Maine – All the Information for a Trip in the Pine Tree State
Maine is the largest and most rural of the New England states. In the Pine Tree State, the winters are harsh, but with the arrival of spring and the melting of the snow, the state transforms into a popular vacation and travel destination for Americans. Maine is the civilized frontier of the USA, with breathtaking natural sites, huge glacial lakes, and a long, fragmented coastline with dozens of river mouths turning into giant bays.
- The largest city in Maine is Portland. Just north of it lies the almost aristocratic tourist region of Penobscot Bay, known as the center of lobster delicacies in America
- In the northern part of the state are vast nature reserves that are very popular during the foliage season, a few gentle mountain peaks, and fantastic ski sites on gentle slopes
How many days are needed for a trip in Maine?
Maine is a huge state, and to explore it all, you'll need to dedicate at least a week????.
8 Things You Must See and Do in Maine
- Taste lobsters in the towns and islands of Penobscot Bay
- The loop road of Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island – one of the most stunning fall foliage spots in Maine
- Urban stroll in Portland, Maine (not the larger Portland in Oregon)
- Photograph the unique lighthouses along the coast
- Reach the easternmost point in the USA in Lubec and cross over to Roosevelt's island – Campobello Island (technically in Canada)
- View the breathtaking Mount Kineo at Moosehead Lake
- Stephen King's mansion in Bangor
- Ski gentle slopes at Sugarloaf and Sunday River resorts
Click here for all the information on a trip to Acadia National Park…
Click here for the complete guide to visiting the towns of Penobscot Bay…
Click here to find accommodation in the Portland Maine area…
Click here to check availability and prices for hotels near Acadia Park and Penobscot Bay…
What is Maine?
Maine is the largest state in New England. It's slightly larger than all the New England states combined. It sits at the northwestern edge of the USA and is the least densely populated state in the eastern USA. Most of Maine is forested, which is why it's called the Pine Tree State.
Click here for a sunset cruise departing from Belfast Harbor with lobster tastings…
- About 1.35 million people live in Maine, spread over 91,000 square kilometers (almost four times the size of Massachusetts), and its capital is Augusta
- Portland is the almost sole important urban area in this massive state, home to about seventy thousand residents
- Maine largely borders Canada, with New Brunswick on its eastern edge and the province of Quebec to the north. On its western side, it borders New Hampshire, while to the south it stretches along the long coastline of the Atlantic Ocean
- The colonial era in Maine began in 1607. When the United States was founded, Maine was a frontier district of the state of Massachusetts. On March 15, 1820, Maine became the 23rd state of the Union as part of the Missouri Compromise. In this compromise, Maine joined the Union as a free state alongside Missouri, which was a slave state. This maintained the delicate balance between slave and free states
- The core of Maine's economy is based on agriculture and fishing, especially crabs and lobsters. A significant portion of lobster harvesting in the USA takes place along the rugged coastlines of this northern state, with restaurants selling lobsters as a main dish all along the shore
Click here for a day trip from Boston to the charming coastal towns of southern Maine…
Map of all the attractions and sites in Maine
How to Get to Maine?
How to get to Maine by plane?
Logan International Airport in Boston – BOS
The primary gateway to Maine is Boston's major international airport. The airport has four terminals, with Terminal E serving international flights. The Silver Line bus stops at all four terminals and continues to downtown Boston. There are also free shuttles to the Blue Line subway station. The station is located half a mile west of the terminals at the junction of the I-90 highway with the A1 highway, which branches towards the center.
Logan Airport in Boston is easily accessible with transfer flights in Europe, which can significantly reduce the price of your flight from home. The airport is adjacent to Boston from the east, in the East Boston district, just a five-minute drive from downtown. The travel time from the airport to southern Maine, to the small town of Kittery, is nearly an hour, and to Portland about an hour and a half.
Click here to find affordable flights to Boston or Portland, Maine…
Portland International Jetport – PMW
Portland's small airport is located just west of the downtown area of this big city (by Maine standards). The airport only serves domestic flights with small to medium-sized aircraft, but it's very convenient for reaching the city for those arriving from major U.S. airports. The airport has direct lines with New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, Dallas, and other major U.S. airports. For those who want to reach Maine directly without landing in Boston, you can book a flight with a transfer at one of the major airports in the U.S. Line number 5 of Portland’s metropolitan transport network connects the airport with downtown. The drive from the airport to the city takes only about ten minutes.
