Banging On About Bangor

I love to go on adventures. One of my favorite places to visit is Bangor.  I have already written about Bangor once before, and I’m happy to do so again.  I visited Bangor a couple of times for this post, so there is plenty to read about in this post.

 

There is a ton of places to eat in Bangor.  One of the first places I went to was the Bangor Beer Company. Located right behind the Oriental Jade, this brewery has twelve beers on tap.  These beers are also available to take home with you in cans. Furthermore, people can order cocktails, red and white wine, along with mocktails and ciders.  Additionally, people can order sandwiches and burgers, along with sushi.  Appetizers like calamari and chicken wings and tenders are available.  I had the BBC Burger, the Bang Bang Shrimp and the Red Dragon Roll.  All of it was delicious, and I highly recommend it.

 

Patrons can sit at the picnic tables, at the seats at the bar, or at the booths.  There is even outdoor seating during the warmer months.  There are pinball machines where people can play while they wait for their food.  Finally, people can purchase merchandise to remember their time at The Bangor Beer Company.

 

For dinner I ended up at Miguel’s, a Mexican restaurant that was absolutely delicious.  Their drink menu is extensive, including cocktails, beer, cider, wine, non-alcoholic drinks, and flights of tequila.  There are appetizers like wings and avocado fries.  Tacos, burritos, salads and tacos can be found at Miquel’s. The décor is absolutely wonderful and looks like it was imported straight from Mexico.  Free chips and salsa are also provided while people wait for their food.  I had the Miguel’s street tacos, which came with two sides.  I had the refried beans and the Spanish rice.  All of it was very good.

 

Bangor offers a lot of recreational activities as well.  I started with the Zillman Art Museum. There are donated pieces, along with visiting artists.  Staff are on hand for any questions or if you’re looking for more information. Furthermore, there is information about the artists and paintings on the wall.  There are benches and stools throughout the museum so people can sit and take in the artwork.  There was even a painting by Diego Rivera at the museum.

 

I also visited the Bangor City Forest as well as the Orono Bog Walk.  You might say “but Merry Mainer, you’re writing about Bangor, not Orono!”  That is very true, however the Bog Walk starts in the Bangor City Forest, so I decided to include the Bog Walk in Bangor’s post.  The Forest is open year-round, while the Bog Walk is only open from May to November.

 

There are two parking lots, so there is plenty of parking spaces.  Furthermore, there are benches and picnic tables scattered throughout the forest as well.  There’s only one bathroom in the forest, so make sure to plan accordingly.  There are trail maps throughout the forest.  The maps are numbered or lettered so you know where you are.  Information about the forest is also posted throughout the forest.  The bog has seats throughout the trail to rest or take in the scenery as well as information about the bog.  Dogs are allowed in the forest, but not in the bog, so make sure to plan around that.

 

Finally, I went to the Coleman Land Transportation Museum. The museum includes a brief history of Bangor. The museum has a large collection of land vehicles, including old snowplows, fire trucks, trains, and farming equipment.  There is a small section dedicated to military history, along with a Vietnam War Memorial outside.

 

I love Maine quite a bit.  There is so much to do and I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface.  If you want to learn more about The Bangor Beer Company, you can click here.  If you want to do more research on Miquel’s you can click here.  If you want to go to Zillman Art Museum you can click here.  Finally, if you want to visit the forest and the bog, you can click here and here.  As always, I have to ask, where should I go to next?

Bangor, The City of Kings

When I first started writing this blog, I knew I wanted to go to Bangor. Celebrated horror writer, Stephen King, famously lives in Bangor and one of Maine’s two casinos, the Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway, is located in Bangor. After booking my room, I began the two hour drive to Bangor.

The Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway is situated on prime real estate.  Located right off the highway on Main Street, the facility catches your eye almost immediately.  There is a parking garage attached to the casino and hotel, so parking is plentiful.  Access to the casino and the lobby can be found on the first floor of the parking complex, which makes checking in and gaming that much easier.  The rooms are spacious and clean, and there are a variety of price points for rooms.  I highly recommend getting a room with a view of the Penobscot River, as it’s truly a sight to behold.

The casino is located right off the lobby. There are slot machines and tables available for those looking for a night of gaming. There is a bar located in the casino, so one can enjoy a drink while gambling. Maine state law dictates that in order to play the games, you have to be twenty-one or older, so make sure you bring a valid ID. While the slots are fun, I tend to stick to the table games. I particularly enjoy Black Jack, as that is the game I’m most familiar with. Regardless if you win or lose, you’re bound to have fun!

There are two places to eat at the hotel. The first is the Take 2 Snack Bar, where someone can order breakfast items.  Take 2 Snack Bar is typically closed for the winter, so make sure you check to see if the snack bar is open during your stay.  The second eatery is called Hops House 99. It’s a decently sized restaurant with seats at the bar and tables available.  The food is good with plenty of offerings, and an extensive drink menu.  The hotel offers a five dollar credit for each night that you stay. You can use the credit at Take 2 Snack Bar, Hops House 99, and the little continence store located by receptions.

As mentioned before, Stephen King resides in Bangor. Furthermore, the town of Derry, a location mentioned frequently in King’s books, is based on Bangor. Because of this, there is a company that does a Stephen King tour of the city of Bangor, and the surrounding area. The tour includes locations from King’s books, and a visit to all of King’s philanthropic endeavors. The tour company picks guests up at a variety of locations, including a number of hotels. The tour lasts three hours, so there is a bathroom break about halfway through the tour.

My travels also took me to the Mount Hope Cemetery. As the second oldest garden cemetery in the country, there is a ton of history here. Al Brady, who was a gangster in the 1930’s is buried here. Local legend states that if you don’t leave a penny on his tombstone, his vengeful spirit will haunt you. Furthermore, a U.S. Vice President, ten Congressmen, two U.S. Ambassadors, four Governors of Maine, and many more are buried here. Additionally, Stephen King found inspiration for two of his characters names here at Mount Hope Cemetery. Those names are Georgie, from the novel It, and Carrie, from the book Carrie.

When I first told a coworker that I was heading to Bangor, she got very excited. She told me I had to see the Duck of Justice. After some probing, I found that the Duck of Justice was a stuffed duck, and it was effectively Bangor PD’s mascot. While the police department’s door is locked, they do have an intercom system. If you let them know that you’re there to see the Duck, they will let you in and show you to the Duck.

Finally, I highly recommend visiting the Paul Bunyan statue. Bangor is the supposed birthplace of Bunyan, and the statue was erected in 1959. Fans of the movie IT:Chapter 2 might recognize the statue as the one that attacks Richie in the park.

I finished up my trip with a visit to The Oriental Jade. If this restaurant sounds familiar, it’s because King based The Jade of the Orient, an eatery in the book It, on The Oriental Jade. There is a massive drink menu, including soft drinks, craft beer, and cocktails. Patrons can eat sushi and typical Chinese fare. Seating is plentiful, with seats at the bar, booths, and tables. There is beautiful décor, with statues and vases scattered throughout the restaurant. I had the Calamari Sesame Chicken with Pork Fried Rice and Crab Rangoon.

Bangor has so much to offer, that I barely scratched the surface. If you want to learn more about the casino and hotel, click here. If you want to book a Stephen King tour, click here. If you want to visit the Mount Hope Cemetery, click here. Finally, if you want to eat at the Oriental Jade, click here. As this post comes to a conclusion, I have to ask, where should I go to next?