And with the price of gasoline skyrocketing, traveling with Moosehead Historical Tours, a division of the Moosehead Historical Museum, promises to be the best value of the year for short vacations and day trips.

Reservations are now being accepted for the following trips. Others are being offered, and the full itinerary may be had by requesting a brochure.

On June 14 there will be a "Portland Museum Tour," featuring stops at the waterfront Portland Harbor Museum and also the Victoria Mansion in downtown Portland. Each of these locations is special for those interested in harbor life or stately mansions. The cost for the day trip is $55 per person and includes transportation and admissions.

On June 30, the destination will be "Le Village des Defricheurs" (Pioneer Village) in Saint-Prosper, Quebec (near St. Georges). And no, you don't have to speak French to enjoy this trip! There will also be a guided tour of the Eglise de Ste-Georges, one of the prettiest Catholic churches in all of Quebec Province, as well as a stop at Father Nature, a large vegetable and fruit market known also for its cheeses, French pastries and breads. Another stop will be Fromage D'Or, a cheese manufacturer in St. Georges. The cost for this day trip will be $45 per person and includes transportation and admissions.

On July 8, a coastal get-away will include a scenic drive to the coast and seafood (or other choice) luncheon at the famous Cook's Lobster House on Bailey Island. The small island is also site of the world's only cribstone bridge (which we will cross). After lunch there will be a two-hour scenic boat cruise on Casco Bay to Portland. The cost of the day trip is $65, including lunch, transportation and boat ride.

On July 14, there will be a two hour train ride on the "Trains Touristique de Chaudiere-Appalache" (the tourist train) from Valley Junction, Quebec to St. Georges. The ride will include live entertainment and more. Stops will also be made at Father Nature and Fromage D'Or. The cost of the day trip is $60 per person and includes the train ride, entertainment, transportation and admissions.

July 22-23 will feature "The Saints" tour of St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, St. John and St. Steven, New Brunswick in conjunction with the 400th anniversary of the establishment of the first French settlement in North America (on the St. Croix River). We'll have lunch (included) in St. Andrews, enjoy a city tour of St. Andrews and have time for sightseeing or shopping before heading to St. John and overnight accommodations at the luxurious waterfront Hilton Hotel. There will be options for dinner theater, supper at Market Square and stolling the waterfront and seeing the city sights at night. The following day we'll have a city tour of St. John and visit the New Brunswick Provincial Museum (and have refreshments) before heading to St. Steven and a stop at the Ganong Chocolate Factory outlet store. The cost of this two-day trip is $175 per person, double occupancy, and includes transportation, accommodations, one meal, all admissions, city tours and refreshments.

The premiere trip of the summer will be a four day August 16-19 trip to Prince Edward Island. You'll visit parts of Canada's smallest province that many visitors don't see as your tour guide, Dr. Everett Parker and his wife, Janet, are frequent visitors to the island, and you'll be treated like family. You'll visit everywhere from North Cape to East End and points in between. There will be live theater (included), Green Gables, Cavendish, Charlottetown, and much more. The price has not been set but likely will be between $600 and $800 per person. Only a few seats remain on this trip, so call soon!

On September 8-9, you'll step back in time on an overnight trip to King's Landing and Fredericton, New Brunswick. There will be a city tour of the New Brunswick capital with a local guide, supper (included) at the Jubilee Buffet, overnight accommodations at the riverfront Holiday Inn, a riverboat cruise on the St. John River to Kings Landing, where docents in period costume will greet the boat and lead you on a tour of the restored settlement, a World Heritage Site. Lunch is included at Kings Landing in the historic Kings Head Inn. The cost is $195 per person and includes transportation, all admissions, two meals, accommodations and more.

All Moosehead Historical Tours trips include a professional tour guide and the Cyr Bus Line motorcoach is air-conditioned with toilet facilities.

For information, or to reserve seats (and many of these trips are already filling up), contact the Moosehead Historical Museum, 695-2909 or write to P.O. Box 1116, Greenville, ME 04441-1116. You may also email to history@midmaine.com.