My husband, Byron, picks me up at the offices of Maine Media Collective and we take off for our weekend in Brunswick and Bath. This short escapade
is just what the doctor ordered.

FRIDAY
4:40 p.m. @ The Daniel We pull up to the Daniel, a 24-room (soon to be 29 after renovations) inn with architecture that is reflective of the attached historical Federal-style home built for Captain Daniel Stone. Joanna Chapman checks us in and sends us to our room, which in this case is a one-bedroom suite with every amenity one could imagine. We are happy to relax for a moment.

5:30 p.m. @ Coast Bar + Bistro We kick off the night with Manhattans and delicious crab cakes
at Coast, the Daniel’s bar and bistro. As we head out, Duncan Hamilton, the hotel’s general manager, gives helpful tips for our evening on the town.

6:15 p.m. @ Henry and Marty Paul Hollingsworth and chef Aaron Park have put together a menu influenced by Park’s Filipino heritage. We order mussels with Pernod and Lumpia—egg rolls. The
chef comes out to greet us and delivers a taste of the evening ’s pâté, which is sweet potato and hazelnut with housemade crackers.

7:45 p.m. @ Frontier Café Frontier Café is in high gear on this Friday night. Families and couples keep the room buzzing. We share a trio of sliders made from locally raised beef and a side of fresh-cut French fries and smile at the choices we’ve made.

9:15 p.m. @ The Daniel We stroll back to the Daniel happy and full to collapse into a good night’s rest.

SATURDAY
8:00 a.m. @ The Daniel The snow has started to fall, so after exploring the continental breakfast, which includes fresh yogurt served in mini mason jars with a selection of fruit and housemade granola, and freshly baked muffins, and grabbing a coffee, we head to Bath.

9:30 a.m. @ Mae’s Café and Bakery Mae’s is a must, known for baked goods as well as more substantial food. We are more than pleased with our selections—artichoke eggs benedict served on portobello mushrooms and a nitrate-free bacon and cheddar omelet.

10:15 a.m. in downtown Bath Our first stop is Wilson’s Drug Store. The name is a bit of
a misnomer because this is an emporium filled with all kinds of great finds. We snatch up a doormat made from Maine fisherman’s rope. Next we pop into Bohemian Rose and browse the selection of clothing for women of all ages. We put it on the places-to- shop list for our youngest daughter and fashionista, Olivia. Next up: Reny’s, a true Maine institution. If you can’t find what you need here at a very good price, then you probably don’t need it. We walk to Wags and Whiskers, a pet paradise owned by Regan Reed, and pick up a puppy toy for our newest addition, a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. Island Treasure Toys is next, and the kid in both of us bubbles quickly to the surface. This toy store is chock-full of games, activities, dolls, and pretty much anything you’d want for the kid in your life. House of Logan, a clothing store for women and men, does not disappoint. We both spy jackets that are must-haves but as luck would have it they don’t have the one Byron wanted in his size.

12:00p.m. @ Café Crème All this browsing has us craving a pick-me-up, so we grab two almond milk lattes at Café Crème.

12:15 p.m. in downtown Bath Newly energized we head to Now You’re Cooking—a cook’s paradise. Every gadget, pan, or kitchen tool you can imagine is here, as is an incredible selection of wines, Maine-crafted beers, and some very tempting cheeses. Bath Farmers’ Market is next, but the hour is running late so many merchants are closing up shop. Yet—all is not lost! Behind the market is a building where a cadre of volunteers is slowly building a replica of the Virginia, a ship that was used to shuttle English settlers back to England in the 1700s. This project is a wonder to behold.

1:45 p.m. @ Starlight Café We stop at the Starlight Café for some home cooking and enjoy
a cup of very tasty Italian turkey soup. Byron has his with one of the best biscuits I’ve ever tasted.

2:40p.m. in Brunswick We drive over to Brunswick and wander the aisles of the Waterfront Flea Market. I stop to speak with David Kowalski of VinylJunky; we talk records and the recent passing of David Bowie. In Cabot Mill Antiques there are so many stalls and cabinets filled with things from so many eras; it’s truly an antique lover’s paradise. We keep exploring and hit the first- ever Bull Moose; we spend time browsing the records, CDs, books, and movies that line the store’s shelves. Next, we stop into Cool as a Moose, a store of clothes, toys, sunglasses, and gear that seems to be aimed at one thing—making you smile. If you’ve ever seen a tie-dyed t-shirt with a moose flashing a peace sign, it most likely came from here.

4:15 p.m. @ The Daniel We go back to the inn to catch the Patriots game at Coast.

8:00 p.m. @ El Camino This Mexican restaurant has been on our list for a long time. The décor is fun and the margaritas and food are very tasty. We opt for smoky tomato salsa and guacamole along with one of the evening’s special appetizers—baked dates stuffed with chorizo sausage.

SUNDAY
8:15 a.m. @ Frosty’s Donuts This MaineStreet sweet spot is celebrating 50 years of crafting donuts. I recommend the maple- glazed blueberry donut.

9:00 a.m. @ Wild Oats Bakery and Café Our donuts were only breakfast appetizers, so we head to Wild Oats in the Tontine Mall for a couple of breakfast panini.

10:30 a.m. @ Slot Car Junction The massive slot car set where anyone can race to his heart’s content intrigues us. We give the track a whirl. The cars are serious one- eighth-scale replicas of Grand Prix racers.

11:15a.m. @ Wyler’s & Local Market In Wyler’s, the eclectic store owned by Sylvia Wyler and Sharon Smiley, the selection of cards is amazing; the clothing and collection of Frye boots are very impressive. Walk a few steps across the store and enter Local Market, a shop that “offers quality goods for people who love to shop, cook, and eat,” as the website says. We’re in complete agreement.

12:15 p.m. @ Nest We are homebodies so our trip would not be complete without a stroll through this very well-curated home goods store. We check out everything from candles to rugs and couches.

12:45 p.m. @ Hatch This little store is filled with new and vintage items for kids. There’s a good amount of ephemera available, too. We are tempted to buy a few things but hold off for next time.

1:15 p.m. @ Morning Glory Natural Foods We stop into this store of organic and natural foods—think full-fledged grocery store with Earth-conscious items. We grab some groceries for the week ahead.

2:10 p.m. @ Androscoggin Swinging Bridge Last stop on this journey
is a walk across the Androscoggin Swinging Bridge. We stop at its center and look up the river that flows towards town. It’s an inspiring place to reflect on the time spent on our weekend and the warm welcomes we received from everyone we met along the way.