highway highlight

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70 fall 2013 Historic Route 1 winds 2,450 miles along the US East Coast through major cities like D.C., Boston, and New York City. But in the autumn, especially around early or mid- October, the stretch of highway along the coast of Maine is particularly striking when the landscape turns into a foliage sunset. While the drive itself will expose you to a myriad of colors, stopping and stepping out into this autumn scene will enrich your experience. Cape Elizabeth There is no “if” about visiting a light- house in Maine, so you might as well make it your first stop; a lighthouse set against a background of fiery- colored hills is a quintessential scene. About five miles east of Route 1, right before Portland, Maine, lies Cape Elizabeth. You’ll have to veer off onto Highway 77, but it will be well worth your while to visit the second old- est lighthouse in the United States. First lit in 1791, the Portland Head Lighthouse still stands overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, offering a classic, postcard-worthy view. www.portlandheadlight.com Alternative Highway 1 Route 1 intersects and joins with several interstates as you travel up Maine. But sometimes the fast-mov- ing freeway isn’t the best way to see the fall colors because they feel dis- tant as you zoom by. So when you’re nearing the town of Scarborough, Maine, don’t be too quick to fol- low Route 1 as it merges with I-295. Instead, stay to the right and cross the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge to end up on the alternative route of Route1. This section of highway lets you leisurely drive within a few meters of the coastline and leads you right through downtown Portland. Portland, Maine This city is one of those quaint New England towns that completes the picturesque autumn landscape. Portland dates back to the 1600s, when colonists first began to settle the continent. Its downtown district reflects the old cobblestone streets and crowded storefronts of the 1800s, when the city was Maine’s capital. There are dozens of interesting sites to see in downtown Portland, but one you should seek out is the Fore Street restaurant that resides on its name- sake street. The restaurant changes up the menu every day to accom- modate the fresh foods they receive from local farmers all over Maine— quite the authentic Maine experi- ence. When you’re ready to continue your trip, get back onto Alternative Highway 1 (Franklin Street) and once again join the main highway. www.forestreet.biz www.portlandmaine.com Red’s Eats Many fall leaves are red, and so is the iconic cooked lobster of Maine. After you’ve made your way 45 miles north of Portland, you’ll need to be on the lookout for Red’s Eats. It’s one of the most talked-about roadside stops along Maine’s Route 1 in the city of Wiscasset. The simple shack along the highway can’t be missed when you near Water Street, and this little food shop almost always has a line of people waiting to get their pound of lobster on a bun. Rockland Harbor If it’s warm enough and you want to see the fall colors from a different angle, Maine has several locations to kayak along the coast. One such place is located 33 miles up Route 1 from Wiscasset on the Rockland Waterfront. There, Breakwater An Autumn Roadtrip Historic Route 1

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Highway Highlight for Stowaway magazine

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Page 1: Highway Highlight

70 ▶ fall 2013

Historic Route 1 winds 2,450 miles along the US East Coast through major cities like D.C., Boston, and New York City. But in the autumn, especially around early or mid-October, the stretch of highway along the coast of Maine is particularly striking when the landscape turns into a foliage sunset. While the drive itself will expose you to a myriad of colors, stopping and stepping out into this autumn scene will enrich your experience.

Cape ElizabethThere is no “if” about visiting a light-house in Maine, so you might as well make it your first stop; a lighthouse set against a background of fiery-colored hills is a quintessential scene. About five miles east of Route 1, right before Portland, Maine, lies Cape Elizabeth. You’ll have to veer off onto Highway 77, but it will be well worth your while to visit the second old-est lighthouse in the United States. First lit in 1791, the Portland Head Lighthouse still stands overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, offering a classic, postcard-worthy view.

