HERE:

WINE WEEK UNCORKS IN MAINE

It’s no secret that Portland, Maine, is a national culinary destination. With its many independent restaurants working in collaboration with Maine-based farmers, fishermen, cheese mongers, specialty purveyors, and local wine distributors, the city has earned its stellar reputation as a foodie and beverage lovers’ haven. You can experience a taste of the town’s quality-focused wines and award-winning bites at the 7th celebration of Portland Wine Week (June 10-16). Tickets are on sale now for wine tastings, lunches, brunches, dinners, and other special events such as themed wine sails, oyster and wine tastings, and floral arranging sessions — with wine, of course! Events sell out quickly so snag your tickets while still available. Prices vary per event. www.portlandwineweek.me

SPOTLIGHT ON LUXURY & WELLNESS IN NEW PORTLAND HOTEL

Looking for a new place to stay in Portland? The long-awaited debut of Longfellow Hotel, a new member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, has finally arrived. Located in Portland’s historic West End, the five-story, 48-key hotel includes a wellness spa, Astraea, the wellness-focused Twinflower Café (open for breakfast and lunch), and The Five of Clubs, an intimate, library-style lobby bar and lounge serving small-batch cocktails, rotating taps of local beer, and curated wines paired with charcuterie, chilled seafood, and shellfish. Guest rooms and suites juxtapose contemporary elements with traditional features like custom moldings, ceiling medallions, and wide-plank, hardwood floors. The Longfellow’s luxury house car, an all-electric 2023 BMW i7 Sedan, offers guests complimentary transportation into the Old Port district. Rates from $499. 207-800-3004, www.longfellowhotel.com

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THERE:

ALL JAZZED UP IN MONTRÉAL

Mon Dieu! Jazz lovers are swooning over the upcoming artists scheduled to play at the 44th Festival International de Jazz de Montréal (June 27-July 5). Headliners André 3000, Robert Glasper, and Norah Jones are just a few of the more than 350 shows taking place on multiple stages in the Quartier des Spectacles, in the heart of downtown Montréal. The modern and diverse music programming spans from traditional, with big-name artists like Preservation Hall Jazz Band and Marcus Miller, to popular favorites such as Pink Martini and Jesse Cook, to hip-hop, with artists like Killer Mike and Erick the Architect. As always, the local scene is very much front and center, as are several artists from Africa, including Etran de l’Aïr, The Brother Moves On, and Vieux Farka Touré. Artists and schedules are available to view online, as is the ability to purchase tickets. Worth noting: two-thirds of the programming is free! You can also book a place to stay at a hotel or Vrbo via the website, with an interactive map showing walking distances from each accommodation to the venue site. https://montrealjazzfest.com/en

EVERYWHERE:

GRILLS GO RETRO ON SUMMER ADVENTURES

Grilling on the go just got easier (and more fashionable) with Kenmore’s 2-Burner Retro Portable Gas Grill manufactured by Permasteel. The grill’s compact dimensions make it perfect for beach parties, picnics in the park, tailgating gatherings, and camping trips. Made from cast aluminum, the two-burner gas grill provides 14,400 BTUs of cooking power across a 17-inch-by-14-inch surface, large enough for cooking nine burgers at the same time. A warming rack keeps things toasty until you’re ready to eat. Additional features include “push and turn” ignition, temperature gauge, side lid latches and carrying handles, and slide-out grease tray. Foldable legs are convenient for transport and storage. Compatible with both 5- and 20-pound propane gas tanks. Available in six bold colors that are sure to make you smile and wow your guests: blue, red, turquoise, pink, black, and white. $199. https://kenmoregrill.com/product/kenmore-2-burner-portable-tabletop-retro-gas-grill-turquoise

NECEE REGIS

Kari Bodnarchuk can be reached at travelwriter@karib.us.

If May 2024 temps are an indicator for how hot the summer is going to be, then we need a place to escape the heat. How about the beach? Three websites have done a great job researching and reviewing Maine’s best beaches to visit.

I picked one from each that will personally be my first to visit, but I hope to one day see them all. I had no idea that Maine’s coast offered so many different unique experiences and has beaches literally for everyone. From surfers, to hikers, to sunbathers, and explorers, here are Maine’s best beaches.