Bangor International Airport – BGR
Bangor Airport is the gateway to central and northern Maine, mainly to Acadia National Park and Penobscot Bay. The small airport is located on the western side of Bangor city, just a 5-minute drive from its center. Despite its small size, the airport has flights arriving from New York, Chicago, and Florida. The airport primarily serves those who can afford it, arriving on private flights to enjoy the towns of the bay to the south.
How to get to Maine by car?
The main highway of Maine is Interstate 95. This central Atlantic coast highway crosses the border to Canada at the city of Houlton and connects with Canadian Highway 2. This road runs along the entire eastern coast of the USA from downtown Miami. The I-95 runs from Boston to Portland along the coast, then connects to Augusta and Bangor inland. The I-95 spur, Interstate 295, runs along the coast north from Portland.
Another famous road that runs along the entire coastline is the legendary Highway 1. This road also runs right next to the Atlantic coast from Florida (starting in Key West) and ends in Calais on the border with New Brunswick. It stretches along the bays of Maine, providing access to Brunswick, Acadia National Park, and more.
Click here for all the information on car rental in the USA + useful tips and significant discounts…
When to visit Maine?
- In Maine, it’s simple, visit in the summer
- July and August are the perfect months to visit Maine, along with millions of tourists coming to the northern state from other parts of New England and New York
- In summer, Maine is considered a popular resort destination for residents of the Northeast, especially the wealthy who own elegant summer estates in the state's towns
- The spring months are also pleasant in the northern state, still cold to freezing, but the streams are rushing and the natural sites are especially magical. In spring, the state thaws from the harsh winter, and businesses that rely on tourists open their doors.
- In some ways, Maine is like Canada ????. Winter in Maine is utterly impossible and not recommended for traveling during this time. Almost everything is closed, and only the brave residents of the northern land somehow continue their daily lives. From mid-November to the end of February, most of the area is in a state of freeze, and under certain conditions, temperatures can plummet to extremes.
- In winter, the state also celebrates its special day on December 21st, marking Maine's joining of the United States. These ceremonial celebrations blend with Christmas, which occurs three days later.
- From March, thawing begins, but it's still cold. Spring in Maine is pleasant and cool, and as the months progress towards summer, the likelihood of rain increases.
- In June and July, there's plenty of sunshine, unless it rains, of course. In August and September, there are fewer rainy days and the temperatures are pleasant.
- From late spring to fall, the weather in Maine is excellent, with sunny days and everything lush and green.
Click here for a cruise along the Portland coastline, including views of the famous lighthouses…
How to Plan a Trip to Maine?
There are two main routes in Maine along which the trip is conducted – the Maine coastline and the Inland route.
- The coastline of Maine is one of the most popular destinations for the fancy tourist traffic of New England during the summer. Along the route of the legendary Highway 1 (which runs the entire length of the Atlantic coast from Key West, Florida, ending in northern Maine), lie several towns that have become almost mythological tourist spots. The gateway to Maine is the large city of Portland, the almost sole urban metropolis in this vast state. From Portland on Highway 1 heading north, you can reach all the towns and natural reserves of the coastline, led by Acadia National Park and Penobscot Bay.
- Interstate 95 leads north from Portland towards the town of Houlton on the Canadian border. Along the highway are the cities of Augusta, the state capital, and Bangor. From this route, roads extend northward to the remote counties of the north with pristine nature. The lake district, with the popular Moosehead Lake and the Baxter National Park, completes Maine's northern route. The area also features two popular ski resorts.
Click here for trip planning in Maine and professional consultation…
Everything to see and do on the Atlantic coast south of Portland
Portland
Portland is the largest and most significant city in Maine. The city in Oregon, also named Portland, may be more well-known, but Portland, Maine has plenty to offer tourists too. Downtown Portland is located east of Interstate 295 on a peninsula at the mouth of the fertile Fore River into Casco Bay. In the bay opposite the city itself, there are dozens of small islands, the largest being Peaks Island. The heart of the city is Monument Square (where the Our Lady of Victories statue stands), from which the main thoroughfare, Congress Street, emerges. Adjacent to downtown, to the east, is the most attractive district in the city – the Old Port.
Click here for a guided trolley tour of Portland…
Downtown and the Old Port
Downtown Portland is delightfully charming and stretches over several streets that run parallel and intersect with the main Congress Street. The Art Museum is located on the southern end of this axis and roughly concludes at the small Lincoln Park, which is adjacent to a large and convenient parking garage.
