80 Great Things to Do in Maine indoors and outdoors, in all seasons

Scenice drives, antique shopping, crafts, comedy, cruises, children's museums, chocolate, horse racing, history trails, woods walks, and more for vacation adventure.

Featured Listings

Maine Windjammer Association

Sailing from Ports in Rockland, Rockport and Camden, ME Toll-Free: 800-807-WIND

If you’re looking to explore where the big ships can’t go, a Maine windjammer can get you there.

Maine and the Windjammer fleet go hand in hand. Nowhere else in North America will you find such a large, historic fleet of traditional sailing vessels. Thousands of wild and pristine islands dot the Maine coast, providing unlimited anchorages for the windjammers. Guests are invited to participate in all shipboard activities, from taking a turn at the wheel to raising and lowering sails. The 13 ships in the Maine Windjammer Association have a well-earned reputation for outstanding sailing adventures and delicious down-home cooking. One night everyone goes ashore for a traditional island lobster bake. Wildlife abounds, with bald eagles, porpoises and seals sighted on every cruise. In the fleet’s home waters of Penobscot Bay, there are hundreds of anchorages just waiting to be explored. Three- to six-day cruises available from May through October. Departures from Camden and Rockland.
Informational Listings Courtesy of VisitNewEngland.com
Acadia/Bar Harbor/Down East Aroostook Augusta/Kennebec
Greater Portland & Casco Bay Maine Highlands Mid Coast
South Coast Western Lakes/Mountains
Acadia/Bar Harbor/Down East top of listings

Acadia Beauty Along a Loopy Drive

Acadia Byway travels through Acadia National Park and the historic villages of Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island. Along this route, the rugged Maine coast and old-growth forests remain much as they were when the island was described by Samuel de Champlain in 1604. Connected to the mainland by a bridge, Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park are among the most beautiful places in New England. Travelers can bike on miles of interconnected carriage roads. This byway follows Route 3 into Bar Harbor, then follows the park loop road thereafter. Every bit as wonderful in winter as in summer. Phone: 207-667-7131
Click to view map Acadia Byway Map

Antiques of Every Description
Wrapped in a Historic Building

St. Croix Valley Antiques & Auctions has everything you want-- a unique shop overflowing with all sorts of good things. This treasure-filled shop at 4 Monroe Street in the heart of downtown Calais consists of 3,000 square feet of space filled to the gunnels with drop leaf tables, kitchen collectibles, stained glass windows, china cabinets, depression glass, chandeliers, Indian baskets, estate jewelry, armoires, quilts, washstands. Even the building has a history. Originally a hotel on Monroe Street, the building was destroyed the fire in the 1800s. The building was rebuilt, and, over time, has served as a mortuary, a restaurant, an apartment building, and a bowling alley. Antiques wait for you in the arms of history. Phone: 207-454-7704.

Cheap Treats for the Body, Inside and Out

If you are traveling internationally, you may buy items without having to pay either the sales tax (called value added tax) or the customs duties assessed by the United States – primarily on liquor and tobacco but also with many other products. The savings from duty-free shopping can be significant. At Duty Free Americas in Calais (40 Main Street), and in Vanceboro (119 Water Street), shoppers can find discounted prices on premium spirits, tobacco, fragrances, cosmetics, watches, jewelry, leather goods, gifts for children, and more. Phone: Calais store at 207-454-3476 or 207-454-3404; Vanceboro store at 207-788-3989.

Chiliheads, Wake Up

For a dose of heat from the inside out, catch up to the Saucy Contessa, a hot sauce store at 31 Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor. The Contessa was opened on Culebra Island just off Puerto Rico many years ago and its retail outlet in Boothbay Harbor is open April through Christmas. If you are a chilihead and love award winning hot sauce, barbecue sauce, salsa or spice rubs, the Saucy Contessa is the place for you. Saucy Contessa is fanatical about hot peppers, chiles, red chili sauce and even the Ghost Pepper (Naga Jolokia). The store sells all types of hot sauce including the hottest hot sauce in the world. Chiliheads who count Scoville units will be impressed by the vast array of heat-filled sauces and hot sauce gifts. Phone: 201-350-4165.

Clocks, with Labradors on the Side

Once upon a time in the far off enchanted land of Bar Harbor there lived a clockmaker known all over the land for his expertise and knowledge of the intricate workings of clocks, watches and barometers. This clockmaker goes by the name of Alexander H. Phillips and his place of business is 110 Main Street. You can visit him there from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays to learn of his history and talents and to see a sample of his wares. (the store is also home and guest petting parlor to Finn and Whiskey, a yellow and a chocolate Lab.) Phone: 207-288-3684.

Where’s the Big Chicken?

