On Saturday, August 2, Bret Michaels of Poison is bringing his “All Killer Hits… No Filler” tour to Bangor, Maine. Last year when he rolled into town on his Parti-Gras tour, I gave a few suggestions on things to do while in Maine. Although once again my backstage invite seems to have got lost in the mail, that won’t prevent me from giving Bret and his tour mates a few more ideas on how to spend their downtime in Down East Maine. After all Maine’s motto is “the way life should be!”
Bret Michaels, can I call you Bret? As a longtime fan, I feel like I can. Anyways, I know you take honoring veterans and those currently serving in the military very serious, because you come from a proud military family. While in Bangor, maybe you can make time to visit the Wreaths Across America Museum in Columbia Falls, Maine. You probably never heard of this small town, with its population of less than 500 people, located southwest of Machias. However, you have seen the heart of this town paying tribute at the Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, DC. Every December a convoy sets out from here to deliver tens of thousands of handmade wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery, as well as additional locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. Their headquarters has a museum that pays tribute to armed conflicts beginning with the American Revolution to the present. It is professionally done, a very moving experience, and I’m sure they would love to give you a tour.
After visiting there, you and your tour mates can let off some steam by taking your dirt bikes or ATVs for a ride along the Down East Sunrise Trail. The Down East Sunrise Trail is a multi-use trail consisting of 87 miles, and is the longest off-road trail on the East Coast Greenway. Following along a former railroad corridor, this wide, flat, easy to walk trail, runs through a natural landscape of forests and wetlands, over water crossings, alongside rivers, and skirts neighborhoods. Best yet dogs are allowed, so you can bring your dogs, including Bret Jr!
Vince Neil, I’ve seen the video too of Bret playing music with friends while driving an ATV. I can understand you wanting to skip the Down East Sunrise Trail, to make sure you’re in top form for your Vegas residency with Motley Crue in September. If you want to take a slower pace while in Maine, may I suggest a visit to a couple of Maine’s finest automotive museums. Motorland: Maine Classic Car Museum is located in Arundel, and boasts of an award winning collection of dozens of classic cars and “astounding cultural curiosities.” Alright, I have no clue what they mean by that, but I do know they have a great team of knowledgeable docents to show you around. Oh and as a collector, you may be interested in their Motorland showroom which has classic cars for sale. Or take a drive to the Owls Head Transportation Museum, in Owls Head, Maine. Their mission is to “collect, preserve, exhibit and operate pre-1940 aircraft, ground vehicles, engines and related technologies.” And yes, they also have an auction coming up with pre-and post-1940s vehicles to add to your collection.
Stephen Pearcy, don’t think I’ve left you out on the fun! As an old school fan of Ratt, I think it is time for you to come Out of the Cellar, and enjoy the sunrise. Be the first to greet the day at Quoddy Head State Park, the easternmost point of land in the United States, and first place the sun rises in the country. Alright so according to my calculations sunrise during your visit to Maine will be at 5:17 AM, which may either be too early to rise and too late to stay up after the show in Bangor. So perhaps instead you can Reach for the Sky, by taking an evening drive up Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park to watch the sunset. Reservations are needed, but I’m sure they could make an exception for you. But if you can’t get a reservation, there’s always catching a classic movie at the Levitt Theater in Ogunquit. Who knows maybe this historic theater could be featuring a movie starring your old video mate, Milton Berle!
And last but not least, Pete Evick, longtime guitarist for the Bret Michaels Band, I’ve saved one of the best Maine attractions for you. You’ve been everywhere on tour, but I bet you haven’t been to the world’s only cryptozoology museum! The International Cryptozoology Museum is in Portland, Maine, and has a “wide range of exhibitions from rare, one-of-a-kind scientific, zoological specimens to popular cultural homages to the relevant anthropological and psychological acknowledgements of the sightings and folk traditions to be found within hominology and cryptozoology.” That’s just fancy talk for they have stuff about Bigfoot and UFOs there! I’ve seen a few of your social media posts where you mention your interest in UFOs. Oh and you may want to join Stephen for that nighttime ride up Cadillac Mountain, because Maine is ranked at #5 for the most UFO sightings in the country! If you’ve got extra time on your hands, head on over to Aroostook County to the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, site of Maine’s most famous UFO abduction case!
Anyways Bret Michaels and friends, I hope you all have Nothin’ but a Good Time in Maine! Thanks for bringing your “All Killer Hits… No Filler” tour to Bangor!