To the east of downtown stretches the Old Port district. The area has undergone revitalization and gentrification from what was remnants of a harbor and warehouses, transforming into an attractive place to hang out with plenty of great restaurants, shops, and bars. The Old Port is located on the harbor piers, with the northern end hosting the ferry terminal connecting Maine's coastal towns.
Click here for a culinary tour discovering Old Town's hidden restaurant gems…
Downtown has some interesting houses and mansions open to the public. The Wadsworth-Longfellow House, located at 489 Congress Street, was the home of the city-born poet Henry Wadsworth-Longfellow and is now a small museum dedicated to his memory. Just south of the Old Port is the impressive Victoria Mansion, an 1860 villa with fascinating interior space. The mansion is open to visitors.
Click here for a guided tour of Old Town and Portland's lighthouse…
Portland Museum of Art
The art museum is located in the southern part of downtown, on Congress Street. The museum has an impressive collection of significant American painters such as Andrew Wyeth. However, the main collection of the museum features works by Winslow Homer, the fantastic landscape painter from Boston, who resided in his later years in Prouts Neck, just south of the city. The museum also boasts a very impressive collection of European painters like Edvard Munch, Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and more.
Address: Congress Sq, Portland, ME
Click here for all information about opening hours and ticket prices…
Portland Observatory
The observatory overlooks the houses of the Munjoy Hill neighborhood, just north of downtown. The red tower of the observatory rises above the neighborhood houses and you can climb to its top up 100 steps. From the top of the signal tower, there is a breathtaking view of the Casco Bay islands.
Address: Congress St. 138, Portland, ME
Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine
A charming children's museum that combines science, theater, and various activities and fun for kids. The museum operates a children's theater that presents high-quality original performances. The museum is located east of Highway 205 near the airport in a giant, flat red brick building.
Address: Thompsons Point Rd. 250, Portland, ME
Click here for all the information on opening hours and ticket prices…
Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park
The lighthouse at Fort Williams Park is one of the most famous and significant in New England. Made of red bricks, it began operating at the end of the 18th century. The lighthouse served as a landmark for ships approaching Portland Harbor from Casco Bay, guiding them through the narrow passage south of Cushing Island. Today, the lighthouse is a popular visitor site, located at the edge of the charming Fort Williams Park. The park offers walking trails through fort ruins and along the rugged coastline. It is located just south of Portland's downtown, a fifteen-minute drive away.
Click here for a cruise to Portland's lighthouse and along the city's coastline…
Old Orchard Beach
The small resort and amusement town is located on the Atlantic Ocean shore, a twenty-five-minute drive south from Portland on the 95. The town has a long Lido Beach stretching from its historic center – Old Orchard Street. At the end of the street on the ocean shore, there's the Palace Playland amusement park and Old Orchard Pier. In the small amusement park, there are roller coasters and more attractions for kids of all ages. Along the beach, both south and north of the pier, are hotels and motels, seafood restaurants, shops, and more.
Kennebunk, Kennebunk Beach, and Kennebunkport
The three Kennebunk towns are now a rural residence for the affluent and a nice place for a short stroll. What were once fishing towns are located a half-hour drive south of Portland towards the Atlantic Ocean shore. In Kennebunkport, there are two charming beaches – Colony Beach, where the lovely St. Ann's by-the-Sea Episcopal Church is located, and Gooch's Beach, which stretches south towards Kennebunk Beach.
The center of Kennebunkport is Dock Square, lined with good restaurants and shops. The square, which is essentially a long street, stretches over the Grist Mill Pond, a body of water lying between the river estuary and a deep bay. Just north of the square sits the stunning South Congregational Church, which boasts a neo-classical facade and a tall and beautiful clock tower.
On the street heading north from Dock Square towards Kennebunk, there are rows of beautiful mansion houses. The most notable of these is the extraordinary Wedding Cake House, which looks just like its name suggests (Address: Summer St. 104, Kennebunk, ME).
Seashore Trolley Museum
This unique museum is located in the countryside, just a 10-minute drive north of Dock Square in Kennebunkport. The museum showcases hundreds of trolley cars. Visitors can even enjoy a ride on an operational trolley. It is a charming spot in New England's nature with the allure of the old world.
