What does a community do with a crop of 200-1,400 pound Atlantic Giant Pumpkins? In Maine, we celebrate the harvest with an annual Pumpkinfest & Regatta. It is one of the great ways to celebrate the season here. There are plenty of ways to celebrate autumn in Maine, with or without an Atlantic Giant Pumpkin in tow: perhaps a 227 mile fall foliage bicycle tour will be more your speed? Here are some of the top fall outdoor adventures in Maine to enjoy and explore this year. 

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta: Atlantic Giant Pumpkin races take careful planning and keen attention to detail while cultivating and transporting these enormous specimens. There are races in Nova Scotia, Wisconsin, and Oregon: but the Maine festival attracts 10,000-15,000 visitors every year! It is glorious. The Maine event has caught the attention of national media outlets including coverage featured on CBS Sunday Morning, The Discovery Channel, The Travel Channel, and BBC. 

When all the pieces come together everyone is in for a treat. There are two boat races featuring 400-700 pound hollowed-out pumpkins. One race features pumpkins with outboard motors. The other race features pumpkins where the volunteer captains use a more traditional pumpkin race methodology: oars to paddle the course. The boat races are scheduled for noon on Sunday, October 9th, 2022. 

You won’t have time to grow a giant pumpkin, design a race boat, and enter the regatta this year. But you can certainly check out the competition and plan for 2023. And you can certainly enjoy all of the festivities from Friday, October 7th to Sunday, October 9th. Additional events include carved and decorated giant pumpkins, Pumpkin Pie Eating Contests, a 180 foot Pumpkin Drop, and a Pumpkin Catapult. When you find the perfect home in Brunswick, Maine you will be living a short 27+miles away from the friendly competition. Don’t forget to plant your giant pumpkin seeds for 2023! 

Maine’s Pumpkin Trail: All roads lead to fall outdoor adventure on Maine’s Pumpkin Trail. The 40 mile coastline route includes the aforementioned pumpkin boat races, but it is only one stop on the trail for family fun. The trail features a botanical garden, lighthouse cruises, and a stop at the Railway Village Museum in Boothbay. 

Railway SPOOKtacular: The Railway Village Museum has a number of family-friendly events throughout the year. Celebrate Halloween in style on Saturday, October 29th, 2022 at the Railway SPOOKtacular. Tickets are $10 for ages 4 and up. The event includes train rides, carnival games, and trick-or-treating. 

Goat Hikes: Enjoy a two hour morning hike or an afternoon hike with the goats at Ten Apple Farm in Gray, Maine. The goats know the way! This is a fun family adventure. You will enjoy a two hour 1 ½ mile walk through the woods on lightly groomed trails. It is both an educational and recreational experience. After the hike, you and your family are treated to fresh goat milk and cookies.

Maine Foliage Tour: Enjoy the camaraderie of a 6-day 227 mile bicycling adventure on the backroads of rural Maine and along the coast (5 days of cycling). The tour is organized by America by Bicycle. It is $3,000 per person for singles and $2,750 per person for doubles. Breakfast and dinners are included (lunch is not, so you’ll need to seek out a lobster roll or bowl of chowder to keep your engine running properly). The adventure begins in Portland on October 9th, 2022, and travels to Lewiston, Augusta, Rockland, and Edgecomb before returning to Portland Friday, October 14th. The mileage averages 45+ miles per day. 

Cross Country Scramble & Chili Cook Off: Apple Valley Golf Course in Lewiston will be celebrating fall with a 9-hole cross country scramble and a chili cook off. $10 per player on Saturday, October 15th at 12:00pm. Bring your chili to the golf course by 11:30am to enter a chance for chili bragging rights (the winner will have their name put on the Big Spoon). 

Meservier & Associates has been serving Maine home buyers and sellers with a collection of resources, agents, and market data since 1988. We look forward to working with you. Contact us today!

New England holds fall foliage with great reverence. Maine maintains a weekly foliage report available on its official government website. The state also has a fall foliage spokesperson, Gale Ross. She has been providing foliage reports to the public for over 30 years and has earned the nickname “Madam of Maples” from her colleagues at the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry (DACF). The first report for 2022 was submitted on September 14th. The report noted little color change but anticipates a very vibrant and colorful foliage season. 

The state parks, mountains, farms, and coast are all excellent ways to immerse yourself in the heraldry of foliage. We recommend subscribing to weekly foliage reports from DACF. You will receive a weekly report via email and plan your adventures around peak times. Here are some wonderful places to see stunning fall foliage in Maine. 

Central Maine 

Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway: U.S. Route 201 follows the river trading routes of the indigenous Abenaki people. It runs 78 miles from Solon to Sandy Bay before crossing into Québec, Canada. It was included as a National Scenic Byway in 2000. This is a wonderful way to enjoy a Sunday foliage drive through the breathtaking landscape viewing foliage of the mountain vistas along the Kennebec River. 

