by: Clif Calderwood
Maine is one of the most heavily forested states in the nation, containing over 17 million acres of natural beauty, hikes, and magnificent summer and fall foliage scenic drives.
This scenic drive is through Maine backcountry. A rugged environment of thick forests and impressive mountain terrain.
The drive is magnificent in summer but not-to-be-missed in fall foliage season.
The route follows a 218-mile loop through central west Maine along the lower western shore of Moosehead Lake, and then runs parallel with the tree-lined banks of the Kennebec River. It?s best experienced over a few days rather than a one-day excursion trip, and lodging reservations are recommended during the popular fall foliage season.
Let?s get you started?
In the first part of the tour you?ll wind your way towards the town of Greenville on the southern tip of Moosehead Lake. Begin the tour in the town of Skowhegan by taking Route 150 to Route 151 in Athens. Follow Route 151 west to Newport where you?ll pick up Route 7 to Dover-Foxcroft.
Take Route 6 to Guilford, and then follow Route 6/15 north to Greenville.
At Greenville stop and relax for a bit. Greenville is a center for those seeking the pastimes of hunting, fishing, hiking and boating in the area. It?s also home to a number of attractions in the area.
One such attraction is the 110-foot SS Katahdin, a popular steamship that cruises on Moosehead Lake during the summer and through fall foliage. It leaves from the center of Greenville.
A 20-mile excursion east of Greenville takes you to beautiful Gulf Hagas.
This is a stunning 3-mile-long gorge, with waterfalls, water chutes, deep pools, and vertical walls 300 feet tall in places. The hike is especially scenic during fall foliage. For those spreading this scenic drive over multiple days this is a must-do side trip.
The Greenville area also boasts splendid hikes along the close-by Appalachian Trail.
If you?re intending to stay overnight then Greenville offers your best opportunity for lodging.
The scenic drive continues along Route 6/15 passing Big Squaw Mountain and Ski Area on the left, and winding along the Moosehead Lake shore to the village of Rockwood. Once at Rockwood you?ll see across the water the imposing Mount Kineo with its sheer cliff face rising over 700 feet from the deepest point in Moosehead Lake.
Stay on Route 6/15 and head west to Jackman. This 30-mile portion of the scenic drive is all about Maine wilderness. Look out for opportunities to stop and admire the summer or fall foliage views in the hills and on scenic lookouts across the lakes and ponds along the road.
Just south of Jackman Route 6/15 will connect with Route 201, and you?ll follow Route 201 south towards The Forks along the National Scenic Byway.
Jackman is a canoeing center, famous for the 42-mile Moose River Bow Trip. The canoe trip takes two or more days and is a favorite of outdoor enthusiasts. It?s one of the few remaining wilderness canoe trips in the Northeast, and organized tours are run by local operators.
Continue on Route 201 south to The Forks where the Kennebec and Dead Rivers meet.
The Forks is base for popular and awe-inspiring whitewater rafting trips on the two rivers.
A few miles west of The Forks is Moxie Falls, at 90-feet one of the tallest waterfalls in New England.
The scenic drive continues south on Route 201 to Bingham.
This stretch of the road follows the Kennebec River through Caratunk, offering magnificent views of the river and surrounding hills, and is one of the best fall foliage sections on this tour.
Follow Route 201 back to Skowhegan to complete the tour.
About The Author
Cliff Calderwood Look for other articles in this series of fall foliage scenic drives. Or if you can?t wait you can pick up a free report containing these and other New England scenic drives along with detailed route coverage and attractions at www.new-england-vacations-guide.com.
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The Benefit of a GPS System
The Benefit of a GPS System
by: Donald Buske
What benefit will you get from GPS?
Global Positioning System is a navigational aid, funded and controlled by the U.S.
Department of Defense. Since GPS systems utilize 24 satellites that orbit the earth
in a grid pattern, there are always six to eight satellites that are able to
communicate with any given position on earth at any given time. What this does is
give the average consumer the power to find any place on earth at any time day or
night. Just think of the benefits this provides for a wide variety of the public.
Some of the benefits we might receive from GPS are:
Fuel economy: If you want to maximize your fuel economy you'll need a good
GPS system. Saving money at the pump as well as wear and tear on your vehicle
should be one of the main reasons why you would want a good GPS system in your
vehicle. Accurate driving directions not only will...
