The Kennebec Explorer 2015 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 36

Photo by: Dean Abramson
Experience Something New in Old Hallowell
Hallowell rests on a slow-moving stretch of the Kennebec River
below Augusta, but it’s not a place that feels like it’s resting,
day or night. A key center of art and culture for the entire region,
Hallowell should sit atop your list of places to include during
a visit to Maine’s Kennebec Valley.
The eclectic variety of restaurants and shops Hallowell has
set into its tidy and welcoming package — Maine’s tiniest city
and a National Historic District to boot — make visitors feel
simultaneously quaint and urbane. With an abundance of
Federalist and Victorian structures, the city is well deserving
of a more in-depth visit.
Window Shopping is a Must
Water Street is an ideal base camp for visiting Hallowell; simply
walk up one side then down the other, stopping in along the way
at any of the many wonderful and welcoming shops. Take your
pick from a deep collection of antique and vintage shops where
you can certainly find something you “have to have.”
Hallowell also offers an excellent selection of boutiques, book
shops and gift stores — plus all the locally owned places
you’d expect to find on the main drag of a busy community.
Then make a departure into a world of sweets with a trip
to Scrummy Afters.
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Forks Up!
When you’re ready to eat, it’s time to make some decisions. There
are so many favorites here, it’s impossible to be impartial! Savor
some freshly baked deliciousness at Slate’s. Celebrate over some
of Maine’s top pints at The Maine House or try the Liberal Cup.
From Hattie’s Chowder House at one end of town all the way to
a tasty Thai dinner at Café de Bangkok at the other, the plates
on offer in Hallowell deserve your attention.
Out On the Town
Next, while other communities are rolling up the sidewalks,
Hallowell is rolling out the welcome mat. Maine’s antique river
port seems anything but old when the moon comes out. Catch
a stage performance at Gaslight Theater, chat with a local
artist at Harlow Gallery or just catch an acoustic set or rock
show around town. We hope to see you out.
And Hobbits, Too!
While most of the action is on Water Street, the downtown
doesn’t have a monopoly on “cool.” During the warmer months
visit the cool and shady Hobbitland, a wooded parklike area
at Vaughan Homestead, just a short walk from town. Here
mossy green paths transport you to another, more peaceful
time and place.