Things to do at and around Jamaica Point Lodge

(A baker's dozen)

1. 	A wildlife photographer staying at Jamaica Point, laying down in a canoe, captured this nesting loon.

   After morning coffee on the roof deck overlooking lake, canoe around Chute Island, looking for loons, or paddle to Crooked Island, heading west, to watch Osprey from large nest, and swim off sandy beach cove
   
   
2. Read book in one of three lakeside hammocks, strewn between tall pines.
   
   
3. Take mandatory nightly walk to the tip of Point before retiring for bed.  On chilly evenings, wrap yourselves in blankets from linen closet.  (On clear evenings, check starry skies or moon on water.)  Take nighttime boat ride, guided by red lights on flagpole.
   
   
4. One evening, turn the huge dining room into a dance hall, fueled by your CDs or Ipod on the house stereo.
   
   

5. 	The 20-minute hike up French's Mountain offers stellar lake views, particularly in fall.

   Climb nearby French's Mountain – a 20-minute hike that overlooks lakes. Walk along its rock ledges to reach stunning views.  Bring picnic lunch and bottle of wine.  (Go out Jamaica Point and at top of hill make left onto Rte. 225 going toward Belgrade Lakes Village.  At end of road turn right on Rte. 27 away from village.  Make next left and pass Rome Strawberry Patch.   Small trail opening is about one-half mile on left as road widens on left for parking vehicles.)
   
   
6. Drive up Blueberry Hill overlooking Long Lake.  Lookout is on same road as French's Mountain, but several miles up on left.)
   
   
7. Take rental boat from Jamaica Point over to Belgrade Lakes Village for shopping, strolling, lunch or dinner at Village Inn.  To get to village, go around Hoyts Island, through channel markers.  Find channel on other side of lake, marked by quaint boat houses.  Follow channel markers to The Village Inn and boat docks.
   
   
8. Play the PGA-quality Belgrade Lakes Golf Club, rated one of top five public courses in country.  Rent cart to survive hills overlooking lakes.  From lodge, go through village, taking Rte. 27.  Bear right at fork, passing Sunset Grill.  Golf Club is .4 miles on left.   Golf course: 495-4653 or www.BelgradeLakesGolf.com.
   
   
9. Take a day trip to either:
   1. Hallowell (antiques), Ocean Point (rock ledge coast) or Boothbay Harbor (the Key West of Maine, but less commercial).
   2. The quaint, oceanfront town of Belfast.  (Penobscot Bay boat ride goes to Castine Island.)
      
      
10. Make appointments for on-site massages by Therapeutic Kneads’ Carol Story at  397-4220 or visit spa just outside Belgrade Lakes village.
    
    
11. Walk, bike or jog up pristine Jamaica Point Road.
    
    
12. Watch “On Golden Pond” on the house VCR.  (Playwright Earnest Thompson's summer home is on lake.)
    
    
13. Visit Riverside Farm Market in Oakland for nice outdoor lunches and take-home turkey-pot pies, wines, muffins, pottery, etc.  (495-4439).  Take 137 into Oakland and make left at light after railroad tracks (five-corner intersection) onto Fairfield Street.  Riverside is about one plus mile down on your right.  Tell them  Jamaica Point Lodge sent you.

       Enjoy, Steve Feldman and Beth Davis

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