On our way home from Northern parts of Maine, we decided to stop at Poland Spring Campground for a couple nights to just “kick back” and get ready for the long ride home.

We pulled in with no reservations as usual and found a cute little paradise. There were a lot of seasonal renters, and all were maintained to the max. The grounds are very wooded, bringing back a sense of the old days of camping. Some big rigs would have trouble in many sites, so a call ahead would be very smart.

Even in late season the store was stocked to the top with groceries, toys, gadgets, knick knacks, etc. Nearby the Poland Spring Water Company maintains a day park with interactive trails, but we chose to go to the wildlife park. If you think of the facility as a zoo, you will be deeply disappointed.

The Wildlife Park specializes in saving and rehabilitating animals for eventual return to the wild. For us this was a great end to our Maine vacation. The Black Bears and the Moose are the highlights, but the Big cats a impressive.

As for the campground, we loved it. During midweek, the place was quiet, clean, and scenic. The boat launching area is perfect for small craft with canoes, kayaks, and a small sailboat for rent. The Range Ponds are beautiful bodies of water, especially for small boats. We canoed to the nearby State Park with no other vessels on the water. A young Bald Eagle was adjusting to life without parents and we spent several hours just watching his antics.

Bring the kids and enjoy the nearby attractions and the beach area. This Campground is a destination you will remember for many years.

This one was a real find. Red Apple Campground was exceptional in every respect. We were looking for someplace in the Kennebunkport (Bush family summer residence) area to celebrate my wife’s Birthday. She loves the area for its quaint New England flavor and great shopping at Perkins Cove.

As we use a motorcycle for transportation, the owners offered to lend us their car to drive to an upscale restaurant for her Birthday dinner. This just capped off a wonderful stay in a beautifully maintained campground in the heart of lower coastal Maine with all it has to offer.

This place was an experience almost beyond words. As a campground, facilities are very limited. There is only 15amp electric with no water or sewer. For a fee, you can run a garden hose to fill your tank. or come in full. There are only two transient sites, the rest are seasonal, but the lodge is fantastic. They also have several grassy tent sites on the shore.

Northern Pride Lodge sits about 30 minutes north of Greenville and Moosehead Lake. Baxter State Park is a short distance to the North, but don’t let distance fool you. The pavement ends just North of the Lodge and the trip to Baxter is completed on dirt roads owned by a lumber company. The grounds are well cared for and the Lake is beautiful. A short walk away is the “village” of Kokadjo, (pop. Not Many). Here you will find the General Store, Diner, Tavern, Video Rental, and Souvineer shop, all in one building.The Lodge specializes in Hunting and Fishing expeditions, with room and meals included. On our first night there, a hunter returned with a Black Bear. During our stay, we saw Eagles, Deer, Moose, and Loons on every day trip. It was a wildlife viewer’s paradise. The sunsets and rises were always fantastic.
For the Hunter, Fisherman, and Hiker, you could not ask for a better place to be. For a family vacation, not such a great idea. There is very little for children to do in the immediate area. We loved the extreme isolation from the real world, and a change of pace from traditional RV Parks.