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lethaderr-blog · 5 years

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Here are the best things to do in southern for active and outdoor adventurers.

It was my first time visiting the state of and I really didn’t know what to expect. I was in town for the Women in Summit conference (WITS), and it was a great excuse to check a new state off my bucket list. After spending some time in Portland, it was time to venture away from the city. As I had my own car, I had the freedom to go wherever I wanted. Yes, this crazy road trip warrior drove solo on a 10 hour trip from Toronto to Portland. After making this journey, I feel like I can own the term “road trip warrior” and also the “crazy” part of the title, too (though I did break up the drive into manageable chunks).

Anyway, after my time at WITS, I headed south to check out the southern coast on a trip with The Beaches. There are lots of things to do in southern for outdoor adventure enthusiasts. I had the opportunity to check out several exciting places for those wanting to get outside, explore nature, or try a new activity. While there are many attractions in York County, I’ll break up this itinerary by city, starting from south in Kittery to north in Kennebunkport. While you won’t see any beaches on this itinerary, this listing of things to do in southern can be enjoyed from spring right through to the fall.

SOUTHERN MAINE TRAVEL GUIDE

WHERE TO STAY IN THE MAINE BEACHES REGION: I loved staying at The Dunes on the Waterfront in Ogunquit. You can read my review a little further down on this page. Book your stay at The Dunes or read more reviews by fellow travelers. While I highly recommend staying at The Dunes, you can also choose to browse the available listings on Airbnb if you’re looking for a shared room or your own home. Here are some more hotels in The Beaches.

GETTING AROUND SOUTHERN MAINE: I recommend having access to a car when you visit The Beaches. A lot of the places on this particular itinerary are far apart from one another. Having a car makes this trip possible. If you don’t have your own, consider renting a car for this trip.

MORE THINGS TO DO IN MAINE: For all of the best things to do in New York State, check out all of my other blog posts.

PHOTOS OF THE MAINE BEACHES REGION: Check out our entire photo album of pictures from southern to inspire your trip. You can also purchase prints, housewares, and all sorts of gifts made from any of our photos – just click the “buy” button on any picture.

Kittery

Let’s start just about as far south as we can go in the state of : Kittery. The town of Kittery is just across a bridge from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. While Kittery might be known for its outlet shopping, I headed straight to one of the most unique things to do on the coast of .

Take Flight Aerial Park

The aerial adventures and ziplines at Take Flight are one of the most thrilling things to do in southern . Strap on your harness and helmet, we’re going on an adventure! I experienced the Aerial Challenge Course and it was exhilarating, demanding, and even a little bit scary at times. With that said, you can choose how much or little to challenge yourself. It’s an epic journey for kids and adults alike.

The adventure course at Take Flight a place to climb, swing, and hang around, quite literally. It’s perfect for all abilities, even if you’ve never done a ropes course before. You’ll need to visit with a partner as the course operates on a buddy system where you’ll be responsible for the safety of your partner (and vice versa). There are over 65 elements on the adventure course, including cargo nets, bridges, swinging tires, various platforms, ropes, and all sorts of inventive materials to swing around on.

Some of these are easier to figure out than others. It’s quite simple to realize that you need to climb through a cargo net. But, you might encounter a set of buoys suspended in the air and wonder, “how the heck am I going to get across this?” It’s all a part of the fun. I found myself laughing over and over again with the antics I seemed to get myself into on this course.

There are three levels of apparatus and swinging platforms that you’ll encounter. You can choose just how high you want to go and which bridges to cross. When my travel buddy, Retha and I got to a certain spot that was a little too intimidating, we’d exclaim something like, “Oh hell, no!” and choose an alternate route. And then there were other moments where a set of swings looked rather daring and we’d give it a shot. In the end, I felt quite pleased and accomplished that I’d attempted the adventure course. Take Flight is one of the best southern attractions, and I urge you to check it out with one of your friends.

