Coastal Kids Preschool celebrates after being selected by readers of Down East Magazine as the top preschool in Maine. (Photo courtesy Mimi Reeves)
Readers of Down East magazine selected more than 20 Lincoln County businesses, organizations, and locations for the publication’s annual Best of Maine list.
Winners of the Best of Maine awards are selected in one of two categories: Readers’ Choice or Editors’ Choice. Ideas for the annual Editor’s Choices are collected throughout the year as the magazine’s editors and contributors travel the state. The Readers’ Choice nominees are voted on by Down East readers.
In the Travel & Play category, readers chose Hardy Boat in New Harbor as the Best Boat Cruise/Excursion. Boothbay Harbor Country Club was voted the Best Golf Course, while Boothbay Harbor was selected Best Harbor. Readers also voted Spruce Point Inn, of Boothbay Harbor, as the Best Hotel/Resort and selected Boothbay Region Land Trust as the Best Land Trust.
In the Home & Style category, Renys, of Newcastle, was once again selected as Best Bargain Store, while Sherman’s, which has locations in Boothbay Harbor and Damariscotta, was named Best Bookstore. Women of Substance, of Damariscotta, won Best Boutique, while readers voted Dow Furniture, of Waldoboro, to be the Best Furniture Store. Knickerbocker Group, of Boothbay, was named both Best Architect and Best Builder/General Contractor, while Moose Crossing, of Waldoboro, tied with Skillins, of Cumberland, for Best Nursery.
DaPonte String Quartet, of Damariscotta, was voted the Best Band or Performing Artist by readers in the Arts & Media category. Lincoln Theater, of Damariscotta, was selected Best Movie Theater, and Coastal Kids Preschool, of Damariscotta, was named top preschool.
Nine Lincoln County businesses received recognition by readers in the Food & Drink category. Biscay Orchards, of Damariscotta, was named Best Apple Orchard, while Crissy’s Breakfast & Coffee Bar, of Damariscotta, was selected for Best Breakfast/Brunch. Moody’s Diner, of Waldoboro, was named Best Diner. Rising Tide Community Market, of Damariscotta, was selected Best Food Co-op.
Readers selected Split Rock Distilling, of Newcastle, as Best Distillery and voted that Red’s Eats, of Wiscasset, serves the Best Lobster Roll. The Harbor Room, of New Harbor, was named Best New Restaurant, and Pemaquid oysters and Glidden Point oysters, both farmed on the Damariscotta River, tied for Best Oyster Variety.
The full list of Best of Maine winners is in the July issue of Down East.
