Cooking Classes in Midcoast Maine

There are four wonderful options in the mid-coast area for those who wish to combine travel with culinary interests. Stay at a cottage property, inn, or B&B and enjoy the options:

1. Bay Leaf Cottages & Bistro - www.bayleafcottages.com/bistro
Cook Chinese homestyle dishes, German holiday fare, and learn all about seafood preparationsl
June thru August open-enrollment cooking classes by reservation.

2. Cellardoor Winery - www.mainewine.come
Cooking classes and wine pairings at the winery.

3. Hartstone Inn - www.hartstoneinn.com
Cooking Classes by house chef.

4. Salt Water Farm cooking school - wide range of themes and classes. www.saltwaterfarm.com
Variety of techniques by chef AnneMarie or chef-instructors are brought in to teach cllas.

Just a Few More Days Leaf Peepers!

Fall is showing it's hot and cold side this weekend as leaf peepers head our way for Columbus Day Weekend. They are coming from all over - we have bookings from Italy to the western parts of the US. Join us as we wind down our 2011 season and get ready for winter. We'll be closing in just a week with most of our units closed from Monday October 10th thru to May 1st. As always, we will be taking reservations throughout the winter and spring months for your 2012 stay at Bay Leaf Cottages. Contact us by phone 207-505-0458, email: info@bayleafcottages.com, and online reservations www.booking.com. For those seeking wedding reservations/bookings, plan ahead and give us a call!

I'll be blogging on and off - don't miss our summer 2012 cooking class dinners - Seafood galore!
Keep checking in!
Jane

Thanks Yankee Magazine!

Camden Named 3rd Best Foliage Town in New England in Yankee Magazine's Online Poll

Camden has been named the 3rd best foliage town in New England, up from 6th in 2010, according to a poll conducted on YankeeFoliage.com, Yankee Magazine's fall foliage Web site. A seaside town located in the "jewel" of Maine's mid-coast has everything a visitor is looking for, color intensity against the backdrop of the rocky coast, scenic drives, hikes and a whole host of outdoor recreation-adding to that world class dining, lodging, shopping and cultural venues that make Camden and the communities of the Camden Hills definite not-to-miss fall favorites. The voting took place from mid-August and ended on September 28.

"This area brings together the best Maine has to offer, with an explosion of color and activities to delight all visitors, we are proud to continue to be a fall favorite," said Dan Bookham, Executive Director of the Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce serving the mid-coast area including Camden, Rockport and Rockland. "Families and visitors come from all over to enjoy the unhurried life that is quintessential Maine-hiking, schooner sails, taking in a museum or wine-, cheese- or chocolate- making-rest assured there is plenty to occupy one's time."

To qualify for consideration, tourism professionals, along with some of Yankee Magazine's writers and editors, came together to determine the Top 25 Foliage Towns in New England. Towns were then scored on a scale from 0 to 5 in 14 areas that make up the perfect fall foliage travel destination: color intensity, scenery, vistas, nearby water, scenic drives, hikes, culture, farmers' markets and farm stands, orchards, covered bridges, state or local parks, the quality and variety of shops to browse, tourism amenities such as hotels and restaurants.

Rainy Weekend in Mid-coast Maine

Rain Rain Go Away!
We have no less than 9 wonderful weekend events in the mid-coast and it's raining moose and lobsters! The weekend's weather forecast is not good. The movie theaters are going to be full for sure. Head to the Northport Music Theater tonight for good old-fashioned musical theater!

If you have your raingear ready don't miss...Vinfest at Cellardoor Winery
Savage Oaks Winery Fall Festival
Apple Picking and Cidar Making at Hope Orchards
Corn Maze, Cidar and Apples at Beth's Produce
Lincolnville Fall Festival and Parade on Rt. 1
Antique classic car show in downtown Camden
Harbor Arts Juried Arts & Crafts Show in downtown Camden
Camden International Film Festival in Camden & Rockland
Belfast is having a parade today as well

Want to stay dry??Film Festival and Movies
Farnsworth Museum in Rockland
Owl's Head Transportation Museum
Penobscot Marine Museum in Searport
Reny's the Maine 5 & 10 experience
LLBean Outlet store in Ellsworth
Hollywood Slots in Bangor
Dining on seafood or hanging out in coffee shops, wine-tasting, and more!

Good rainy day hangout options (most with WIFI):
Dots in Lincolnville
Market Basket in Camden
Zoots in Camden
Boyton & McKay in Camden
American Baking Co in Rockland
Chase's Daily in Belfast
Lots of cafes/restaurants in Rockland, Camden, Lincolnville Beach, and Belfast