Unique things to do in Mid-Coast, Maine

Enjoy the true outdoors with an easy 1.5 mile private nature hike hosted by a pack of loose, well trained German Shepherd Dogs. The hike starts at our farm in coastal Maine and wanders through a network of trails winding through a natural wild Maine forest along streams and through meadows. You will be hiking with a large pack of (5 to 12) loose german shepherd dogs of various ages and they will be wanting to engage you to play and have you s or pet them. Along the walk, there will be wooden bridges over streams, soft forest trails, sometimes mud puddles and slippery footing. Throughout our adventure you will learn tips on hiking with a pack and the way they communicate and what their body language means. Once we return there will be bathroom facilities, snacks and beverages. We will also talk about how we raise and imprint our young shepherds and prepare them as family companions or for Show. Your hosts for the nature walk will be either Jennifer, Katie, or all. We began offering pack walks at our open house for our German Shepherd Breeding program, and because of the enthusiasm and popularity, we decided to host this event through Airbnb. This hike is a carefully selected pack of our own German Shepherds. We do not allow visiting dogs to join on the pack hike. Children under two years old are FREE

Regarding Covid: I am fully vaccinated and boostered and I expect that you have have been vaccinated too. We will be working in close proximity for 3-4 hours. I can take up to 2 people per class and we will make ONE wood bowl together. I will start by showing a couple of videos of what we will be doing, followed by safety instructions before we dive in. No prior experience is required. I provide active hands-on instruction, demonstrations and enthusiastic encouragement. You will make all the creative decisions of wood type, bowl shape and size etc. My goal is for you to do 90% of the work. I offer a selection of woods to choose from including locally harvested cherry, maple, and other hardwoods purchased from me directly on the day of the class. NOTE! I can schedule this event any time or day - just let me know what day or time you want. Other things to note: Plan on getting covered in shavings! Wear work clothes and roll up long sleeves, long hair must be tied back. I will provide all safety equipment and advice. A materials fee of $12 to $30 covers the wood blank.

We will start by sizing you up on the bikes at the first Civic monument at Portland’s East End. Once we are ready; we will take a warm up roll on the scenic eastern promenade trail. We will take a brief tour of the waterfront warfs, then roll up through the old port towards Congress street. When we reach Congress we will talk about Portland history and architecture while taking a leisurely stroll through the Victorian west end. When we reach the western promenade; we'll start heading back towards the port where we will catch the ferry towards peaks island! Aboard the ferry we can talk some maritime history and enjoy a beverage before we hit the island. After our beer break ends on the ferry; we will take a beautiful and scenic ride around the island while telling stories about the island's unique history and place within the city of Portland. Our outing will end on the island before we head back to the peninsula! Other things to note We will be gone about 3-4 hours and won't eat until the end, so bring snacks

We begin in the heart of Portland’s Old Port District. Our ride over the Casco Bay Bridge leads us to a bike path through Ferry Village, one of Portland’s most charming communities, and on to Bug Light, which marks the entrance to the Portland Breakwater. We explore the lighthouse, enjoy magnificent views from the park, and learn about the liberty ships built during the Second World War. From here we cycle on to the Spring Point Lighthouse and Fort Preble, a 19th-century stone fortification. We continue through Portland’s charming beachfront community before cycling onto Shore Road, one of Portland’s most exclusive addresses. The next stop is the majestic Portland Head Light, where we enjoy Portland’s best lobster roll while enjoying revitalizing views of the sea. After taking ample time to explore the park, we pedal back to downtown Portland. Participants must be 12 or older and should be comfortable cycling 10 to 12 miles. Please wear athletic clothing. Tours depart from the Portland Encyclepedia at 6 Commercial Street and usually re Participants must be 12 or older Other things to note Please arrive at Portland’s Ocean Gateway on the appropriate date at least 5 minutes prior to your start time. We will use that time to take care of the paperwork.

