiber art and fashion.  Several of the galleries will host meet the artists events. www.artwalkbarharbor.com.

 

Family Harvest Day at Boothbay Railway Village celebrates the bounty of autumn at this new old-fashioned, family-friendly festival with apple cider pressing, antique tractors, a pumpkin hayride and more. October 4 and 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  www.railwayvillage.org.

 

For more information about fall activities and events in Maine go to www.visitmaine.com.

Maine And Canada Join Together To Host 2014 World Acadian Congress, August 8 – 24, 2014

 For the first time, Maine and Canada will jointly host the World Acadian Congress (Congrès mondial acadien,http://www.cma2014.com/en), which has taken place every five years since 1994. Held previously in Canada and Louisiana, the 2014 Congress now includes the St. John Valley and the city of Madawaska located in Maine’s Aroostook County on the Canadian border. In addition to St. John Valley, the Congress includes New Brunswick and the Temiscouata region of Quebec to form “Acadia of Lands and Forest.”

 

A Celebration of the Acadian Culture

The Acadian World Congress celebrates the Acadian culture that began in the mid-18^th century when French Acadians were expelled from the Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island for not swearing allegiance to England during the French and Indian War. 

 

Approximately 50,000 visitors are expected to travel to “Acadia of Lands and Forests” for the festivities. The Congress, which runs from August 8^ththrough August 24^th, celebrates unique Acadian culture including food, language, music, and other traditions. The mission of the Congress is to bring together Acadians from across the globe for family reunions, conferences and events.  There are 120 family reunions scheduled for 2014, and residents in Northern Maine have opened their homes to many of these families to host them during the Congress.

 

Activities and Events    

Three major activities taking place on three separate days will frame the Congress events, each of which will showcase one of the three host sub-regions that make up Acadia of the Lands and Forests.

 

Opening ceremonies will be held in northwestern New Brunswick on August 8^th.  The Acadian National Day will be celebrated in Maine on August 15^th in the town of Madawaska, where more than 80 percent of the residents speak French at home.  They are expected to welcome more than 10,000 French Acadians on that day.   Events include an outdoor Mass with an 80-member international choir that will be celebrated by bishops representing the municipalities covered by “Acadia of the Lands and Forests.” Downtown Madawaska will offer street entertainment, art exhibitions, community barbecues and other activities.

 

A highlight of the day is the Tintamarre where thousands of Acadians and their friends dressed in Acadian colors of blue, white, and red assemble in the streets playing pots, pans and other noisemakers.  In the evening, visitors can enjoy the National Acadian Holiday stage event “Acadie fille d’Amerique” at the Multipurpose Centre in Madawaska celebrating more than 400 years of Acadian presence in America with music and song.  The day ends with a dazzling fireworks display. 

 

Maine and the Province of New Brunswick will present the Songwriters Circle Without Borders featuring four talented singer-songwriters on one stage.  Representing Maine are Denny Breau and JoséVachon with Caroline Savoie and Danny Bourreau from New Brunswick. Performances will be held on Sunday August 17^th at 9:00 p.m. Atlantic Time at the Pavillon MultiMEDIA in Edmundston and Monday, August 18^th at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time at the Fox Theater at the University of Maine in Fort Kent.  Admission is free.  The project is supported by Music Musique NB and the Maine Arts Commission.

 

 

For additional information on the 2014 World Acadian Congress visit http://www.cma2014.com/en.  For more information on traveling in Maine, visit www.visitmaine.com.

Travelore Tips: Where To Go In August

Travelling in August brings new meaning to the idea of joining the herd: one of the natural world's greatest dramas unfolds in Africa at this time of year, as huge numbers of wildebeest and zebra undertake a life-or-death journey from the Serengeti to the Masai Mara. With visitor numbers to Kenya down, it's a great time to see the show. For a quieter natural landscape, the steppe of Kazakhstan is carpeted in green, which makes this a perfect time to explore the country's mountains and canyons.

