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Casco Bay Region is located along the Gulf of Maine. The city of Portland is the central hub along the coast, and Lewiston is located further inland. Both cities have large populations and successful businesses. The Casco Bay has its own ferry line and is known for its bustling waterways. There are many lighthouses that are decades or centuries old along the Casco Bay shoreline.[1] Just off the shores in Maine, the land is covered in sandy beaches, while further inland, there are mountain ranges and forest regions.[3] Summers in the region are comfortable, while winters are harsher with high winds. The region sustains heavy amounts of rainfall, with partly cloudy skies year-round.[2] The region produces a variety of fruits, starches, and aquaculture outputs.[4]
Casco Bay is an inlet area of the Gulf of Maine. The bay is always bustling with business and tourists. The bay is a working waterfront as a port for cruise ships, oil tankers, and container ships, along with a scenic historical area with forts, lighthouses, anchorages, and many small islands. Casco Bay is surrounded by the Calender Islands, named after every day of the year. Most visitors to the bay will walk the boardwalks along with the marinas, golf on any of the golf courses, and eat at the golf clubs in the area. Just off the bay, Diamond Island is filled with summer homes and private communities, some available as vacation rentals. The bay shoreline is covered in rocky cliffsides, sandy beaches, and shallow inlets, where visitors can swim, have picnics and bring pets to walk along the waterfront.[1]
The Casco Bay Lines Ferry Terminal transports individuals from city to city along the shoreline. The ferry also provides rides to local islands such as Peaks Island, Little Diamond, Great Diamond, and Cliff Island. The ferry does not allow cars but does permit bikes.[5] The Portland Schooner Co. offers boat tours, guided sailing experiences, and boat rentals for visitors just off the bay. Old Port is located within the city of Portland. The small historic district has cobblestoned streets and old brick buildings lining the roadways. The buildings house clothing boutiques, food stores, cocktail bars, and over fifteen locally-owned dining options. The Casco Bay Region has many New American restaurants and traditional seafood spots dotting the waterfront. The famous Portland Head Light is a historical lighthouse in the Casco Bay Region. The lighthouse is located in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The lighthouse shines over the entrance to Portland Harbor's primary shipping channel. Built-in 1791, it is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. The city of Portland is the largest city on Maine's coast and is the state's capital. The area closest to the water is Old Port, while more urbanized areas are located further inland. The city is recognized as the center of economy and tourism in Maine. The west end of the city is full of Victorian-era homes.
The Victoria Mansion Museum is located in Portland and is a commonly visited attraction among visitors. Portland, Maine, has a population of sixty-six thousand people.[6] Lewiston, Maine, is located inland in the Casco Bay Region. Lewiston is the second-largest city in Maine and centrally located in Androscoggin County. The city lies between Augusta and Portland, with a population of thirty thousand people. Those who visit Lewiston will often spend time at many of the cities historical museums, animal sanctuaries, and local restaurants.[7] Casco Bay welcomes around eight million tourists every year. The most common times for visitors is during the summer months when the weather is warm, and the skies are clear.[8] The region is primarily a waterfront metropolis, with its primary business coming in and out of the bay. Manufacturing is also a large industry, with the leading products in paper and wood products.
The Casco Bay Region includes three of the geographical areas in Maine. The Coastal Lowlands are located along the Atlantic coastline and stretch inward around thirty miles. This area has sand beaches, bays, salt marshes, large water inlets, and thousands of coastal islands. The Eastern New England Uplands are north of the Coastal Lowlands and host fertile soil, lakes, streams, and mountain ranges. The White Mountains are along Maine's highest point and include Baxter State Park. Over ninety percent of Maine is covered in forest, and many precious stones come out of Maine's countryside.[3] The region reaches inland to Mount Washington, north as far as Rockland, and south to Somersworth. The Calendar Islands and the Diamond Islands are located in the Gulf of Maine. A variety of wildlife is located in the Casco Bay Region.[1] On land, visitors can find black bears, bobcats, white-tailed deer, and the Canada Lynx. There are also many turtles, green snakes, and bullfrogs living in the wet marshland areas. Whales, dolphins, Atlantic cod, bluefin tuna, mako sharks, lobster, oysters, and crabs are common in the Gulf of Maine.[10] Common plants in the region include black oak, sugar maple, wood sorrel, Canada violet, Queen Anne's lace, and calypso orchid. The state flower is a pinecone.[11]
Maine lobster is the state's most famous food. Summers in the Casco Bay Region are warm and comfortable, while winters are cold and windy. The warm season lasts four months, from June to September, with an average temperature of seventy degrees. Winters are colder, lasting for three months from December to March, with an average daily temperature of forty degrees. It is partly cloudy year round in Maine. The region's coastal area receives over forty-five inches of rain annually, while more inland area receives around forty inches. November is the rainiest month of the year. It snows over eighty inches a year in the coastal and inland area of the Casco Bay Region.[2] Along the Gulf of Maine, the main product is seafood, primarily lobsters. More inland, blueberries, apples, poultry, and dairy products are grown and produced.[4]
Casco Bay was initially named Abenaki, which means 'place of herons.' A Portuguese explorer Estevao Gomes discovered and mapped the Maine coast in 1552 and renamed it the Bay of Helmets because of its shape. Captain Christopher Levett, an English explorer, was the first to settle on House Island in 1623. The settlement failed, and a more permanent one was built later, which was the beginning of Casco Bay. The settlement grew and was then called Portland. The Calendar Islands were named so because there were as many islands as days of the year by Colonel Wolfgang William Romer, an English military engineer. Before anyone came to Casco Bay, however, the Wabanaki people lived in the area.
