80 great fun things to do in Maine, indoors and outdoors attractions

Maine > State > Things to Do and See > 80 Great Things to Do in Maine

Looking for great things to do in Maine? Look below for our suggestions for scenic drives, antique shopping, cruises, children's museums, horse racing, history trails, woods walks, and more great things to do on your vacation adventure. Please call ahead before visiting an attraction listed here to check on current dates and times of operation and other important information.

Jonathan's Ogunquit

92 Bourne Lane Ogunquit, ME, 03907 Phone: 207-646-4777

Make your Maine trip special with dinner at Jonathan's Ogunquit

Make your next trip to Maine's seacoast special with lunch or dinner at Jonathan's Ogunquit. Our menu offers both innovative dishes and long-time local specialties. Love seafood? We have boiled Maine lobster with drawn butter, seafood stuffed haddock, or seafood chowder with fresh scallops, shrimp, and lobster. Looking for something else? How about wild mushroom pappardelle, eggplant napoleon, or a hand-cut Black Angus steak? We strive to serve sustainable, local foods whenever reasonably possible. Check our website for the schedule, and plan for a show in our Listening Room. We've brought top regional and national acts to the area, including comedy great Paula Poundstone, jazz legends Tuck & Patti, and folk favorites Jonathan Edwards and Aztec Two-Step.

Great Schooner Race - Maine Windjammers - Camden, ME - Photo Credit Ben Ehling

Maine Windjammer Association

Sailing from Ports in Rockland and Camden, ME, 04843 Phone: Toll-Free: 800-807-9463

Windjammer cruises feature fun at sea for all ages, interests

The private owners and operators of the Maine Windjammer Association’s historic schooners want to provide cruise guests with a full slate of things to do, whether that means helping the crew ready the sails or sitting out on deck with a good book. So you can leap off the deck to go for a bay swim, help the cook with that night’s gourmet appetizers, row a small boat into a fishing village to explore, hike during a visit to Acadia National Park – or just sit by the wood stove and play backgammon with the kids or listen to stories told by lantern-light in the evening. Special cruises for photography buffs, lighthouse enthusiasts, yoga fans, kayakers, wine-lovers – and grandparents and grandkids! – are available.

Coastal Maine Photo Tours

407 Main Street Rockland, ME, 04841 Phone: 207-594-1224

A great way to explore coastal Maine, and beyond, while upgrading your photography skills

What a fun way to see spectacular sites at Maine’s coast & mountains – and improve your photography skills at the same time. With Coastal Maine Photo Tours, participants of all ages and all skill levels (and all types of cameras) are welcome. Trips include half-day photo walks, passing through quaint fishing villages, to one-day photo tours of Maine Gardens; Lighthouses and Lobsters; Vinalhaven Island (including a scenic ferry ride and exploration of the island’s rocky coastline and working harbor); Pemaquid Point Lighthouse at sunset; and a Great Schooner Race Photo Adventure where you can take pictures of the largest annual gathering of traditional schooners in America. There’s also a week-long foliage excursion in October in the mountains of western Maine. Tours are led by longtime local fine-art photographer Dee Peppe.

Inn at Tanglewood Hall

611 York Street York Harbor, ME, 03911 Phone: 207-351-1075

Lots to see and do with this inn as your launchpad

Although you may never want to leave the cozy, elegant 1880s Inn at Tanglewood Hall, there is plenty to do once you leave your four-poster bed or your rocking chair on the wraparound veranda. Walk along the York Harbor Cliff Walk, watch lobster boats and sloops come in and out of the harbor. Catch a sunset over Nubble Lighthouse. Stroll along the streets of York Harbor village to York Harbor Beach. Or, enjoy the surf at Long Sands or Short Sands beaches. Need more ideas? Go whale watching, kayaking, hiking or biking. Or head farther afield (but not too far) to the Kittery Outlets; dine in foodie-centric Portsmouth, N.H.; visit Stonewall Kitchen; check out the lovely Maine coast towns of Ogunquit and Kennebunkport.

