Family vacationing in Maine

Floating down the wild Kennebec River in Northern Maine can be done both in, and out, of the rafts. This photo is from the upper part of the river with grade 4 and 5 rapids. The lower half is ideal for children under 10 and no one has ever been bounced out in that half. See Dave & Dave, the two best cooks in Northern Maine preparing your after-rafting feast, click this image.

"When you come to The Forks in Maine, take it."

By Walter Brooks, photos by Pat Brooks

The first night at Magic Falls we were treated to the first of our three Lobster & Clam bakes during our visit this summer. Click photos to see full size

The wild Kennebec can look serene also.

Will watches them launch his raft.

Marina & Will float with toes and nose above the water. Click these photos to see them full size.

The lodge overlloks the Dead River, and has a great bike trail for miles along this mountain stream.

The great Algonquin Round Table wit, Robert Benchley the elder, once said, "There are two classes of travel;

1. First Class, and
2. With Children.

Mr. Benchley had obviously never heard of the Linikin Bay Resort in Booth Bay or Magic Falls River Rafting in The Forks, Maine, where it's possible to have both in the same holiday.

We discovered this when we decided to spend ten days in Maine during August with our two grand kids, Will 8 and Marina 5.

It was probably the most invigorating holiday we ever had. The photos give you an idea of the grandeur, so be sure to click on them all to see them full size.

First to Moxie Mountain at The Forks

We searched the web and with the help from Wende Gray, a very accommodating PR person, we found a special corner of The Pine Tree State nestled up against the Canadian border near Jackman at the foot of Moxie Mountain.

The Magic Falls Rafting company sits on the banks of the Dead River a quarter mile off the Kennebec River in the town of The Forks, population 30.

The Kennebec River Gorge is one of the most beautiful in America with steep rocky walls and ledges on both sides. Many waves on the upper river are four to six feet high.

As you paddle into rapids with names like Big Mama, White Washer, and the infamous Magic Falls you know you've experienced the best white river rafting can offer.

The wild ride begins

Spray washed over the edge of our raft, soaking and cooling us in the hot August heat. We kept our eyes on our guide. "Both sides paddle ahead!" he shouted. Then a second later, "Rest!"

We rode into Taster, the first rapid on the Kennebec. With a swift, straight motion our boat was up and into it, riding the wave. The excitement of a roller coaster ride spread through us. It was incredible!

Another splash and up again. You can ride through rapids with names Three Little Sisters and the Alleyway. But your greatest challenge await you at the Magic Falls rapids. After you paddle into the foaming maelstrom your raft will leap upwards for the rest of the river's rush to the lower, calmer half of today's rafting adventure.

After that, with the rapids behind you could can jump in and float with the current while you feel the power of the river, taking you downstream.

"Nose and toes! Nose and toes!"

Marshall's is a swell place to teach a 5-year-old how to shoot pool. Click these photos to enlarge.

The inn was THE hangout for the lumberjacks who floated the logs down the Kennebec until it was stopped. The floors are covered with the holes made by a thousand spiked shoes. They have clean rooms for $25 a night. Click image to enlarge.

The Folks is a tad south of Jackman ME & Quebec. The population is 30. Click the sign to see bigger.

If your swimming has only been in the ocean and lakes, being carried swiftly down a river will be a whole new pleasure. You don't have to lift a flipper or finger - simply go with the flow.

But as our two Maine Guides kept reminding the kids, float with your nose and toes above the waves to avoid being caught by a rock crevice or submerged log.

After our raft trip which had to wait for the Florida Power & Light Company dam to release it's daily deluge, we were served a delicious meal of rice pilaf, and choice of strip steak or grilled chicken, cole slaw, roll, lemonade and homemade dessert. A fish or vegetable meal is available on request. On our trip we were served an incredible, homemake rapberry pie.

This was followed by a slide and video show of your trip.

After lunch Dave Neddeau and his guides will drive you the start of a half mile nature trail leading to the 90-foot Moxie Falls where you can take photos and swim in the pools above the falls. After a refreshing dip in the cool water, you'll get a back-road safari in their van, but be on the lookout for wildlife including moose, deer, eagles and osprey.

Warning: Moose Crossing ahead!

In fact, the wonderful breakfast cook Blanche (who made that raspberry pie) told us about the four elderly New Jersey ladies who came into the camp after stopping at the moose warning with a flashing light signal north of town.

They said, "we stopped there for a half hour and not a single moose ever crossed!"

Blanche also makes a raspberry coffee cake fresh every morning to die for, and makes much better coffee than Dave.

Man does not live by steak and lobster alone

The Magic Falls package we bought included three breakfasts, two lunches and that great lobster/clam bake, so on the other two nights we drove less than a mile to the Marshall Inn which the Magic Falls' folks sold this year to one of their Maine Guides, Chris Hewke.

Our grand kids are used to five star resorts, and think the "outdoors" is something to suffer through between your suite and the limo, but they adored both the Magic Falls Dead River Lodge and Marshall's Inn.

The former was like a good motel rather than a camp, and Marshall's had the kind of food kids love.

Between the meatball subs and the pizzas, the wonderful southwest salad and the great desserts, we all feasted for what seemed like prices of two decades ago.

Coming Next Week:

Spending a week at Linekin Bay Resort, a Maine oceanfront camp for both kids and adults.