A spectacle of another kind awaits in Singapore, where a hat-trick of festivals and events ensures a lively month for visitors. Ditto Ljubljana, the tongue-twisting capital of Slovenia, which is primed to celebrate its Roman roots. Spanish cities, meanwhile, become ghost towns as the heat of summer sends the populace to the coast. Follow the exodus for chilled out days, serious siestas, and sandy beaches. The beaches are busy in Maine, too, as the state's famous lobster festival gets underway.

Work up an appetite for adventure in August with Lonely Planet's destination experts.

Masai Mara Reserve, Kenya

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Wildebeest crossing the Mara River. Image by Christopher Michel / CC BY 2.0

August is the prime time to witness what is arguably the most impressive wildlife spectacle on earth – the Great Migration. It’s at this point in the yearly cycle when the mass movement of more than a million wildebeest and zebra reaches its apex, with herds congregating in Kenya’s Masai Mara Reserve after their long journey through the Serengeti in northern Tanzania.

Those that survive the crossings of the crocodile-infested Mara and Talek rivers replenish their reserves for their eventual passage south by feeding on the savannah’s long grasses. The abundance of these animals also ensures it is feeding time for the reserve’s ultra-predators: lion, leopard, cheetah and hyena. It is an incredibly dramatic time to be in the reserve.

Although safely located hundreds of miles away from the isolated areas where the UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advisories are in place, visitor numbers are down in the reserve, which makes this year an ideal time to take in this astounding natural phenomenon.

Matt Phillips - Destination Editor for sub-Saharan Africa. Follow his tweets @Go2MattPhillips.

Spain’s Costa de la Luz

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Kitesurfers riding the wind in Tarifa, Costa de la Luz. Image by Jürgen Glüe / CC BY-SA 2.0

The Spanish know how to deal with heat, rising early, avoiding the mid-afternoon sun and then partying in the cooler night. In August the cities are just too hot for locals, so most urbanites decamp to the coast. Join the Sevillanos on the Costa de la Luz, the relatively undeveloped coastline that curves round the southern base of Andalucía. Here even the Spanish slow down, with long three-hour lunches in chiringuitos (beach bars) serving seafood straight from the sea and evening meals that start at 11pm and go on into the early hours.

Characterised by long beaches of golden sand, the coast is known for its cooling wind, which draws kitesurfers from around the world. Tarifa is the place to go for an action-packed weekend of kite and windsurfing. The stretch of coast around the small town of Zahara de los Atunes has apartments to rent for a beach break, plus some great eating options.

The pretty hilltop village of Vejer de la Frontera is well worth a diversion from the coast, and should you crave something slightly more ‘city’, the museums and bars of Cádiz are within easy reach.

Jo Cooke – Destination Editor for Iberian Europe and Turkey. Follow her on Twitter @JoannaCooke1.

Singapore

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Fireworks lighting up the night sky of Singapore. Image by Fisher Chia / CC BY 2.0

Singapore loves to celebrate and August provides the perfect opportunity to get a well-rounded taste of the city-state’s rich cultural heritage while joining the party over a single long weekend.

Coinciding with the end of Ramadan, the month begins on a festive note leading up to the main event on 9 August – Singapore’s National Day – a public holiday typically celebrated in a patriotic flurry of military parades, extravagant civilian processions, air force fly-bys and fireworks displays. If you miss out on tickets (eballot.ndp.org.sg) to the main ceremony on Friday, head down to the newly opened Marina Barrage with a picnic basket for a great view of the pyrotechnics across the bay.

The festivities don’t end there, with Hungry Ghost Day – during which Singapore’s Chinese community appease the souls of the dead with offerings and street performances – observed the very next day. The Hungry Ghost Festival technically runs for a month, however, so there’s plenty of time to check out the colourful altars around Chinatown.

Following a day of rest on Sunday, the Singapore International Festival of Arts (sifa.sg) rolls out its six-week program of artistic offerings – from disabled theatre to performance art – on Monday 12 August.

Sarah Reid - Destination Editor for Southeast Asia. Follow her tweets @sarahtrvls.