Whitewater Fun 500x250 - Crab Apple Whitewater - The Forks, ME

Crab Apple Whitewater (ME)

3 Lake Moxie Road The Forks, ME, 04985 Phone: 800-553-7238

Adventures for every level of whitewater rafter – plus paintball and moose safaris

Adventure awaits on the Kennebec and Dead rivers when you arrive at Crab Apple Whitewater’s base lodge. After breakfast, head to the rivers for world-class whitewater and breathtaking scenery. Some trips are guided, for families and beginners (lots of time for floating and swimming); others challenge rapids like the Class IV-V “Poplar Hill Falls.” Some come with riverside snacks; others with cookouts. Stay overnight at the lodge (in bunk-style rooms or suites with Jacuzzi tubs), play some night-time paintball in one of several custom courses, climb to Maine’s highest waterfall or just relax by the pool. For another kind of adventure, there’s the moose safari, from May through August, leaving at dusk in search of the gentle giants.

Funtown Splashtown USA

Route 1 Saco, ME, 04072 Phone: 207-284-5139

Lots of fun for all the family, from rides to waterslides

Thrills galore are in store at Funtown Splashtown USA, the largest water and amusement park in Northern New England. Getting soaked has never been more fun for a kid than swooshing down the Amphitrite Challenge or Poseidon Plunge, while families can clamber about in the giant Splash Tube Slide or play together in the Pirates Paradise Aquaplay section. It’s an amusement park as well, with thrills as exciting as the Excalibur roller coaster or the 220-foot free-fall from way up on the Dragon’s Descent tower. Of course, things are safe for the little ones, whether strapped into their seats on the Frog Hopper. Fun for everyone is the name of the game here.

Point Lookout

67 Atlantic Highway Northport, ME, 04849 Phone: 207-789-2000

Stay and explore Mid-coast Maine

Mid-coast Maine is chock full of great things to do and places to explore. Settle in at Point Lookout for a quick escape or a vacation getaway. This 387 acre retreat, overlooking Penobscot Bay has plenty of activities including hiking trails, a private beach, a pond perfect for kayaking, an expansive fitness center plus well appointed, fully outfitted one, two or three-bedroom cabins. Cabins have living rooms, kitchens/kitchenettes, screened in porches with Adirondack Chairs and complimentary WIFI. Visit the organic farm, seasonally enjoy tennis, biking, snowshoeing, the indoor bowling center, have breakfast or lunch at the Copper Pine Café and visit all of the attractions nearby in Camden, Lincolnville and Belfast.

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse portland maine

Beacon for Mariners

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse off Fort Hill Road in South Portland has the distinction of being the only caisson-style lighthouse in America accessible by land and open for public tours. Constructed in the late 1800s on a dangerous ledge that is now covered by a breakwater, Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse marks the entrance to Portland Harbor. In 2015, the lighthouse will be open to the public 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays in June, weekends in July and August, all of Labor Day weekend, Saturdays in September, and Columbus Day weekend. Visitors must be at least 51 inches tall. Phone: 866-570-5703.

Cozy Cabins Welcome You After a Day 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, Maine, 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, fishing and other great outdoor activities. For evenings, it is just a short drive to a movie theater or shopping in Houlton. Cabins operate year-round. Phone: 207-532-7336

Go Wild in the Mountains

With a name that includes Seacoast Fun Park, Crazy Apes Adventure Trails and Zip Park , and Snow Park, you know that this attraction, at 932 Roosevelt Trail in Windham, Maine, is for people who like vigorous play. Seacoast Fun Park offers lots of activities April through October, including the adrenaline-pumping Sky Swing and more. The Crazy Apes section has tree top trails where you can zip, climb, and trek through the trees. The zip lines tour is an exhilarating ride down some major zips. Snow tubing happens in winter. 207-892-5829

Ogunquit Museum of American Art in maine

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: Daily, May 1 to October 31. 207-646-4909.

Wood Island Lighthouse tours off Biddeford maine

Insider View of a Historic Lighthouse

Friends of the Wood Island Lighthouse Offers tours to the lighthouse in July and August (weather permitting). This historic lighthouse, built in 1808, is a picturesque keeper's house connected to the stone tower. Wood Island is an uninhabited island at the mouth of the Saco River off the coast of Biddeford. Tours are Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, July 2-August 22, 2016. Reserve your tour on the lighthouse website and reserve your trip aboard the Lightrunner to traverse the mile from Biddeford Pool to the island. 207-200-4552.

