Our first year as the Travelin’ Maine(rs) delivered great experiences, fabulous hospitality and interesting lessons. Looking back, we marvel at the number of wonderful restaurants, inns and events our state offers — and the people responsible for them. In the 50 columns published this year, we told you about some of them. Today, we share our favorites of 2011.

Secretary of State Charlie Summers will be hosting a book signing by Maine author Professor Elizabeth D. Leonard on December 13 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Maine State Archives Search Room.

This week’s best sellers.

In time for the holiday season, the 1977 autobiography of mystery writer Agatha Christie has been reissued with an introduction by her grandson, Matthew Prichard.

KING HUGO’S HUGE EGO is one of the funniest children’s books of the year, a hilarious rhyming tale about a “mini-monarch” whose kingly ego nearly causes his head to explode.

We’re the fast-food nation, grabbing what we can at the drive-through and eating in the car. Even many sit-down restaurants count on getting us in and out in a mere 60 minutes. A leisurely dinner in a comfortable relaxing setting with good company is worth savoring. And that’s just what we did at Rockland’s aptly named Main Street restaurant, In Good Company, where chef/owner Melody Wolfhertz delivers a unique and flavorful dining experience to her hometown friends, fans and visitors.

It was always the fragile balance of opposing forces that made Diane Keaton’s face so remarkable — those tilted melancholy eyes above that frequent and infectious smile. She seemed in a perpetual state of emotional contradiction, which is one of the things that made her such a perfect match, at least on film, for Woody Allen, who as history’s most hopeful pessimist is a master juggler himself.

Bangor is an impressive and vibrant city, with a gorgeous riverfront, many good restaurants and lots to do. This year we expanded beyond our traditional “go-to” eatery — Sea Dog Brewing Co. — to try other restaurants, including Geaghan’s Pub. And when we travel in Maine, we always look for lodging from Bangor’s Lafayette family. They offer a range of accommodations featuring great service, plenty of amenities and real comfort.

In April 1775, at the outbreak of the American Revolution, the British Army arrogantly considered the colonial militiamen nothing more than “a rabble in arms,” timid farmers who would run away at the first sight of redcoat bayonets. The British even concluded their mauling at Lexington and Concord was a fluke, but two months later in Boston, the Battle of Bunker Hill proved them wrong — the Americans not only could fight, they could fight well.