While we lived in Florida, fall was an elusive pipe dream that only existed in movies and on TV. The leaves never changed color and the temperature didn’t seem to drop below eighty degrees until well into January. No one wants to go for a hay ride when it still feels like summer. But here in Searsport, ME sweater weather, apple picking, leaf peeping train rides, and small town fall fairs are no longer a dream straight out of an episode of the Gilmore Girls, but a reality.
Here are several of our favorite fall treats (no tricks!). We hope you’ll love them as much as we do:
There’s no better way to take in the beautiful Maine foliage and crisp weather than on the Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad. Get cozy on the Fall Cider & Donuts Train Ride and enjoy freshly made fall treats while you relax and take in the scenes of Waldo County. Looking for something a little more spooktacular? How about the Train Ride to Haunted Thorndike? Take a ride to the town of Thorndike for an evening filled with every classic Halloween activity you can think of. When the night is over, head back to Captain Nickels Inn and crawl into your warm bed before the goblins and ghosts can get you!
The railroad hosts other special events throughout the year like the Pizza and Whoopie Pie Train and the Hot Chocolate and Cookie train ride. Did you know in 2011, the Maine State Legislature designated the whoopie pie as Maine’s official state treat? This confection traditionally consists of two chocolate cake-like rounds surrounded by a white cream filling. The popular treat is reported to have been baked in Maine since 1925.
Fall is the season of baking, and what could be more of a quintessential fall treat than apple pie? At the Treworgy Family Orchard, take a stroll through their apple trees and fields of pumpkin and squash. Pick ‘til your heart’s content and then stroll over to their pumpkin and squash fields to pick something out for dinner! Don’t worry about your baking skills, they offer an apple pie making workshop! Need a sweet treat before hopping on a hayride? Try some of their ice cream and cider. Take a tour through their corn maze or come back at night to try and find your way in the dark!
Looking for more fresh and local offerings? The United Farmers Market in Belfast is the perfect stop! From pastries to coffee and veggies to flowers it’s the perfect place to find a piece of Maine to bring home with you.
Now that you’ve picked your pumpkins and the apples are ready to head home to bake, stop at The Hichborn and taste the local fall flavors they have hand picked for their ever-changing prix fixe menu. Insiders note, definitely save room for their dessert! After dinner, return to Captain Nickels Inn for a glass of wine while sitting on the comfy couch next to the fire pit.
Searsport’s Fling into Fall festival is classic small-town New England. The day starts with a parade through town decorated with scarecrows and pumpkins. Then, head over to the Penobscot Marine Museum for the scarecrow and jack-o-lantern contest. Lunch in the form of a Chili and Chowder Contest is coming up but first, stop and play some games and peruse the craft vendors set up at the fire station! Finish the night off with live music and the epic Fling into Fall bonfire.
Don’t miss the Common Ground Country Fair is a down-home fair held each September in Unity, Maine.
If you take a drive to Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville, not only will you be able to enjoy a wine tasting in their 200 hundred-year-old barn turned tasting room, you’ll have a front row seat to the spectacle that is the changing of the leaves. On select days, they offer complimentary wine and food pairings. You can also call in advance to schedule a personalized tour of the winery. Now that you’ve had a chance to relax and enjoy their wine, how about heading into the fields to help harvest the L’Acadie Blanc grapes?
One of our favorite parts of Fall is hearing how much fun our guests are having. Whether they hopped on the train or went to a wine tasting or walked to town to watch the parade, it’s always with a smile on their face and excitement in their tone. We love to see our guests return to the inn after a long day of exploring Maine in the fall with a few new stories to tell. Join us in fall season for a little slice of small town life and a special kind of fall that only Maine can provide.
Updated March 2023
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