Maine Lighthouse day is almost here.  Maine Expressions" lighthouse tours", is offering a tour on Sept 12 to several Maine Lighthouses.  This is the largest effort of its kind in the nation, the event is designed to provide access to the public to all participating (about 30) lighthouses on that one day. We hope to be able to visit, at least 4. Some of these lighthouses have not been opened before.  This is a great opportunity for all those who are interested in Lighthouses to spend a day visiting as many lighthouses as possible between the hours of 9 am to 3 pm and not have to drive yourself from one lighthouse to the next. We provide the transportation. Portland Head Lighthouse shown We are planning ahead for our 2010 tours and information will be posted, soon, for that. We have met many wonderful people from all across the US.  We enjoy showing visitors our beautiful state with its magnificent beacons.  We cover the state from south to way down east.The tours are exhilarating, educational and fun. Our past tours have included: down east and Canada where we stayed overnight on Campobello Island and visited the Canadian lights as well as West Quoddy Lighthouse, A whale watch on the Bay of Fundy, visit to FDR's summer home and of course, visits to some of the gift shops. We always try to go downeast during blueberry season, driving through the Blueberry Capitol of the world. A special stop is at one of the best restaurants in the area famous for their delicious Blueberry Pies. We always try to include a lobster bake and when we go to Bar Harbor we stay in a cozy bed and breakfast, go to the top of Cadillac Mountain, take in a lighthouse cruise, visit the Bass Harbor Lighthouse (one of my favorites), allow time for shopping and peeking into the lovely shops in Bar Harbor. We are always watching for special events taking place. One year it was the Indian Festival. Other things we have included are Windjammer Festival, Strawberry Festival, Lobster Festival, A dinner theatre, Sail on a windjammer, gone inside a couple lighthouses that are open. Spent the night on Monhegan Island.  This Beautiful little Island is where artists congregate in the summer.  It has no paved roads, no cars and is truly a place of beauty. The year round population is about 75. Lobstering is the primary source of income. A real treat this year was a trip to Matinicus Rock, which is 22 miles out to sea and home to puffins and other birds.  This lighthouse is not one that visitors coming to Maine are able to see.  Our boat Captain and his wife are from Matinicus Island (which we cruised past).  You have, possibly, been reading about the turf wars over lobster fishing that happened on this Island and a couple others. The year round population on Matinicus is about 50. Some of our lighthouses have been featured in movies and one of them -Pemaquid- is on the State Quarter. More information can be found on www.maineexpressions.com   or www.officialmainelighthousetours.com  and www.officialmainelighthousetours.blogspot.com ...read more