The bay was home to many forts during the war of 1812, World War I, and World War II.[1] Portland, Maine, was discovered by Richard Tucker. The city is built on two large hill-covered peninsulas overlooking the bay and was settled in 1633.[6] Lewiston, Maine, another large city in the region, was first occupied in 1768 by families working for the Pejepscot Proprietors and another Boston-based land company. The first settler was Paul Hildreth and his family. The town multiplied quickly into a small city and beyond that, and St. Joseph's Church was constructed on Main Street.[7] Both cities are an example of Maine's history, cultural and social diversity.[9]
Brewster House Bed and Breakfast
Brewster House Bed and Breakfast is located in Freeport, Maine, and was established in 1992. The building that is used for accommodating guests was built many years prior to the business' genesis, however, being built in 1888 by Jarvis Adelbert Brewster. Since being converted into a bed and breakfast, updates have been made to the property, leading to there being seven available rooms for those looking for lodging during their travels. Each room has private bathrooms and a mini-fridge, some of them also including fireplaces and/or king or queen-size beds. Kelleigh and Dave, the current owners of Brewster House Bed and Breakfast, hope that their guests feel welcome and relaxed when they stay with them and that they will be able to have experiences during their trip that they will remember. They strive to give suggestions and other help to all those looking for things to do in the area.
...Read MoreBlueberry Fields Bed and Breakfast
Blueberry Fields Bed and Breakfast is located in Washington, Maine, and is owned by Debbie and Cyd Zeigler. The property sits on 120 acres of land, with ten of the acres used for blueberry farming. Thirty-five acres of the land was originally given to the family by Debbie's grandmother in the 1980s. The rest of the grounds are comprised of the woods, with a small portion being a sugar maple grove. The owners tap the maples to make homemade maple syrup. The main house on the premises has five units and is next to the blueberry fields. There is also a cottage on the property that has the capacity for five patrons. Each morning breakfast is served from eight to nine in the morning and is made by Debbie, who has been in the food industry for 50 years.
...Read MoreThe Water Street Inn is located in Kittery, Maine, just North of Badger's Island and the Piscataqua River. Its premises include the main house, built after the Victorian-style, and a 1700s-style barn. There are a total of eight guest accommodations on the property, all of which have private bathrooms. A unique feature of the rooms is that they each have a keyless self-entry system so that guests can be more independent during their stay. The grounds of the inn have two outdoor living areas—namely the front porch and the back patio—in addition to relatively extensive perennial gardens. In the nearby area of Kittery and Portsmouth, guests can find a comprehensive list of attractions to visit, activities to do, and places to eat. The Water Street Inn also has a sister property in Portsmouth called The Sailmaker's House.
...Read MoreLimeRock Inn
LimeRock Inn has been operating as a bed and breakfast since the year 1994; however, the current caretaker, Ashley, has had ownership of the inn since 2019. Currently, eight rooms are available for guests to reserve, all of which contain amenities such as a mini fridge, air conditioning, and Turkish towels, to name a few. Throughout the rooms of the building, antiques and original art pieces decorate the interior. Ashley describes the character of LimeRock Inn to be "modernized Victorian." Every morning, patrons are given a three-course breakfast. Some of the potential breakfast meal options include Maine blueberry pancakes, eggs benedict, and various types of bread or pastries. Beyond this, visitors are also provided with snacks, water, and soda from the inn's guest pantry.
...Read MoreCandlebay Inn is located in Freeport, Maine. Rocky beaches and lighthouses are common sights to see around the town. Many of the homes in the area date back to the late 1800s. The area is known for its historical significance.
...Read MoreHarbour Towne Inn on the Waterfront
Harbour Towne Inn on the Waterfront is a bed and breakfast that is located in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, which is situated on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The inn has its own small dock in the backyard connected to the bay, though it is unable to launch boats. There are a total of 13 units available for guests to choose from when making reservations. Due to the nature of the inn, they are unable to accommodate pets or children. There are a number of events that take place throughout the year, including Cabbage Island Lobster Bake and Windjammer Days. The building was initially built in 1870 and has been through three generations of the same family, and is expected to keep going.