From 19th Century armoires to books on Zen, the Big Chicken Barn on Route 1 between Bucksport and Ellsworth caters to the interests of today's collector of antiques and paper collectibles. Almost 22,000 square feet of floor space holds an ever- changing and diverse selection of intriguing items displayed for unhurried and unhindered browsing. This is Maine’s largest antiquarian bookstore and antiques gallery, and a really fun place to browse and hunt for Maine memorabilia. Phone: 207- 667-7308.
Aroostook top of listings

Aroostook by Snowmobile

To say the snowmobile trails in Maine are some of the finest in the country would be an understatement at best. Maine’s Interconnected Trail System (ITS) is provided to snowmobilers through the joint effort of the Maine Snowmobile Association, headquartered in Augusta, and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Department of Conservation. The organization’s website provides maps and directions, information on trail conditions and planning a trip, calendars of snowmobiling events, directories of snowmobiling clubs, and much more. You can get a detailed map of the Interconnected Trail System by contacting the Maine Snowmobile Association at PO Box 80, Augusta, 04332. Phone: 207-622-6983

Cozy Cabins Welcome You
After a Day in the Big Outdoors

If you want to get outdoors and also want a nearby, warm, and cozy retreat, get in touch with Cochran Camps on Cochran Lake in New Limerick, 10 miles east of Houlton. A rental cabin on the lake sleeps six people. Cochran is a quiet, secluded, lake with easy access to bird watching, hiking, swimming, canoeing, golfing, skiing, mountain climbing, biking, snowmobiling, ATV riding, hunting, and fishing. For evenings, it is just a short drive to a movie theater or shopping in Houlton. Cabins operate year-round. In winter, snowmobiling is king. Groomed trails reach the front door; guided snowmobiling tours are offered. The managers have been sledding in Maine, New Brunswick and Quebec for over 30 years. Phone: 207-532-7336
Augusta/Kennebec top of listings

Augusta by Snowmobile

To say the snowmobile trails in Maine are some of the finest in the country would be an understatement at best. Maine’s Interconnected Trail System (ITS) is provided to snowmobilers through the joint effort of the Maine Snowmobile Association, headquartered in Augusta, and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Department of Conservation. The organization’s website provides maps and directions, information on trail conditions and planning a trip, calendars of snowmobiling events, directories of snowmobiling clubs, and much more. You can get a detailed map of the Interconnected Trail System by contacting the Maine Snowmobile Association at PO Box 80, Augusta, 04332. Phone: 207-622-6983

Cinema With a Stamp of Greatness

People who love movies: do yourselves a favor and get out of those multiplexes that look and feel like a walk through the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. New England has a healthy scattering of proudly small, independent movie theaters that show new releases along with independent films, shorts, and other cinematic art that doesn’t necessarily include exploding helicopter scenes. Among these is Railroad Square Cinema at 17 Railroad Square in Waterville. Host of the Maine International Film Festival, this cinema hosts new movies along with art house and independent films. It was saluted by the Sundance Film Institute as one of only a few select theaters in the country included in its Art House Project. Phone: 207-873-6526.

Comedy, Latin Jazz, Drama: Johnson Hall Has It All

The Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center presents a wide range of artist programs -- a live music series, children’s events, outdoor performances in the park, and more -- in the historic Johnson Hall Performing Arts building (1864) at 280 Water Street in downtown Gardiner. What’s in store for 2012? Music and drama from Primo Cubano, Lynn Deeves, Fred Garbo INflatable Theater, Castlebay, and the plays "Can U Here Me Know?" and "A Journey to Oz." Phone: 207-582-7144.

Crafty, Welcoming, and Always Something New

Center for Maine Craft at 24 Service Plaza Drive in West Gardiner offers works by over 300 Maine craft artists, musicians, authors, illustrators and artisan food producers. The center maintains a constant calendar of educational and exciting programming. Keep checked the website to learn about exhibitions, events, studio days, music, barbecues, and more. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (closes 8 p.m. in the summer). Phone: 207-588-0021.

Empire Grill’s Famous Muffin

Fans of novelist Richard Russo and his wonderful story, Empire Falls, will be pleased to learn that a version of the restaurant that was the centerpiece of the novel actually exists. The Empire Grill on 105 Water Street in Skowhegan was renovated in 2003 to serve as the set of the HBO mini-series Empire Falls, based on the book. The Grill now has a tradition of giving away a muffin every day to an unsuspecting customer. Grill owner Kerry Pomelow told Yankee magazine, “a lot of people want the muffin … just to be able to say they got it.” Phone: 207-474-3440.

