summertime in
Central Aroostook
by the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce
What would you like to do? Canoe, kayak, hike,
swim, bird watch, golf, bicycle, fish, mountain bike, ATV,
historical tours, museums, relax, enjoy cultural festivals,
star gaze, shop, eat…Aroostook County has it all. Central
Aroostook County is a rolling vista of vibrant color during
the summer months. The gently sloping hills and distant
mountains offer a never-ending banquet for your eyes.
Canola, broccoli and potato blossoms offer a variety of
gentle colors mixed with the varying shades of green,
flowering trees and bushes, lupin and much more.
Aroostook State Park, the first state park established
in Maine, is known as the home to more than 100 species of
birds, including waterfowl and shore birds, who inhabit the
park’s Echo Lake and also raptors, owls, flycatchers, thrushes,
vireos and sparrows. It also is known for its woodpeckers
including hairy, downy, pileated, three-toed and black-back
species, located in the park. Fifty-three different species of
birds were seen in one day during the annual birding festival
held in June.
In addition to bird watching, Aroostook State Park
offers several miles of hiking trails, a swimming area, boat
launch, picnic area, playground and camping. Aroostook
State Park offers campers hot showers and a kitchen shelter
with running water but does not offer electricity or water
hookups. There are also canoes and kayaks available for rent
at the Control Station. Nordic Heritage Center offers 20
miles of single tracked mountain bike trails designed by Rick
Edwards of the International Mountain Biking Association
for mountain biking, trail running and hiking. Some of the
trails are lighted until 10:00 p.m. Maps of the bike system
are available to download on the Nordic Heritage Center
website: www.nordicheritagecenter.org.
Limestone offers three miles of wooded nature trails
at Trafton Lake Park. There are many streams and rivers for
canoeing, fishing and kayaking. There is a whole system of
waterways from Oxbow to Presque Isle. Waterway maps are
available from local Chambers of Commerce or online at:
www.visitaroostook.com and www.goaroostookoutdoors.
com.
Aroostook County has a great assortment of
accommodations from camping to delightful bed &
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SUMMER 2012
breakfast, hotel and cabin locations. Central Aroostook
Chamber of Commerce has a link on our web site www.
centralaroostookchamber.com to the accommodations
providers who are members. Information is also available
at the chamber office at 3 Houlton Road. Our Information
Center is open 24 hours a day.
The Presque Isle Historical Society offers museum
crawls, tours of historic Presque Isle on Molly the Trolley
and guided walking tours throughout the year. For more
information about the schedule and reservations call 7626300. More information is available on the Presque Isle
Historical Society’s website: www.pihistory.org. Summer
festivals abound in Aroostook County from Ashland to
Westfield. You can join in the fun and enjoy all the food
that is part of all the communities’ festivals .
Two of the larger events hosted in Central Aroostook
are the Northern Maine Fair held from July 27 to August 4,
2012, and the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest held August 23
to August 26, 2012.
The Northern Maine Fair is the longest running and
best-attended summertime family event in Presque Isle. The
Northern Maine Fair celebrates our agricultural heritage
with numerous exhibitions including livestock, equestrian
riding competitions, horse pulls, floral displays and art
exhibits; as well as an assortment of musical performances,
demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls, harness racing
and an exciting midway provided by Smokey’s Greater
Shows.
Take your family to “Lil’ Farmers at the Fair,” where
they can pick their own produce and learn more about
raising animals and growing food crops.
The Crown of Maine Balloon Fest brings hot air
balloon pilots from all over the United States and Canada to
our area. Balloon rides will be available. Contact the Central
Aroostook Chamber of Commerce to arrange a flight. Fees
and actual flight details are the responsibility of the pilots.
In addition to hot air balloon rides, being a part of watching
and chasing balloons, the weekend will provide a variety of
activities. The fun starts with an art auction August 18th.
Paint Presque Isle has becom H[