Telemark Inn
Telemark Inn, 10 miles from Bethel, Maine, bills itself as a wilderness lodge, and indeed it is. Bordering the White Mountain National Forest, Telemark Inn is home to a kennel of Alaskan racing huskies – very friendly and highly socialized dogs – a small herd of llamas, a few horses and ponies and a large community of hummingbirds in the summertime. During the summer months the Inn offers hiking, canoeing, llama trekking, and a variety of other animal and nature programs. The racing huskies come out to play in the winter when the Inn offers dog sled rides and sled dog trips, along with skijoring (like waterskiing but substitute a dog or horse for a boat) and snowshoeing excursions. And if you’re traveling with children who don’t have much experience with animals, don’t fret; there are a number of nature and animal programs designed just for them, including games of “llama soccer.”
Telemark Inn takes its position next to a national forest seriously. An organic garden helps keep the food local and low impact. Both solar and wind energy help power the lodge, and guests have an opportunity to learn more about energy creation during their stay.
Travel Tips
Trekking trips offered by the lodge can fill up fast, so be sure to book early. A 25% deposit is required at the time of booking with the remainder due 60 hours before your trip begins. Trips can range from half-day excursions to 3-day overnight treks, so be sure to examine all your options.
Travel Information
From Bethel take W. Bethel Road/US-2 West approximately 3.5 miles west until reaching Flat Road. Take a left onto Flat Road and follow it for 2.5 miles until reaching Dragonfly Drive. Turn left at Dragonfly Drive and enjoy your stay.
For more information call 207.836.2703 or visit http://www.telemarkinn.com/
Farmhouse Inn
Close to Rangeley Lake and Saddleback Mountain, the Farmhouse Inn is a small, privately-owned hotel that offers all the pleasures of authentic Maine. All rooms come equipped with a kitchenette, Wi-Fi and satellite TV, but more importantly they all also come equipped with panoramic views of Rangeley Lake and the ability to ski-in, ski-out to Saddleback Mountain.
The Farmhouse also houses a full service restaurant specializing in Southwestern cuisine. Open to the public as well as hotel guests, you’re sure to find something to suit your taste buds on this menu. Entrées range from the basic fajitas and burritos to the exotic sounding Wildberry Chipotle BBQ Pork Ribs. But don’t overindulge, you won’t have any room left for desserts like flan, Molten Lava Cake, or Spice Cream — homemade ice cream made with habanero peppers and roasted pecans.
Travel Tips
If, for whatever reason, you find yourself needing to cancel your reservations at the Farmhouse Inn, be sure to do so well in advance. During the peak season a two-week notice is requested, 72 hours during the off-peak months. If you fail to cancel within the specified time, and they cannot rebook your room, your deposit will not be refunded.
Travel Information
Take I-95 North to exit 75 off the Maine Turnpike and follow Route 4 North to Rangeley. Find the Farmhouse Inn at 2057 Main Street, Rangeley, Maine.
For more information call 207.864.5805 or visit http://rangeleyfarmhouseinn.com/
Moose Rock Guide Service
For those of you who enjoy hunting, fishing and the sporting aspects of outdoor life, Moose Rock Guide Service offers a wide array of outdoor adventures for your amusement. Whether your idea of communing with nature is a calm sunset canoe tour or an exhilarating coyote-calling quest, Moose Rock can assist you. Located in the Western Maine mountain and lake region, there’s plenty of natural beauty to explore while spotting all the wildlife you can. Your options include a moose hunting expedition, a photo safari, or a guided day hike of the western Maine wilderness.
If you enjoy the outdoors, but aren’t sure how to best enjoy them, Moose Rock offers instructional services as well. Fly fishing lessons are offered for all levels of skill, instruction in photographic techniques are a part of the photo safari, and no one, no matter their skill level, gets in a canoe without at least some rudimentary instruction by the staff. Moose Rock offers all services you’ll need to have a great time in the great outdoors.
Travel Tips
A 50% non-refundable deposit is required, and complete payment is due two weeks before arrival, so make sure that you schedule your time wisely.
Travel Information
From Portland take I-95 north to exit 75. Follow ME-4/US-202 for 16 miles to ME-108 West. Follow M-108 West for 16 miles into Dixfield.
For more information go to www.mooserock.org or call 207.562.7564
Acadian Seaplanes
If your ideal vacation is peace, quiet, and solitude, then Acadian Seaplanes can help you out. Their specialty is convenient seaplane travel to all points in Maine. Seaplanes, in case you don’t know, are airplanes equipped with floaters that can take off and land on water, which make them perfect for exploring Maine’s lake region.
Acadian Seaplanes offers two main types of experiences; air tours, which take passengers on site-seeing trips to see moose, explore mountains, or just get a birds-eye view of the Maine scenery; and seaplane service, which can take you to virtually any location in Maine for your outdoor pleasure. And know that this isn’t some fly-by-night operation, they are a certified air carrier, regulated by the FAA, and your safety is their priority. Owner-operator Keith Deschambeualt has thousands of flight hours logged in both the Alaskan bush and on Maine’s coast and inland lakes and holds a degree in aeronautical science. Give them a call to start your Maine adventure.
Travel Tips
The Mountain Explorer tour is an excellent way to quickly experience the Maine backcountry. The tour takes you through the Kennebec and Dead River valleys, before making a remote water landing and shore excursion. Refreshments are provided on the hour and fifteen minute trip.
Travel Information
Acadian Seaplanes serves Augusta, Portland, Bar Harbor, the Rangeley Lakes region and more. For more information about your trip call 207.252.6630 or visit http://www.acadianseaplanes.com/
The Stanley Museum
Located in Kingfield, Maine, the Stanley Museum is a history museum dedicated to the inventors of the “Stanley Steamer,” Francis Edgar Stanley and his twin brother F.O. The brothers were born in Kingfield, in the mid-19th century. The museum has exhibits of the steam cars, a 20 horsepower Stanley engine, and a boiler and burner exhibit that displays the inner workings of the power plant. The story is full of excitement and tragedy, from Fred Marriot breaking the land speed record in a Steamer in 1906 by going 127 miles per hour, to F.E.’s death in an automobile accident.
The Stanley brothers weren’t just engineers, they were also craftsmen. A display of violins made by F.E., F.O. and their nephew Carlton are also on display. Finally, the museum expands the scope to the entire family by including their sister Chanosetta, an important photographer of American rural life, in a display. The Stanley Museum owns the largest collection of her prints and negatives in the world, and has much of her exquisite work on display.
Travel Tips
If you enjoy the Stanley Museum in Kingfield, and ever find yourself in Colorado, visit their sister museum in Estes Park.
Travel Information
From Augusta, head west on ME-17 for 14 miles, before turning onto ME-41 north. Follow ME-41 for 17 miles before continuing on to ME-27 north. Continue on for the next 20 miles, arriving in Kingfield.
For more information call 207.265.2729 or go to http://www.stanleymuseum.org/