Everyone Loves the Lower Prices

If you are traveling internationally, you may buy items without having to pay either the sales tax (called value added tax) or the customs duties assessed by the United States – primarily on liquor and tobacco but also with many other products. The savings from duty-free shopping can be significant. At Duty Free Americas in Jackman (2621 Route 201 North), shoppers can find discounted prices on premium spirits, wine, beer and tobacco as well as designer fragrances, cosmetics, fashion watches, crystal, jewelry, leather goods, gifts for children, and more. Currency exchange is available. Phone: 207-668-7738.

If We Ain’t Got it, You Don’t Need It

Hussey’s General Store at 510 Ridge Road in Windsor claims “If We Ain’t Got it, You Don’t Need It.” With 30,000 square feet of retail space, this family-owned business has been selling essentials to Augusta-Kennebec communities since 1923. Essentials? By that, Hussey’s means groceries, clothing, new and used guns, fishing equipment, hardware, furniture, appliances, gifts, collectibles, wedding dresses, used books, tools, feed and grain, and so much more. This has to be one of the standards of the general store business, anywhere. You need anything? Come and challenge the Hussey’s tradition. Open daily. Phone: 207-445-2511.

Run Along the River

Get out and put those legs to use! The 6.5-mile Kennebec River Rail Trail welcomes locals and visitors alike for walking, running, cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, and dog walking. The trail parallels the existing rail bed along the Kennebec River, and stretches from Augusta Maine's Waterfront Park, through the towns of Hallowell and Farmingdale, to its conclusion in the city of Gardiner, Maine. The trail starts at the Maine State Housing Authority parking lot on Water Street in Augusta and follows the river down to the Hannaford Parking Lot in Gardiner. About a half mile of the trail goes through downtown Hallowell on Water Street or Route 201.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.
Greater Portland & Casco Bay top of listings

A Place to Play

You cannot count on perfect beach weather for every vacation day. When chill or rain arrives during a family Peek-A-Boo Children’s Center at Dana Warp Mill, 90 Bridge Street in Westbrook provides an indoor play space that will keep young children happily occupied for hours. The 5,000-square-foot play space includes an indoor playground; pirate ship; reading nook; doll nursery; construction zone; music room; nature corner; doll house; play kitchen; large ball pit; nature room; art & science area; infants’ space; and many safe and clean toys Open daily, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Phone: 207-854-3500.

Art for Art’s Sake

Portland Museum of Art at 7 Congress Square in Portland displays more than 17,000 objects in three historic buildings showcasing three centuries of art and architecture. The collection contains fine and decorative works of art from the 18th century to the present, including paintings, sculpture, prints, photography, glass and ceramics, artists' books, furniture, and much more. Works by artists such as Frederic Edwin Church, Marsden Hartley, Winslow Homer, Rockwell Kent, Louise Nevelson, John Singer Sargent, Andrew Wyeth, and Marguerite Zorach showcase the artistic heritage of the United States and Maine. European art is represented by Mary Cassatt, Edgar Degas, René Magritte, Claude Monet, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, among others. Open year-round. Phone: 207-775-6148.

Art in Glass at the Phoenix

The Phoenix Studio, at 630 Forest Avenue in Portland, is a family-owned and -operated business that has been making fine stained glass art for more than 100 years. That alone is a clue that a visit here will turn up something of beauty that could make a great gift or a beautiful, custom-designed addition to your home. Stained and leaded glass windows serve a much greater function than just decoration. Rather than closing off a room with curtains or blinds, you can create an awesome view with a stained glass window. Drop in to the gallery in the historic Woodfords section of the city from Monday through Saturday. Hours vary seasonally. Phone: 207-733-4154.

Athletic Skill Is Optional for Snow Tubing

People who are not skilled athletes or even very coordinated can have a blast in the snow by trying out snow tubing – the winter outdoor sport that is skyrocketing in popularity. Seacoast Snow Park at 932 Roosevelt Trail (Route 302) in Windham offers 12 lanes of intense snow tubing and Express lift to the top. Sledding is especially magical at night. The hillside is lit and music fills the air. All single riders must be over 48 inches tall. Riders between 36 and 48 inches tall must ride in a double tube with an adult. Snowmaking provides near-constant tubing. Arcade, snack bar. Phone: 207-892-5952.

Children Stretch Their Imaginations
at This Touch-Friendly Museum

Located in the Arts District of downtown Portland, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine at 142 Free Street, features a wide variety of interactive exhibits and activities for children and families. Among the exhibits are What about Whales?, a replica of a diner, a dress-up theater, toddle park, a fire truck; a care repair shop; a farm, a space shuttle, a tide pool touch tank and much more. The Camera Obscura is a mystery and a delight. Open year-round, daily, but closed Mondays from Labor Day to Memorial Day. Phone: 207-828-1234.

Chocolates, With a Giant Moose on the Side..

