Taste of Home Flavor of Maine Tour includes Highland Blueberry Farm

Taste of Home Magazine has a World Wide County Tour group and they will be visiting our farm on Thursday. We are very excited about the opportunity to share what is going on with our farm and to encourage support of all local farmers in all areas.

If this sounds enticing, they have one more trip in September scheduled, visit them at http://www.countrytours.com/

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

5 Days/4 Nights
Flavor of Maine
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Enjoy a guided tour of Portland, visit local farmers and sample lots of delicious regional fare, including Taste of Home recipes made with the freshest local ingredients. Acadia National Park, the crown jewel of Maine, is sure to be a highlight of the trip. You’ll enjoy the spectacular views of mountains, islands and the ocean, all in one breathtaking setting. Don’t miss this tasty trip!
Tour Highlights
Savor mouth-watering Taste of Home recipes made with the freshest local ingredients.
Marvel at Acadia National Park, where mountains, islands and the sea come together in a spectacular visual display.
Meet the earth-friendly growers of great-tasting organic fruits, vegetables and wines.
2009 Dates and Pricing
June 9-13
September 15-19
Price Per Person:
Double: $1,297
Single: $1,555
Meals Included: 8
Depart: Portland, Maine
Pre/Post-Tour Hotel: $168/night
Itinerary
Day 1—Portland: Our sensational seaside vacation begins in Portland, a charming coastal city so irresistible many world-class chefs have opened amazing restaurants here. Meet your fellow Taste of Home travelers at a Welcome Reception this evening. Welcome Reception included.
Day 2—Portland/Freeport/Camden/Rockport/Belfast: Enjoy a guided tour of Portland, including the childhood home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the elegant pre-Civil War Victoria Mansion and the celebrated Portland Head Lighthouse, Maine’s very first.
Later, meet Jim Aramal of Borealis Breads. Discover first hand how every loaf of artisan bread is made with only natural ingredients, shaped by hand and baked on a stone hearth. You won’t believe how tempting the bread smells while it’s baking—or how delicious it tastes!
Next we’ll head to Freeport for a fun shopping experience at L.L. Bean’s flagship store, located on Main Street since 1917. In the charming seaside town of Rockport we’ll visit Prism Glass Gallery and Café where we’ll meet Chef Lisa Sojka. Lisa brings a variety of talents and experience to the café and is known for preparing some of the finest Italian and Traditional New England cuisine. She will treat us to an assortment of tasty appetizers and hors d’oeuvres during our visit.
Enjoy a stroll through town and dine on your own before we head to Belfast, for the night. Meals included: B, Appetizer.
Day 3—Unity/Stockton Springs/Acadia National Park: Today we’ll travel inland to the town of Unity, where we’ll spend the morning with Cheryl Wixson, educator and resident chef for the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association. Put on an apron and a tall white hat—we’ll be working together under Cheryl’s watchful eye to prepare a number of irresistible Taste of Home recipes and create our own delectable lunch.
Later, we’ll visit scenic Highland Blueberry Farm and meet Theresa Gaffney who recently introduced the world to “whole plant” Wild Maine Blueberry Tea.
Then it’s on to Acadia National Park, the crown jewel of Maine. Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places on Earth, this park offers the splendors of mountains, islands and the ocean, all in one breathtaking setting. You’ll revel at the size of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point along the Atlantic seaboard and the first place the rising sun touches from early October to early March.
We’ll end the day in Bar Harbor with a traditional downeast lobster bake, where your seafood, potato and corn-on-the-cob are all steamed together in a large, stainless steel cooker with irresistibly succulent results. Be sure to have your camera—and your appetite—ready! Meals included: B, L, D.
Day 4—Gouldsboro/Bar Harbor: Today we’ll head to Gouldsboro for a morning visit to Mandala Farm. Where beautiful Norwegian fjord horses provide all the power needed to cultivate its 100 acres. We’ll enjoy the fruits of their labor at lunch today when we visit Rupununi Bar & Grill in Bar Harbor. Chef Cassaday Pappas will prepare a scrumptious dish from the pages of Taste of Home magazine.
Explore the charming shops and galleries of Bar Harbor on your own or join us for an optional excursion this afternoon. Meals included: B, L.
Optional Excursion #1—Lulu Lobster Boat Ride: Climb aboard the Lulu for some seafaring fun! Captain John will show off his lobster traps and give you a glimpse of the life and work of a Maine lobsterman. You’ll see Egg Rock Lighthouse and learn the history and folklore of the area. Price per person: $30.
—or—
Optional Excursion #2—Mount Desert Oceanarium: Get a “hands-on” marine experience at the Mount Desert Oceanarium. The friendly staff will guide us through fascinating exhibits about tides, marine weather, sea survival and more. Price per person: $15.
Day 5—Union/Augusta/Portland: After breakfast, we’ll travel to the small inland town of Union to visit family-run Savage Oakes Vineyard & Winery featuring nine varieties of cold hardy hybrid grapes!
Then it’s on to Maine’s capitol city of Augusta. A “must see and taste” is Kennebec Chocolates, a family-run store that specializes in melt-in-your-mouth hand-dipped chocolates. Try your hand at making your own creation and enjoy some sweet samples!
Before heading to Portland, we’ll enjoy a farewell lunch featuring more Taste of Home recipes prepared especially for us by Chef Brian Sawyer at the Senator Inn & Spa. Then it’s time to head for home, full of the sights, sounds and flavors that truly make Maine a Taste of Home delight! Meals included: B, L.
Accommodations
Day 1: Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland
Day 2: Comfort Inn Ocean’s Edge, Belfast
Day 3: Bar Harbor Regency, Bar Harbor
Day 4: Comfort Inn Ocean’s Edge, Belfast
Average temperatures: high 70°/low 50° (June & Sept.)