Peaks-Kenny State Park: There are over 10 miles of gentle hiking trails to explore as you immerse yourself in the fall foliage at Peaks-Kenny State Park. The park overlooks Sebec Lake. There are several relatively short trails (0.7 miles - 2miles) and a more challenging 5.5mile roundtrip hike on Brown’s Point Trail. 

Treworgy Orchard: Enjoy working your way through a corn maze with family and friends. You will be surrounded by a field of green foliage as you look toward the vibrant changing colors in neighboring forests. Treworgy Orchard has been carving out a new puzzle in a field of corn since 2001. It is $10 on weekdays and $12 on weekends in the fall. When you solve the puzzle you get an ice cream cone! 

Mid-Coast Maine 

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: There’s always something in bloom and new colors and amazing foliage to discover at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. The garden has events scheduled throughout the year to inspire awe and respect while connecting people to plants and nature. There are over 300 acres of gardens to explore including the Shoreland Trail & The Landing where you will be treated to the indigenous trees and various plants of Maine’s forests through a three-mile network of trails. There’s a lot of color here! 

In the fall they offer programs geared toward a younger audience. There is a “Fall Explores: Trees” program for children ages 3-7 that combines a scavenger hunt through the woods with an educational program on why leaves change color. For children ages 8-14 there is a “Budding Naturalist: Maine Tree Walk & Fall Foliage Suncatcher” program. The children will be learning the science of fall foliage while collecting leaves to create a dreamcatcher.

Camden Hills State Park: You will be treated to a wondrous view of Camden Harbor and Penobscot Bay and the rich and vibrant colors of fall foliage at the top of Mt. Battie. There is an auto road to reach the summit, which was built in the 1960s. There is a lot of wildlife (including moose and bears). The park asks visitors to drive slowly especially in low light to protect the wildlife. There are over 30 miles of trails. Enjoy the fall foliage at a slower pace with an afternoon hike. Mountain biking and horseback riding are permitted on multi-use trails as marked. 

Meservier & Associates has been serving Maine home buyers and sellers since 1988. The rich landscape and fall foliage will be a part of your lifestyle when you find a home in Maine. We look forward to working with you. Contact us today!

Should I stay or should I go? The answer to that question has two important components: financial and lifestyle. The financial picture revolves around the cost of proposed renovations and the current market value of your home. The lifestyle picture takes into consideration the quality of life you enjoy in your current home: the neighborhood, [...]

Older homes sometimes need a little extra attention when getting ready to sell. Meservier & Associates strives to make the home selling process as stress-free as possible. When you partner with one of our seller’s agents you will receive guidance every step of the way. [...]

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The team at Meservier & Associates makes the home selling process efficient and relatively stress-free. You can request a free home evaluation (to get an estimate of how much your home is worth) and a free listing presentation in the comfort of your home (we come to you) when you are ready to sell your home. Staging your home, both inside [...]

Maine is a golf player’s paradise, with over 150 courses to play throughout the state. There are mountainside courses, oceanside courses, and even a course with three holes bordering Canada (you can play in two countries simultaneously). Maine loves golfing and takes pride in the courses and opportunities provided to residents and vacationers. There are day camps taught by PGA instructors for the young golfer in your family, and amateur tournaments for a little friendly competition. Here are 5 of the best courses in Central Maine. 

1. Sugarloaf Golf Club: This is the quintessential mountain golf course in Maine, and a challenge every player will readily face. Players are treated to breathtaking panoramic views while working to maintain focus on their game, and keep their balls on the fairway. The back nine provides exceptional views of the Carrabassett River as you finish your round on what has been described as one of the toughest courses you will play. The course is a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design with a slope rating of 151 and nearly 7,000 yards. The course receives high honors from Golfweek and Golf Digest time and time again. Maine residents enjoy a discount on Wednesdays (just another great reason to call Maine home).  

2. Samoset Resort Golf Course: This 18-hole championship course in Rockport, Maine was originally designed as a 9-hole hole course in 1902. Architect Robert Elder added nine holes, and the original nine were improved in 1974. In the early nineties, additional improvements were made to many of the holes. Players are treated to awe inspiring views of the Atlantic Ocean on fourteen of the holes. Holes 4 and 14 are player favorites, as they play toward the ocean. When the tide is low you can often see seals basking in the sun on the rocks in the bay. 

3. Fox Ridge Golf Club: This par 72 18-hole course in Auburn, Maine is a player favorite, and ranked in the top ten public courses by Golf Digest. There are a variety of holes offering different levels of challenge, making it an excellent choice for a fun outing with friends and family (with different levels of golfing experience). Changes have been recently made to improve playability for average and higher handicap players. The golf club is confident you will enjoy your round free from automobile, airplane, or city noise…you will enjoy a quiet round, perhaps with a bird song or two to grace your stroke.  

