August 31, 2009
Got kids?
http://www.childrensmuseumofme.org/
Bring them to the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine. There are over twenty exhibits that keep your child’s mind and body in action. Learn about the dinosaurs that once roamed Maine and Canada, dress up like a fireman and play with the real lights on the fire engine, haul traps on the lobster boat or pretend to be a veterinarian in the animal hospital. With so many fun activities for your little ones and only $8 admission (per person, under age 1 is free), the Children’s Museum is a great activity for the whole family. You can even plan birthday parties and group events.
http://www.childrensmuseumofme.org/
Summer Hours (Memorial Day thru Labor Day)
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: Noon – 5pm
Winter Hours (Labor Day through Memorial Day)
http://www.childrensmuseumofme.org/
Tuesday thru Saturday: 10am – 5pm
Sunday: Noon – 5pm
Monday: Closed
August 30, 2009
York’s Wild Animal Kingdom
York’s Wild Kingdom
is located in York Beach, Maine. Over 200,000 people come to visit the largest zoo and amusement park in the area. There are a lot of different types of animals. They have ostrich, capybaras, parrots, alligators, kangaroo, zebra and don’t miss seeing Rewa – Maine’s ONLY White Bengal Tiger.
There is also a petting zoo that the kids can explore to get up close and personal with the smaller of the cute furry animals.
There is plenty for the family to do all day, from playing with the animals in the petting zoo, to the educational sessions through out the day to a wide variety of rides in the amusement park. They have everything from Mini Golf to Go Carts and more.
With plenty of free parking there is no reason you shouldn’t make this a stop while you are in the area.
Pricing for adults is $19.50 a person for the zoo and ride package, and for children ages 4-10 it’s $14.50 for the zoo and ride package. A day full of unlimited rides and views of the animals is a precious memory to enjoy with your children.
Located 2 miles off exit #7 coming from the North and the South. It’s open 10am – 6pm, or until 5pm on days when only the zoo is open.
The phone number is 207-363-4911 if you have any questions. York’s Wild Kingdom is located off of route 1 in York Beach, Maine.
August 29, 2009
Pride’s Corner drive-in offers appeal and entertainment for everyone
The summer weather won’t be here forever and it is starting to fade fast. So why not spend the last couple of warm nights with your family, eating popcorn and watching a movie underneath the sky or inside of your car??
At Pride’s Corner drive-in theater in Westbrook, the two movies that are playing are G.I. Joe and Transformers. Go outside, breathe in the fresh air, and enjoy the quality time that you can spend with your family. There’s something about experiencing a movie at a drive-in theater that the modern day multi-plex cinemas cannot come close to competing with. Whether it’s nostalgia or the community and family oriented atmosphere, there’s an appeal for all ages at the drive-in theater.
When you are done with the movies, Festiva Resorts can take care of you! Festiva Resorts would like to thank you if you come in for one of our 90-minute presentations with dinner certificates, Funtown combo passes, visa gift cards, and so much more. To learn more, visit our website at www.festivaresorts.com.
August 28, 2009
Taffy from the Coast
http://www.havenscandies.com/
If you love salt water taffy, then Haven’s Candies is the place to go. Haven’s has been hand crafting salt water taffy and other delicious confections right here in Portland, Maine, since 1915. They make over 16 flavors of taffy including cake batter, molasses peanut butter, blueberry and a variety of sugar free flavors. You can even visit the factory store in Westbrook and watch the skilled candy makers at work.
At Haven’s Candies you will also find a variety of hand made chocolates, nine flavors of hand stirred fudge, roasted nuts and a large selection of nostalgic candies. With three locations it’s easy to make Haven’s a stop when you’re in the Portland area.
http://www.havenscandies.com/
August 27, 2009
Seafood Found at Weathervane!
The only thing that beats going out for seafood is when someone else is paying for it! If you come into Festiva Resorts in Portland, Maine, and join us for a 90-minute presentation, one of our many thank you gifts is a $30 gift certificate to Weathervane Seafood Restaurant!!
There is a wide selection of lobster entrees, shrimp, and clams. If you can think of something that is from the sea, Weathervane most likely has a way to serve it to you on your dining room table. And the fantastic food doesn’t stop there! You can choose from wine, beer, or frozen drinks! There is strawberry cheesecake and so much more!
Come into your nearest Weathervane and experience the tangy, deliciousness that will explode in your mouth with every bite!! And let Festiva Resorts take YOU out to dinner!
Peaks Island
Enjoy a 20 minute ferry ride to gorgeous Peaks Island, once known as Coney Island. Peaks Island is a neighborhood within the city of Portland. Most hotels that once stood on the island were lost to fires over the years, along with the great Gem Theater which was destroyed in 1934.
