BY JEANETTE LENOIR
It’s that time of year when everybody wants to go on vacation and enjoy this long awaited summer. Here’s a suggestion for those looking for a simple, relaxing good time away from politics, the media and the internet feed; Old Orchard Beach in Maine.
There’s a lot going on in the world and it can be overwhelming. The beauty of Old Orchard Beach is that it highlights the peacefulness and simple joys that life has to offer; a quiet beach, good food, friendly people, easy going drivers and room to walk around the small beach town. Oh, and everything lobster and seafood that’ll make you consider a lap band after you’re all done. I love Old Orchard Beach. In many ways it’s a town that seems to pay no mind to the fact that it’s part of a larger country in social and political turmoil thanks to the divisive and hostile administration of President Trump. You won’t see any political signs of any kind. No one seems to be interested in taking sides, argue over or even talk about politics. At least not publicly at any of the establishments we visited. I didn’t hear one mention of the president, immigration, Fox News or CNN. And what a relieve it was to simply enjoy being. Something that’s very rare these days.
Old Orchard Beach has a stillness that’s incredibly welcoming and therapeutic in our hectic times. But, don’t let the stillness fool you. There’s plenty to do! The colorful shops and restaurants along East Grand Avenue will keep you busy walking and browsing all over the place. The daily Carnival with old school rides, games and food galore provides a dreamy nostalgia of days long gone. The Pier is packed with a variety of shops and the entertainment tourists travel there for. Old Orchard Beach reminds me of times when things weren’t so intense and aggressive. And people weren’t quick to call the cops for ridiculous reasons on minorities like a young boy accidentally mowing a piece of a neighbors lawn, a family visiting their neighborhood pool, or a little girl selling water to earn money to go to Disney Land. Civility resides here.
The summer season there is relatively short; Memorial Day to Labor Day. The town hibernates with its remaining 8,000 residents that call Old Orchard Beach home year round. Another reason to consider visiting the area is its proximity to Portland. The short 30-minute drive there is worth the reward of experiencing a lovely and quaint city. The marina there is definitely worth a visit too if you don’t mind waiting for a seat. It’s a popular spot. And the seasonal workers mainly from the Caribbean add to the beauty of the local culture. There are plenty of pubs to visit and some even brew their own beer. Commercial Street offers all the shopping, eating and drinking you can handle. It’s a great little port town.
In Old Orchard Beach we stayed at the Alouette Beach Resort. They offer a variety of room rates and room sizes. It’s truly the perfect summer vacation getaway, especially for families and folks looking to have an affordable and relaxing good time.