4. Falmouth Country Club: This private course in Falmouth, Maine has hosted LPGA Legends, The Maine Amateur, The Maine Open, The New England Amateur, and US Amateur tournaments. The course was selected in 2019 to host the Live and Work in Maine Open, on the Korn Ferry Tour (the path to the PGA). This is Maine’s premier competitive venue built to test the skill of high level players looking toward a professional golf career. 

5. Sunday River Golf Club: This 18-hole championship course in Newry, Maine is another design from Robert Trent Jones, Jr. The course winds through the woods and follows the natural topography of the mountain offering a round that is both playable and challenging. It is a semi-private course. Maine residents save on green fees every Wednesday (with a state ID). The course has received accolades from player ranked polls, Golf Digest, Golf Magazine, Golfweek Magazine, and Links Magazine.  

Meservier & Associates has been serving Maine home buyers and sellers with a collection of resources, agents, and market data since 1988. We look forward to working with you. Contact us today for all your Maine real estate needs!

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Sebago Lake is the perfect inland water getaway for residents of Central & Southern Maine and a destination for adventure seekers far and wide. The lake is the second largest in Maine at 45 square miles. The water runs clear and deep. The lake can accommodate a myriad of boats and watercraft without feeling overrun…you can always find a little peace and tranquility in a cove or forested inlet to relax, take a dip, or set a line in the water. Summertime is the right time for a water adventure on Sebago Lake, and Sebago Lake State Park is open year round to keep you coming back for more. 

• An aerial view: Start your summer off right with a birds eye view of Lake Sebago! Naples Seaplane Adventures offers a 50 mile Sebago Lake tour flight. You will enjoy views of Frye’s Leap Cliffs, Frye Island, Songo Locks, and a couple of beaches. Alternatively, you could opt for the 25 mile ride starting at the dock in Naples, Maine, and fly over Long Lake, Sebago Lake State Park, and majestic Mount Washington. One, or both, of these seaplane adventures, is sure to stir up your sense of adventure and explore more of the lake by foot, boat, canoe, or kayak! 

• See you on the links: The Point Sebago Golf Course was calling out your name as you flew over on your seaplane adventure. You didn’t hesitate to call for a tee time after the flight. Rightly so, as it is regarded as one of Maine's finest courses nestled on 500 acres in a white birch forest. The par 72, 18-hole course, caters to all levels of play. You can bring the whole family … and the winner gets to decide what’s next, fishing, kayaking, or hiking. 

• Festivals: The Windham Summerfest is a great way to enjoy some of the small town charm in the Sebago Lake Region of Maine. The festival has been running strong for over twenty years. The celebration is set for June 18, 2022, and will include live music, a parade, a cruisin’ car show, a scavenger hunt, and a golf ball drop (to support the Sebago Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce programs and events). The scavenger hunt is a week-long town-wide event starting on Saturday, June 11th with prizes awarded the following Saturday on the main-stage at 6:00pm June 18th. The Motor Booty Affair is set to hit main-stage at 7:30pm (for all your funky disco dancing pleasure) and the event is capped off with fireworks after the groove gets you to move! 

• Fishing: You’ve enjoyed a round or two of golf with the family and got your groove on with Maine’s very own “ultimate disco party band” now what could be better than that? Perhaps dropping a line or setting a fly on Lake Sebago to see what’s biting. Fishing is always a fun activity on Sebago Lake! The lake provides prime real estate for the local brook trout, largemouth and smallmouth bass, black crappie, and white and yellow perch. The rock piles, underwater islands, coves, and inlets are holding plenty of fish in the two to six pound range … and you might get lucky and land a twenty three pound landlocked salmon! The state record was set in 1907 by Edward Blakely on Sebago Lake with a 22lb 8oz landlocked salmon. It will be hard to beat, but you can try your luck for free on Maine’s “Free Fishing Weekend” June 4-5, 2022, and secure a fishing license for the rest of the season after you get hooked! 

• Camping: Sebago Lake State Park has 250 campsites on over 1,400 acres on the north shore of the lake. After you set up base camp you’ll be ready to enjoy a swim in the water, fishing, canoeing, and hiking. You will enjoy a perfect summer night sleeping in your tent, or RV, with a belly full of roasted brook trout and wake up early the next day to have another go of beating that 1907 landlocked salmon record (someone has to do it). 

Meservier & Associates specializes in lakefront real estate, equestrian properties, and residential homes in Central and Southern Maine. Contact us today! We look forward to helping you find your perfect Sebago Lake Home.