Sunday we packed the car and headed to Nicky's Diner for breakfast. If you go to Bangor, check this place out. It doesn't look like much from the outside. Inside it is designed like an old fashioned diner, even the staff is dressed like the 60s. There is memorabilia everywhere and the food is good and cheap.
We then headed for Kohl's, my favourite store, for 3 hours of shopping. I got lots of clothes I needed for the winter and a few Christmas decorations. We left Bangor at 3:30 - got home at 10:30 pm.
Overall a great trip, but not enough time to shop. I didn't get any socks!!!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Saturday
Saturday morning we woke to a beautiful sunny day. It was time to leave North Conway. We will be back someday but it is a long drive for an impatient teenager so I will have to wait a few years - :)
We headed to Portland (1 hour drive) to Carolyn's favourite store - Forever 21. Wow!!! This is our second visit and I still can't get over the deals. Carolyn bought 22 articles of clothing for $220.00 (tops, belt, leggings, skirts, dress). That's an average of $10.00 a piece. She needed a lot of clothes for winter so now she is all set.
We then headed for Bangor (2 hour drive). For supper we decided on another chain restaurant Bugaboo Steak House. This place was packed and there was a line up so I figured we would get a good meal. Oh my - this story will be funny to us in a few weeks. First we wait 20 minutes to get a table. I tried to order a small steak for Carolyn but all they had was the filet mignon. So we ordered that. The salads came and they were awful. Time passed and folks around us were getting their meals that had been seated after us. The waitress came to our table and apologized. More time passed, no meal. The manager came out, after we had been sitting for more than an hour and had our meals. He wanted me to check her steak. It was med-rare, almost rare. She had ordered medium. We sent it back to the kitchen, it came back still too rare. By this time we were starved and wanted to go shopping so I cut out the rare part and she ate it. And they didn't anything off our bill. I didn't ask but I figured they would. We left disgusted - we had been there almost 2 hours - 2 hours of precious shopping time...
I got a room at the Sheraton for $75 through Priceline auction. Nice room but not soundproof.
We headed to Portland (1 hour drive) to Carolyn's favourite store - Forever 21. Wow!!! This is our second visit and I still can't get over the deals. Carolyn bought 22 articles of clothing for $220.00 (tops, belt, leggings, skirts, dress). That's an average of $10.00 a piece. She needed a lot of clothes for winter so now she is all set.
We then headed for Bangor (2 hour drive). For supper we decided on another chain restaurant Bugaboo Steak House. This place was packed and there was a line up so I figured we would get a good meal. Oh my - this story will be funny to us in a few weeks. First we wait 20 minutes to get a table. I tried to order a small steak for Carolyn but all they had was the filet mignon. So we ordered that. The salads came and they were awful. Time passed and folks around us were getting their meals that had been seated after us. The waitress came to our table and apologized. More time passed, no meal. The manager came out, after we had been sitting for more than an hour and had our meals. He wanted me to check her steak. It was med-rare, almost rare. She had ordered medium. We sent it back to the kitchen, it came back still too rare. By this time we were starved and wanted to go shopping so I cut out the rare part and she ate it. And they didn't anything off our bill. I didn't ask but I figured they would. We left disgusted - we had been there almost 2 hours - 2 hours of precious shopping time...
I got a room at the Sheraton for $75 through Priceline auction. Nice room but not soundproof.
Friday
We woke up Friday morning to a downpour of rain. Headed out to a restaurant called Peaches. We got into the restaurant and it looked awfully dark. It took us a few minutes to realize they didn't have any power. We had a lovely breakfast. The staff was incredible - they were boiling water on the propane stove and pushing it through the coffee machines so we could still have coffee. They were cooking in the kitchen by flashlight.
We decided to take in the train ride. It was a lot of fun. The leaves are still on the trees though the rain did dampen the richness of the colors. We rode in a restored car built in 1920. It was very cool. It's too bad they didn't save a few miles of track on PEI so that we could have a tourist attraction like this - it would have been very successful I am sure.
