October is Peak Fall

What’s It Really Like to Live in Maine in October

Everyone wants to move to Maine. Or visit Maine. Or spend a few weeks unplugged by the sea, in the woods, or in the mountains of this great state. The Pine Tree State. Vacationland. Whatever you call it, however you think of it, this state is a place and a state of mind. The geography, the landscape, the awe it inspires. Snuggle up, it’s fall at The Craignair!

Mythic Maine

Your impression of Maine may have been shaped by summer camp. Lots of summer camps are set by a lake in Maine. Many are within an hour’s drive of Spruce Head and The Craignair Inn. That means if your family is dropping a camper for a session one morning, you could be relaxing on your own private deck overlooking the ocean by the afternoon. Summer camp means freedom and marshmallows, sleeping in bunks and learning to kayak. Summer camp has bonding and ritual and so much nature. Rediscover your childlike wonder in Maine. Are you a young professional living in a city? That’s great! You work hard and climb the corporate ladder. You work hard, so you deserve to play hard, too. Maine is forged by Nature. You can visit Katahdin, Moosehead Lake, Lake St. George, The County, Acadia, The MidCoast, where we are, or the sandy beaches and crowded resorts of Southern Maine. 

When you visit Maine you get to choose your own adventure. And each person’s Vacationland itinerary can include outdoor activities, shopping at small businesses, exploring indigenous culture, or simply enjoying the ocean. Visitors sometimes see a small corner of Maine. What is the most amazing is to explore like a local. Take an extended trip to Maine. Base yourself here, in Spruce Head. We are two hours from almost everything. Two hours from Portland, where the jetport is. Two hours from Acadia, an incredible national park. Two hours from the deep forests of Western Maine, with a rural and untouched beauty all its own. 

Maine is sophisticated and Maine is rustic. Parts of Maine are diverse, cosmopolitan, chic, and densely populated. Parts of Maine are unspoiled, with more farmland and wild nature than anyplace else in New England. Go pumpkin picking. Visit a pleasant pumpkin patch, Pick out decorative gourds. Go to an apple orchard. Drink cider. Or better yet, watch the cider being made. Indulge in homemade donuts, warm from the fryer. Get lost in a corn maze. Check out a hay bale maze. Bring home armloads of local apples. There are heritage apples and tart apples. There are sweet Maine apples. You can wear flannel and wander and it’s romantic in Maine. You have probably seen videos or read articles about Maine. And it is everything you’ve heard, and more. If you haven’t been to Maine in a couple of decades, it’s time. This is your Maine era! You are in your coastal era. Maine welcomes all those who love this state. Maine is known for its unfussy lifestyle. When you visit Maine you get to experience that. Be part of the chill lifestyle. Get lost. Get found. Treat yourself!

Are Y’all All In For The Fall Feels?

The great thing about October is that it’s autumn. It’s fall in Maine! That means fall foliage. Yes, the colored leaves are bright. They are turning orange, red, rust, golden, and tinged with wonder. Nature puts on quite a show in October. To really live in Maine in October is to enjoy warm days and chilly nights. It means slowing down, connecting with friends at your favorite restaurant, and going on hikes on Sundays. In October locals love to road trip around our own home or chosen state. It’s always fun to be a tourist in your own state. The weather is perfect. Bright days are ideal for walking in the woods. Be sure to wear blaze orange in case it’s hunting season. And always pack a knit beanie, because it can get chilly. 

Citizens of Maine are always prepared. We keep our stand up paddle board in the back of our SUVs along with Bean boots and cross country skis. You never know what the day will bring. There is an adventure around every corner. We work hard and we play hard. And you never know when an afternoon might turn into an opportunity to get outside and enjoy leisure time. It’s essential to have what you need on hand. Mainers are outfitted and equipped for each season. In winter we have our snow tires, our wooly mittens, our car blankets and flashlights. In spring we keep a change of clothes, because another name for spring is mud season! In summer, well, it’s everything! Folks keep a big tote packed with bathing suit, bug spray, sunblock, and flip flops. You also need a towel, water bottle, first aid kit, and snacks. It’s probably a good idea to have a sweatshirt, as well as tee shirt and shorts. You never know what the day or weather may bring! And in fall, we recommend a pair of binoculars, a compass, a pocketknife, some jerky, and a road map. 

We work because we have to, and because we love to. But we also know when it is time to relax. We do not take for granted the last warm days of autumn. So October means when it is nice outside – sunny, temps in the 60’s, we are outside. We may be running to the transfer station, doing yard work, cleaning up the garden, or playing soccer with friends. We sneak in those moments. We let them linger. We bask in the sunshine and soak up all the light. It’s important. We stock up on what we need. We chop wood, for ourselves and for our neighbors. We know our neighbors, the elderly, the ill, the young families, the empty nesters. Whoever needs a hand, we lend it. It makes life sweeter. 

Tourism in Autumn

And since many in Maine work in the hospitality industry in some shape or form, October means a last boost of business before the slowing down season. Unless you’re in a ski resort town like Sugarloaf or Sunday River, hospitality is generally much less busy November through April. We call it low season. But this is not the time to lay low! We see neighbors and friends and get out on the town. We do the things we didn’t have time for during the busy summer. We do things like go to county fairs and visit the local artisan shops and markets. It’s really a very amiable time. We have more patience and time to relax and treat ourselves. We spend time with our pets, our kids, and our elders. It’s a connection time before the hibernation of winter. There are some fun fall festivals and activities to participate in. We breathe in and look up at the sky. Stargaze on a crisp night. 

We make plans in October, too. Plans to take a class or do more volunteer work. We make plans to go to the sauna or wellness spa. We go to the gym when we are not getting exercise outside. We sign up for the public pool. We plan chili and soup nights. We make reservations at our favorite restaurants. We go out with friends. We attend dinner parties. We attend costume parties. We drink great wine or whiskey around the outdoor fire. We spend Halloween in the neighborhood, handing out treats and tricks to the kids. We try something new. We rely on something old. We mend. We make. We repair. We rebuild. It is a good season. October is a season unto itself. It is full fall. It is foliage time. It is the end of the year and the beginning. We think you should visit The Craignair Inn this fall. It’s everything you have been hoping for, and more.