Of course, the first thing you hear about Len Libby’s Chocolates in Scarborough is the notorious Lenny the Moose, a life-size chocolate moose sculpted form 1700 pounds of milk chocolate who stands at the entrance to greet visitors. Lenny has fans and admirers from all over the world, but the story of this business only begins with the giant maitre d’. The store opened in 1926, making fine chocolate by hand and serving it in many forms, from candies to ice cream to giant lollipops, and more. Guests are invited to tour the property and watch the chocolate-making in progress. There is a huge selection of tempting chocolate treats in the retail store for traveling and for gifts for friends back home. Phone: 207- 883-4897.

Direction: Up

If external forces like rain or winter threaten to derail your outdoor fun on the Maine coast, turn to Maine Rock Gym, an indoor wall-climbing facility made for weather-neutral fun and physical exertion. The gym, at 127 Marginal Way in Portland, is highly controlled area that allows people of all ages to safely experience the sport of rock climbing and to take it to what ever level they desire. The climbing facility is made up of many different walls, with more than 5,000 square feet of rock like textured climbing surface. These walls have thousands of (holds) which provide grips for hands and stances for feet. Indoor climbing is a great thrill and challenge for people of all ages and abilities. Stop in and start climbing. Open daily, year-round, except for Mondays in the summer. Phone: 207-780-6370.

Get Mead-ieval

An unusual farm in Portland honors the craft of the common honeybee by harvesting honey and turning it into honey ale – or mead. Maine Mead Works at 51 Washington Street makes mead by hand using a continuous fermentation process and a proprietary yeast strain. It is barrel-aged with American oak giving it complexity and depth. After bulk aging, the mead is hand bottled and labeled and stored a few more weeks before leaving the factory. The public is invited to drop in at the factory, take a tour, and taste the mead from noon to 5 p.m. daily except Sundays. How often do you get an invitation to share a sweet meadieval treat? Phone: 207-773-6323.

Gritty McDuff’s Portland Brew Pub

When Gritty McDuff's Portland Brew Pub opened in 1988 at 396 Fore Street in Portland it became Maine's first brew pub since prohibition and a leader in the state's microbrew revolution. Since then, guests have been enjoying fine, small-batch ales brewed on the premises. The Fore Street location is in the heart of Portland’s historic district. Pull up a chair at the copper-topped bar or take in the street life on the cobblestones of Wharf Street from the basement Brewery Bar patio. Gritty's has become a Maine institution, garnering many awards for Best Bar, Best Brew Pub, and Best Beer.

Long Walk to Freedom

The Portland Freedom Trail is a self-guided walking trail of 13 marked sites highlighting the people, places, and events associated with the Underground Railroad and anti-slavery movement in Portland. Among the sites on the trail are the Franklin Street Wharf, Barber Shop of Jacob C. Dickson at 243 Fore Street, Hack Stand of Charles H. L. Pierre at 29 Middle Street, Abyssinian Meeting House at 73 Newbury Street, Eastern Cemetery at Congress and Mountfort streets, Friends Meeting House at Federal and Pearl streets, Hack Stand at Federal and Temple streets, and Mariners' Church at Fore and Market streets. Phone: 207-91-9980.

Take It Easy

The Big Easy Blues Club on Market Street in Portland is a wonderful small venue, with a great view of the band from every seat. Lots of room at the bar, and also some tucked-away seating where you can relax and enjoy a drink and the music. Live (and excellent) music there virtually every night: blues, soul, some hip hop. Friendly bartenders and patrons send up a nice, relaxed vibe. There's even space to dance it it's not too crowded. Cover price is more than reasonable for what is offered.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.
Maine Highlands top of listings

Adventure for Hours or Days, Via Dogsled

A business called Maine Dogsledding Adventures in Millinocket stands ready to offer you a four-day adventure driving a dogsled in the northern Maine woods. Trip members lodge in Millinocket the night before the morning rendezvous at the trailhead, when guests are then transported by snowmobile eight miles to camp, where they settle into private cabins. After lunch, the afternoon is spent learning the basics of harnessing, hooking up, and driving your own team. The next two days are spent exploring the surrounding wilderness by dogsled. This is a hands-on dogsled trip for those interested in being fully involved in driving and managing their own 5 to 6-dog team. Are you ready for adventure? Phone: 207-731-8888.

Art Deco Beauty Hosts Great Performances

The Penobscot Theatre, located at 131 Main Street in downtown Bangor, started in 1973 and has been going strong ever since, particularly with its acquisition in1997 of the hisoric Bangor Opera House on Main Street, an early example of Art Deco/Egyptian Revival architecture. The theater offers post-show discussions, student matinees, summer theater workshops, and, of course, great entertainment. In 2012, theater-goers can look forward to productions "Boeing-Boeing," "Ink," and "Xanadu." Phone: 207-947-6618.

