Travel: Boothbay Harbor, Maine, June 20-22, 2011

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

* Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

* Portland Museum of Art

* Harbor Cruise & Lobster Dinner

* Plainview Farm & Nursery

Monday, June 20-Wednesday, June 22, 2011

All photos: B. H. Freeman/CMBG

Join us for a wonderful early-summer trip to coastal Maine,  where we stay at the charming Boothbay Harbor Inn.

Day 1: Our deluxe motorcoach whisks us northward, where our first stop is picturesque Portland and our first highlight is a docent-led tour of the Portland Museum of Art, which offers works of art and architecture that span three centuries. The art collection includes Winslow Homer masterpieces, as well as works by John Singer Sargent, Andrew Wyeth and major European artists.

Portland juts into gorgeous, island-studded Casco Bay. We enjoy lunch aboard Dimillo’s Floating Restaurant, where every table offers spectacular views of the harbor. Menu: broiled haddock or chicken parmesan; fresh vegetables; breads; homemade bread pudding; beverage.

We’ll have time to wander among the galleries and boutiques that line Portland’s waterfront while enjoying the Old World ambiance of lobstermen at work along the wharves.

Then we continue along the coast to Boothbay Harbor to spend two nights at the Boothbay Harbor Inn and its lovely rooms at the harbor’s edge. We'll enjoy the around-town trolley, full breakfast and welcome dinner in the waterfront restaurant.

Day 2: We visit the amazing Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens where Bill Cullina, director of horticulture, welcomes us. A guide tours us through the new children’s garden, fragrance garden and fairy houses. There will be time to explore the gardens, well-groomed trails and the gift shop.

We freshen up at our hotel before embarking on a narrated cruise of Boothbay Harbor, whose sights include lighthouses, sea life, the rocky shoreline, boats and working shipyards.

A lobster dinner awaits us at McSeagulls Restaurant on the water. Menu: clam chowder, steamers and mussels, lobster, corn on the cob, potatoes, beverage and, if you still have room, pie! 

Day 3: Wake up to a delicious breakfast overlooking the harbor before we head south for a treat: a visit to Plainview Farm Nursery and Garden Center. This outstanding nursery features over 25 gardens (the nursery grows more than 95 percent of the plants it sells), and discounts will be offered to CHS shoppers.

We stop for lunch in Kittery at the Weathervane restaurant before heading for home with memories of our delightful Maine vacation.

Cost: $489 per twin member based on 30-45 passengers; $589 per single member; plus $40 per nonmember. Includes: deluxe motorcoach, two nights hotel; two full breakfasts, one lunch, welcome dinner and Maine lobster dinner; sightseeing; driver gratuity; $35 per person donation to CHS. Escorted by Lois Isaacson. Deposit: $100 per person with reservation by March 18, 2011. Final payment by May 5, 2011.