Category: Recreation

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#atozchallenge | O is for Ocean Park Fourth of July Parade

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An article in the Boston Globe by Christopher Muther, “From Maine to Cuba, the hot places for travel in 2016” offered Ocean Park, Maine as a suggested vacation destination this year. It’s an eclectic list and, although I’d love to visit any of the vacation spots included in the article, Ocean Park is one trek I happily make every year.

The article highlights that the best time to go to Ocean Park is July 4th because of their annual holiday parade. I grew up in Saco, a neighboring town, and my family still has a home in the Ferry Beach area just up the road from Ocean Park so I understand the appeal. The whole parade experience feels like a throwback to an earlier time, as does the town.

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#atozchallenge | J is for Jewelry Making at Artascope Studios

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As you may have noticed from my blog, I love to do crafts. It’s why I have an entire menu option dedicated to projects on my website. I usually have some craft activity happening. I am my own worst enemy when it comes to my to-do list because I can’t seem to stop adding craft projects. I blame those genetics on my father. He’s always adding to his to-do list although his “crafts” usually involve power tools and six trips to Home Depot.

I’m always on the lookout to learn a new craft too. A few years ago, I started taking some Art Night Out® classes at Artascope Studios. After a few classes, I got a little braver and signed up for their “boot camp” which unlike a fitness boot camp did not build strength and fitness although it did exercise my creative muscles. Boot camp included three classes and a three-month membership in their studio. While some of the classes, offered at both art night out and boot camp, were for crafts that I had tried before, I did expand into other areas.

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#atozchallenge | H is for Hiking Mackworth Island, Falmouth

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According to Newton’s first law of motion, a body at rest stays at rest, and a body in motion stays in motion. This law tells me I need to get moving. Actually, I’m not sure what it really tells me as physics was my worst subject in High School. But, the way I choose to interpret it is that if I want to keep on doing the things I love as I age, I have to keep moving my body. I’m good with that.

I love to walk and living in Maine gives me lots of beautiful opportunities. For awhile, I was walking almost every day, but unfortunately an injury slowed me down, and then inevitably winter makes it more difficult with the snow and ice although the cold is not a problem. It’s actually pretty exhilarating to walk in the winter as long as the roads aren’t icy.

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#atozchallenge | F is for Flavors of Freeport

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Flavors of Freeport is an annual event held in February in Freeport Maine that highlights the amazing food and drink options available in the area. While the major cornerstones of the event are an Ice Bar at the Hilton Garden Inn with a dance party on Friday night followed by the Chef’s Signature Series on Saturday evening, we decided it would be fun to head up during the day on Saturday to try some of the smaller tastings offered at many of the local shops.

Hands-On Chocolate Factory Tour

Wilbur’s Chocolate of Maine, 174 Lower Main Street | Cost is $4.50 per person

We started off by stopping into Wilbur’s Chocolate of Maine to check out their shop and take their hands-on factory tour to learn about Wilbur’s history, chocolate making, and enjoy some chocolate samples. I had never been into the store before, and it was amazing to see how large their chocolate selection was. They were gearing up for Easter while we were there so there were lots of selections of Easter Bunnies. We learned that Wilbur’s is one of the few places left that still make solid, non-hollow bunnies. The store also has a nice selection of products for sale from local Maine vendors.

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