When you visit the Take Flight adventure course, you’ll be able to climb around for a maximum of 2 hours. You’ll receive a “pre-flight” training to prepare you for the excursion. Wear sneakers, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Don’t bring your camera, phone, or anything else with you. Take Flight staff members will take photos of you, so you don’t need to worry about damaging your gear on the course. Thank you so much to the staff at Take Flight for taking these photos of us!

York

Next, we drive a little bit up the road to York where you can find an excellent place to hit the trails. Some of the best hiking in southern is at Mount Agamenticus. My second stop in York isn’t really an outdoor adventure per se, but a beautiful scenic location to view the Nubble Lighthouse.

Mount Agamenticus

If there’s one place where you need to go hiking in southern , it’s Mount Agamenticus. Known as “Mount A” for short, the Mount Agamenticus Conservation Region sprawls across 10,000 acres within a 30,000 acre section of conservation land in southern . In fact, the region surrounding Mount A makes up one of the largest unfragmented forests in coastal New England. Within this unique coastal forest, you’ll find the highest diversity of plant and animal species in the whole state. You might spot whitetail deer, moose, spotted turtles, black racer snakes, or even a black bear. I didn’t manage to see any wildlife this time around, but you never know what you might see on the trail.

Mount A also happens to be one of ’s best sites to watch migrating raptors, including peregrine falcons, bald eagles, osprey, and hawks. In the fall, you can see hundreds of birds migrating within a few hours from the summit. On average, 4000 raptors migrate through this location annually. Make sure you visit Mount Agamenticus in late September through mid October on a clear day with a strong northwest wind.

The trails surrounding Mount A are perfect for hikers, bikers, and even winter activities like snowshoeing. Along with a local guide, we started at the bottom of Mount A and hiked up to the top. It’s a very gradual incline, so it’s not terribly challenging. However, it’s a great location for sightseeing and spending a few hours in nature. There are numerous informative plaques along the way about the history of the region, as well as the kinds of trees you’ll come across on your journey.

Eventually, you’ll reach the summit of Mount A, which is also directly accessible by car. At the summit, there are several interesting features and lookouts. You can soak up views of the mountains in one direction, including Mount Washington on a clear day. From another vantage point, you can see right out to the Atlantic Ocean. There’s a circular deck at the middle of the summit with miniatures of various nearby attractions like Nubble Light and Goose Rocks Beach. Be sure to wander around this vast expanse of land to the various lookout decks and rocky ledges.

Nubble Light

Even though this isn’t technically an outdoor adventure, you really should go to see Nubble Light when you’re in York. You can actually see Nubble Light from Mount A, too! It’s a quick drive down to the ocean to view this beautiful southern lighthouse. Officially named Cape Neddick Light, the lighthouse sits on Nubble Island, about 100 meters off Cape Neddick Point. While the lighthouse itself is inaccessible to the general public, you can easily view it from the edge of Cape Neddick Point. There’s a big parking lot, so you can pull right up and take a look. Going to see Nubble Light is one of the most iconic things to do on the coast of .

Built in 1879, the lighthouse is 41 feet tall but is positioned 88 feet above sea level. It sits up on top of a high, rocky island. Nubble Light is still in use today. It’s a classic example of an American lighthouse. A picture of the Nubble Light is included on the Voyager spacecraft, along with examples of other famous man made structures like the Great Wall of China and the Taj Mahal.

Ogunquit

Ogunquit has some of the most stunning views that I’ve seen throughout my time in . I recommend that you take a drive down to Perkins Cove and explore the adorable village, including the beautiful coastline. Park your car at Perkins Cove and take a walk on the Marginal Way.

Marginal Way

The Marginal Way is one of the prettiest coastal footpaths in New England. The term “margin” refers to the space between the land and the sea. Take a stroll down this 1.25 mile pathway to get right up close to the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Even on a cloudy and somewhat dreary day, it’s so magical. The water is seemingly drawn towards the shore, violently crashing into the rocks and cliffs. There are 39 benchs along this relatively short stretch, inviting visitors to take a break. Sit back and enjoy the view.