Meet a Wolf! Meet a Bear!!

Kisma Preserve in Trenton is a home for wild animals. A basic visit involves a tour of about one hour with a knowledgeable guide. The preserve also offer special opportunities for personal animal encounters, private behind the scenes tours, group visits, photography, camping and more. You may be about to meet a wolf during daily socializing or exercising routines. (Reservations required.) Or, come and meet a black bear and make his or her day by bringing a favorite treat. 207-667-3244

Comfort & Adventure By Maine Huts & Trails

Maine Huts & Trails, headquartered at 496 Main Street in Kingfield, offers back country hut-to-hut adventures coupled with comfortable accommodations. All huts at Maine Huts & Trails offer shelter, meals, and activities like hiking, mountain biking, canoeing and kayaking, fishing, skiing, and snowshoeing. Each hut features shuttles to take gear from hut to hut. Maine Huts & Trails opened Stratton Brook Hut, its newest, in December 2012. Stratton Brook is the fourth of 12 planned back country huts and eco-lodges in Maine’s Western Mountains. This planned 180-mile connected hut-to-hut trail will be the longest groomed ski trail in America. Phone: 877-634-8824.

coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Boothbay harobr Maine

Botanical Garden of Many Surprises -- Open All Year!

People who love botanical gardens: we challenge you to a rival anywhere to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, for its beauty, variety, and many cunning surprises. Open year round (!!), the gardens are awash with exceptional natural beauty, waterfalls, and incomparable stonework and sculpture. The Lerner Garden of the Five Senses features plants that appeal to the senses of taste, touch and smell as well as sight. A special children’s garden features themes derived from beloved children’s literature by Maine authors. Open daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., year-round. Phone: 207-633-4333.

Antiques of Maine Life in an Antique Building

Steam Mill Antiques at 155 West Bethel Road (US Route 2) in Bethel, Maine, is a country antique shop located in a large, 1820 farmhouse and barn. Come and find a wide range of antiques, collectibles, books, pictures, signs, toys, and other stuff. Anything that you could find in an antique shop you may find here! Our stock is always changing so it's always worth the time to browse the shop. DownEast Magazine has declared that Steam Mill Antiques is one of the 5 reasons to love Bethel. An honor! Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends, year-round, and by chance or appointment on all other days and seasons. Send email to SteamMillAntiques@gmail.com to make an appointment or if you are traveling from a distance and want to check the hours of operation.

A Maine Gift, With Staying Power

Do you want a gift for yourself or a friend that hollers “Maine!”? A&E Stoneworks, a member of the “Maine Made" quality assurance program, is a wife-and-husband team that makes cool housewares from ROCK: black Maine slate, freshwater pearl granite & Maine beach stones. Items include cutting boards, ornaments, clocks, some other kitchen wares. The artworks are real Maine stuff: tough, natural, understated, beautiful. Find A&E Stoneworks at The Rock and Art Shop in Bangor, Bar Harbor and Ellsworth; Maine Gathering in Camden; Monkitree in Gardiner; Minka in Kennebunkport; and Lisa Marie's Made in Maine in Bath and Portland.

Maine Rocks

Mount Apatite Park in Auburn, Maine, is a free collecting site where children can search through rock piles scattered through the woods; Lord Hill Quarry within the White Mountain National Forest in Stoneham, another popular collecting site where visitors might find topaz, quartz and aquamarine crystals. Mount Apatite Park is owned and administered by the City of Auburn. It is open to the public, and no special permission to visit is required. The park does not fall short on things to do, offering areas to explore, walking trails and numerous rock formations. Further information, including a detailed map of the park and its trail system, is available from the Auburn Parks & Recreation Department 207-784-0191.

Kennebunk Rail Trail Invites You to Use Your Legs

Get out and put those legs to use! The 6.5-mile Kennebec River Rail Trail is one of Maine’s great outdoor attractions. The 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. Bring the entire family and explore the wonderful activities that Maine has to offer along the Kennebec River Rail Trail.

