Issues → May/June 2007 → Travel →
Washington, Maine: Medomak Family Camp
(page 2 of 2)
"It's been great to share with my kids a place that I loved when I was their age," says Ralph, who lives in Stevenson, Maryland. "My wife, Linda, and I appreciate the sense of freedom here. Even when our kids were very young, they felt comfortable going off with a flashlight with their friends. They felt safe."
Meals and their fixings are included in the cost, but Medomak is truly a camp, not a resort. Guests bring their own linens, blankets, and towels from home. Everyone buses her own dishes. If you get lucky with a fishing pole, the kitchen will gladly serve up your catch.
Out of necessity, some of Medomak's old traditions have faded, but it's a place where new traditions take hold. For many years running, Ralph and David have led a sleepover in lean-tos by the water. "We light a big fire and a few adults and a pack of kids from various families join in," muses Ralph. "You're never too old for summer camp."
Medomak Family Camp
Set on 250 acres beside Washington Pond, about an hour and a half northeast of Portland, Medomak (med-AH-mick) began as a farming camp for city boys in 1904. In the 1960s, the camp expanded to include girls. A church operated the camp for a couple of decades, and in the early 1990s the property went up for sale. Former camper Holly Stone purchased it in 1994 and has ever since been upgrading the facilities and adapting the experience she so loved as a youth (and later, as head counselor) for whole families. Think: kayaking and archery, papermaking and tie-dyeing, home-cooked meals served family style. Massages and yoga, pickup games of softball and soccer. Mosquito bites and sing-alongs. Aromatherapy. Happy hour with wine and locally made goat cheese. [DETAILS]
Aimhi Lodge on Little Sebago Lake
At this secluded family lodge on Little Sebago Lake, time seems to stand still. The 23 lakeside cottages with screened porches, fireplaces, and docks open in early July. Relax; play tennis, shuffleboard, or horseshoes; and enjoy water sports. Amenities include home-cooked meals, a weekly lobster bake, supervised children’s activities, and early kids’ meals. [DETAILS]
Grant's Kennebago Camps
At this traditional sporting resort on Kennebago Lake, you’ll find a communal dining room, a main lodge, and 18 lakeside cabins. Each has its own dock space and 16-foot Rangeley boat with outboard motor (plus there are canoes, kayaks, Windsurfers, and sailboats). The resort is known as a fly-fishing destination; hikers, boaters, and swimmers will also find plenty to enjoy. [DETAILS]
Migis Lodge
Thirty-one fireplaced cabins and a main lodge are scattered along the shore of Sebago Lake, where a beach, canoes, waterskiing, and fishing await guests come mid-June when the lodge opens. The resort offers tons of kids’ activities, plus tennis on-site and a golf course nearby. [DETAILS]
Northern Outdoors
At The Forks Resort Center, nestled along the Kennebec River, choose from rooms in the main lodge, condo units, or pondside cabins. There’s a restaurant and brewery on-site. Family adventure packages feature rafting trips, rock climbing, guided hikes, and use of all facilities including kayaks, hot tub, and sports courts. [DETAILS]
Reader Comments
Registered users can add comments.
Registration is free, and just takes a moment.
Login or Register.