I think a post about maple syrup is destined to become an annual tradition. As a treat, Andrew recently bought me a ticket to Portland, Maine, where we met for a restful weekend away. I have always had this vision of Maine in my head (pine trees, craggy ocean cliffs, salty people), and it never disappoints. We stayed in downtown Portland, where we intended to wander the streets, eat yummy food, drink
Allagash beer, and leave the car in its parking space. However, when we discovered we were in Portland on
Maine Maple Sunday, we could not resist visiting some of the nearby sugar shacks. As you have read in other years' posts, Andrew has become obsessed with sugar shacks (yikes!) and all things maple.
During this particular visit, we saw the more touristy display, where they had maple cotton candy, carriage rides, etc. The best part was they demonstrated how maple syrup was made long ago: in cast iron pots over an open fire!
While this was fun, we didn't really feel like we had an authentic Maine maple syrup experience - until we noticed a tiny sign advertising syrup on our way home. We stopped and found a family of 4 who tap trees in their own yard for a small-scale, home production...and, of course, the guy running the show had been a physicist/astronomer at Rutgers in his past life. We spent a good, long time grilling them about their methods, eating ice cream with syrup on top, imagining our own sugar shack, and laughing about the small world of astronomy.
I think a post about maple syrup is destined to become an annual tradition. As a treat, Andrew recently bought me a ticket to Portland, Maine, where we met for a restful weekend away. I have always had this vision of Maine in my head (pine trees, craggy ocean cliffs, salty people), and it never disappoints. We stayed in downtown Portland, where we intended to wander the streets, eat yummy food, drink Allagash beer, and leave the car in its parking space. However, when we discovered we were in Portland on Maine Maple Sunday, we could not resist visiting some of the nearby sugar shacks. As you have read in other years' posts, Andrew has become obsessed with sugar shacks (yikes!) and all things maple. 
During this particular visit, we saw the more touristy display, where they had maple cotton candy, carriage rides, etc. The best part was they demonstrated how maple syrup was made long ago: in cast iron pots over an open fire!
While this was fun, we didn't really feel like we had an authentic Maine maple syrup experience - until we noticed a tiny sign advertising syrup on our way home. We stopped and found a family of 4 who tap trees in their own yard for a small-scale, home production...and, of course, the guy running the show had been a physicist/astronomer at Rutgers in his past life. We spent a good, long time grilling them about their methods, eating ice cream with syrup on top, imagining our own sugar shack, and laughing about the small world of astronomy.
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