Island Explorer bus through Acadain National park

Explore the Island, Then Explore the Park

There is much beauty to see at Acadia Nation Park. A good way to start is to get an overview of the whole landscape by jumping aboard the Island Explorer bus. This is not a tour – it is public transportation for the park and neighboring villages that runs from late May to Columbus Day. Take a bit of time to ride the bus with others going about their daily lives or on vacation. You’ll get a glimpse of what you may want to see more deeply, and know exactly how to get back there later. "A wonderful service. Best way to get around. Fun to ride," said a visitor from Texas. 207-667-5796

Deertrees Theatre & Cultural Center in Harrison Maine

Theater in the Trees

In 1936 a marvelous opera house was built on the site of an old deer run above the village of Harrison, Maine. Constructed in the Adirondack style with near-perfect acoustics, the 300-seat theater was considered as fine as any on Broadway. The Deertrees Theatre & Cultural Center at 156 Deertrees Road is a unique opera house that offers live music, comedy, professional theater, and special events from June to September. 207-583-6747

Songo River Queen II cruises on Maine lakes

Paddle Wheeler Cruises Among the Mountains

The Songo River Queen II is a replica of a Mississippi River stern paddle wheeler offering daily cruises from Long Lake in Naples, Maine. The Long Lake Cruise, departing from 841 Roosevelt Trail in Naples, delights visitors with vast views of the Causeway, Mount Washington, Birch Point, Long Island, Arrowhead Point, Camp Takajo, Pine Island, and Pleasant Mountain, as well as beautiful waterfront properties. Public cruises run from Memorial Day through early October.

Old Orchard Beach = Classic Summer Fun

Old Orchard Beach on Maine’s south coast could be a stage set for old-fashioned, on-the-loud-side summer beach fun. The social epicenter of the 7-mile long stretch of wide, sandy beach is the Palace Playland amusement park, an oceanfront playground since 1898. The streets of the town have a carnival atmosphere, with arcades, amusement rides, food, motels, gift shops, clubs and The Pier. Street dances and fireworks happen regularly. The beach itself has lifeguards in season and it is handicap-accessible. Surfing is allowed.

Arrowsic and Georgetown islands off the Maine coast

Dreamy Days on Arrowsic and Georgetown

Catch Route 127 off Route 1 just east of Bath, Maine, for a delightful day excursion to the islands of Arrowsic and Georgetown in Maine. Arrowsic Island is tucked between the Sasanoa, Back, and Kennebec rivers; four lighthouses guard this jagged land mass along the toothy Midcoast coastline. The pretty island of Georgetown, just a bit further down Route 127, is a place to walk and watch wildlife in the Josephine Newman Wildlife Sanctuary or to jump into the waves at Reid State Park. The park includes Griffith Head, a rocky headland, where visitor can gaze out over Seguin Island, The Cuckolds, and Hendricks Head and their lighthouses. Pack a lunch or dinner for a day of unspoiled Maine outdoor beauty.

Boating to Dreamy Monhegan Island

Port Clyde sits on the tip of a St. George peninsula in Maine, jutting into Muscongus Bay, and it is the home of the Monhegan Boat Line , making daily trips to enchanting, natural (and vehicle-free) Monhegan Island. The boat steams out of Port Clyde harbor, past Marshall Point lighthouse, porpoises, seabirds, and lobstermen at work and Seal Rock. The company also offers puffin and nature cruises, a lighthouse cruise, and sunset cruises. Boats operate year-round, but schedules are seasonal. 207-372-8848.

River Rafting Can Be Wild and Wonderful

The Forks is best known as Maine’s mecca for whitewater rafting. Located where the Dead and Kennebec Rivers meet, it is the starting point for experiencing the heart stopping rolls and punches dealt by the state’s mightiest rivers. Numerous guiding companies are located in The Forks, and many have expanded their services to include guided ATV tours, mountain biking treks, rock climbing, and snowshoeing trips. The Forks is a year-round destination for hunters and anglers, but come winter, the snowmobilers arrive. With more than 100 miles of interconnected trails in the region, sledding becomes the preferred method of transportation once the snow begins to fall. The Forks Area Chamber of Commerce can help you find all the resources you need. 207-663-2121.

