36 | belfast bay & beyond 2010
PHO
TOS:
Kevin Kra
t
K
a
Today you'll find a quiet little town with a
secluded beach and nature trails for exploring.
Bring a picnic lunch, and spend all day explor-
ing this coastal hideaway.
See & Do Sampler: Visit Cape Jellison, a
1,600-acre peninsula that juts into Penobscot
Bay. Fort Point State Park, established in 1836,
includes the colonial-era Fort Pownall as well
as the Fort Point Lighthouse Station. You can
spend your time sailing and swimming at Sandy
Point Beach and Nature Area.
SWANVILLE
· www.swanville.org
7 miles north of Belfast on Rte. 141
The dominant feature in laid-back Swanville
is beautiful Swan Lake, good for boating, fish-
ing, and ice fishing. The town holds an annual
ice-out contest, the winning date for which
can range from March through May. Swanville
children attend Nickerson Elementary School
within the town, and locals shop at the nearby
Swan Lake Grocery. Swan Lake Work Camp
is a community-wide project cosponsored
by Swanville Community Church that offers
home-repair assistance to about 80 elderly, dis-
abled, and disadvantaged individuals each year.
Other notable businesses include a new gun
shop and some accomplished potters and other
craftspeople.
See & Do Sampler: Swan Lake offers good
fishing for trout and landlocked salmon, and
Swan Lake State Park, at the lake's northern
end, has barbecues, a playground, and a sandy
beach with a lifeguard. It's also the site of the
annual July 4 boat parade, for which people
whimsically decorate their small craft. Swan
Lake empties into the Goose River, which also
offers good fishing. You can launch a canoe on
the Goose and paddle all the way to Belfast.
THORNDIKE
· www.thorndikeme.com
19 miles northwest of Belfast on Rte. 220
Thorndike is mostly quiet and traditional,
but the brand-new Mt. View School is a
multimillion-dollar, state-of-the-art facility
that serves the 11 towns of SAD 3. Bryant
Stove and Music, on Stovepipe Alley, restores
antique coal and wood stoves, and the store is
a veritable museum of old heating and cooking
technology. The town maintains a recreation
department and volunteer fire department and
boasts an especially low tax rate.
See & Do Sampler: Halfmoon Stream and
other small waterways provide good fishing.
You can picnic, canoe, or launch a small boat in
the well-maintained town park.
TROY
· www.maine.gov/local/waldo/troy
25 miles northwest of Belfast on Rte. 202
Scenic views and open land are keys to the
town's character. From Ward Hill Road, Troy
Center Road, and Bangor Road/Routes 9 and
202, there are 180-degree panoramas that
encompass the Dixmont Mountains to the east,
and north all the way to Mt. Katahdin. Large
dairy farms and several horse fields add to the
sense of open space. The state-managed 1,000-
acre Carlton Pond Waterfowl Production Area,
off Route 220, provides nesting habitat for
endangered black terns. Last Chance Ranch
Maine puts alienated and at-risk youth together
with abandoned and abused horses to help
improve the lives of both. The Garcelon House
acts as an incubator for agriculture and cottage
industries and promotes outdoor recreation,
social gatherings, and historic documentation
of the community. The B.B. Cook House serves
as a community clubhouse and can be rented
for private functions. And you can grab a sand-
wich at the Troy General Store on Route 9.
See & Do Sampler: Carlton Pond and Bog
offers excellent flatwater canoeing and bird
watching, as well as opportunities for moose
sightings. More water recreation opportunities
exist on Unity Pond. Deer and turkey make for
good hunting on town lands, maps for which are
available at the town office on Rogers Road.
UNITY
· www.unitymaine.org
24 miles northwest of Belfast on Rte. 202
Unity is home to Unity College, one of
America's premier environmental colleges,
Common
Ground Fair
Unity
The Waldo County YMCA...
it's a great place to belong!
Waldo County YMCA
157 Lincolnville Avenue, Belfast
338-4598 www.waldocountyymca.org
The Waldo County YMCA has programs and activities
for people of all ages and abilities. General group
and specialty tness classes are available as well as
a wide selection of youth and adult sports programs.
The facility includes an indoor walk/jog track,
air-conditioned tness center and wellness/aerobic
classroom, gymnasium, teen room, and family friendly
shower and changing facilities. Come in and visit the
NEW Tom & Sally Savage Pool Complex!