Address: Log Cabin Rd. 195, Kennebunkport, ME
Click here for all the information on opening hours and ticket prices…
Ogunquit
This small town lies on the Atlantic coast, a 50-minute drive from Portland and 25 minutes from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The town is mainly known for its unique beach, built on a natural breakwater formed by glacial drift, a sand-like marine deposit left by the movement of glaciers. The shoreline is very shallow on both sides of the natural breakwater, with special dune formations. The town center is situated along Route 1, featuring restaurants and hotels catering to visitors drawn to the stunning beach.
Kittery
Kittery is the southern gateway to Maine. This small town is part of the greater Portsmouth metropolitan area (relatively speaking) in nearby New Hampshire along the southern bank of the Piscataqua River. The town was founded in 1647 and is considered one of the oldest in the American union. In Kittery, there's a very old church (by American standards). East of the town center, the ruins of Fort McClary from the early 19th century are scattered around. In the northern part of town, along Route 1, there's a concentration of outlet malls for shopping.
Everything to see and do on the Atlantic coast north of Portland
Freeport
The small town of Freeport lies on the Atlantic Ocean's coast, just a twenty-minute drive north from Portland. The town center stretches along Route 1. The heart of the town and its main attraction is the L.L.Bean clothing store situated in its center.
The huge clothing and sports equipment store, LL Bean, is famously never closed. It's open 24/7 and almost always has customers, even in the middle of the night. The reason it's always open is due to the founder’s vision to ensure there's always an option for anyone visiting Maine's natural landscapes to buy gear and clothing. Near the giant store, there are more clothing shops. The town is known as one of the primary shopping hubs in New England.
Near the town center heading towards the ocean, opposite the town's small harbor, you'll find Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park. The park boasts stunning nature with forested islands caressing the ocean's waters. Another attraction in town is the Desert of Maine. You can reach the (not actually!) desert area by driving west from the town center on Desert Road. This peculiar 160-acre terrain was created by over-farming and soil erosion, exposing the underlying dune grounds. The desert is one of the most surreal landscapes in this forested and cold state.
Brunswick
The large town of Brunswick is located at the mouth of the Androscoggin River into Merrymeeting Bay. It is a half-hour drive along the coast north from Portland and just ten minutes from Freeport. Brunswick is home to the historic Bowdoin College, dating back to the late 18th century. The college is where Robert Peary and Donald MacMillan, the first to reach the North Pole, studied and united.
On the college campus, you'll find the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, which houses memorabilia from the two explorers and plenty of details about the journey and the Arctic region. On the other side of the college is the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, featuring a delightful collection mainly from local artists.
Harpswell
This small town is located on peninsulas jutting out like arrows into Casco Bay. The area surrounding the town is full of nature and water, with charming pine forests. Harpswell is a fifteen-minute drive south of Brunswick, and it mainly consists of charming farmhouses nestled in the shade of the woods.
Fort Popham
Just a half-hour drive south of Brunswick lies the beautiful Popham Beach. This long and wide beach is situated at the tip of a wooded peninsula and connects to the nearby Hunnewell Beach. At the end of the peninsula stands the impressive Fort Popham, built in the mid-19th century, which served the U.S. Army until World War II and now serves as a monument. Opposite the fort is the striking Pond Island Lighthouse, and with a short sail southward, you'll find the Seguin Island Lighthouse.
Boothbay Harbor
The quaint marina town of Boothbay Harbor is just a one and a quarter-hour drive from Portland and three-quarters of an hour from Brunswick. The town is one of the key sailing hubs in New England. The houses are snugly built against the marina docks, which stretch along various water tongues and coves. The streets near the marina are a popular resort destination, bustling with tourists in summer. Visitors flock here to enjoy and especially sail from the town to the nearby beautiful beaches or deeper into Maine's river mouths.
Every June, the town hosts a Sailing Ships Festival, drawing in a huge crowd eager to see dozens of majestic sailing ships docked at the piers. Across the bay lies the Maine State Aquarium, a popular spot for entertainment and learning.
Penobscot Bay
Penobscot Bay is probably the most attractive tourist destination in Maine. This beautiful bay draws a massive number of tourists over the summer, all eager to experience the unique rural atmosphere and stunning views of the jagged coastline. This vast bay is fed by the Penobscot River, which carries the glacial waters from central Maine southward. At the river's mouth and around the bay, you'll find picturesque towns, majestic sailing ships, fishing boats, islands with rolling hills, and low cliffs dropping vertically into the water, surrounded by lush greenery. The towns and islands around the bay are the perfect blend of New England – nature, water, lobsters, and colonial-era towns.
