The wharf, below Congress Street in the Old Port district of Portland, Maine. The Amtrak Downeaster Rail begins in Portland, Maine and ends in Boston, Massachusetts. In between there are stops in Old Orchard Beach ME, Saco ME, Wells ME, Dover NH, Durham NH, Exeter NH, Haverhill MA, and Woburn MA. For this series of articles I will expound upon the merits of each stop along the Downeaster Amtrak tour. I have made absolutely no secret about my love of Portland, Maine. One of my first articles for UpTake was about the Portland Head Light. Then back in September I wrote about how I left my heart there. The fact that the Amtrak Downeaster line begins there (or ends there, depending on where you’re starting from) just adds one more point of excellence to brag about for my favorite city. A shot of our pub crawl along Wharf St. in the Old Port. You can’t ask for a better jumping-off point for everything you care to do in New England. The nearby CAT ferry (which I wrote abo...[more »]

Portland Maine The Amtrak Downeaster Rail begins in Portland, Maine and ends in Boston, Massachusetts. In between there are stops in Old Orchard Beach ME, Saco ME, Wells ME, Dover NH, Durham NH, Exeter NH, Haverhill MA, and Woburn MA. This is a FANTASTIC vacationer’s option, for those who seek a broader New England experience without having to navigate from town to town. It’s easy to stay parked in Portland, hop on the train, hop off at any town in between to enjoy their entertainments, and meander all the way down to Boston. Spend the night in Boston in order to enjoy all of its attractions, then hop back on the train the next day to head back up to Portland. The Boston Skyline The great thing about each stop along the Downeaster tour, is that each station is positioned within walking distance of fantastic area attractions. The Old Orchard Beach stop dumps you right off on the pier; the Durham stop is right on the University of New Hampshire’s campus; the Bosto...[more »]

Looking for a spot to relax, enjoy a good brew and some grub, and enjoy a good view? Check out these three great spots: The Offshore Ale Co. on Martha's Vineyard The Offshore Ale Company on Martha’s Vineyard is located on Kennebeck Avenue, right next to Ocean Park. The scratch-made brews are on tap, with seasonal brews as well as year-round offerings. Food is pub-style, with local seafood thrown into the mix (one word: OYSTERS). Live entertainment is provided on most nights by local and regional talent. The atmosphere is casual and kid friendly. Try to score a seat on the patio to enjoy the people watching and refreshing sea breezes. A Scottsdale sunrise. For a more bustling, rock-n-roll sort of view, enjoy the very comfortable patio of the RnR Bar in Scottsdale, Arizona. These are THE seats to have during Arizona Bike Week, as motorcycle enthusiasts cruise up and down Scottsdale Road in Old Town Scottsdale. RnR patrons can watch the comings and goings of the Billet...[more »]