Unique things to do in Mid-Coast, Maine

Join us for a walk around historic and fascinating Portland, Maine to discover hidden stories and see beyond the brick Italianate facades! Hear about the King's Pines, pirates, battles, the Rum Riots and Maine's roles in American history. Spend roughly and hour and a half together walking through the heart of the city while hearing stories of the past and learning about the where the city is today. This walking tour is perfect for folks who are looking to get a little more than just lobster rolls and hiking from their time in Maine. Our guides are excited to share their beautiful city with you while you learn and make a few new friends along the way! Please note the tour starts in the West End and concludes on the waterfront in the Old Port.

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. 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, remove watches and bracelets and 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.

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.

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 prior to booking.

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

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.

This is a fun creative class that any adult can do. You will hear fascinating stories about the Maine lobstering history as you receive professional weaving instruction. Not only will you enjoy learning to weave, but you will take home a colorful, durable all-season 18” wide by 32 “ long doormat. We will meet at Thistledown Farm behind Penny’s authentic 1850s barn, in a large canvas tent classroom. Penny will briefly describe the history behind the colorful rope used in lobstering, and then you will dive right in. Penny will help you choose your rope and doormat design, show you how to set up your jig, and splice the rope. She will provide ongoing assistance and tips as you nourish your soul, awaken your creative genius, and create your masterpiece. After everyone has finished their mat, we will hang them up for a photoshoot. Other things to note: Dress appropriately for hot weather. Classes are held in a large canvas tent. This activity requires at least 3 hours of standing, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

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

This is a beginnings water color class. We will consider use of color harmony, value, composition and concept. All Materials are provided, but you may bring your own supplies if you wish. We will be painting colorful chickens or animals of your choice. I will do a demo, explaining the use of the brush, application of paint techniques and I will come around to offer suggestions if you like. Other things to note Any one who wants to paint can!

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.

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.

Take a three-hour bicycle tour on the area lighthouses along the coast of Maine! Learn about the natural and cultural history of this area while cruising on 3-speed, Worksman bicycles, complete with comfortable seats, baskets for picnicking and pedal brakes. We will visit 3 lighthouses and see three more (depending on the fog). Lobster rolls available for lunch as an additional add-on!

Celebrating 200+ years of history in Portland, Maine 2020 marks the bicentennial birthday of the Pine Tree State! Your tour begins in Commercial St and continues for 2 hours through the historic Old Port, downtown and waterfront areas, sharing highlights of Portland’s history since 1820 and as far back as 1632. The narrative is shared by highly trained guides with a passion for local history, sights and landmarks. They’ll bring history alive on this leisurely, scenic stroll. Some of the locations we MAY feature on your tour include; the lobsterman’s statue featured at the World’s Fair, the home of Henry Wadsworth-Longfellow and his place of worship, the Eastern Cemetery, the 3rd oldest Abyssinian Church in the U.S, several underground railroad markers, and more!

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.