Best places to stop when you have to go

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by mollysmiles

lol.... when I was on the road a lot working in social services this was actually shared information between workers!

For our area--
the Mobil station in Calais--great food too...
the Mobil in Pembroke, old store but clean and the people are really nice, cheaper gas than Calais and Eastport
the store at Whiting Corner, usually cheaper gas than in Pembroke, people are nice, old store with creaky wooden floors--I personally love those floors....
Machias would be the Irving--Mobil is very nice but can be difficult to get out of--if you're hungry though go to the Mobil--great sandwiches and pizza
Harrington--the Irving that sits at the corner of Rt 1 hmmm, and what? 182? will look that up....
Milbridge is the grocery store, don't remember the name
Columbia Falls--the store at the top of the hill, don't remember the name there either, it's the grocery store
going the other way from Calais....
Woodland (Baileyville) the Irving, if you can find it, or the IGA...
Princeton the Mobil....
further up that way I'm not sure--there used to be an Irving at the corner in Topsfield where you turn down to Vanceboro, that's not there anymore....
Along Rt 9 it would be the Airline Restaurant, or the rest stop that is right next door.... the restaurant has great burgers, and you'll always have good local conversations to either listen to or throw your hat in on...
Also, Tradewinds, on the corner of 46 and 9....

you know, it just occurred to me.... there really are other things I'd rather be knowledgeable about....

im surprised we havent run into each other!!

the grocery store in columbia falls is called....elmers
and the store in baileyville, ive been in that one also. nice folks in both stores

milbridge store is called bayside

and yes , its 182 towards cherryfield (the irving)

if you go to jonesport, brand new grocery store there, called manafords (on the right, before you get into town ,,awesome store!! and clean restrooms!!

[Draconiator]

When we go south to Bangor, or even further south, we ALWAYS stop at the gas station close to Shaws Plaza. It's on the corner of Hogan Rd. and Springer Dr. if anyone knows where that is. It's close to a Burger King too, so we eat lunch there and either continue moseying on south or stick around.

If you're headed up north, well then there's NO PLACE better than the Houlton Big Stop. There's a restaurant there too that serves up the best food ever, IMO.

If you want to save fuel if you're coming to the Valley area, the Irving station just off the Sherman exit/Rt-11 exit is a nice little place to unwind a bit before continuing your drive. Nice and quiet.

I don't reccomend this one, since it burns a little more fuel if you take this route north, but if you get off at Route 212 towards Smyrna Mills, there's another great Irving station there.

These are all from personal experiences, and if you guys use these we MAY have inadvertantly bumped into one another and didn't know it.

[Casper1212]

We travel a lot and we've learned some simple rules for finding a place "to go." Rest areas are becoming less and less safe. You might have noticed that they are being phased out on most interstate systems and security has been established in some states. We've found that the larger convenience stores that welcome trucks and RVs usually have better facilities. They're well lit and you can fuel up yourself and your vehicles, if need be. It's safe enough to take a short walk and get some air before you get back in the car. We have to walk our dogs and the extra bit of exercise makes a big difference.

[palval1]

Originally Posted by tcrackly

Then it must be McDonalds. That was my first thought, but truthfully , all those fast food places look the same to me. I never get more than coffee there.

I hear ya, tcracky. I never go to "those places" unless I have "to go". I bring my own travelin' food n' water....safer that way.

[palval1]

Sorry, tcrackLy....misspelled your name in that last message.