When you exit the Maine Turnpike into Falmouth, you can choose to travel north on Route 1 along the coast of Maine, or hop onto Route I-295, taking you on to Cumberland, Yarmouth and Freeport, just beyond the beautiful town of Falmouth.

Falmouth has much to offer the summer visitor in terms of coastline views, great shopping, splendid lush neighborhoods, great shopping and good dining. Vacationers who visit Falmouth enjoy strolling along the local harbor, visiting the historic Town Hall, browsing through the local shops, and walking through the city parks and recreation areas.

10 things to do:

1. Firebird and Paquita – 384 Route 1, Falmouth, 781-7672. This August, the Maine State Ballet is holding dual performances of the Russian fairytale “Firebird” and the Spanish ballet “Paquita.” Show times are August 3, 10 & 17 at 7 p.m. at the Maine State Ballet Theatre, 384 Route 1, Falmouth. Tickets are $15. Call to purchase tickets or go to www.mainestateballet.org.

2. Gilsland Farm Sanctuary and Environmental Center – 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth, 781-2330. Visit Gilsland Farm, situated on the Presumpscot River Estuary in Falmouth. The farm, which is a member of the Maine Audubon Society, boasts over two miles of trails, an organic community garden, meadows, orchards, and salt marsh. Also, visitors can shop at the Maine Audubon Nature Store, located inside the farm’s Environmental Center. Grounds are open seven days a week, from dawn to dusk. Store hours are Monday-Saturday, 9-5, and Sunday, 12-4.

www.maineaudubon.org/explore/centers/gilsland.shtml

3. Maine Audubon Weekly Bird Walks – The Maine Audubon Society will run Weekly Bird Walks this August at Gilsland Farm. Audubon staff member Eric Hynes will guide birdwatchers with all levels of experience on Thursdays, Aug. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 at 7 a.m. Birdwatcher will meet at 7 a.m. at Gilsland Farm. Some days a carpool to a nearby destination may be in order. The cost is $3 for members, $5 for non-members. No registration necessary.

4. The Eleventh Annual Arts and Fine Crafts show will be held on Saturday & Sunday, Aug. 18 & 19 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Gilsland Farm in Falmouth. More than 50 Maine craftspeople will be displaying for sale hand-woven clothing, baskets, jewelry, pottery, woodcarving and more. Suggested donation is $3. All donations will benefit the Maine Audubon Society. Visit www.audubonshow.com for more details.

5. Wheels at Work at Skyline Farm – 95 The Lane, North Yarmouth, 829-9203. Carriage Museum, Wheels at Work exhibit at Skyline Farm. Browse a collection of over 80 antique carriages at Skyline Farm in Yarmouth. Vehicles date back to the period between the late 18th century through the 1900s. This exhibit runs through October. Hours are Saturdays & Sundays from noon-3 p.m., or call to make an appointment. www.skylinefarm.org

6. LL Bean Summer Concert Series – 95 Main Street, Freeport. LL Bean Summer Concert Series at Discovery Park. Local and national performers are scheduled to play in the 9th Annual LL Bean Summer Concert series this August. These free shows are held on weekends at 7:30 p.m. Visit www.llbean.com for artist information.

Aug. 4 – Arlo Guthrie, Folk,

Aug. 11 – Great Big Sea, Celtic Rock,

Aug. 18 – Indigo Girls, Contemporary Folk

Aug. 25 – John Hiatt & Shawn Colvin, Solo Acoustic

7. Bliss Woods – North side of South Street, Freeport. Bliss Woods is an 86-acre woodlot just a mile and half from the shores of Casco Bay and the Harraseeket River. Preserved by the New England Forestry Foundation, the area is populated by red oak, white pine and red spruce trees, and dotted by wetlands and grassy clearings. The entrance is on South Street in Freeport. Visit www.newenglandforestry.org for more information and a forest map.

8. DeLorme’s Eartha – Just of exit 17 off 295 in Yarmouth. Visit DeLorme’s “Eartha” and see the world’s largest revolving and rotating globe! Eartha is housed in a three-story glass atrium and is marked by vivid colors and meticulous detail, illustrating vegetation levels and even major cities and roadways. Summer hours are seven days a week from 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Visit www.delorme.com for directions.

Live Jazz at Azure Cafa – 123 Main Street, Freeport, 865-1237. Live Jazz at Azure Cafa. Fridays and Saturdays in August, 6 p.m. An array of Maine jazz musicians will play throughout August at the Azure Cafa. Reservations are strongly encouraged. Call for schedule of performing artists.

Winslow Memorial Park – Winslow Memorial Park offers a beach, playground, boat launch and picnic areas, on a peninsula surrounded by Casco Bay and Harraseeket River. There is a small fee of 75 cents for residents, and $1.50 for non-residents. The park is open from 8 a.m.-sunset. The park is located in Freeport, at the end of Staples Point Road.

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