Take a rest from the stress of the modern world and get ready to fall in love with cuddly Corgis and gregarious Goats as they take you on a unique journey to a special place where you find hidden dwellings and discover the secret treasure chests. BlissWood Forest is located in Coastal Maine one hour south of Acadia National Park. You will arrive at Corgi Bliss, in the town of Penobscot, on the edge of the forest. There you will meet your hosts, the Corgis and Goats, along with Jennifer or Katie. Drinks will be offered, as well as a discussion about safety while walking with the animals. We will set off on our journey through the fields, and into BlissWood Forest. The easy half-mile hike is well maintained and goes at a leisurely pace. The loose Corgis will be scurrying about ahead as they sniff the ground and try to pick up the scent of pixie dust. Help the Corgis find the hidden treasure chests and secret swellings along the path. We pause a lot for selfies, kisses and cuddles from the animals. Then we loop down the trail and return to Corgi Bliss, where drinks and snacks are to be had before saying our goodbyes. We will be outdoors in the fresh air and forest, wear layered clothing and shoes that protect your feet from the elements. Enjoy the earthy smells and forest sounds, and the corgis. For safety, only our dogs can join us on this hike. Children under two years are FREE!

Each experience includes 12 oysters and a draft pour of beer or Prosecco. Shucking knives and gloves are available to be purchased to take home with you. They will be greeted by a knowledgeable member of our Boom Shuck-a-Lucka team, a group passionate individuals some of whom are oyster farmers themselves. We will provide an overview and detailed step by step on how to shuck an oyster. Participants will then start shucking and we will work 1 on 1 with them to teach the skill. In addition to learning to shuck we will also educate on the history of Maine oysters & aquaculture. Our full menu of food & drink will be available for purchase as well.

Join Captain Joe for a relaxing private boat cruise over to our oyster farm where you will shuck and slurp oysters straight out of the water, and learn about our Shellfish Reef Restoration project. Feel free to bring along snacks and your favorite drink. I’ll make sure we have plenty of oysters and all the fixings for our favorite rum cocktail! This trip lasts 1.5-2 hours and is available for up to 6 people of all ages. I only take out private groups and the total pricing per group is: Groups of 3 or 4 $300 Groups of 5 $375 Groups of 6 $450 If you are solo or a group of 2, please message me for a special $50 discount link.

Each guest will make two Bourbon cocktails (in their choice of style: Manhattan, Old Fashioned, or Sazerac). Each will use a very rare and expensive bourbon, (Which will include 2 of the following: EH Taylor, Elijah Craig 18yr, Weller full proof, Elmer T Lee, Blanton's or Stagg Jr.) a special vermouth, or syrup and a bitters made in the location of the tasting. Each guest will taste the rare bourbon, vermouth / syrup , and bitters independently of each other. There will be a tasting and discussion. There will also be a tour of the bitters making facility where the class is being held.

Lighthouse Bikes offers bicycle tours, close to a paved trail that connects the lighthouses of South Portland. Join us for a historic tour by bike to learn more about the rich history of this area while enjoying a leisurely ride! All bikes are classic Worksman cruisers with comfortable seats, handmade baskets perfect for picnicking and pedal brakes. Our tours cover topics from shipbuilding in Maine, to the local ecology, the history of the lighthouses and insider tips for folks new to the area. The ride is mostly flat and covers five miles.

The ultimate cozy Maine winter experience! Come learn how to shuck an oyster at Basecamp Lodge nestled within a quintessential mid-coastal Maine community an hour north of Portland! Watch local lobsterman boat by, learn about our industry, how farming works and more all while enjoying some fresh oysters and a hot drink.. All of us oyster farmers whom are passionate about what we do & the state of Maine would love to have you! Each private class includes 12+ oysters and about 15-30 minutes of instruction. By design we offer a very limited amount of experiences to ensure they stay unique, fun & exciting for our guests as well as ourselves! Stay as long as you would like after class to enjoy the community & our unique, special home.

On this two-hour coastal tour we will visit two lighthouses, a historic fort and a boat building memorial while riding our classic three speed cruiser bikes along a rail trail and seeing the natural beauty in this area. This is a 4 1/2 mile loop and is nearly all flat.