Begin Your Day with Mush on the Dog Sled Trail

Morning Crescent Sled Dogs, a kennel on Patte Brook Road in Albany Township, near the town of Bethel, wants to show you the fun and adventure of dog sledding. The company offers rides and instruction for people of all ages and abilities. The half-day tour is an introduction to dog sledding that includes basic instruction and time on the trail totaling about three hours. The full-day tour allows more hands-on teaching and more time on the trail (about five or six hours) learning the art, skill and magic that is dog sledding. Phone: 207-824-7292.

Children’s Fun and Learning Zone

With seven interactive exhibit areas on three floors, Maine Discovery Museum at 74 Main Street in downtown Bangor is the largest children's museum north of Boston. Seven permanent exhibits invite children to explore nature, geography, children's literature, music, art, science and anatomy. Among the exhibits are: Nature Trails, to explore Maine's ecosystem along a 20-foot waterway; TradeWinds, a new exhibit about Maine's global connections to Brazil, Japan, and Italy; Booktown, a village where every doorway leads into the pages of a Maine children's literary classic; Sounds Abound, exploring the world of music in a sound studio; Artscape; Mission: Discovery; and Body Journey. Open year-round; closed on Mondays. Phone: 207-262-7200.

Excitement That Will Send You Reeling

Oh, the colorful lights; oh the devil-may-care good humor; oh the chance to hit it big. Hollywood Slots at 500 Main Street in Bangor has slot machines, including video poker and video blackjack. Everywhere you look there's endless excitement and the kind of thrills you just don't find anywhere else, like 1,000 Vegas-style slots, thrilling harness racing, and royal red carpet service. During a break from the spinning wheels, make a visit for the house restaurant, Chairman's. If the parking lot is full guests can jump on the complimentary shuttle service. Open year-round. Phone: 877-779-7771.

Maine Highlands by Snowmobile

To say the snowmobile trails in Maine are some of the finest in the country would be an understatement at best. Maine’s Interconnected Trail System (ITS) is provided to snowmobilers through the joint effort of the Maine Snowmobile Association, headquartered in Augusta, and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Department of Conservation. The organization’s website provides maps and directions, information on trail conditions and planning a trip, calendars of snowmobiling events, directories of snowmobiling clubs, and much more. You can get a detailed map of the Interconnected Trail System by contacting the Maine Snowmobile Association at PO Box 80, Augusta, 04332. Phone: 207-622-6983

Snowmobiles Are Us

What's the quickest and most accessible way to scale a mountain, follow a river or get in some lake time during winter in Maine? On a snowmobile. More than 14,000 miles of marked and groomed trails await snowmobilers in every region of the state. Mountain ranges, iced-over lakes and ponds, and multi-purpose trails with beautiful vistas are all part of the trail network in Maine. Guide services provide snowmobile rentals, guided touring trips and overnight packages with local accommodations.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.
Mid Coast top of listings

105 Years and Hundreds of Models

BlueJacket Ship Crafters at 160 E. Main Street in Searsport is the oldest ship modeling company in the country, producing wooden museum-quality kits and models, half-hull models, fittings, tools, and books, by Maine craftsmen. The public is welcome to visit the shop and browse the gallery, with more than 100 models, and the workshops and metal foundry. A new series, Great American Workboats. Including Florida shrimpers, New England draggers, a Maine sardine carrier, is coming online soon, These models will be modestly priced and designed for less-experienced builders. Open year-round, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Phone: 800-448-5567.

A Garden for All Ages in All Seasons

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is an oasis of beautiful trails and plants on Barters Island near Boothbay in midcoast Maine. Open to the public year-round, it is a haven of ornamental gardens and natural beauty, waterfalls, and stonework and sculpture. Miles of trails allow visitors to experience waterfront and woodlands typical of Maine. The Lerner Garden of the Five Senses, with many features that make it accessible to disabled people. A new children’s garden, featuring themes derived from children’s literature by authors with a Maine connection. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., year-round. Phone: 207-633-4333.

Bath Is Home to Graceful, Historic Neighborhoods

Alongside the Kennebec River, Bath is a small jewel of a city that embraces an old seafaring town. Bath welcomes visitors with tree-lined historic avenues graced by handsome mansions that were once home to shipyard owners and ship captains. You can take a guided walking tour of the Bath historic district or ride the Bath Trolley around the scenic streets. Bath’s Front Street is home to antique stores, specialty shops, galleries and many fine restaurants. The summer concert series takes place on Friday evenings at Patten Free Library, and every third Friday from June to October there is an Art Walk from 5 to 7 p.m. Phone: 207-442-7291.