Rockland
The town of Rockland is the gateway to Penobscot Bay and the main settlement in the vast bay area. Rockland is located just an hour's drive from Augusta, the capital of Maine, and one hour and fifteen minutes from Brunswick. Rockland is known as one of the best places in the USA for lobster farming and eating. On the first weekend of August, the Rockland Lobster Festival is held in the town, attracting an enormous number of tourists to this peaceful town.
Click here for the complete guide to visiting the towns of Penobscot Bay…
Bangor
Bangor is the second largest city in Maine, after Portland, and the gateway to the northern part of the state. This small city has a population of only about thirty thousand people, but it has a regional airport that channels tourism towards Acadia National Park and Penobscot Bay. The city sits along the course of the Penobscot River before its large estuary in the bay to the south. The city's center consists of Hammond and Main streets, which intersect not far from the Zillman Art Museum. The museum is part of the University of Maine (located in the town of Orono nearby to the north of Bangor) and has a surprising collection of well-known artists.
It's worth strolling through the streets of the historic Broadway district, where there's a collection of charming mansions from the 18th and 19th centuries. The famed writer Stephen King resides there, who moved to the city to study at the University of Maine (he was born in Portland to the south). The mansion looks as if it's taken straight from the legendary horror stories of this famous author (The Shining, Stand by Me, The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, Misery, and more), many of which have been turned into top-notch Hollywood films.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is located three hours' drive from Portland and one hour south of Bangor. You can also reach the park from Pen Bay, which is an hour and a half drive from Rockland. The national park showcases Maine's nature in its most quintessential form – pine forests, islands and bays, large bodies of water, boats, and stunning beaches. All in a cool and almost primeval atmosphere.
The national park spans the area of Mount Desert Island at the exit of the great Bay of Fundy. The bay marks the boundary between the provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada, and its southern part marks the border of northern Maine from Canada. Mount Desert Island is the largest of the islands in the bays off the coast of Maine. Around the national park, there are several resort towns, the largest being Bar Harbor on its eastern part. The gateway to Mount Desert Island is the large town of Ellsworth to the north. From there, the road goes south to the bridge crossing Thompson Island into Mount Desert Island.
Click here for a guided electric bike tour in Acadia National Park…
Bar Harbor
The small, picturesque resort town is the gateway and lodging place for those visiting Acadia National Park. It's considered one of the most prestigious places in Maine and is very popular among the wealthy from New England and New York. Bar Harbor sits east of the national park and is filled with tourists during the summer days. The town's main street is Main St, a boulevard of seafood and lobster restaurants, shops, and everything a tourist needs. Near the street, there are plenty of hotels and motels to accommodate visitors to the national park.
Click here for all the information on traveling in the stunning Acadia National Park in Maine…
The Eastern Coastline of Maine
Machias
The town of Machias is situated in the almost remote northern section of the legendary Route 1. You can reach the town via the charming coastal road or come from Bangor, which is a one and a half-hour drive away. The town sits on an impressive waterfall at the lower part of the rushing Machias River, a river very popular with kayakers. In the town center is Bad Little Falls Park, home to the impressive waterfall, right next to the path of Route 1. After passing the waterfall, the road turns into the town's main street, Main Street. On this street is the Burnham Tavern Museum, a building that was once a tavern and is considered the oldest in Maine. The structure, dating from 1770, is now a museum showcasing the lifestyle of the settlement period.
Calais
The remote border town is located almost an hour's drive from Machias and an hour and forty-five minutes from Bangor. There is a busy border crossing to Canada, to the province of New Brunswick. On the other side of the St. Croix River is the Canadian town of St. Stephen. An hour's drive into Canada leads to the provincial capital, Saint John. From the town, you can sail to the historic Saint Croix Island International Historic Site a bit downriver. The island was the first European settlement in the northern part of America (second to the Spanish settlement in Florida). The settlement on the island dates back to the late 16th century.
Lubec and Campobello Island
Campobello Island is located at the edge of Maine's coastline, technically across the Canadian border. You can reach it by driving an hour south from Calais or forty minutes east from Machias. The island was the vacation spot of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and is an American Heritage site. Access to the island is from the town of Lubec, crossing the narrow Lubec Strait into the territory of New Brunswick in Canada. Lubec is the easternmost settlement in the USA.
