Frankieąs Café in Ellsworth Maine

Daytripping
Ellsworth / Trenton

Coming into Ellsworth, you'll see Sinclair Builders on your right. The guys here represent New England homes and have complete land/home deals available.

If you’re coming up Route One, you’ll get to the Twilite Motel before you hit downtown. Here you’ll find all the comforts of home, reasonable rates, and they’re open year round.

The Col. Black Mansion (1824-1828), also called Woodlawn, is a three story, brick Federal country house with a columned portico and balustrades that was built as a combination home and office by John Black, a young land agent from England. It took three years to build, as the bricks came by sea from Philadelphia and the skilled workmen from Boston. Three generations of the Black family lived in this house, and it remained virtually unchanged throughout their ownership. The estate, with all the original rich furnishings, decorative objects, and historical artifacts, was bequeathed to the public by the grandson of John Black in 1928 and has since been administered by the Hancock County Trustees of Public Reservations. Located at the rear of the house are a restored country garden and a carriage house filled with interesting old carriages and sleighs. It is open June 1 - Oct. 15, Monday-Saturday, 10-5. Admission.

The Congregational Church on State St. is a handsome example of early New England church architecture. Check out the Scandinavian motif on the nearby city hall. Across the street, the Tilsdale house, a classic Federal-style home built in 1817, has been converted into a modern public library.

The Grand Auditorium provides the Downeast region with a wide range of theatrical services - everything from live productions and classic films to special programs for children. The local Gilbert and Sullivan Society performs here. Call 207-667-9500.

The Grasshopper Shop (Ellsworth, Bangor, Camden) is unique for its wide variety, says co-owner Ken Schweikert. On hand are perhaps 1,500 different greeting cards, 2,500 different ear rings, 100 designs for T-shirts. Schweikert says he deals with at least 1,000 vendors.

You can find clothing for men, women and children at Vicki’s Second to None Thrift Shop on Main Street

Nearby, Main Street Citgo provides a broad range of automotive services, including Transtech, a service that replaces virtually every last drop of your transmission fluid. There's a mechanic on duty here seven days a week.

Locals say the State Street Market makes the best sub sandwiches in town. They also say that Charlie’s Pizza makes the best (and least expensive) pizzas in town. Our advice: Don’t follow the money; follow the locals. Charlie’s delivers anywhere in the area. Call 207/667-3189.

There are still a few old-fashioned bakeries, and Larry's Pastry is one of the best. When you get to the light, instead of going straight towards Bar Harbor, grab a left, and Larryâs on your immediate right.

The Monroe Salt Works plans to include seconds and irregulars at reduced prices in its new High Street store. The company is unique; it has taken the ancient technique of salt glazing and combined it with modern technology to produce stoneware both beautiful and durable. At the peak of firing, handfuls of rock salt are thrown into the white-hot kiln. The vaporized salt combines with the clay to produce an extraordinary finish. Call 207-667-3349.

At the Old Creamery Art and Antiques on Hancock Street, youâll find quality antiques and collectibles with much emphasis on Maine artisans and Maine-made products.

If you know what's good for you, you'll food shop at John Edwards Natural Foods on Main Street in Ellsworth. He stocks all the best stuff, and at prices you can afford. Call 207-667-9377. In the lower level, Josh the Artist has an interesting gallery.

Take the heat off your feet. Stop by and see the folks at Shoegazer, Ellsworth's newest shoe store.

Over on School Street, the Union River Gallery promises to provide Ellsworth serious, year-round exposure to fine art and fine crafts. Limited edition prints from renown artists and poster prints are available. The gallery also offers complete custom framing services. Call 207-667-7700.

Ellsworth has an excellent used book shop, The Book Shelf, on State Street. The owners here take their inventory seriously

If youâre heading toward Bar Harbor on High Street, the first shopping center you come to has a Shaws food market and a Reny's, where you can find some real bargains. You can send stuff home from Mail Boxes Etc. on High Street.

People come from miles around to visit FRANKIE’S CAFÉ on High Street. The food, the ambience, and the friendly service is unsurpassed.

Perhaps you'll feel better about getting sick away from home if you realize you can get excellent medical treatment without an appointment at MedNow on High Street in Ellsworth. They're open 363 days a year (they close Thanksgiving and Christmas) and provide in addition to urgent assistance comprehensive and on-going family and individual health care, including diagnostic x-rays and electrocardiograms. There are even fine laboratory facilities. They welcome medicare and Blue Shield patients, and Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. They also are members of the Trade Exchange. Call 207-667-4655 for more ßinformation.

L.L. Bean has a factory outlet in Ellsworth at which it offers returns and seconds at reduced prices as well as first-quality merchandise. (Nationally, factory outlets move around $6 billion worth of merchandise each year. New England has more outlets than any other region of the country.)

Town Auto can fix you up with a clean, late-model rental.

Across High Street from L.L. Bean is Reny's, a discount department store billing itself as the ultimate outlet.