So we shopped in a few stores but it was hard to get around without getting soaked. We had supper at a restaurant called Delaney's Hole in the wall. They had the best caeser salad we have ever had.
We decided to take in the train ride. It was a lot of fun. The leaves are still on the trees though the rain did dampen the richness of the colors. We rode in a restored car built in 1920. It was very cool. It's too bad they didn't save a few miles of track on PEI so that we could have a tourist attraction like this - it would have been very successful I am sure.
So we shopped in a few stores but it was hard to get around without getting soaked. We had supper at a restaurant called Delaney's Hole in the wall. They had the best caeser salad we have ever had.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Well we left Wednesday after school and drove as far as Fredericton, then left at 9 am this morning for North Conway. It took 8 hours to get to North Conway - that included 2 short pit stops, a half hour lunch and a half hour stuck in traffic in construction. Along the way we learned 3 things.
1. Carolyn and I will never be able to drive more than 6 hours at one shot. We were bored, our butts were sore and the urge to shop was so strong it made us very cranky at slow drivers. (Automobiles)
2. In the time it took us to get to North Conway we could have flown to England. (Planes)
3. Part of the trip was to include a 5 hour train ride tomorrow into the mounains, we cut it down to the 1.5 hour trip - as 5 hours would not leave us enough time to shop (Trains).
Shopping: We did a few of the outlets tonight - a few good deals. Lindt chocolate shop was giving out samples... geez. We didn't feel like trying on clothes tonight - we will tackle that tomorrow after a good night's sleep.
Eating: For lunch we ate the Frair's Bakehouse in Bangor. This place is rated No. 1 in Tripadvisor and with good reason. It was FABULOUS!!!! It is run by Francisan brothers, they are only open for lunch and you only get 3 choices of sandwich and 2 choices of soup. They have a sign that says "No credit cards, no cellphones and no attitude." But one of the brothers has an attitude - he is too funny - he told one of the regulars he was cursing softly under his breath. There are only 3 long tables and there is a line up of locals, they probably served 20-25 people while we were there - we sat at one end of a table and 2 guys sat at the other end. The place is very Catholic - book and statues everywhere but noone preaches :) - Carolyn had a grilled cheese and ham sandwich and I had grilled cheese and tomato and we both agreed it was the best grilled sandwiches we ever ate. The guys at our table had minestrone soup and I could hear them state how good it was. The other soup choice was french onion. You have to try this place if you are ever in Bangor for lunch.
For supper, we went to Applebee's - we had to wait for a table, the place was packed. Now I am not a big fan of chain restaurants but when you travel with a fussy teenager you have to go to a place that has a great deal of variety in their menu. Well I was pleasantly surprised. In their menu they indicate which items are under 550 calories and they give the Weight Watcher points for some items as well. I had the Asian Crunch Salad and Carolyn had a small sirloin steak both were fabulous - with drinks and tips it came to $21.00 (oh did I mention there is no tax in New Hamphire - you saw it right - NO TAX!!! - on anything!!!
Ok time for a shower and bed - We have heavy duty shopping to do tomorrow. Good night.
1. Carolyn and I will never be able to drive more than 6 hours at one shot. We were bored, our butts were sore and the urge to shop was so strong it made us very cranky at slow drivers. (Automobiles)
2. In the time it took us to get to North Conway we could have flown to England. (Planes)
3. Part of the trip was to include a 5 hour train ride tomorrow into the mounains, we cut it down to the 1.5 hour trip - as 5 hours would not leave us enough time to shop (Trains).
Shopping: We did a few of the outlets tonight - a few good deals. Lindt chocolate shop was giving out samples... geez. We didn't feel like trying on clothes tonight - we will tackle that tomorrow after a good night's sleep.