The Benefit of a GPS System
Lake tahoe > The Benefit of a GPS System
What Makes Zambia Safari Unique?
What Makes Zambia Safari Unique?
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The National Parks
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What Makes Zambia Safari Unique?
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YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
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After my rather quaint and leisurely scenic boat ride through Winter Park, a rather different boating experience was in store for me: a high speed airboat ride through Lake Tohopekaliga, provided by Boggy Creek Airboat Rides.
We got started early in the morning and took the first tour out. The temperature must have been about 45 degrees Fahrenheit or so, and in wise anticpation we both wore our Canadian winter jackets. Good thing, because it gets pretty darn cold zooming along at high speed on the airboats.
We were the first ride out of the gate, and fortunately we were provided with white blankets which kept us reasonably warm. Off we went on our 6-passenger airboat, exploring the coastline of Lake Tohopekaliga, getting a glimpse at various types of wetland birds, including bald eagles, ospreys, egrets and cranes...
YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
Lake tahoe > YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
Alien landings in the Lake District?
Alien landings in the Lake District?
by: Peter Scott
News that the latest space probe has discovered a discarded Kendal Mint Cake wrapper on the surface of Mars, and, what appears to be an alien space-craft seen landing on Skiddaw and discharging small people armed with cameras, confirms once and for all that Cumbria and the Lake District is probably the most popular visitor location in the Universe.
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Lake tahoe > Alien landings in the Lake District?
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by: Susanne Pacher
In my quest to find unusual destinations to visit in the Orlando area, I stumbled over a little town by the name of Mount Dora just about 45 minutes north of Orlando. I had read that it was a very picturesque small town located on a lake, and one of its main attractions was a scenic railway.
Mount Dora City Hall
Mount Dora is only 27 miles or 43 km northwest of Orlando. It has an elevation of 184 feet above Lake Dora, which makes it Florida's only "mountain top town". Indeed the rolling hillsides and winding roads are a welcome unique feature in the generally flat topography of Florida.
Mount Dora's history dates back to the 1800s. In 1846 Lake Dora was named for Dora Ann Drawdy. She and her husband homesteaded two miles south of Mount Dora. In 1880 the town?s first name was Royellou, named after the three children of Postmaster R. C. Tremain - Roy, Ella, and Louis....
Mount Dora: Southern Charm in Central Florida
Lake tahoe > Mount Dora: Southern Charm in Central Florida
Skiing at Breckenridge Mountain
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by: Scott Palat
As you drive into the town of Breckenridge, you can see Breckenridge Mountain and many of the lifts. Breckenridge Mountain has four peaks and each is labeled peak 10, peak 9, peak 8 and peak 7. You can ski all four of Breckenridge's peaks in one day if you are up for a hike. The only peak accessible by lift is Peak 8.
Breckenridge has many green trails which are perfect of beginners. So do not be intimidated when you see the tops of the mountains, because you will not have to ride the lifts to the top to enjoy all the skiing that Breckenridge has to offer. If you are an intermediate skier, Breckenridge has plenty of blue and black runs that offer wide open skiing or tree skiing.
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The Imperial Express Superchair...
Lake tahoe > Skiing at Breckenridge Mountain
YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
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by: Susanne Pacher
After my rather quaint and leisurely scenic boat ride through Winter Park, a rather different boating experience was in store for me: a high speed airboat ride through Lake Tohopekaliga, provided by Boggy Creek Airboat Rides.
We got started early in the morning and took the first tour out. The temperature must have been about 45 degrees Fahrenheit or so, and in wise anticpation we both wore our Canadian winter jackets. Good thing, because it gets pretty darn cold zooming along at high speed on the airboats.
We were the first ride out of the gate, and fortunately we were provided with white blankets which kept us reasonably warm. Off we went on our 6-passenger airboat, exploring the coastline of Lake Tohopekaliga, getting a glimpse at various types of wetland birds, including bald eagles, ospreys, egrets and cranes...
YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
Lake tahoe > YEEEEEHAAAAW!!!! Our High and Low Speed Adventures at Boggy Creek Airboat Tours and Swamp Buggy Rides
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