Did you check the back of your Maine Windjammer Cruises calendar?  

Only three weeks left to book your Windjammer cruise and receive your discount.  Up to 15%!  The Schooners are getting ready to sail and we’d love to welcome you aboard!

Mention our Calendar offer when making a new reservation on the Grace Bailey or Mercantile by April 1^st and receive a 5% discount. DOUBLE your discount for pre-season and fall specials. If you’ve sailed with us before, as an “Old Salt” you receive an additional 5% discount on the above offer.

www.mainewindjammercruises.com    Phone – - 800-736-7981

 Mention St. Patrick’s Day when you reserve by March 17^th and we’ll send you our Maine Windjammer Cruises Cookbook full of favorite home and schooner recipes written by Ann Williamson.

Here are two recipes from Ann’s cookbook to help you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.

IRISH SODA BREAD

4 C       flour

1t         salt

3T        baking powder 

1T        baking soda

¼ C      sugar

1/8 t    caraway seeds

1 lg      egg

1 ¾ C   buttermilk (milk & a little lemon juice)

½ C      raisins, softened in hot water & drained

Topping

¼ C      butter

2T        sugar

Preheat oven to 350^O

Mix flour, salt baking powder, baking soda, sugar and caraway seeds.  Cut in Butter. Add egg and milk, Knead mixture.

Divide mixture in half, and add raisins to one portion. Mix and form into 2 small, round loaves.

Place loaves on a cookie sheet. With the back of a knife, make a cross on top of loaves.  Bake for 45-60 minutes until lightly browned.

 Melt the half stick of butter and pour over crosses while bread is hot.  Sprinkle with sugar.

NEW ENGLAND BOILED DINNER (Corned Beef & Cabbage)

5 lbs       corned beef brisket

1 lg         onion, diced

4             garlic cloves, diced

¼ t          black pepper, ground

6             carrots, peeled and sliced

6             potatoes, peeled & cut into chunks

1 med    cabbage, quartered

Place brisket in large pot with onion, garlic and pepper.  Cover with water. Boil on low heat for 2-3 hours until fork tender.  Add water if needed.

30 minutes before serving, add carrots, potatoes and cabbage.  Drain and serve.

 Happy St. Patrick’s Day and hope to see you this summer!

Land Ho: Windjammer Guests Make Landfall in Camden, Maine

Camden, MAINE – With half of the Maine Windjammer Association’s fleet of historic sailing vessels based in Camden Harbor, it’s no surprise they’ve partnered with Camden’s Premier Inns to offer a special sailing package that includes a cruise with extra time ashore to enjoy this sea- and mountain-side community.

 The Camden Inn & Cruise Package offers a windjammer cruise along with two nights of hospitality at one of 11 inns just a stone’s throw from the windjammer docks.  Passes to the Camden Hills State Park are also included, or guests can opt to take a docent-guided tour of the 300-acre Beech Hill Preserve in nearby Rockport. Miles of well-groomed trails offer excellent hiking as well as spectacular views of Camden Harbor, Penobscot Bay and the islands beyond. One day, the innkeepers will provide a “Specialty of Maine” gourmet picnic lunch featuring lobster rolls and lots of local goodies.

Visitors can schedule their Camden shore leave either before or after their cruise. The 12 vessels in the windjammer fleet offer three- to six-day cruises from May to October. Guests are invited to participate in all shipboard activities, from taking a turn at the wheel to raising and lowering sails.  All of the windjammers have a well-earned reputation for outstanding sailing adventures and delicious down-home cooking.  One night everyone goes ashore for a traditional island lobster bake.

 The town of Camden has been nicknamed “the Jewel” of the Maine coast, and is truly a picture-perfect seaside community.  “Where the mountains meet the sea,” visitors encounter nostalgic charm surrounding the many fine restaurants, art galleries, and boutiques.   Historic architecture is prevalent in the dozens of 19^th-century homes;  the widow’s walks perched atop them are reminiscent of a time when the wives of sea captains paced within, awaiting the first glimpse of home-bound sails on the horizon.  A short distance from the center of the village is the entrance to Camden Hills State Park, with over 30 miles of hiking trails.  Mt. Battie is one of the mountains that slopes gently from the water’s edge; it offers an auto-road to its peak for beautiful panoramic views of Penobscot Bay and rolling hills to the north and west. 