Roman history in Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Slovenians celebrating their Roman roots in Ljubljana. Image courtesy of Visit Ljubljana

This August Slovenia’s pretty capital Ljubljana is celebrating the 2000th anniversary of its foundation (as the Roman settlement of Emona) with gusto. The main event is ‘Ave, Emona’ from 22-24 August, when the lovely green Kongresni trg square will be sent back in time to the Roman era, with costumed performers representing soldiers, gladiators and citizens. Visitors will be able get a first-hand taste of the Roman city by watching gladiator battles, military parades, craft demonstrations and Roman dancing, as well as try some Roman food and drink bought at the marketplace.

For those who want to delve deeper into the history of Ljubljana, costumed guides will lead tours of the Roman parts of the city, including the city walls and three archaeological parks, and there's a new 'Time Machine' tour at Ljubljana Castle, where visitors meet performers in costume from six significant periods in the city’s history. There are also special exhibitions about the Roman city at the City Museum and the National Museum of Slovenia. Visit the Slovenian Tourist Board website (slovenia.info) for more details.

Anna Tyler - Destination Editor for Southern Europe. Follow her tweets @go_AnnaT.

Coastal Maine, USA

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An aerial view of Maine's stunning Arcadia National Park. Image by Jeff Gunn / CC BY 2.0

The sea is never far away in Maine and those looking for classic salt-tanged summer fun will be rewarded with mile after mile of sandy beaches, lively waterfront towns, and enough lobster shacks and lighthouses to keep the grumpiest of sea cap'ns happy. Crucially, the variety and scale of the coast here means you’ll always find breathing space amid the August crowds.

The Maine Lobster Festival (30 July-3 August) in Rockland sees 20,000 lbs of the state’s famous red crustacean steamed, cracked and served up to bib-wearing festival-goers. The event culminates in a wacky crate race when participants sprint across lobster crates that are tied together and floating in the water.

Beyond the beach, Portland offers hip galleries and upscale restaurants to rival Boston and from Bar Harbor nature lovers can take a whale watching trip before plunging into the glories of Acadia National Park with its towering sea cliffs and undulating mountain paths.

Dora Whitaker - Destination Editor for Eastern USA. Follow her tweets @dorawhit.

Kazakhstan

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Charyn - the 'Grand Canyon's little brother' in Kazakhstan. Image by Mr Hicks46 / CC BY 2.0

High and dry Kazakhstan is at its best in summer, when the sun is overhead and temperatures approach 30C. In August, grass on the steppe is at its most verdant, and the country's mountains, such as the Altai, are at their most hospitable and visually stunning for trekkers. Campers will find they can pitch a tent just about anywhere they like, and natural monuments like Charyn Canyon - sometimes called the 'Grand Canyon's little brother' - are in peak condition for hiking.

Meanwhile, cafes burst on to pavements in the leafy ancient capital of Almaty, where the long evenings are perfect for sipping coffee or a refreshing locally produced dessert wine.

In the north, the new capital city Astana has finally thawed from its long winter, its shiny futuristic skyline gleaming in the August sunshine. Or those with a penchant for truly off-the-beaten-path beaches might want to lay their towels alongside the turquoise waters of the Caspian Sea in the far west outpost of Aktau.

Megan Eaves - Destination Editor for North Asia. Follow her tweets @megoizzy.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/travel-tips-and-articles/ask-the-experts-where-to-go-in-august#ixzz36bdrDanA

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For Earth Day, April 22nd, Consider These Destinations To Unplug

 Next Tuesday, April 22^nd, over one billion people in over 190 countries will be taking part in Earth Day celebrations. Celebrating its 44^th anniversary, Earth Day is an annual reminder to appreciate and care for our precious planet. In appreciation of Mother Earth, the travel experts at Cheapflights.com, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, suggest we stop and really smell the roses this year. The team has compiled a list of Top 10 Places to Unplug to help you disconnect from the noise and toys of the modern world and really connect with the beauty and majesty of nature.