The main settlement on the island is Welshpool. Along the way from Lubec to Welshpool is Roosevelt Cottage at Roosevelt Campobello International Park. Nearby is Hubbard Cottage, which is now a small museum. A path from the cottage leads south to the island's tip where Liberty Point is located, offering a breathtaking viewpoint. You can gaze upon the northeastern tip of the USA and the West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, the easternmost point of the USA itself.
Maine's inland along the northern edge of I-95
Shaker Village in Sabbathday Lake
On the road between Portland and Augusta lies the last Shaker community village in the USA. The village is located near Sabbathday Lake, a forty-minute drive north from Portland and fifty minutes south from Augusta. The village has a museum where you can learn about the communal sect that branched out from the English Quakers. Just north of the village are the famous Poland Springs (from the Seinfeld episode – “We'll take Poland, come spring, no matter the cost,” Mr. Pitt), where they bottle the well-known Poland Spring mineral water brand.
Augusta
Augusta, the capital of Maine, lies along the northern route of Interstate 95 and its branch, I-295, from Portland, the largest city in the state. The drive from Portland to Augusta takes about 55 minutes. The city is situated on the banks of the Kennebec River, which continues southward to the city of Brunswick. The city was founded in the mid-18th century on the basis of a British outpost. In the center of the small city is the Maine State House, at the edge of Capitol Park. Across from the park is a reconstruction of the British outpost. North of the State House stretches the small downtown of Augusta along the city's main street, Water Street. Along the street are restaurants and shops. At the edge of downtown is the Calmet Bridge over the river, which is worth crossing to reach Old Fort Western, a reconstruction and preservation of an ancient wooden structure.
Aroostook County
Maine's large and empty northern extremity is a spectacular and particularly remote natural area. The settlements in the county are located in the eastern part, close to the Canadian border, where the towns of Presque Isle and Caribou are found. These towns lie at the very end of Highway 1. To the west sprawls the vast natural area of Aroostook State Park, which in the summer hosts hikers coming for camping and a natural experience. In the north of the county lies the Allagash area, home to the long waterway much loved by kayaking enthusiasts.
Baxter State Park
The large park in the center of Maine features the state's mountain peaks, including the highest peak – Mt. Katahdin. The mountain is the official northern end of the famous Appalachian Trail. The mountainous area includes dozens of gentle peaks, bridging the boundary between mountains and hill regions. This area is rich with the wild New England nature wonders – forests, hiking trails, breathtaking views, rivers, streams, lakes, unique wildlife, and more. In the summer days, the park is bustling with visitors coming for camping and hiking. Access to the park is from the town of Millinocket to the south.
Moosehead Lake
The largest town on Moosehead Lake is Greenville, located on its southern bank near the multi-branched glacial river. Greenville is about an hour and a half drive from Bangor and almost two hours north of Augusta. Moosehead is the largest lake by area in Maine and is ranked 46th among all lakes in the USA. In the heart of the lake lies the impressive island of Mount Kineo State Park, which is now entirely a nature reserve. The island is accessible by ferry from the village of Rockwood on the opposite western bank. The town offers motels and lodging, as well as the most spectacular views of the island. The island's mountain rises to 550 meters, standing out with its cliffs above the lake.
Sugarloaf Mountain
The Sugarloaf Mountain ski site is located a one and a half hour drive north of Augusta. Between the not-so-high mountain peak and the northern part of the Sugarloaf ski town, there are hundreds of very gentle skiing, snowboarding, and sledding trails. In winter, the whole site is filled with skiers on the more family-oriented side of the white sports world. Sugarloaf features motels and hotels with the charm of Alpine chalet cabins but with a distinctly American touch.
Bethel
The beautiful town of Bethel is located a one and a half hour drive west from Augusta, not far from the town of Berlin in New Hampshire. The town developed in the early 19th century alongside the lumber industry and became a popular resort for those seeking a cool summer. The beautiful center of the town stretches along Main Street, which is home to restaurants, hotels, and historic mansions. The street also hosts the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, featuring an impressive collection of the state’s geological treasures.
Until today, the town attracts tourists in the summer as well as in the winter, due to its proximity to the Sunday River ski resort, slightly north of it. Sunday River is a highly efficient ski resort with slopes that are a bit more gently inclined than the slopes at Sugarloaf. It has numerous ski lifts and plenty of trails for all levels (not professional tracks with crazy slopes, it's not the Rockies).