Bath Builds Big Ships

Would you like to see a warship taking shape before your eyes? From May to October, the Maine Maritime Museum, at 243 Washington Street in Bath, Maine, offers a trolley tour of the Bath Iron Works. This one-hour trolley tour takes you behind the gates of Bath Iron Works to see how modern U.S. Navy destroyers are built. The Navy's most modern warship - DDG 1000 Zumwalt-class guided missile destroyer - is taking shape and visitors in 2012 were among the first to see it being built. Advance reservations are strongly recommended. Tours in 2018 are June to early October. Check museum website for tour hours.

Starry Nights at Acadia

Spend a night under the stars at Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, and everything will come into perspective. The night sky is an endless source of entertainment and beauty, and the clear, dark Maine sky allows stargazers a breathtaking view of constellations. The Seawall Campground picnic area near Manset is an almost magically scenic stargazing spot: See the Milky Way and ocean meet. Discover the brightest stars in the sky, the "hidden" location of hundreds of black holes, and Messier 13, the famous faraway destination of a human attempt at intergalactic contact. Bring your best telescope, or get a rotating star map from the Acadia gift shop.

Winslow Homer Studio at Prouts Neck in Scarborough.

Coastal Images Though Winslow Homer's Eyes

The former home of Winslow Homer, the painter who created magnificent images of the Maine coast in the late 19th century, is open for guided tours as the Winslow Homer Studio at Prouts Neck in Scarborough. The studio is owned and managed by the Portland Museum of Art. Before or after your tour, be sure to stroll along the nearby cliff walk, as a way to enter the world and imagery that Homer so famously turned into painted art. Tours in the warm seasons, May 31 through mid-October. 207-775-6148

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. Visitors looking to avoid summer traffic can enjoy the Acadia Byway aboard the free Island Explorer buses .

Best Brew Tours in York, Kittery, and Ogunquit maine

Hop On. Eat Well. Drink Local.

Yes, we love the brilliant “Hop On” slogan. And it’s so true! Best Brew Tours welcomes you to hop on to its flagship bus, BEER-1, from locations in York, Kittery, and Ogunquit for a safe and carefree tasting tour of the establishments making and serving the best beer, spirits, and cider in southern Maine. Visit award winning establishments from Portsmouth to Portland. Tours include transportation, beer tasting, behind-the-scenes tours, tour guide and much more. Private tours available, too! 877-BREWSKI

Love Vintage? Scratch That Itch

The Portland Flea-for-All at 585 Congress Street in the Bayside neighborhood of Portland is a marketplace offering vintage, antique and artisan goods ranging from classic jewelry to old records and much more in between. Whether or not you have a special item in mind, chances are you’ll find something at the Flea. The Flea has reaped lots of admiring chatter in collection and decorating circles for its broad scope and welcoming attitude. Got something to sell? Drop in! Open Fridays through Sundays. 207-370-7570.

Maine Lighthouse Museum at 1 Park Drive in Rockland Maine

Heroes in Brick and Stone: Maine Lighthouses

The Maine Lighthouse Museum at 1 Park Drive in Rockland is a first-rate place to indulge your love with and fascination for lighthouses. If you are a shopper, and want to acquire lighthouse gifts and memorabilia (models and miniatures, replicas, clothing, gifts, art, toys, posters) this is your gold mine. The museum, which also includes the collection of the former Museum of Lighthouse History of Wells, has the largest collection of Fresnel lighthouse lenses and the most important landmark collection of lighthouse artifacts and Coast Guard memorabilia in the United States. Open year-round but hours vary by season. Call ahead for hours Phone: 207-594-3301.

Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center in Maine

Track the Great Blue Heron to Scarborough Marsh

The Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center at 92 Pine Point Road in Scarborough is an endlessly interesting place to explore an ever-changing salt marsh and estuary. Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife manages the estuary, and provides all the information you need to explore the marsh on walking trails or by canoe (you can rent them). The center offers guided walks, canoe tours, exhibits, a nature trail, and a Maine Audubon Nature Store. Come see eye-to-eye with egrets, herons, glossy ibis and many stunning shorebirds. Open May to September. 207-883-5100

Diversions Puzzles & Games south portland me

Bring Your Best Game Here

Revive some old-fashioned entertainment that doesn’t rely on a power source, and has the benefit of bringing people together. Next time you are looking for indoor entertainment -- for people of any age – in South Portland, Diversions Puzzles & Games at 415 Philbrook Avenue. The store stocks new and classic games and high-quality puzzles for every age and interest. And, it has lots and lots of open game days and nights. Staff members can teach you how to play one of our many demo games. Open daily. 207-773-0300