Stop, take a breath and savor our planet at these five places in the Americas to go, unplug and become one with nature.

·         Torres del Paine National Park, Patagonia, Chile - At the southern tip of South America where the Andes met the sea, the Patagonia region, part Argentina and part Chile, is a world removed from most everyone’s everyday life. With growing glaciers that periodically toss ice chunks into lakes, towering mountain tops and wild, windswept terrain, Patagonia is a testament to the powerful forces of nature. There are six national parks in Patagonia, including Torres del Paine. Though fire swept through much of the park in 2011, the three granite peaks that give the park its name were not damaged. These monolithic peaks, which reach more than 9,000 feet, are joined by waterfalls, glaciers and lakes, all fed by the Southern Patagonia Ice Field. The park is also home to a dozen or more species of birds of prey as well as guanacos, pumas, foxes as more. Out here, in these wilds, the best electronic device to pack is a great camera.

·         Kennebec River, Maine, United States - In the depths of Maine, four hours northwest of Portland, a 12-mile stretch of the upper gorge of the Kennebec River offers a wet, wild and definitely remote adventure. A handful of outfitters offer rafting outings on the Kennebec and nearby Dead and Penobscot Rivers are filled with class two through five rapids. Part adrenaline rush, part splash park, a day or two on the river is a sure fire way to immerse yourself in the moment and truly embrace your surroundings. After all, with high rock walls that cut out most data feeds, a phone-drowning flood of water and the occasional up ended boat that scatters everything and everyone aboard, there is not much point in trying to communicate with anyone or anything else.

·         Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Peru - The Salkantay Trek may be the long way to the Lost City of the Incas, but it will get you off the beaten path, literally. An alternative to the increasingly popular and crowded Inca Trail, this trek can vary from a five- to seven-day journey and takes you more than 15,000 feet in elevation before dropping down to the cloud forest and then back up to Machu Picchu itself. Make your way through the Salkantay Pass in the shadow of its 20,000 foot summit, pass through the 15 ecosystems, with everything from hanging glaciers to orchids and butterflies, or catch your first glimpse of the ancient mountain-top ruins — just don’t expect to “check-in” unless you have a satellite phone.

·         The lakes of northwestern Ontario, Canada - Why go fly fishing when you can go “fly-in” fishing? Much of upper Ontario is peppered with lakes of all sizes (and not much else). The more remote the lake, the more fish there are. So, for a chance to match wits with a 20-inch walleye or fight the good fight with a 30-pound pike, your best bet may be to board a small float plane and wing off to the wilderness for a week. Outfitters offer cabins and lodges in secluded spots (often the only house on a lake) throughout Ontario, flight included. Many promise you will see plenty of fish, game, great sunrises and peace and quiet but that you won’t hear a car engine the whole time you’re there.

·         Green Bank, West Virginia, United States - To find out about nature beyond our planet, sometimes it requires shutting down the electronic noise in our own backyard. In Green Bank, W.V., the use of cell phones, Wi-Fi or anything else that emits a radio frequency is forbidden. The reason? The town is home to the giant Green Bank Telescope, which uses radio signals to explore space. The telescope is surrounded by a 13,000 square mile National Radio Quiet Zone, which covers the eastern half of West Virginia and into a corner of Virginia. The FCC picked this region in the 1950s in part because the Alleghany Mountains served as a natural shield from signals that would interfere with the telescope’s work. So, whether you want a front row view of space exploration or an extremely quiet trip to the mountains (there are two national parks in the radio-free zone), this is your chance. Just bring some change for the pay phone.

Rounding out our list are five destinations from around the globe where Mother Nature can be experienced in full (and undistracted) splendor. These include: Great Ocean Ecolodge, Cape Otway, Australia; Koh Tonsay, Cambodia; Tarangire National Park, Tanzania; Bardsey Island, Wales; and Khan Khentii, Mongolia. To read the details on these and Cheapflights.com’s complete list of Top 10 Places to Unplug visit www.cheapflights.com/news/top-10-places-unplug.