During World War II Peaks Island was home to a large military defense system including the island’s largest structure, Battery Steele, which was home to two 16-inch guns. When they were first tested windows on the opposite side of the island shattered.
Your destination will begin at Forest City Landing where the ferry has docked since the late 1800′s. You can tour the island on a golf cart with Island Tours. Also enjoy a bike ride or a walk in the many trails that are on the island. It is said that you can bike the whole island in 15-20 minutes and walk it in an hour.
The ferry runs Monday-Sunday at many different times throughout the day. There are fourteen daily departures from Portland to Peaks Island. It makes an ideal family destination. This is a very inexpensive way to enjoy Maine and time with family. Admission is $8.20 for adults and for $4.10 for children and seniors.
If you have any questions you can call 207-774-7871.
August 25, 2009
The Real Thing!
There are farm stands scattered all over Maine, but one that is close to home and in a beautiful area is Jordan’s Farm in Cape Elizabeth. The farm stand is filled with tons of goodies right from the 45 acres that make up their backyard. Around this time of year there are several varieties of tomatoes, lettuce, green beans, squash, zucchini, blueberries, onions, kale, cabbage, broccoli, carrots, beets, cucumbers, melons, and so much more! There are pints of ice cream, curds, flavored and regular milk, and whipped cream from Smiling Hill Farm! Come bring your family to pick their own strawberries when in season, or to make gorgeous bouquets of flowers from their clipping garden!
You have not had strawberries until you have picked your own, warm from the summer sun! Jordan’s Farm is open daily from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m., and the produce will keep trickling in until the day before Thanksgiving! So whether you are coming in for corn or to purchase some local steak tenderloins, Jordan’s Farm on Wells Road is the place to be to get your local produce!!! Feel free to visit their website at www.jordansfarm.com to check out everything that they have to offer!
August 24, 2009
fairs, fairs, everywheres!
It’s fair season here in Maine, so why not check out the 138th annual Cumberland County Fair? Running from September 27 through October 3, and located at 197 Blanchard Road in Cumberland, this year looks to be just as fantastic as previous years. Hosting everything from assorted livestock you can pet to an exhibition hall you can shop in, the Cumberland County Fair has something for everyone to enjoy!
One thing that grabs people’s attention every year is the Harness Racing, a form of horse racing where the jockey rides in a two-wheeled cart pulled behind the horse. With a race each day, and the track in the middle of the fair, it’s hard to miss this dearly-loved event. Racing times are at 3 p.m. from September 27 to October 2, and 1:30 p.m. on October 3 – 4.
Please leave your pets at home (service animals are permitted) to ensure safety to all the livestock present. Also, make sure to visit the fair before Saturday if you want to see the animals as they begin departing the fairground the evening of October 3.
There is a weekly admission of $35 for those of you who want to see what the fair has to offer every day; adult admission is $7 Monday-Thursday and $9 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Children under 12 get in free while seniors 65 and older only have to pay $2 on Tuesday and Thursday! Parking is $3 daily or $5 for a week-long pass. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call (207)797-2789.
While you’re enjoying the excitement of the fair, make sure to keep an eye out for Festiva Adventure Club‘s display for a chance to win one of our amazing prizes!!
August 23, 2009
DiMillos Floating Restaurant
Do you love fresh seafood and the water? DiMillos Floating Restaurant is famous for its fresh seafood. The menu is just exquisite. Tony DiMillo opened DiMillos in December of 1982. Today Tony’s wife, sisters, and sons continue to maintain what he has built. 
DiMillos is a converted ferry that ran between New Castel, Delaware, Pennsville, New Jersey. After that it ran between Newport and Jamestown, Rhode Island. In 1980 it was sold and converted into a floating restaurant, one of the largest in America.
DiMillos is open for lunch and dinner everyday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas. They only accept reservations for larger parties. Are you sick of waiting forever to get a table? They offer call-ahead seating. Simply call 30 minutes before you leave and if there is a waitlist, they will add your name to it and estimate your wait time.
Address is 154 Commercial St. The telephone number for call-ahead seating is (207) 772-2216.
August 22, 2009
A Museum for Children
What more could you ask for on an afternoon out than your children having fun while they learn something? The Children’s Museum and Theatre in Portland, Maine offers this and so much more! You can take a GIGANTIC step backwards in time and see the fossil footprints left behind by dinosaurs, learn about the rotation of planets, play dress up and put on a play, or learn how to make delicious snacks like milkshakes and soda.
And it’s a trip that is easy on your wallet at only $8 per person and children under 1 are free! You can make this day trip as a group, as a family, or as an entire birthday party! Come learn about our past, our history, and the outer space that surrounds us! Keep your kids and yourself in awe of the way that the world works, while allowing them to have a blast at the same time!
art work by Mathias Pedersen
Located in the Arts District in Downtown Portland, the area is beautiful and it would be a perfect day spent in Southern Maine.