No Fresher Oyster Anywhere

Do you enjoy a fresh oyster? We mean “fresh” as in – just pulled from the sea into the very boat in which you are sitting and eating it? Nonesuch Oysters welcomes visitors aboard its workboat, Oys-Tour for a tasting tour of its underwater oyster farm, departing from 94King Street in Scarborough. The boat tour starts at the oyster nursery in the Nonesuch River, where you can see the baby oysters feeding. At the next stop, you can help harvest the shuck the oysters, and then – eat! Bring your favorite pairing beverage. Enjoy the activities of bald eagles and harbor seals. Tours offered July through September.

Carson Name Still Defends the Earth

The author whose seminal work, “Silent Spring,” launched the American environmental movement is the namesake for the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge, consisting of a patchwork of properties along 50 miles of coastline from Kittery to Cape Elizabeth, with a headquarters on Route 9 in Wells. The refuge serves as protected region of valuable salt marshes and estuaries for migratory birds. Visitors are welcome to hike on the developed trails of the Refuge. is permitted in several rivers and creeks in the Refuge. Phone: 207-646-9226.

Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center in Gardner Maine

Comedy, Music, Gravity Daring: Johnson Hall's Got It

Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center presents a wide range of artist programs -- 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, Maine. The Hall – Maine’s oldest opera hall -- celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2016, a sign that it knows and serves its audience. 207-582-7144.

Charlotte Rhoades Park & Butterfly Garden Southwest Harbor maine

Flutter on Over to This Butterfly Garden

The Charlotte Rhoades Park & Butterfly Garden at 191 Main Street in Southwest Harbor on Mount Desert Island welcomes people to come and enjoy the butterflies and bring a picnic. It has been named Best Pocket Garden by the editors of Yankee Magazine, so you know you are in for a treat. A box at the entrance has brochures and other helpful material. From April to October, volunteers are on site Thursday mornings to describe the garden and butterfly activity. The path through the garden is four feet wide and the surface is compacted crushed rock, which is reasonably easy to navigate for a wheelchair user. No restrooms or drinking water at the garden. Open mid-Ma to mid-October, sunrise to sunset.

Off, Off, Off the Beaten Path

If you love the outdoors, quiet, and little to no commerce, plan a day trip to Swan’s Island, a half-hour ferry ride from Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island. The island has three tiny villages, a very small population, and no amenities. Day visitors can enjoy walking or bicycling, swimming in a quarry, and exploring the rocky shore. Remote and restful.

Eyes Above Portland

This is a place to bring a camera and a love of maritime history. Built in 1807 as a communications tower for Portland’s harbor, the Portland Observatory is the last maritime signal tower in the United States. A National Historic Landmark, the Portland Observatory is the only remaining maritime signal station in the United States, and thus a unique architectural icon of maritime shipping and the Golden Age of Sail. Now, the Observatory operated as a museum and historic site, offering educational programs and guided tours. Open late May through early October, daily. 207-774-5561.

cheese makers in Appleton, Waldoboro, Whitefield, Union, and Owls Head

Hug a Goat; Eat Some Cheese

Midcoast Maine – that magical region of farms and fields and views – has a number cheese makers tucked among the towns of Appleton, Waldoboro, Whitefield, Union, and Owls Head.. The Midcoast Maine Cheese Trail (with some wineries and vineyards added) guides you from one cheese producer to the next. Taste the handmade cheeses; enjoy the farming spirit. Check with farms on your itinerary for open days and hours. Makers include Appleton Creamery, East Forty Farm, Fuzzy Udder Creamery, ME Water Buffalo Co., Copper Tail Farm, Sweetgrass Vineyard and Farm, Breakwater Vineyards and Farm, and Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery.

Short Trip to an Island Retreat

An island-based but not-too-remote day trip out of Portland is a trip to lovely Peaks Island in Casco Bay, easily accessible via several daily trips (30-minutes long) on the Casco Bay Lines ferries , based in Portland. The island is small, beautiful, and restful. You can rent bicycles cheaply for nearly-flat rides around the island; visit the GEM Island Artists and the Umbrella Cover Museum (yes, that is: covers of umbrellas); visit the Eighth Maine Regiment Memorial; go kayaking; dine on seafood; and simply enjoy the day.

