Thanksgiving is here again and for this road trip we’d like to first take you on a little historic voyage back into Maine history. The French were the first to make landfall in Maine, in the Bar Harbor area. That was in 1599, and they later moved on to Nova Scotia. But accounts indicate that while here, they had their own “Thanksgiving,” which even included one of their men, Lescarbo, writing a play to entertain the others.

The British made their debut in Maine in August of 1607 at what is known as the Popham Colony, named after Sir John Popham, Lord Chief Justice of England. They arrived in two boats, and quickly constructed shelter for the 45 residents, a storehouse and church. They too had a day on which they gave thanks for their situation. This was the first thanksgiving in Maine for the British settlers. That winter their storehouse burned, and the following August the remaining people left Popham aboard the ship Virginia, which they built while here. That was the first ship built in America.

Today people have a variety of Thanksgiving traditions. For most, it is a day to give thanks for the abundance we have and for our freedoms. But over the years specific traditions have come and gone, and new ones have arisen. Now we have the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, football games, tables heaped with a fat turkey with all the trimmings, family and friends around us, and let’s not forget the movies.

But not everyone observes the day with those traditions, while others look to make new traditions of their own. If you’re one of those, you might want to partake of some classic Maine traditions. One is the high school football game that’s been held in Portland every Thanksgiving day since 1908. Or the Portland Thanksgiving Day 4 Miler run, which is in its 30th year. Another Maine tradition is L.L. Bean’s holiday celebration. Bean is the only large store open on that day — years ago it was grandfathered from Maine’s Blue Law, which requires any store larger than 5,000 square feet to close on certain holidays, Thanksgiving being one of them.

So for those of you who want to get out on Nov. 24, we’ve put together a few destinations for you to consider. Go start a tradition of your own this year.

Popham Colony

Popham Beach

Phippsburg

If you visit the colony site you can walk up a short way to Fort Baldwin, or view Fort Popham from the original grounds of the first British colony in Maine and think back on their first Thanksgiving. For more information on the history of the first Thanksgiving in Maine visit this website: http://www.maine.gov/tools/whatsnew/index.php?topic=AgTODAYNewsletter&id=26030&v=Article

Kennebec Tavern

119 Commercial St.

Bath

442-9636

www.kennebectavern.com

If you are in the area and want to experience Thanksgiving on the waterfront what better way than to visit the Kennebec Tavern and enjoy an all-you-can-eat turkey dinner while enjoying views of the Kennebec River.

L.L. Bean Northern Lights Celebration

95 Main St.

Freeport

755-2326

www.llbean.com

You can get in some shopping in Freeport and at the store, and then linger to see the lights come on outside. You missed the lighting of their gigantic Christmas tree on Nov. 18, but the celebration continues until New Year’s Eve, so take a ride down at night and enjoy all the splendor of the decorations. While there are no special events scheduled for Thanksgiving Day, events are planned throughout the holiday season. For a listing of this and more November festivals visit this website: http://www.maine.info/events/festivals.php

Harraseeket Inn

162 Main St.

Freeport

865-9377

www.harraseeketinn.com

If you get hungry while in Freeport stop in at the Harraseeket Inn and treat yourself to their all-you-can-eat Thanksgiving buffet. Reservations are required. Or visit the Broad Arrow Tavern for a brew. Bring an ornament with you and help them start a new tradition of a Visitor’s Christmas Tree at the Inn.

Freeport Conversation Trust/Sayles Field

Freeport

869-1012

http://www.freeportconservationtrust.org/

If you are looking for a nice way to walk off some of your Thanksgiving meal check out the trails available in South Freeport. Visit their website for maps and information, and remember that parts of this land is privately owned, so be considerate of the rules for use.

Fitzpatrick Stadium

Behind the Portland Exposition Building at 239 Park Ave.

Portland

Feel like watching a live football game instead of one on TV? Then take part in the long-standing (since 1908) football game held on Thanksgiving Day between rivals Portland High School Bulldogs and Deering High School Rams, held at Fitzpatrick Stadium.

Portland Thanksgiving Day 4 Miler

1 City Center

Portland

http://portlandthanksgiving4miler-ehometext.eventbrite.com/

This is another Maine tradition: the 30th annual Thanksgiving Day run in Portland. For more information or to sign up for the run go to the website. There are already more than 1,700 people signed up for this race, so it’s no small event by any means. Don’t want to run? Then just go watch! People will meet at 8:30 a.m. at Monument Square for the start of the race at 9 a.m.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!