▶ www.portlandheadlight.com

Alternative Highway 1Route 1 intersects and joins with several interstates as you travel up Maine. But sometimes the fast-mov-ing freeway isn’t the best way to see the fall colors because they feel dis-tant as you zoom by. So when you’re nearing the town of Scarborough, Maine, don’t be too quick to fol-low Route 1 as it merges with I-295. Instead, stay to the right and cross the

Veteran’s Memorial Bridge to end up on the alternative route of Route1. This section of highway lets you leisurely drive within a few meters of the coastline and leads you right through downtown Portland.

Portland, Maine This city is one of those quaint New England towns that completes the picturesque autumn landscape. Portland dates back to the 1600s, when colonists first began to settle the continent. Its downtown district reflects the old cobblestone streets and crowded storefronts of the 1800s, when the city was Maine’s capital. There are dozens of interesting sites to see in downtown Portland, but one you should seek out is the Fore Street restaurant that resides on its name-sake street. The restaurant changes up the menu every day to accom-modate the fresh foods they receive from local farmers all over Maine—quite the authentic Maine experi-ence. When you’re ready to continue your trip, get back onto Alternative

Highway 1 (Franklin Street) and once again join the main highway.

▶ www.forestreet.biz ▶ www.portlandmaine.com

Red’s EatsMany fall leaves are red, and so is the iconic cooked lobster of Maine. After you’ve made your way 45 miles north of Portland, you’ll need to be on the lookout for Red’s Eats. It’s one of the most talked-about roadside stops along Maine’s Route 1 in the city of Wiscasset. The simple shack along the highway can’t be missed when you near Water Street, and this little food shop almost always has a line of people waiting to get their pound of lobster on a bun.

Rockland HarborIf it’s warm enough and you want to see the fall colors from a different angle, Maine has several locations to kayak along the coast. One such place is located 33 miles up Route 1 from Wiscasset on the Rockland Waterfront. There, Breakwater

An Autumn Roadtrip Historic Route 1

Page 2: Highway Highlight

www.stowawaymag.com ◀ 71

field notes

Kayak is one of many companies that gives sea kayaking tours of Rockland Harbor. The vivid trees along the shoreline are breathtak-ing—and when you add the reflection of the water, you literally double the experience.

▶ www.rocklandharbor.info

▶ www.breakwaterkayak.com

Camden Hills State ParkSeeing the wide expanse of fall colors across the landscape is awe-inspiring, but for a contrast, get up close and in the middle of the scenery. Camden State Park, 46 miles up the highway from Wiscasset, has more than 30 miles of hiking trails that weave in and out of trees and a rocky shore-line. Trails are mostly moderate in difficulty and are more about the view than the cardiovascular workout. So it’s a great stop on a road trip when you’re sick of sitting—or if you’ve just eaten a pound of lobster.

▶ www.camdenmainevacation.com

Bar Harbor It’s about 76 miles north from Camden to Bar Harbor. But if you make it up that far, it is worth every mile, including the detour onto Route 3. Bar Harbor is a dynamic city and harbor that offers so much that it might be best to just park the car and wander around to explore all there is to see. There are wildlife observa-tions, boat tours, hiking trails, and shops. Like Portland, it’s all tucked between a rocky shoreline and sun-set-colored hillsides.

▶ www.barharborinfo.com

Acadia National ParkBumping up against Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park is east of Route 1, just off of Route 3. If you’re

leisurely driving along the highway, the chance to see some of the best fall colors is surely a worthy excuse to exit Route 1 for a scenic detour. You can drive along the winding Acadia Park Loop Road or explore any of the 145 miles of hiking trails. If you have time to stay, there are also myriads of other things to do in the park: tide pools, beaches where crushed shells and driftwood mix in among the sand, and even boat rides to go see the puffins—a type of seabird that looks something like a penguin.

▶ www.nps.gov/acad

—Amy Vanden Brink

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Some of the best fall colors are found in Acadia National Park in Maine.

“Lost Highway”—Bon Jovi“Ramblin’ Man”—Allman Brothers Band“Highway”—Ingrid Michaelson