Any DIS Mainers out there???

[disneychic]

Hi all, my DH & I just moved from Florida (Disney area) to Mid-Coastal Maine. It is beautiful here, but we do not know a soul (DH is an engineer who got recruited by BIW) and I miss our home & friends in Florida! I'd love to chat with DIS members who live in Maine! We know nothing about the state, I'd actually never even been here until my husbands new job flew me up to look at houses, etc. So, I was here for 1 weekend and then didn't come back until 2 weeks ago when we moved into our new home. I would love to get advice on where to go? Things to do? Restaurants, etc.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Darsa]

Oh, Wiscasset is a nice area! You'll definitely need to visit other coastal areas; Belfast is nice. If you like hiking there are some wonderful areas for that as well; we like to go up to the Camden area, or way up into Baxter State Park.

We live in Central Maine, right near the Capital. Have you lived in FL all your life 'til now? If so, just wait 'til winter, heh heh. But you're coming up on some of the BEST weather ever in the world; autumn in Maine is incredible, between the foliage and the fairs and the apple-picking... Yep, fall's my favorite season up here, can ya tell?

 

[disneychic]

Hey Darsa! Thanks for responding and for the advice

Yep, we can't wait to experience Maine in the Fall! I'm going to miss my weekend Disney fixes a whole bunch though

It's just going to be hard here without knowing anyone. It's a huge change - I'm not used to everything closing at 8:00 at night! Plus, this restaurant that we found that we like near our house is only open "for the season" we were like....what does that mean --after September, we have to wait until next summer? That is so foreign to us! In the Disney area, everything's open all the time! What I'm really worried about is the winter! I've never driven on snow or ice before -- I'm sure this is going to be very scary!

 

[brunswick9]

Greeting from the other side of the bridge! Brunswick and Topsham have a lot more to offer (especially over the long winter) than the Wiscasset/ Damariscotta area does. There are lot of great restraunts and shops here, although we're all sad when the Sea Basket closes! Is there anything specific that you are looking for?

 

[disneychic]

Hi Brunwick 9!

We're looking for any advice or tips you can give! The only thing is, restaurant wise - I'm allergic to shell fish -- so, no lobsters for me! Any restaurants that aren't sea food specific are better for me.

Thanks

 

[mtdevine615]

Welcome to the great state of Maine, disneychic. I know what you mean about culture shock. I lived in Tampa for 12 years but I married a Maine girl so now I'm here with my love. All right enough mush. Well I live down in Saco and work in Portland so I'm not sure I can be much help. The one thing I can say that is different from Floridaian's is that Mainer's are much friendlier. You don't have to worry about saying the wrong thing to the wrong person up here, everyone is so friendly. My DW's cousin works at BIW I think he's an engineer or a draftsman, his name is Tom Greenier, he's a great guy with a very unique laugh. Again like a PP said the best time of the year is coming up, great Fall color and fairs and the tourist are gone. Don't worry about the snow there is nothing you can do about it. My best advice for driving in snow is don't unless you really have to be somewhere. As an FYI I'd never go back to Florida to live but I do love Disney.

 

[Bonnie151]

I can't help with any suggestions so yes, this is a pointless post), but I *love* Maine! I spent summers as a child at Biddeford Pool and then went to Bowdoin. I miss it so much!

 

[brunswick9]

The Great Impasta has wonderful Italian food. Maine Street in Brunswick also has Indian, Mexican, Thai, and German restraunts along two deli's. If you're looking for a pub Joshua's is good but Padro O'Hare is our favorite. Not a whole lot of fine dining but we like MJ's Grille and in Bath JR Maxwell's.
Entertainment for the whole family is a little harder to come by but we have the Regal Cinema, Lucky Strike for bowling and in Topsham' Howard Sports Roller World.
As far as sports go we have a lot to choose from; we have The Sea Dog's AAA baseball, The Portland Pirates Hockey team and begining this fall The Maine Red Claws D league basketball. All three are inexpensive and Hadlock Field is one of the best ball parks around, you can't get a bad seat and general admission is about $6.00.
Let me know if you think of anything else you'd like to know.

 

[AlleyKat]

Hi all, my DH & I just moved from Florida (Disney area) to Mid-Coastal Maine. It is beautiful here I would love to get advice on where to go? Things to do?