Perkins Cove

Perkins Cove is a cute village at one end of the Marginal Way. There are many boutiques, cafes, and restaurants in town, although many of them are seasonal. While only a handful of them were open when I visited in early May, I didn’t mind that at all. There weren’t many people around, and I felt at times like I had many southern attractions all to myself.

The Perkins Cove Drawbridge is the most iconic sight in Perkins Cove. It overlooks a lovely little harbor, and it might be the only double leaf draw footbridge left in the . I didn’t happen to see any boats sailing through, but the drawbridge can be raised to allow tall ships to enter the harbor. The harbormaster typically operates the drawbridge. However, if he isn’t available, it’s up to the average citizen or visitor to help out. There’s a button right on the bridge itself that you can push to raise the bridge. I didn’t have the unique opportunity to push that button, but fingers crossed that you get the chance!

Kennebunk

Did you know that Kennebunk is the only village with that name in the entire world? With such a unique name, I wouldn’t expect that any other town would be called ‘Kennebunk.’ All of the residents want you to know that. At the entrance to the town, there’s a sign stating: “Welcome to Kennebunk, The Only Village in the World So Named.” So, there you have it. Definitely wander around town here. You’ll discover a river with a small waterfall, a charming little park, and a main street with lots of little boutiques.

Garden Street Bowl

Now, a bowling alley wouldn’t generally be on my list of outdoor adventures. But, it’s a fantastic place to head in the evening after a long day of activities. Grab your travel gang and head straight to Garden Street Bowl. It’s a newly renovated bowling alley that’s inside an old repurposed grocery store. There’s a massive bar, restaurant, and a games room located in a long room where the shopping carts used to be stored. I’ll write a little bit more about what I ordered at the restaurant, but this food is not your average bowling alley grub. Garden Street Bowl is the perfect rainy day activity, and it’s open super late (until 11pm most days, and until midnight on Friday and Saturday).

Kennebunkport

Wandering around Kennebunkport may very well be one of the best things to do on the coast of . While I didn’t participate in any particular activities or adventures, it’s a quaint village to go for a walk. I loved the colorful buildings and the views of the docked boats. Sometimes the best adventures are the ones that you don’t overly plan. Go for a stroll in Kennebunkport and admire the scenery around you.

Scenic Flight of the Coast

Now that you’ve visited all of the towns on the southern coast, why not take a look at them from up above? Taking a scenic flight with Southern Aviation was one of the most memorable aspects of the entire trip. There’s nothing quite like witnessing the natural beauty of the sand dunes from up above. You can see the crashing waves along the coast from high in the sky. Soar above the treetops and marvel at the landscapes of coastal .

Our aircraft was a small, four seat plane (including the pilot). You can embark on a flight with two of your friends, and you’ll each have your own window for the amazing views. The plans are modern, well equipped, and incredibly safe. Our pilot, Paul, had over 25 years of experience flying with American Airlines. You’re in good hands!

While you can choose your flight path, we decided to leave it up to the expert. He took us on a journey to see so many southern attractions, like Nubble Light, York Harbor, Kennebunkport, Ogunquit (we even spotted our hotel from the air), and even Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Flights start and end at the Sanford Airport, which is just 14 miles west of Kennebunk. You can take flights lasting anywhere from a half hour to two hours. Taking a scenic flight with Southern Aviation is incredibly affordable at a rate of $195 per hour (it’s a great price, especially if you split it between 3 people).

Curious about learning how to fly an airplane? This first “discovery flight” counts as your first lesson towards earning your pilot license. If you’re a local or live nearby and would like to take flying lessons, Southern Aviation can hook you up. If you’re like me and you want to leave the flying up to the experts, it’s easy to hop on board for a short flight to soak up the stunning views.