Best Breakfast in Maine,
Says Food Network mag

Boynton-McKay Food Co. is a restaurant on Main Street in Camden in a building that was for many decades the town’s primary drug store, apothecary, and soda fountain. The menu has something for almost everyone, from Mexican to Asian to Italian. There are pastas and salads and three soups a day. In 2010 Food Network Magazine took a cross-country road-trip in search of the ultimate breakfast. Boynton-McKay Food Co. was voted the best breakfast in Maine! Celebrate the fall by ordering the crispy cider doughnuts. Phone: 207-236-2465 Open: Tuesday-Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Best Shopping Anywhere

It is hard to overstate how much Mainers and their out-of-state visitors love Renys, a chain of family-owned dry good stores founded 62 years ago when the grandfather of the clan stepped out of his job as a department store clerk and founded a new store where everyone is always treated right. The stores, mostly found in the state’s healthy, small downtowns, are low in superficial glamour and packed full of useful goods, all priced as low as the store can manage. Merchandise ranges from tinned organic pumpkin meat to rubber boots and wedding dresses. Stores are located in Bath, Belfast, Bridgton, Camden, Damariscotta, Dexter, Ellsworth, Farmington, Gardiner, Madison, Newcastle, Pittsfield, Portland, Saco, and Topsham. Don’t miss Renys! Open year-round. Phone: 207-563-3177

Chocolate Lobster Claws Found Here

Wilbur’s of Maine has a retail store on Independence Drive in Freeport, and directly behind the store is the factory, where the dark art is wonderfully performed. Narrated factory tours with lots of opportunity for tasting are offered from 9 to 2 weekdays; call ahead to make a reservation. Fine chocolate in every imaginable form is created and shaped here. Watch, in particular, for the Chocolate Maine Hunting Boot and the Chocolate Lighthouse and Wilbur the Chocolate Moose. Phone: 207-865-4071

Cooking Enthusiasts, Take Notice

Now You’re Cooking is a full-service cookware store at 49 Front Street in downtown Bath. Do not be prepared to find a little, precious hole-in-the-wall establishment. The store occupies the first floor of one full block adjacent to City Hall. Here you will find a large selection of fine cookware, wine and beer, specialty teas, coffee, and condiments, and a large assortment of kitchen tools and accessories. Michael and Betsy Fear founded Now You’re Cooking in 2000; over the years they have assembled a knowledgeable staff that is always testing new products, trying new recipes, and sharing what they learn. Now You’re Cooking also hosts cooking classes, weekly product demonstrations and monthly wine tastings. Phone: 207-443-1402.

It’s All About the Lighthouses

The Maine Lighthouse Museum at 1 Park Drive in Rockland is the home of the largest collection of Fresnel lighthouse lenses and the most important landmark collection of lighthouse artifacts and Coast Guard memorabilia in the United States. A few years back, the museum merged its collection with that of the former Museum of Lighthouse History of Wells (now closed). The two collections are now on display and marvelously compliment each other. Visit the museum gift shop and find spectacular inventory of lighthouse models and miniatures, replicas, clothing, gifts, art, toys, memorabilia, and exclusive regional favorites. Open year-round but hours vary by season. Call ahead for hours Phone: 207-594-3301

Labyrinth in the Woods

A labyrinth in the woods created by artist Carol Sloan is open to the public in Washington. Sloan explains, “My labyrinth is made in the pattern called Robin Hood's Race. It is about one-half mile long and takes 30 to 45 minutes to walk. You park at the edge of a hayfield and walk a mowed path to an island of trees to begin. The experience of walking in the woods and then out into the hayfield following the path gives a real experience of nature, from shade to sun, from quiet to breeze. From the intersection of routes 17 and 220 travel east on Old Union Road for 1.9 miles and look for a hayfield on the right just past a pond on the right. There are flags to show where to park and where to walk. The labyrinth is open year round. It is open only on Sundays in hunting season.

Love Those Alpacas

The owners of Winter’s Gone Farm at 245 Alna Road in Wiscasset are among the growing corps of alpaca lovers who want to share their enjoyment of these peaceful creatures. Guests are welcome to visit the farm, pet the alpacas, watch them play a friendly game of soccer (really!), walk the trails, and shop at the retail store. Winters Gone is proud to offer the world's top alpaca fashions; an owner visits Peru yearly and collaborates with partners to bring new designs to customers. Among the store’s merchandise is clothing, blankets, stuffed animals and yarn. Open year-round except January; hours vary. Phone: 207-882-9191.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.