Maine is the only state I'd ever consider moving to. You will love living there and most likely will never want to return to Florida!

Visiting the shore/beach, ham and bean church suppers, the gorgeous Fall colors, searching out Maine's covered wooden bridges, snow sports in the winter, finding towns/farms that appear to be right out of a Norman Rockwell painting, the occasional Moose sighting, walks in the woods, "racing" down "deserted" roads, I could go on and on.

Maine is SO quintessential New England, filled with beauty and wonderful folks!

The one thing I can say that is different from Floridaian's is that Mainer's are much friendlier. You don't have to worry about saying the wrong thing to the wrong person up here, everyone is so friendly. As an FYI I'd never go back to Florida to live but I do love Disney.

The above poster sums up Maine in a nutshell!

While leaving a Maine restaurant, I stopped to ask the hostess where the nearest store was so I could purchase some aspirin/Tylenol for my headache. She promptly took her purse out from behind a podium, opened it and handed me a few aspirin so I could get relief right away. She stated where I could make my purchase and wished me well.

"Mainiacs" are the best!!!

 

[Morganpics]

I also live about 20 miles outside of the capital. Worked there for 34 years, now retired. I was born and brought up in York, but left there 37 yrs ago. Don't really care for what it has become, but we travel there to see remaining family 2-3 times a year.

We're hopeful for a beautiful fall, since this summer has just been dreadful.

Welcome to Maine!

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Well I obviously don't live in Maine but was there a few weeks ago as the grand finale to our vacation to Boston. OH MY was it beautiful! Stopped in York, drove along the coastline there a bit, and made our way up to Old Orchard Beach for the boys to have some beach time. Never got to the pier, but had a blast. Then - - - the best part of our whole trip ---- The Lobster Shack on Cape Elizabeth. Wished I had stopped by your place mtdevine615 as we got lost when the batteries on the GPS went out

It was a gorgeous day. Just wanted to tell all you folks in Maine how beautiful we found your state to be. Hope to spend more time there someday!

 

[rparmfamily]

I did have a bunch of friends up there but they've all relocated to Jacksonville with the squadrons, as the Navy base is on it's final legs up there. Shame too, we LOVED our time in Brunswick/Bath, I adore the area. My son was born at Midcoast Hosp and my kids saw Dr Norman Sedar (peds) in Brunswick. We lived up there a few years with the Navy and begged to go back but we got Pearl Harbor instead. Which isn't so bad either LOL.

Best of luck to you! Mainiacs (as I like to call them) are very honest, hardworking and nonjudgemental folks. Shame lobster doesn't agree with you!

 

[My sister's princess]

Welcome. And just to let you know these few days of 90s are as hot as it gets. Next week we are supposed to have one day that doesn't get over 60. My best advise..... Buy a good winter coat!

 

[disneychic]

Thank you to all for the great advice, welcome's and kind words I've only been here 2 weeks, so we haven't seen much...I did make it to Freeport though.....had to check out those outlets!!! We are hoping the weather holds up enough this weekend so that we can see maybe Reid State Park (noticed that it wasn't too far from Bath), or maybe even drive up to Camden Hills State Park? Not sure. I just know that Acadia is what I really want to see, but it's a littl too far for now, as we are still trying to get the house in order and I'd actually like to see what's close to us first.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

I would seriously recommend good snow tires. We camped at Hermit Island in Small Point (not far from Bath) every year when I was growing up. I have very fond memories of Maine.
Anyway, I had a college roommate from Lewiston and visited her one January. They were predicting flurries one day - 2 to 4" of snow were considered flurries. In NJ that's "rush out to the store to buy milk, bread and eggs" weather. I remember my roommate drove incredibly well in the ice and snow. Also, not sure if they have them but is there possibly some sort of driving program you could take to help with the snow and ice. It may sound dopey but if you've never driven in it before I'm sure you will be quite scared the first few times.

Enjoy Maine!

 

[mtdevine615]

Driving in the snow is no big deal it just takes practice and we get a lot of that up here. You'll see everyone driving bad the first couple of storms. Camden is a great little town, some real nice shops and places to eat. I like Cappy's Chowder House right on the corner.