Edition #64, 12 April 2010

Hello, my name is Cynthia, a mermaid from the cool waters of New England. Thank you for visiting my collection of articles on New England travel. Please support this site by telling family and friends.

Look for other articles in this series on the home page.

Be sure to bring the kids to the Children's Discovery Museum, located at 171 Capitol Street in the Shaw's Plaza. Museum exhibits include a Music Area, Maine Campground, Engineering / Construction / Transportation, Art Studio, Theater, Nature Center, Touch Tank, and much more.

History lovers will want to visit the Kennebec Historical Society historical archive and reading room located at 107 Winthrop Street in Augusta. Stop by the gift shop and find that special treasure. Visit their website for information on their genealogy database with over 18,000 names.

The Maine State House (see photo) was completed in 1832, just one year after Augusta became the capital of Maine. The building was designed by architect Charles Bulfinch of Boston, based on the design of the Massachusetts Capitol building. In 1910, architect C. Henri Desmond enlarged the building to twice its original size. The State House was built using Maine granite from the nearby town of Hallowell.

The Augusta campus of the University of Maine is located off of Interstate 95 exit 112/112A at 46 University Drive. UMA offers a wide variety of academic programs from Applied Science to Medical Laboratory Technology to Social Sciences. See their website for the full list.

Spring is here, so get outside and enjoy all that nature has to offer at the Viles Arboretum, located at 153 Hospital Street. Make a point to see the white pine trees that have been planted in honor of all 71 Maine governors. Activities at the Arboretum include hiking, biking, bird-watching, and picnicking. In the winter, cross-country skiing is available.

The Governor's Mansion, known as Blaine House, is located on the corner of State and Capitol Streets. Built in 1833, it has been the official residence of Maine governors since 1919. Blaine House is open for public tours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays of each week from 2-4pm.

Step back in time over 250 years with a visit to Old Fort Western. This National Historic Landmark is the nation's oldest surviving wooden fort. Guided tours are available, and special events are scheduled on a regular basis. The Fort is located at 16 Cony Street, and adult admission is $6 per person.

Located at 83 State House Station, the Maine State Museum features a variety of exhibits including Back to Nature, Maine Gems, 12,000 Years in Maine, and Struggle for Identity. The Museum Store has books and gifts that relate to the state's history and the Museum's collections.

Located at the Augusta State Airport at 75 Airport Road, the Sweet Chilli Tai Restaurant gets rave reviews for their food, which is spiced to order. If Mexican food is more your style, the place to go is Margaritas at 390 Western Avenue.

For a casual meal at a reasonable price, visit the Ground Round Grill & Bar at 110 Community Drive. Menu selections include steaks, burgers, ribs, chicken, pasta, seafood, specialty sandwiches, salads, wraps, and more.

Read more about Augusta at www.augustamaine.gov and www.augustamaine.com. If you see me in the water, be sure to wave!

Thanks,
Bill

The current walking bridge in Belfast, Maine is fairly new. So far, I have not been able to locate any pictures of it or any information as to its length. Can any of my readers answer Bill's question?

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