 In addition to the all-inclusive windjammer cruise, this package offers excellent value and the following features:

•  Two consecutive nights accommodations in a queen room with private bath at one of Camden’s Premier Inns.

 •  Full breakfast each day and full use of Inn amenities.

 •  Two-day pass to Camden Hills State Park or guided hike up Beech Hill.

•  Gourmet picnic lunch with lobster rolls and other local goodies.

       Camden Inn & Cruise Packages  start at $599 per person, based on double occupancy, for a five-night vacation.  Solo traveler rates are available. Upgraded rooms and extended cruise or inn stays are also available at an additional charge, subject to availability.

 For more information about the Camden Inn & Cruise Package, contact the Innkeeper at Camden Windward House Bed and Breakfast 207-236-9656.

WIndward House Fair Trade Coffee

“I developed a fondness for Maine cooking,…and to the end of my days the simple foods…will seem to me more delicious than all the “specialties of the house” that can be produced by the world’s most famous chefs.” -Kenneth Roberts from Trending Into Maine, Grandma’s Kitchen”

Our American Traditional Breakfast Menu features fresh local Maine ingredients and traditional comfort foods made from scratch. You can choose to sit alone or with others. Each morning the dining room is aglow with the morning sun and candlight.  The only Bed and Breakfast in Camden that offers  you choices in the morning! Our Breakfast Menu Includes Our Standard Maine Fresh Offerings:

• Windward House Blend Fair Trade Shade Grown Organic Blend Coffee,
• Our menu breakfast starts with fresh fruit, and your choice of:
• Buttermilk, Blueberry, or Orange Yogurt Pancakes
• Windward House French Toast
• Crisp Belgium Waffles
• Two Farm Fresh Eggs Cooked to Order served with Toast, Wheat, Rye or White
• A selection of granola and cold cereal or oatmeal.
• All orders include crisp applewood smoked bacon or grilled country sausage. We serve pure Maine organic maple syrup.We will do our best to accomodate any special requests.
• Beverages Choices Include: Orange, Cranberry, V-8 Juice, Windward House Blend Coffee and a selection of  hot tea.

In addition to these standard menu items we offer daily specials.

• Some past daily specials have included huevos rancheros, traditional eggs benedict, Windward Benedict (popovers, fresh hollandaise and poached eggs), Blueberry Yogurt Waffles, Avocado & Aged Cheddar Omellettes, and many more items that feature fresh Maine ingredients.
• Gluten Free & vegetarian offerings available on request.  Gluten Free pancakes and waffles are always available.

Wiscaset to Appleton via Camden and Back to Camden

• From Wiscasset take US 1 north to Newcastle and into the shop-lined streets of Damariscotta.
• Take 130 south to the fishing village of New Harbor and the lighthouse and crashing surf at Pemaquid Point. In Pemaquid, visit the Fisherman’s Museum, For William Henry and the Colonial Pemaquid Restoration.
• Take 32 north to Waldoboro, then 220 south to Friendship; go northeast on 97 and Upper Cross Road through Cushing to Thomaston. Drive down the St. George Peninsula to Port Clyde; pick up US 1 to Rockland. While there have a great lunch at the Brown Bag or if you really want a treat, Amalfi on the Water, and maybe check out the Farnsworth Museum.
• Then take the next short hop up Route 1 to Camden -we can’t say enough nice things about that Camden!
• Check in at the Camden Windward House Bed & Breakfast, have some delicious old fashioned home baked blueberry muffins or cappuccino muffins or oatmeal raisin cookies, and Windward House Blend coffee or perhaps some English tea. Then after you are fully refreshed, travel east to Lincolnville for dramatic foliage views of Mt. Battie.
• If you are in a hiking mood, pull off at the Carriage Trail, or the Maiden’s Cliff both right turns off Mountain Street, and enjoy a vista that changes as you climb showing the world to be a many faceted gem of red gold auburn, farm fields and far off hills and mountains, until reaching the top when you also have the quilt of the Atlantic broken with the green feathered islands of the bay.
• Take 173 west to Lincolnville Center, then south on 235 to Hope;
• northwest on 105 to 131; then south on 105/131 through Appleton to 17 at Union.
• Turn left on 17 and head back to 90.
• Turn left on Simonton, and right on Mechanic street and head back into Camden.