Eating: For lunch we ate the Frair's Bakehouse in Bangor. This place is rated No. 1 in Tripadvisor and with good reason. It was FABULOUS!!!! It is run by Francisan brothers, they are only open for lunch and you only get 3 choices of sandwich and 2 choices of soup. They have a sign that says "No credit cards, no cellphones and no attitude." But one of the brothers has an attitude - he is too funny - he told one of the regulars he was cursing softly under his breath. There are only 3 long tables and there is a line up of locals, they probably served 20-25 people while we were there - we sat at one end of a table and 2 guys sat at the other end. The place is very Catholic - book and statues everywhere but noone preaches :) - Carolyn had a grilled cheese and ham sandwich and I had grilled cheese and tomato and we both agreed it was the best grilled sandwiches we ever ate. The guys at our table had minestrone soup and I could hear them state how good it was. The other soup choice was french onion. You have to try this place if you are ever in Bangor for lunch.
For supper, we went to Applebee's - we had to wait for a table, the place was packed. Now I am not a big fan of chain restaurants but when you travel with a fussy teenager you have to go to a place that has a great deal of variety in their menu. Well I was pleasantly surprised. In their menu they indicate which items are under 550 calories and they give the Weight Watcher points for some items as well. I had the Asian Crunch Salad and Carolyn had a small sirloin steak both were fabulous - with drinks and tips it came to $21.00 (oh did I mention there is no tax in New Hamphire - you saw it right - NO TAX!!! - on anything!!!
Ok time for a shower and bed - We have heavy duty shopping to do tomorrow. Good night.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Packed and Cleaning
Well, Rosie (The dog) is gone to Rhea's and we are almost packed. We leave at 3:00 pm tomorrow, will spend the night with my cousin in Fredericton and then head to North Conway Thursday morning.
I am printing off all my Maine and New Hamphire shopping and restaurant notes, then I will load up my GPS with all the addresses. I am going to write a Trip Guide for TripAdvisor.com called A Canadian's Guide to Shopping in Maine and New Hampshire. I would appreciate any hints you have. I looked for something like this when I was doing my research and there is not alot on the internet so most of the stuff I have is from friends that have been there and my own experiences. Of course I will give you credit in my article.
Ok have to clean up the house, cleaning lady is coming tomorrow...
I am printing off all my Maine and New Hamphire shopping and restaurant notes, then I will load up my GPS with all the addresses. I am going to write a Trip Guide for TripAdvisor.com called A Canadian's Guide to Shopping in Maine and New Hampshire. I would appreciate any hints you have. I looked for something like this when I was doing my research and there is not alot on the internet so most of the stuff I have is from friends that have been there and my own experiences. Of course I will give you credit in my article.
Ok have to clean up the house, cleaning lady is coming tomorrow...
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
The plans are set
Well Carolyn and I are off for another adventure. We leave October 13 to the 17. This trip is to celebrate my 50 years of life. And a great life it has been! As you may remember we completed our first shopping trip to Maine last spring and just could not get over the prices and what we could buy at half or less of the cost we pay here on the Island.
Now I do believe in buying local, when it comes to veggies and meat, but clothes - it's an open market - sorry!!!
So this time we are going somewhere new - North Conway, New Hampshire - highly recommended by many folks who are expert outlet shoppers. Of course we will have to stop in Portland on the way back to hit Forever 21 and then Bangor for the last night so the drive home is shorter.
Also I am breaking in a new GPS that my friend got me for my birthday - we haven't named HIM yet - I selected British Accent - male - oooo la la - any suggestions for names let me know.
Juanita and Carolyn
Now I do believe in buying local, when it comes to veggies and meat, but clothes - it's an open market - sorry!!!
So this time we are going somewhere new - North Conway, New Hampshire - highly recommended by many folks who are expert outlet shoppers. Of course we will have to stop in Portland on the way back to hit Forever 21 and then Bangor for the last night so the drive home is shorter.
Also I am breaking in a new GPS that my friend got me for my birthday - we haven't named HIM yet - I selected British Accent - male - oooo la la - any suggestions for names let me know.
Juanita and Carolyn
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