The Top Day-trip Outing in Gardiner and Hallowell, Along the Kennebec River, Maine
Start out at a pleasant time of morning for a day-trip in Gardiner and stroll the downtown section ranged along Water Street, so named because it runs down to the Kennebec River. If you haven’t breakfasted yet, MacDonald’s Bakery, at the westerly top of Water Street, has Maine-famously delicious bakery goods. After perhaps landing yourself a deal at the quaint department store called Reny’s, go back up Water Street, on to Bridge Street, and stop in at either A-1 Diner or A-1 To Go Community Market and Deli for a pleasant brunch or lunch. A-1 Diner is famous for its food and its 1940’s art deco Diner, complete with Sun Burst tin wall panel. All the original trappings of the diner are in tact, some maybe a little worse for wear, but all original and all in tact. Employing authentic gourmet cooks – who offer thematic daily specials, such as carrot cum ginger dishes – this little diner has fared so well that it took up possession of the adjacent corner shop and opened A-1 To Go, a San Francisco style gourmet market and deli serving home-made, hand-made salads, entrees, pasties, and desserts – well, almost everything. All scrumptious and moderately priced, families can easily brunch, lunch, sup or dine without dipping into the college savings funds.
After excellent cuisine at one of the A-1s, return to your automobile to continue your day-trip. Head north along a sometimes-bumpy Highway Route 201 toward Hallowell, which lies between Gardiner and Augusta (signs give clear directions). Hallowell has a downtown that lies on either side of the road, also called Water Street. Be sure to heed the speed reduction to 25 MPH for Hallowell is very zealous in enforcing traffic speed. Keep a sharp eye out and park, if you can, at the nearest, southern-most end of town, just after you pass Cafe de Bangkok (serving authentic Thai food made with all organic ingredients). Park at the curb or perhaps in the riverside parking area that is adjacent to a little grassy spot where you can admire the Kennebec River, into which Hallowell used to launch newly built sailing ships . After parking (again, as soon as possible), walk up-town and enjoy buying or browsing in the handcrafted jeweler shops, like David-Brooks Goldsmith; the funky stationer shop, Paper Kicks; the antique and collectible shops, like The Crooked Nook; and the elegant clothing shops, like Emily’s Closet. Flower adorned streets make sauntering along pleasant and enjoyable, and, during summer, a small ice cream cone booth, The Daily Scoop, featuring Gifford’s Ice Cream, is open on the east side of the street. Now – what to do when you are hungry. Ahh, yes….
Slade’s of Hallowell, perfect respite during a day-trip, offers homemade bread and pleasant lunch or dining ambiance at one location, southerly along Water Street, and yummy bakery goods of all sorts at a separate location at a small remove from the restaurant. Other food establishments, like Boyton’s Market, Lucky Garden Chinese Restaurant, Hattie’s Chowder House and Higher Grounds Coffeehouse and Tavern are scattered about Water Street for your convenience. After browsing, buying and eating your fill, take advantage of the Kennebec River Rail Trail at the top, northern, end of Hallowell on the east side of Water Street – the river side – and stroll along and admire the Kennebec River, a most interesting river.
Kennebec River was once called Cushnoc and is a tidal river. Hallowell lies just south of the head of the tidal waters. What this all means is that the Atlantic tide comes up the Kennebec, all the way to Augusta, in fact, a couple of miles north of Hallowell. At some times, the waters flowing past Gardiner and Hallowell are salt, sometimes fresh. Sometimes the waters flow north or upstream, sometimes south or downstream. The direction depends on whether the tide is coming in or going out – sometimes the Kennebec even looks like it is flowing both directions at once because the tide is in the midst of changing.
Thus ends your day-trip excursion to Gardiner and Hallowell as you stand admiring the Kennebec River, contemplating the thought of tall sailing ships floating past in earlier eras, and trying your best to figure out whether the tide is coming in or going out or dancing in swirls in a changing tide.