...Read MoreThe Casco Bay Inn is located in Freeport, Maine. The owner, Scott Andrews, has been running the inn since the year 2015 and has tried to keep it running similarly to how it has run in the past. The property is relatively small, keeping the building on about a half-acre. The building is two stories high and contains 45 total rooms for guests to pick from, one of which being a suite. There is also a small patio on the property at which guests of the Casco Bay Inn are free to spend time at whether by themselves or with their friends or family members.
...Read MoreThe Beach Rose Inn is located in Wells, Maine, one mile away from Wells Beach. The inn provides a total of 15 suite rents and four condos, with the condos being located about 75 yards from the beach itself. The Beach Rose Inn receives its name due to the unique species of roses that can be found on the property that only grow on the edges of beaches and in sand dunes. The property had been built in the late 1800s and had been used in the past as an old warding house and potter studio.
...Read MoreThe Percy Inn is located in Portland, Maine, centered in Longfellow Square, near dozens of restaurants and downtown activities. Portland is the most populous city in the state of Maine, sitting at a population of 66,215 as of 2019. The building that makes up The Percy Inn has been around since 1830, which was just a few years after the state of Maine was created and recognized. There are a total of eight different rooms available for guests to choose. Due to the location of The Percy Inn, there are an abundant amount of interesting locations that are within a short distance from the inn, such as Portland Fire Museum, Deering Street Park, and places to eat like Local 188.
...Read MoreThe Beau Rivage Motel is located in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. The property has three separate buildings, all of which were built in 1966. The three buildings have 64 units total, each decorated with an ocean theme. There are different types of rooms, most of which contain two different beds. Some of the units have two rooms and a kitchenette, and those tend to be the more popular units. All of the units have a private bathroom, along with a private bathroom. Available to the guests who stay on-site are a pool, hot tub, and dry sauna. The Old Orchard Beach, the Palace Playland Amusement Park, a pier, water parts, boutiques, and mini-golf courses are all located near the property.
...Read MoreSpring Point Inn at the McKernan Center
The Spring Point Inn at the McKernan Center is an inn/training facility for students of the Southern Maine Community College. The inn actually sits within the college campus limits and is home to many events and culinary training. The building has a history to it that dates all the way back to World War I, though it saw a remodeling period in the mid 2000s that made it better equipped to be part of the culinary arts department.
...Read MoreTrailing Yew, located on Monhegan Island, Maine, offers a total of 26 accommodations available for reservation between the months of May to October. During the business’s season of operation, the Trailing Yew sees a relatively high number of repeat guests and those coming to the island for the first time. On the property’s premises, there are five buildings where the 26 different rooms are split between. Three of the rooms have private ensuite bathrooms, while the rest share with others. Each building has a common area and a porch. A yard is located between all the facilities where activities such as cornhole, Jenga, and frisbee are available. Also provided to guests is breakfast, which is served in the dining room, and coffee is delivered to patrons’ rooms if desired.
...Read MoreStonehouse Manor is a bed and breakfast which is located in Phippsburg, Maine, and is found under a mile from Popham Beach State Park and even closer to Hunnewell Beach. The manor has five suites that guests can reserve throughout the year. Breakfast is available to everyone staying at the establishment each morning. People are able to hold celebrations, such as weddings and family reunions, at Stonehouse Manor. According to the owners, Jane and Tim, they want their patrons to feel at home and to have a relaxing time at the bed and breakfast. There are a variety of outdoor recreational activities that people can participate in both on the property and in the surrounding area. The house was built in 1896, but it wasn’t turned into a bed and breakfast until 1996.
...Read MoreThe Loon Ridge Cottages are located on a four-acre piece of land in Belgrade, Maine, near the Belgrade Lakes Region. This region is known for its various lakes and streams, providing outdoor water excursions for guests of all ages. Due to the close proximity of the lakes, the The Loon Ridge Cottages offer gear like the kayaks to guests free of charge. The cottages offer better access to Messalonskee Lake and the Belgrade Stream. The property also owns a historical piece from the time when The Pony Express was in still in operation. A stage coach that was used in that time period for mail delivery is now used by The Loon Ridge Cottages.
...Read MoreThe Camden Windward House Bed and Breakfast is located in Camden, Maine. There are a total of nine guest rooms available for reservation, each with its own private bathroom, temperature controls, and refrigerator. Some rooms have additional amenities such as private entrances, balconies, or fireplaces. Breakfast is served each morning between 8:00 AM and 9:00 AM and is served either in the dining room or outside on the deck that overlooks the property’s gardens. Guests are free to roam the grounds and look at the gardens if they desire it. The house is nearby many attractions that patrons often visit, such as Camden Harbor and hiking trails that lead to the top of Mt. Battie. The owners, Matt and Dan, want their guests to feel relaxed while they are staying with them and to experience what it is like to live in a town that is close to the harbor.
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