Where to Eat

While it was relatively easy to find vegan food in the city of Portland, it was a little more challenging in southern . There were a few plant-based and very vegan-friendly establishments, but they are only open seasonally during the summer months. You might be thinking that visiting as a vegan could be next to impossible, especially since the state is most known for its lobster. Don’t worry, I always find a way to make it work! I discovered several restaurants with vegan dishes that were very delicious.

Squeeze

The Squeeze is a local chain of smoothie shops. Their location in Kittery resembles a small juice shack. It’s actually a juice bar inside a repurposed drive through bank location. I love when companies are able to find new uses for old buildings. At The Squeeze, you can find all sorts of smoothies and smoothie bowls in every flavor. I couldn’t resist ordering a Bananarama (without the yogurt) because it had espresso in it. The smoothie was super refreshing and definitely hit the spot.

Heckman’s Pub at Nonantum Resort

Heckman’s Pub is a small bar inside the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport. You don’t need to stay overnight at the hotel to take advantage of the dining options. Heckman’s Pub has several local beers on tap, as well as a small menu of yummy eats. The vegan offering on the menu is the cauliflower tacos. I love the little round taco shells that look more like little taco bowls. Not only is there roasted cauliflower in them, but there’s also grilled pineapple salsa. You’ve gotta try this tasty take on a taco.

Garden Street Bowl

The Crotux Kitchen and Taphouse is the restaurant inside Garden Street Bowl. While it might seem rather casual (you can choose to dine at a table, the bar, or right at your bowling alley!), there’s an extensive menu of food and drink options. There are dozens of local beers on tap, including kombucha (I sampled a pint of the ginger kombucha). For my meal, I was in a snacking kind of mood, so I ordered the roasted chili hummus and the fries with truffle ketchup. If you plan to go bowling at Garden Street Bowl, be sure to stay for a meal as it goes well above and beyond what you’d typically expect to eat at a bowling alley.

Mike’s Clam Shack

This is most likely the last place you’d expect a vegan to dine. Mike’s Clam Shack in Wells, has a very tasty vegan veggie burger on their menu. I verified with the restaurant staff that the burger is vegan. It might be the only option on the menu, but it’s a good one. If you happen to be traveling with some seafood loving friends, you won’t go hungry.

Norma’s Restaurant

Norma’s Restaurant is a bit of a greasy spoon, but it’s a favorite among the locals. The veggie folks in the crowd will find fried potatoes and toast with jam as a breakfast offering.

Cafes & Coffee

If you know me, you’ll know that I like to stay caffeinated! I’m always seeking the best cafes and coffee shops while I travel, and I managed to find a few excellent ones in southern . Here’s where you’ll find some of the best coffee in York County.

Lil’s Cafe

Lil’s Cafe in Kittery serves up delicious coffee and espresso beverages. They also make all of their own baked goods and pastries right on site. Unfortunately, they don’t have any vegan pastries at the moment, but they do have lots of freshly baked bread. I ordered an Americano and it was exactly what I needed as a pick me up. As an added bonus, check out Lil’s Vinyl Vault, a vintage record shop connected directly to the cafe. Searching for a particular LP? You might find that retro gem at Lil’s Vinyl Vault. Coffee and records is a pretty sweet combination.

Dock Square Coffee House

The Dock Square Coffee House is right in the main tourist area of Kennebunkport. I stopped by for a morning coffee and sat at the front window, sipping my drink and watching the people stroll by. Many visitors stopped by for their morning brew, and I even managed to see a couple of dogs on their morning walks. Be sure to stop by this charming little coffee shop for a break in your sightseeing activities in the Beaches region.

Christian’s Cafe and Eatery

Christian’s Cafe and Eatery is right along the main street of Kennebunk. I stopped by as I was wandering around town because I felt a little bit hungry and definitely in need of some caffeine. While they didn’t have any vegan items on the menu, the staff members were so helpful and kind. They offered to prepare a bagel with vegetable toppings in place of the cream cheese (cucumber, lettuce, and onion). I also ordered a soy milk cappuccino, which was very yummy.