You just might decide you want to stay here forever. No problem. Stop by Knowles Real Estate to line up shelter.

Shop 'n' Save says it has the lowest prescription prices around or triple your money back. Ames promises to meet the competition's sales prices every day.

The area where Rte 1 Downeast splits off Rte 3 to Mount Desert Island is know locally as the Triangle. In the nearby Maine Coast Mall, there is a Ames discount department store (Ames pledges to always match the sale prices of its competitors), and a McDonald's. Heading down towards MDI, you'll come to a Dexter Shoe and Cannon Towel outlets and a Wal Mart.

Near the junction of Routes 1 and 3, optician Jerry Jordan has been helping people see better for many years.

At the ACADIA VILLAGE RESORT, it is now possible to rent accommodations for short periods of time. There is a lot to like here—bedrooms for the kids, whirlpool baths, VCR’s, a playroom, a fitness room, a pool, tennis indoor or out. Once here you many end up staying put for your entire vacation.

If you stay on Route 1, you'll quickly come upon Eastland Lane which leads up to the Ellsworth Tennis Center. This place is a whole lot more than the name implies. Besides tennis, there are racketball and wallyball courts, a complete fitness center, a big childrenâs play area, a juice/espresso bar, and much more.

It cars excite you, check out the possibilities at EAST COAST PERFORMANCE on the Douglas Highway. Here you'll find all the add-on accessories to make your car or truck something really special.

Back on Route, Birdsacre Sanctuary, adjacent to the Stanwood Homestead Museum, is a 130-acre home to many species of birds. Often injured birds are brought here for rehabilitation. Open year-round, there are well-marked walking trails. (The museum, which is open mid-June to mid-October and charges a small fee, is a memorial to Cordelia J. Stanwood, ornithologist and author. Here there is an impressive collection of mounted bird specimens.) During the summer, Birdsacre presents a children's story hour that features meeting Ollie, Birdsacre's famous barred owl, a story about Ollie or Ms. Stanwood, a nature trail walk, and refreshments.

The Colonial Motor Lodge provides 10 percent discounts for Canadians and seniors.

The EAGLE'S LODGE MOTEL advertises that it has the best rates in town.

At the Maine-ly Maine Gift Shop, there is a sale room where items are marked down 50 to 70 percent. While you're there, check out The Old Salty.

The people at MAINE'S OWN TREATS offer free samples of the most popular of the 26 varieties of jams and jellies they make. This shop is billed as having the state's largest inventory of Maine-made food products. While you're there, you can pick up a free mail order brochure. Call 207-667-8888.

Needless to say, you want your business to reek of class. Well, there's no better way to achieve this than with a great sign, and signs don't come classier than those of Mohr.

Factory Outlet Cannon carries both first-run and irregular towels, sheets, bedspreads, comforters, etc. at 20 to 60 percent off regular retail. (New England is the factory outlet capital of the world; there are more than 1,200 such establishments.)

Turn left onto Rte 204, and very quickly you'll be at the Bar Harbor Golf Course, an 18-hole, public, championship layout that's tough enough to challenge the finest players. The 600-plus yard 18th hole is an"untouchable"-- from the back tees, nobody has ever reached it in two. Call 207-667-7505.

The Country Store of Trenton, Downeast Maine's largest gift center, stocks more than 50,000 gifts and souvenirs. Check out its full line of collectibles. In the same building, there is a Christmas store along with a card and party store. (Presently, they're offering a 20 percent discount on all paper goods.) Climb to the top of the silo for a view of Cadillac and the other mountains of MDI. Admission is free.

The ACADIA WORLD TRADING POST carries Downeast Maine’s largest selection of imports from Bali and other Indonesian islands.

Driving past the Acadia Zoo, you may see buffalo grazing in the pasture. The park, which charges an entrance fee, has more than 100 creatures, both local and exotic. It houses what probably is Maine's largest petting zoo. Pony rides are very inexpensive here.

The last time we were in The Blacksheep, we saw this classic Grateful Dead concert poster for just $6. Never know what you'll find there, all kinds of sheepskin stuff plus old tin advertising signs, genuine Indian moccasins, and wonderful old photos. This is where I buy my cool, outback leather hats. Definitely worth the stop.

J&P’s Farm Market is much more than fresh veggies. It opens in April with seasonal plants, provides lobster and other goodies throughout the summer, and stays open through the Christmas wreath season. Co-owner Peter Mayo insists he "strives for perfection" in everything he does.

You can get a nice room at the Sunrise Motel for $50 in peak season, which is the lowest rate from Bar Harbor to Bangor.

Down the road is Metalmagic, where Ed Libitski has put together Maine's largest collection of antique bicycles. He has around 175 of them, dating from 1870 to the early 1960s.

A great way to see Acadia National Park is from up above. Acadia Air, Inc. at the Hancock County Airport provides sight-seeing flights at reasonable prices.

Thompson Island, which separates Mount Desert Island and the mainland, has a well-stocked information center and a nice picnic area on saltwater.