MAINE

On Maple Sunday, March 25, many of the state's sugar shacks will have open houses with sugarmaking demonstrations and other activities. For other times, call ahead. For info on the 85 sugar shacks that welcome guests: Maine.gov, http://www.mainefoodandfarms.com/, or Maine Office of Tourism,888-624-6345, http://www.visitmaine.com/.

A few sample shacks:

· Oakhill Alpaca Ranch (2 Oak Hill Road, Shapleigh, 207-793-3414, http://www.oakhill-ranch.com/) has tours of both its sugarmaking and alpaca-raising operations and has a country store whose goods include maple products and clothing knit from alpaca wool.

· Breakneck Ridge Farm (160 Mountain Rd., Blanchard Township, 866-637-9787, http://www.breakneckridgefarm.com/) is a combination maple sugar and bison farm. On Maple Sunday, a chuck wagon will be serving buffalo burgers and buffalo chili in addition to maple-related products.

· Cooper's Maple Products (81 Chute Rd., South Windham, 207-892-7276) offers a pancake breakfast and maple syrup ice cream and has a greenhouse, miniature horses, cattle, peacocks and ostriches.

· Goranson Farm (250 River Rd., Dresden, 207-737-8834) will have live music in the greenhouse and free maple sundaes during syrup-making demonstrations.

· Grandpa Joes Sugar House (103 Murch Rd., North Baldwin, http://www.grandpajoes.net/) has a cook-off at noon. Bring a dish with Maine maple syrup to compete for best recipe prizes. Barbecue lunch will be prepared on-site by the North Baldwin Fire Auxiliary.

· Megquier Hill Farm (260 Megquier Hill Rd., Poland, 207-998-5485) will have hayrides, a pancake breakfast, maple ice cream and taffy poured on snow.