Where to Stay in Southern

My choice for the best place to stay in Southern is The Dunes on the Waterfront. It’s a collection of cozy cottages right on the Ogunquit River. It’s like having your own home away from home, right on the edge of the water. This accommodation is a little slice of paradise in a very tranquil setting. The cottages are spaced apart just the right amount for a secluded atmosphere.

The cottage itself has everything you could need for a comfortable stay: a large bed, a full kitchen, a flat screen TV with satellite channels, complimentary Wi-Fi, and even a wood burning fireplace. My cottage had a covered and screened in front porch, which is such a lovely place to unwind in peace. You can also explore the sand dunes and Ogunquit beach from Dunes on the Waterfront. The hotel staff will provide you with a time table for the tides where you’ll learn when you can easily walk across the river or take a rowboat. You can book out the rowboats through the front desk.

I highly recommend waking up to watch the sunrise over the Ogunquit River and the Atlantic Ocean. While it means getting up as early as 5:00am and a great sunrise isn’t a guarantee, it’s so completely worth it for those vibrant skies. On my first morning at The Dunes, it was very overcast. While my surroundings still looked beautiful, it wasn’t quite as brilliant as I had hoped. However, on my second morning, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky as the sun seemingly came up from beyond the river itself. It was absolutely gorgeous.

Ogunquit is a central location for your holiday to southern . You’re right in the middle of it all. Plus, The Dunes on the Waterfront is one of the most unique properties at which I’ve had the pleasure of staying. It’s a peaceful sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. You can kick back and relax here, whether you’re enjoying a crackling fire in your fireplace, reading a book on your front porch, or taking in one of nature’s best performances as the sun comes up. Be sure to book your stay at The Dunes on the Waterfront. You can also read more reviews by fellow travelers by clicking here.

Map of Things to Do in Southern

PLANNING A TRIP TO MAINE?

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deonheim30 · 6 years

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2019 Genesis G70: First Drive — Cars.com