Learn to make your own bitters – or homeopathic tinctures. For centuries doctors, shaman, and medicine workers of every stripe have been seeping herbs, roots, and spices in alcohol to create preventative medicines. In this class we will learn which medicinal ingredients to use for the tincture that suits you – or which exotic ingredients to use for your own personalized bitter. During the event we will create two mocktails, tour Owl & Whale’s facility and make your own unique bitter or tincture. Each participant will make two mocktails to enjoy during our tour, discussion, and class. Each participant will make their own 4oz bottle of bitters, containing up to ten active ingredients of their choice. They will spend time tasting various tinctures made of various herbs, spices, and roots to make their decision. Information of the history, and use in various remedies and bitters of each ingredient will be provided. Each participant will receive a bottle and dropper and a funnel for their finished product. Each participant will receive a small mason jar full of their select ten ingredients, as the maturation process for bitters and treatments takes up to three weeks.

Paint plein air in the scenic Portland area in the foot steps of Winslow Homer. We will be painting on rocky shores studded with lighthouses, in pastoral marshes or seaside gardens. This 3 hour workshop will introduce you to stunningly beautiful landscapes loved by local artists. I will give you tips for painting outdoors with watercolor medium. You will start a painting that captures your unique interpretation of the ever changing Maine landscape. What better way to remember your visit to Maine? Experience required? No. Beginners through advanced painters are welcome! Transportation to each location is not included and will be chosen based on weather and availability. Each location will be within a 15 minute or less drive from Portland, Maine. I will provide materials and equipment needed to paint outdoors. Classes will be held at locations known to local professional artists as ideal locations for painting and photography. These areas may require light hiking and standing for extended periods. Comfortable footwear, clothing and sun protection are recommended. Other things to note Painting outdoors is weather dependent and subject to relocating indoors to my studio space. Bring comfortable shoes, hat, sunscreen and bug repellent. I provide you with art supplies and water.

Bath - a small Maine town with a big American story. Guests will get a fun and fascinating walking tour of Bath - once the fourth largest seaport in America, now a quaint, picturesque, vibrant town on the banks of the Kennebec River. In this immersive, interactive tour, we'll travel through 400+ years of history by seeing where it took place, hearing unique stories, and uncovering hidden gems. A "big" small town - Bath has the best of all worlds. Store owners greet you by name, wine shop stocks your favorites, unique boutiques, secret staircases and historic tunnels. All alongside Bath Iron Works shipyard and a spectacular waterfront park - bookends to the history of the City of Ships. Pre- or post-game at our local brewery, cafe or wood-fired pizza place. Get set up for a picnic at the nearby ponds or beaches. We will make sure you get the best of Bath and the surrounding Midcoast area. I am very flexible on dates and times, so drop me a note if you want to schedule a custom tour. You can also book my Historic Neighborhood Walking Tour: Homes of Sea Captains and Shipbuilders for the full Bath experience!

You will find your Captain down at the Belfast City Harbor Dock aboard the Back and Forth, a traditional 28ft wooden lobster boat, the perfect iconic vessel to take a Sunset cruise in Mid-Coast Maine. Bring along your beverage of choice and relax in one of the captains chairs as we take a short tour around Belfast harbor where we can chat about Belfast and it's activities. We will cruise over to Young's lobster pound, tie up and the captain will take you into one of Maine's most iconic Lobster pounds. It gets extremely busy, so an order of lobster rolls will be waiting for us. But there is no rush, take time to check out the lobster tanks, take some pictures and just soak up the energy of the place. Back down on the boat, we will cruise out into the bay. You can bask in the serenity, take photos, drink, eat and we can chat about everything or nothing. The Captains have endless stories about Belfast, from great whites to the gigantic sunfish spotted last season and even stories of hidden treasure out on one of the 200 islands of Penobscot Bay. The whole trip will take about 2 hours and will get you back just after sunset.