Category: Travel

Have you heard of Freeport, Maine? It’s home to iconic retail giant L.L. Bean and other well-known retailers such as Claire’s, COACH, Famous Footwear, Lindt, Oakley, Old Navy, Skechers, Sunglass Hut, and Talbots, to name a few. I worked at Banana Republic Factory Store in Freeport for years and so I know my way around town. Continue reading Travel: Freeport, Maine

The unnamed hurricane had wind gusts of 67 mph. Lewiston-Auburn, Maine. Video taken by Dana Scammon and can be seen on the Living with Dana YouTube channel.

If an afternoon spent wandering through a beautiful landscape is your cup of tea, then you won’t want to miss the Coastal Botanical Gardens at 132 Botanical Gardens Drive in Boothbay.

During winter months, try the holiday lights walk. It’s pretty awesome. Admission is charged. It’s reasonable.

LODGING

If you’re traveling to Boothbay from away, check out AirBnB for lodging. You can use the Airbnb site to find lodging or to offer your home/apartment/room for short-term rentals.

 

There is a cafe and also a food market on the premises.

Each week offers a peek at plants just coming into bloom. A really pretty sight is when the rhodendrons are in bloom. I wasn’t there when they were at their peak. There is also a “fairy woods” spot where kids can make fairy houses with natural stuff found on the ground such as twigs. They then leave these fairy houses in the fairy woods for all to see.

Come to Maine in August during the Great Falls Hot Air Balloon Festival! It’s a great time. I attend every year. I’ve been to the morning and evening launches when the balloons take off for flight. It’s so magical. The festival takes place in Lewiston and Auburn along the banks of the Androscoggin River.

There is a lot of entertainment including live music, a carnival, food, art, activities, photo opportunities, and more. You can learn more about the festival, and this year’s dates, at GreatFallsBalloonFestival.org/.

If you’re traveling to the Lewiston-Auburn area from away and are looking for a place to stay and the hotels are booked up, try an AirBnB! You can use the Airbnb site to find lodging or to offer your home/apartment/room for short-term rentals.

I know some people who were unable to get rooms at big-name hotels because they were all booked up. Continue reading Wow, have you tried Airbnb?

Are you planning a vacation for you and your family? A weekend get away with your friends? May I suggest Vegas?!
If you haven’t been, don’t judge just yet.

The first time I went, I was so nervous, I didn’t really know what to expect other than what you see on tv and in movies. I was thinking either glitz and glam or dirty and nasty… Come to find out, it’s pretty amazing!

Malls that have full sized aquariums inside, amazing architecture everywhere you look, restaurants, fountains galore and of course, casinos!

The casinos are super clean and for the most part, quite friendly. (Of course they are, you’re spending money)! Just walking around the casinos is fun, even if you’re not a gambler. The atmosphere is electric! The people watching, the lights, the statues, the exhibits… Although, dropping a $20 in the penny machines is pretty fun, even if you don’t win, and you get free drinks!

I’ve been to Vegas twice, I’m not an expert, but I can give my opinion, it’s definitely worth a visit! The first time I went I stayed for 3 days and 2 nights. That was perfect! Just enough to get away and enjoy your time there. You can walk everywhere and see most of the sites in the first day. And then of course have a great night!
The second visit, I stayed for 5 days and 4 nights, that was a day too long! It was a system overload. It almost got old by the 4th day… but that’s just my opinion!
The food is amazing, tons of things to do, go to a broadway show, museums, exhibits, street performers, it is never ending!

All in all, Vegas is a great vacation spot for any type of getaway! You can check out the link below on my page and see some of the attractions that are offered. Well worth the look!