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can Hyundai’s new luxury division Genesis repeat its magic from the g80and g90 sedans in a smaller less expensive package with the all-new g70well after three days behind the wheel the answer is yesthe g70 holds up on the driving front but like with the G 80 and g90 the realmagic comes beyond that so let’s start with those driving aspects the g 7ecomes with a four cylinder or a v6 engine both turbocharged there’sautomatic transmissions across the board but with the four-cylinder you can getan optional six-speed manual the rear-wheel drive there’s all-wheel drivewe drove a whole bunch of those combinations in the hills of southernMaine as well as at Club Motorsports that’s a racetrack two and a half miles15 turns 250 feet of elevation change in central New Hampshire we also droveseveral versions of the G 70 at an autocross course next to the racetrackso lots of experience in the car and I gotta say it’s not the most fun craftcar in the class but certainly holds its own a little bit lazier steering turninga little more body roll and maybe some competitors like the Jaguar XE the AlfaRomeo Giulia but certainly still within the realm of fun to drive fairly neutralchassis dynamics to get into corner big sweeping corners a little bit ofundersteer coming in but then it kind of maneuvers you can sneak the tail arounda little bit if you want it’s fairly predictable very good brakes there’soptional Brembo brakes on the g7 T’s that we drove at the track I took themthrough ten laps still held up even on the tenth lap not too much brake fadeand the cars very very composed bonhomie on the straightaways at a hundred milesan hour doesn’t feel skittish doesn’t feel like the tail is gonna I want tomove around on you even coming and braking in a straightall very very good stuff shows a lot of care went into chassis engineering forthis vehicle now you get on public roads there’s three suspension setups there’sa two fixed suspensions fixed rate shock absorbers there’s adaptive shockabsorbers that are optional the base suspension is comfort to you sort of andthen there’s a sport-tuned version now we’ve driven two of those three kind ofthe base two versions not the adaptive setup yet and the g70 is firms certainlybut comfortably so lights again barely control doesn’t really beat you up as afeel to chopping even over broken pavement now about those drive trainsthe 2-liter turbo 4-cylinder has decent power good building kind of sensation asyou get past 3,000 rpm all the way up to redlinereally I don’t see why anyone would need the bigger engine but something you’regonna want it and it’s got just explosive power regardless of rpmGenesis says it hits 60 miles an hour in just four and a half seconds that’scompetitive with cars like the Audi s4 that the MW 340i the Mercedes seen 43the AMG version and just lots and lots of power we were going uphill with twoadults aboard and gearing back at like 17 1800 rpm now the v6 comes with an8-speed automatic standard that’s available on the forest loan and you canalso get a manual the automatic is a really really good transmission I don’tsay that about a lot of 8-speed automatic setup shifts very seamlesslysmoothly often don’t even know that it’s up shifting but then when you need morepower dig into the gas just a little bit itkicks down one two years really really quick doesn’t delay a very very nicedecisive transmission probably better of a choice than the manual now I like thefact that they’re offering a manual transmission on the G semi that’s niceto have in a sports sedan because a lot of sport sedans are just doing away withmanuals all together but the six-speed manual is just not the most wellexecuted transmission kind of loose clunky shifter here biglong gates just doesn’t feel all that engaging it is nice though that throttleresponse is very good that’s really important for a rev-matching if you wantto drive a manual properly but like I said before the g7 is real appeal comesbeyond the driving aspects they have interior quality pretty competitive forthe segment I got to say a nice detailing on things like the centerconsole where sections that face the driver have this sort of low glasswrapping on them a very good level of attention to detail a lot like you seefrom Audi along the center portion of the – there is a vinyl wrapping ofstitching that standard that’s not optional you don’t have to pay extra toget some kind of interior upgrades package to get it that’s nice to seealso standard lots and lots of practicality here there’s an 8 inchtouchscreen you know you know stuff you have to do here with a knob or atouchpad – you can just reach up and do your thing it has standard apple carplayAndroid auto HD radio there’s physical volume and tuning knobs on theshortcut-keys here big knobs here for your climate controls very very easy touse lots of storage space – there’s this generous cubby here ahead of the gearshift underneath to be the center armrest you and automatic transmissioncars there’s enough space even for a 16 ounce water bottle overhead you’ve got asunglass holder I mean any non luxury car owner is gonna think well what’s thebig deal you get into a lot of luxury cars and they just drop the ball onstuff like this in the name of luxury for some reason I really like that the G70 didn’t overthink it now in terms of backseat space a little bit on the tightside there if you’re looking for that cars like the Audi a4 have a lot more ofit than the g7 II do and I’m 6 feet tall I do wish there wasa little bit more width here to kind of split out my knees but lots and lots ofadjustment range for the driver’s seat where I stick to Drive I’m about 4inches ahead of all the way back now when the g70 goes on sale at the end ofthe current season that’s summer of 2018 it’ll start around $35,000 a prettydecent value when you consider that that big multimedia system and a full suiteof safety features are all standard it’ll top out around $50,000 we’re toldagain a decent value when you consider that many of the G seventies Germancompetitors go well north of that mark once you add the bells and whistles nowI know what a lot of you are thinking Genesis and untested luxury brand maybeyou’d rather stick with Lexus or Mercedes Benz or BMW especially since alot of these G 70s at least initially are basically going to be sold out ofthe back of unday dealerships with maybe some differentiations showroom typestuff going on but can’t hide the fact that it’s still at a big Hyundai store Igot to say though you got to get over that because the g 70 is a very wellrounded entry in a very competitive class definitely worth adding to yourlistyou

//<![CDATA[ featureBoxVar = ""; //]]> source https://cardetailingphoenix.com/index.php/2018/09/23/2019-genesis-g70-first-drive-cars-com-3/ from Auto Dealing Services http://cardetailingphx.blogspot.com/2018/09/2019-genesis-g70-first-drive-carscom_23.html

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