Where the Mountains Meet the Sea

The Camden Snow Bowl ski and winter sports area makes its home at the summit of 1300-foot Ragged Mountain. It claims to the only ski area in New England where skiers and boarders can look out over spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean while whooshing down the trails. In addition to alpine skiing and snowboarding, winter activities at the Snow Bowl include snow tubing, ice skating, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, and a thrilling 400-foot toboggan chute. Phone: 207-236-3438. Directions

Wooden Ships Through Maine History

The Maine Maritime Museum on Washington Street in Bath collects, preserves and interprets materials on the early days of Maine’s shipbuilding industry and features the country’s only surviving wooden shipbuilding yard. From watercraft and lobstering, to shipbuilding and sea trade, visitors hear stories about dangerous voyages to distant lands; see how a shipbuilder’s family lived in the 1890s; smell the sawdust from historic ship timbers; and discover the wonders and mysteries of Maine’s maritime culture. Highlights include ten acres of galleries and exhibits; a life-size sculpture of the largest wooden sailing vessel ever built; seasonal river cruises; and a children’s play area. Phone: 207-443-1316.
South Coast top of listings

A Perfect Day on the Sleigh, With Cocoa on the Side

Wintertime in Maine brings with it elegance and serenity that is extra-wonderful from the seat of a horse-drawn sleigh. Rockin’ Horse Stables On Arundel Road in Kennebunkport offers guests an opportunity to enjoy the snow-sprinkled pine trees and frost-tipped fields while gliding on a sleigh with family and friends. After the sleigh ride, warm up next to a crackling fire with hot chocolate and conversation. Step back into the way life should be, if only for a day, and experience a true Maine adventure. Phone: 207-967-4288.

Art On the Seacoast

The Ogunquit Museum of American Art on Shore Road in Ogunquit has been called “The Most Beautiful Small Museum in the World,” and is home to an extensive collection of American art. The natural setting of the museum by itself is divine: The glass wall of the main gallery overlooks the coast and the ocean. The museum is surrounded by landscaped grounds, a reflecting pool, and sculpture gardens. Hours: Open daily, late May to October 31. Phone: 207-646-4909

Cool Shopping in Kittery

With the slogan “Outfitters with Style Since 1938,” Kittery Trading Post, a sprawling and beautifully designed outdoor sport supplier, greets visitors – appropriately – just as they cross into southern Maine, at 301 U.S. Route 1 in Kittery. This is the source for everything outdoorsworthy from boogie boards to shotguns. Really fun to explore. Keep the kids busy by counting moose images. Open daily. Phone: 888- 587-6246.

Outrageous Outlets

The Kittery Outlets on Route 1 in Kittery are also known as America’s Maine Street for Shopping, and you’ll see why when you visit this one-mile-long strip of famous outlet stores. The outlets include 120 stores – way too many to name here – but dedicated shoppers can easily guess the names of the major brands to be found there. Many stores host special events and all kinds of sales, Located at the gateway from New Hampshire into the South Coast region of Maine, Kittery is home to many wonderful attractions, from beaches to museums, to entertain family members of all ages and tastes while shoppers are doing their thing.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.
Western Lakes/Mountains top of listings

Bethel Welcomes Walkers and Bikers

Bethel is an ideal place for walkers of all ages and abilities, from a leisurely stroll through the National Historic District to a more rigorous walk through the village up Paradise Road. For starters, the Bethel Recreational Path is a one-mile multi-use paved trail that begins at Davis Park and extends across the Androscoggin River on a multi-use bridge and out to the North Road. The path features an authentic scaled replica of the famous Artists’ Covered Bridge over the Sunday River. The Androscoggin River Recreational Walking Trail is a 1.5-mile trail from the Riverside Rest Area on Route 2, three miles east of Bethel, to the River View Resort. This trail provides the visitor an opportunity to see the river up close and enjoy the serenity of a wooded setting.

Birdwatching From a Nest Above Lewiston

Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary on Highland Spring Road in Lewiston is a 357-acre wildlife preserve. At an elevation of 510 feet, the sanctuary is a forested oasis surrounded on three sides by urban and suburban Lewiston. The "Crag" is renowned as an excellent spot for birdwatching, and is the home base of the Stanton Bird Club. Other activities at the Crag include picnicking, hiking, walking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, nature photography. Thorncrag encompasses six wildlife habitats: upland wetlands, mixed forest, restored farm meadows, vernal pools, coniferous old growth forest, built environment (fireplaces, trails, foundations, walls, etc.). These habitats support large, diverse populations of wildlife, trees, and plants.

Chartres in Lewiston

Maine’s only basilica towers over Lewiston’s downtown. The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul at 22 Ash Street is a must-see for its beautiful rose window and architecture that was modeled after the cathedral at Chartres in France. Founded in 1870, the basilica is the oldest parish for the French-speaking Catholics in Portland. The history of Saints Peter and Paul parish isn't just the chronicle of an old church, but of the faith of the French immigrants whose struggles, patience, and great generosity built it. The church received the title of basilica in 2005. The public is welcome to visit Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Sunday Mass is held at 10 a.m. Phone: 207-777-1200.