Fall Foliage Report Map and Hotline

For up to date reports and a map that indicates by colors where the foliage is peaking in the state of Maine, check out their official fall foliage website! Once you’ve driven our tour, you can even send them your own fall foliage report. It’s fun.

Check out this great video done by the state with beautiful scenes of Maine of midcoast fall foliage season.

• “March in the Mud”—The March mud season can be surprisingly fun in Camden. Get out and exercise. Hike those trails.  Take a guided eco-tour of our wondrous land preserves, parks, and mountains. At the end of the day, look forward to the warm glow of a fireplace, the soothing depths of a Jacuzzi or whirlpool tub, or a special spa service provided the Windward House Massage Therapist. Or simply curl up and read a good book. Special starts at $225.00 includes, hiking maps, 1 solo 1hr massage and 1 night lodging. Eco Guided tour additional fee and will be quoted when enquired about.
• “Maine Maple Sunday”—March 28, 2010 Join Maine’s maple producers each spring as they celebrate Maine Maple Sunday, the day when sugar makers around the state open their sugarhouses for the public to join them in this rite of spring—making maple syrup. Here’s your chance to see first-hand how 40 gallons of maple sap become just one gallon of that golden delight you pour over hot pancakes…or ice cream. Most sugarhouses offer free tasting and a live demonstration of how syrup is produced, from tap to table. Many offer a variety of other treats and activities, including syrup on pancakes or ice cream, sugarbush tours, sleigh or wagon rides, and lots more. Many sugarhouses arrange special tours and demonstrations for groups on other days as well. Check back for Maine Map Maps link.

 Windward House promises sweet delights—pancakes or waffles—with maple syrup from their favorite provider; afternoon refreshments with a maple theme; a map to local sugarhouse events; a maple-sweet goodie bag,  Book now!! Special starts at $140.00, 1 night lodging and maplesweet goodie bag and maps. 

All of our rooms come, complimentary, with Camden’s only B&B full menu breakfast and afternoon tea with home made baked goodies. Even though this is an historic 1854 house, we include all amenities, in addition to private baths in all rooms, all rooms have air conditioning, cable television. Some have king beds, most have queen beds. There is one room, the Crows Nest suite, which may be made up as two twins. Some of the rooms sleep an additional person on a pullout sofa for an additional charge of $15. Some of the rooms have private entrances, claw foot tubs, single person jacuzzi tubs fireplaces and private decks. Our common areas include a hot water dispenser for hot drinks, and tea, baked goodies, an intimate guest bar and deck, with a guest computer, and ice machine. We call this Historic Charm with Modern Amenities. Check the individual room descriptions or ask before booking!

Information on In Room Massage

Click on availability -$110.00 DURING WINTER & Spring 2009-2010 Summer, Fall 2010 $200.00:

Room Rates & Availability

Room Rates & Availability Click on Availability to check pricing $99.00 -$110.00 DURING WINTER & Spring 2009-2010 Summer & Fall 2010: $190.00

Each room can also be reserved separately.
Please note, if two bedrooms are reserved, the rate is typically twice the rate for the season as would be reflected in the quote online, if you enter that you are booking both bedrooms in the suite, or more than 2 people. Double occupancy rate is for a single bedroom.

Click on Availability to check pricing -$110.00 in Winter and Spring, Summer and Fall 2010 – $125.00

Room Rates & Availability

Information on In Room Massage

Room Rates & AvailabilityClick on Availability to check pricing $99.00 – $110.00 IN WINTER 2009-2010, Summer and Fall 2010: $190.00