Visitmaine.net Has Provided Their Top Ten Maine Beaches

Visitmaine.net has sold me on all ten of their top Maine beaches that they consider the best, but I said I would only choose one, and this will be the first beach for this California guy to visit. Sand Beach is located in Acadia National Park, and even though it’s only 300 yards long, the views that I am seeing in photos look spectacular.

Visitmaine.net promotes how soft the sand is, and how remarkable the surrounding Maine coastline views are. They do warn that the water is “freezing” year round but refreshing to locals (Mainers). I never got in the water in California because it was too cold, so I have no problem being a transplant in these situations and enjoying the Maine views and sun.

U.S. News Travel Has Compiled Their Top Ten Maine Beaches

U.S. News Travel and Visitmaine.net share a couple of the same opinions on what are considered Maine’s best beaches, but one appealed to me immediately on this list. Cape Elizabeth.

Before I did a little research on beach in Maine, this is how I imagined all Maine beaches to look; rocky cliffs, little to no sand, and a lighthouse. I’m glad I was wrong, but also want to enjoy my ignorant fantasy of a “Maine beach,” and Cape Elizabeth is perfect.

For a small fee, you can sunbathe, swim, and search for crabs. Being a history buff, one of the biggest selling points is that Cape Elizabeth is the home of Maine’s oldest lighthouse, Portland Head Light. This will be a little bit of a drive for me to get to, but it is the second beach in Maine that I look forward to exploring as things heat up.

Trip Advisor’s Top Ten Maine Beaches Are Reviewed by Visitors

I love tripadvisor.com’s top ten Maine beaches list because they are reviewed and rated by everyday people who actually visited them. This made it extremely easy to choose the third beach that I will visit this hot summer.

Out of 416 reviews, Popham Beach, ME has received 5 out of 5 stars. That’s unheard of and has convinced me to check this place out immediately. Another selling point, it is fairly close to Boothbay Harbor, another Maine destination on my bucket list. I can check off two in one day.

Reviewers have shared that walking on Popham Beach is like being on a different planet. One minute you’re walking on soft sand, and the next a little rocky island. Many reviewers have also shared that this is a great beach for kids to explore and run freely.

Read More: Children’s Books on Maine to Read This Summer

Don’t forget your sunscreen and whether you’re a Mainer or a “from away” as myself, have fun exploring “new” Maine beaches this summer!

MAINE -The summer tourism season starts this weekend for the long Memorial Day holiday weekend, and traffic on the Maine Turnpike is expected to be very busy.

The Maine Turnpike Authority said Wednesday they expect traffic will be up by more than 2% compared to last year when 1,008,927 transactions were recorded over the four-day weekend.

As usual, Friday is expected to be the busiest day of the four-day weekend this year, especially headed north between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Traffic is also expected to be busy midday on Saturday in both directions and Monday afternoon and evening headed south.

All construction and maintenance activities on the turnpike will be suspended over the long weekend, though there are several construction areas that include narrowed lanes and reduced speed zones.

Turnpike officials are also sharing information with travelers about the new, dynamic part-time shoulder use (PTSU) system that is now operational for drivers on I-95 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery. This PTSU system is in place on approximately three miles of I-95 – between Exit 5 in New Hampshire and Exit 3 in Maine – including the Piscataqua River Bridge. Designed to reduce congestion and improve safety, the PTSU system will be used during peak travel periods from May through October, during unplanned incidents, and as traffic conditions warrant.

Based on real-time travel conditions, crews at the Maine Turnpike Authority’s Transportation Management and Communications Center in Portland will determine when to allow the right shoulder of the road southbound to be used as an open travel lane, while New Hampshire will manage the PTSU northbound. When the PTSU system is activated, drivers will see the system’s messaging components (beacons and lane-use signals) turn on to indicate when the shoulder is open for travel. There will also be warning signs with flashing beacons at the on-ramps approaching the system to alert merging traffic when the shoulder lane is open for travel and to use extra caution when merging into the highway.

Traffic operators from both states will close the shoulder to traffic when congestion eases, if there’s a motorist in the breakdown lane, or if any other emergency situation warrants the closure of the shoulder. Safety patrols will be increased when the PTSU system is in use.

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