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Naples, Maine: the Lakes Region's Winter Playground

January 22, 2008 - NAPLES -- The pretty little lakeside town of Naples, known as "the heart of the Lakes Region," has long been a hugely popular destination for tourists - during the summer months. But at less than 30 miles from Portland, and with plenty of recreational opportunities at any time of the year, Naples offers a perfect getaway destination during the winter, too.

"The great thing is, if you're looking for peace and quiet, you can certainly find it here when things have settled down for the winter," says Buddy Marcum, who owns and operates the Inn at Long Lake, just off Naples' famous Causeway. "So many of our guests just want to sit by the fire, have a glass of wine or a cup of hot chocolate, and relax. But if you're looking for activity, there's plenty of that, too, such as Nordic and downhill skiiing, snowmobiling, ice skating, snowshoeing and ice fishing. Also, there are events like the Naples Winter Carnival in February, which gets bigger and bigger. Fireworks and everything, it's a lot of fun."

Naples, which is named after the city in Italy, has the great geographic advantage of being at the intersection of Long Lake and Brandy Pond. Winter visitors will appreciate its proximity not only to Greater Portland but also to ski areas including Shawnee Peak (about 15 minutes away, in Bridgton) and the outlet shopping mecca of North Conway, N.H., (about 35 minutes away).

Another advantage of a winter visit: In fine weather, driving time is much shorter than during the road-clogged summer months, no matter which direction you're traveling along Route 302.

A century and more ago, Naples had a huge casino, and accommodated many among the throngs of summer visitors in the grand, John Calvin Stevens-designed Bay of Naples Inn, with its 80 bedrooms. That hotel was razed in 1964. Today, local lodgings are on a smaller (but no less delightful) scale. In addition to Marcum's 16-room inn, the historic Augustus Bove House (which was known as the Hotel Naples from 1850 to 1939, and visited by luminaries including Enrico Caruso and Joseph P. Kennedy) offers a first-rate destination for a night or weekend getaway.

Dining options include the Inn at Long Lake's restaurant, and Bray's Brewpub, housed in a mansard-roofed Victorian farmhouse.

Around town Jan. 19-27. Mushers Bowl Winter Carnivol. Dog sled rides, ice sculptures, biathlon and more. For more information, call the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce at 647-3472 or visit www.mainelakeschamber.com Feb. 16-17.

Ninth Annual Naples Winter Carnival. Naples Town Dock, Route 302. Poker rally, snow sculptures, helicopter rides, fireworks and more. For more informotion, call at 318-6965 or 693-6832. Feb. 22-24.

Sebago Lake Rotary Derbyfest 2008. Ice fishing derby and Winterfest featuring kids' derby, ice sculptures. Polar Ice Dip, ice mall, cross country ski race, ice shack contest, more. Point Sebago Resort, Casco. For more information, see v/ww.icefishingderby.com or call 1-888-lCE-FLAG.

Five Fields Farm Route 107, South Bridgton 04009 647-2425 www.fivefieldsfarmx-cski.com info@fivefieldsfarmx-cski.com.

Sebago Lake State Park U.S. Route 302 between Naples and South Casco.

www.maine.gov/doc/parks/ Shawnee Peak Ski Area 647-8444 119 Mountain Road, Bridgton. www.shawneepeak.com ski@shawneepeak.com.

SOURCE: PORTLAND PRESS-HERALD

DATE: 01-05-2008


Lakes: Brandy Pond, Long Lake
Regions: Sebago


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