Children Get First Crack
at Snow Tubing at Sugarloaf

Kid visitors get dibs on the fun of snow tubing at Sugarloaf at 5092 Access Road in Carrabassett Valley. Sugarloaf offers tubing for children on the Birches trail, near the base lodge, under lights, on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There are no pre-sales or reservations for tubing. Call Guest Services at 207-237-6939 for the latest conditions and hours of operation. Phone: 207-237-2000

Dogs + Sleds = Wow!

Experience the thrill and beauty of sledding over frozen ground and snowy mountain passes behind a team of powerful Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes. New England Dogsledding is located in Mason Township, on the Maine and New Hampshire border of the White Mountain National Forest. The company hosts fun and educational dog sledding, mushing, and sled dog tours in the Bethel, Maine; the Sunday River Ski Area; North Conway, New Hampshire; and on 15,000-acre Wilderness Trail System at the Balsams, New Hampshire. The company teaches guests the ropes and allows them to experience the thrill of driving their own team. Be whisked off on an amazing winter adventure through the majestic wilderness. Phone: 207-836-2703.

Into the Wild Blue Yonder

Mount Blue State Park at 299 Center Hill Road in Weld covers 8,000 acres in two sections separated by Webb Lake. A campground in the Webb Beach section has 136 wooded sites a short walk from a sandy beach and picnic area. Visitors can swim, launch and rent boats, and walk on trails near the lake. During summer months, park staff routinely offer canoe trips, walks, and nature programs. A Nature Center features hands-on exhibits and displays. Across the lake from the Webb Beach section is the centerpiece of the Park, 3,187-foot Mount Blue, a popular day hike. Visitors also enjoy walks and picnics on Center Hill. Mountain bikers, equestrians, and ATV riders can use 25 miles of challenging trails. In winter, the park's extensive trail system supports snowmobiling, snowshoeing. and cross-country skiing. Phone: 207-585-2347.

Off We Go With a Jangle of Harnesses

It has been called the “ultimate low-impact winter sport” – that is, a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the New England woods and meadows. That description is, well, reasonable, but a sleigh ride also is pure fun in a beautiful, unforgettable winter landscape. Rides are offered by many farms, including High View Farm in Harrison, where the farm’s host promise that the jingle of sleigh bells on the night air will ring on as a wonderful and lingering memory. Phone: 207-595-1601. Meadon Creek Farm in Sumner offers sleigh rides at many different locations throughout Maine. Each of the beautiful Belgian draft horse teams weighs 2000 pounds and carries more than 200 bells on the harnesses and wagon. Meadow Creek also offers private specialty rides geared to your specifications. Phone: 207-388-2044.

Snowmobiles Are Us

What's the quickest and most accessible way to scale a mountain, follow a river or get in some lake time during winter in Maine? On a snowmobile. More than 14,000 miles of marked and groomed trails await snowmobilers in every region of the state. Mountain ranges, iced-over lakes and ponds, and multi-purpose trails with beautiful vistas are all part of the trail network in Maine. Guide services provide snowmobile rentals, guided touring trips and overnight packages with local accommodations.

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art

Trail to 53,000 Works of Art The Maine Art Museum Trail offers more than 53,000 works of art, from ancient to contemporary, in a dazzling array of collections at seven leading art museums. Museums on the trail include Bates College Museum of Art (Lewiston), Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick), Colby College Museum of Art (Waterville), Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland), Ogunquit Museum of American Art (Ogunquit), Portland Museum of Art (Portland), and University of Maine Museum of Art (Bangor). The museums’ permanent collections include works of art by the many artists who have vacationed or worked in Maine. They also feature masterpieces by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Edgar Degas, Mary Cassatt, and Pablo Picasso, Greek and Roman sculpture, early American silver and furniture, and contemporary textiles, prints, ceramics, and sculpture. Some museums also offer free admission during selected hours.

Western Lakes by Snowmobile

To say the snowmobile trails in Maine are some of the finest in the country would be an understatement at best. Maine’s Interconnected Trail System (ITS) is provided to snowmobilers through the joint effort of the Maine Snowmobile Association, headquartered in Augusta, and the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, Department of Conservation. The organization’s website provides maps and directions, information on trail conditions and planning a trip, calendars of snowmobiling events, directories of snowmobiling clubs, and much more. You can get a detailed map of the Interconnected Trail System by contacting the Maine Snowmobile Association at PO Box 80, Augusta, 04332. Phone: 207-622-6983