Freshwater Features
Brave Lake Love
Writer Carl Little and his family live near the shores of Mt. Desert Island’s Echo Lake, a constant source of awe and inspiration.
Rusticating up to Camp
Back in the late 1800s, summer people coming to Maine called themselves rusticators. But natives rusticated too, going “up to” camps on remote lakes like East Grand on the Canadian border.
Water Wings Not Included
People are drawn to Maine's whitewater rafting trips for the adventure and to be surrounded by nature. The river guides are key to the success of these expeditions, as the author learns on an eventful rafting trip.
Lakeside Yachting
Yacht clubs on Androscoggin, Cobbosseecontee, and Moosehead lakes date back to the early 1900s and the days of the freshwater rusticators.
Oh the Loons
Loons are a triple-threat in the bird world: they are stunning to look at, possess a supernatural voice, and are skilled predators of fish. Their presence on a lake means it is healthy.
Rangeley Lakes Camps
The earliest Rangeley Lakes recreational establishments were fishing clubs, where members had access to rustic accommodations and to guides. Then came resort hotels. These offered a more genteel experience, but also focused on outdoor activities and appreciation of nature.
Cruising Moosehead
Moosehead Lake is 40 miles long and makes a great cruising destination if you have a small sailboat that can be launched from a trailer.
Fishing and the Rangeley Boat
The iconic Rangeley Boat emerged from the Rangeley Lake region of Western Maine in the 1800s and was crafted to suit the needs of sportfishermen.
Resilient Shellfish
Maine has a thriving oyster growing industry. Until recently most of these oysters were raised from commercial seed. As the industry has grown and coastal water temperatures have inched up, cultured oysters have begun to multiply on their own, particularly in the brackish waters of the Damariscotta River.
Cottrell Boatbuilding: Two Moths
Cottrell Boatbuilding of Searsport, Maine, built a pair of custom classic Moths for a customer who had raced Moths when he was young. His charge to the Cottrells: “Design and build me two identical Moths within the classic Moth rules.”