Boothbay Welcomes Fans of the Railroads

Boothbay Railway Village on Wiscasset Road in Boothbay, Maine, has several exhibits, including a coal-fired steam train, antique fire trucks, and an antique automobile exhibit that includes Model T Fords, Stanley Steamers, and a Rolls Royce. The Village includes a restored 1847 Town Hall, the Spruce Point Chapel, and a historic fire house. The Village Green hosts many special events, like Antique Auto Days, Antique Tractor Pull, a craft fair, and holiday rides. Children love the 20-minute ride on Boothbay Central, a coal-fired narrow-gauge train. Open Memorial Day through mid-October. 207-633-4727.

Children’s Fun and Learning Zone

With seven interactive exhibit areas on three floors, Maine Discovery Museum at 74 Main Street in downtown Bangor, Maine, 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.

Driving You to Drink in Portland

Some observers of American life declare that the existence of a lot of craft breweries is a sign of a city’s soulfulness. In any case, the Maine Brew Bus based at 111 Commercial Street in Portland scheduled and private tours of breweries in Portland and southern Maine. The tours give you a behind-the-scenes look at Maine's craft breweries, distilleries, wineries, and more. Tours are led by knowledgeable guides and a non-drinking driver. All tours include a snack or meal and trivia games. New tour is Birds on Tap: a guided tour of bird watching and beer-sipping. 207-200-9111.

Charms of the Old Port

Portland’s Colonial maritime heritage and authentic 19th-century architecture make this vibrant downtown truly unique. Join guides of the Maine Historical Society for a comprehensive 90-minute tour of the highlights of Portland’s history during a leisurely walk to the waterfront. The perfect way to orient visitors. Recommended for guests age 12 and older. Tours are offered on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Phone: 207-774-1822.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

In August 2016, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the national park system, President Obama created a new park, Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, in northern Maine, near Millinocket. The park is in the shadow of Mount Katahdin, and it occupies a wild landscape with spectacular views the mountain. Back-country adventurers can explore the rivers, woods, plant and animal life, and dark night skies. This is a monument with limited services; services will be added in coming years. The park has no welcome center at present. Find visitor information at the park’s website or by phone: 207-456-6001.

Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory near Bucksport, Maine.

Take a Wide-Angle Lens

To provide an eagle’s-eye view of Maine’s Down East beauty, the state has provided a sky-high nest for visitors at the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory near Bucksport, Maine. The 420-foot-high observation tower on this long-span suspension bridge offers breathtaking 360-degree views of Penobscot Bay and the Penobscot River, the Camden Hills, Mount Desert Island, and Mount Katahdin. The Observatory is open late May through late November, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information call 207-469-7719.

Plants Transformed into Artwork

Snug Harbor Farm, open year-round at 87 Western Avenue in Kennebunk, is a beauty of a place for sophisticated gardeners, with a special emphasis on topiaries and beautifully potted arrangements. The farm offers unique garden accessories and arrangements with a flavor of old European courtyards. There is always something unusual to find in the greenhouses or The Shop. The farm's topiaries are grown in handmade terra cotta vases and bowls and stone planters. Instruction is offered, along with special seasonal events, like the Haunted Barn at Halloween and classes at Christmas in wreath making and boxwood topiaries. Phone: 207-967-2414.

From Wines to Watches, All the Prices Are Fine

Stop, shop, and save before visiting Canada. At Duty Free Americas at 4 Airport Road at I-95 in Houlton, Maine, you can buy gifts for yourself and friends wide selection of fragrances, watches, gifts, jewelry and travel-related merchandise from the highest quality brand names, as well as items that typically incur significant duties and taxes, such as liquor and tobacco.

Whales? Watch!!

A cruise to visit the whales’ flapping grounds is almost de rigueur on a vacation in Bar Harbor and Acadia. The Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company can get you on the water and into the whales’ neighborhood in a jiffy. It’s a fantastic view for people of all ages. the company also offers trips that focus on puffin and seal sightings, lobster fishing and lighthouses. All Maine, from the water. Phone: 207-288-9800.

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