Maine Regions

The TravelMaine guide offers a detailed description of each distinct and scenic region of Maine. The Southern Maine Coast towns of Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Old Orchard Beach and York offer spectacular sandy beaches. Drive up the Maine coast from Portland and Freeport through the picturesque Midcoast Maine towns of Boothbay Harbor, Rockland, Camden and Belfast to the breathtaking Acadia region and Bar Harbor, Maine’s quintessential harbor town. Outdoor lovers head to the vast and beautiful Aroostook County in the North for prime camping, hiking and fishing. Visit the Rangeley Lakes region in Western Maine for great skiing, canoeing, fishing, and kayaking. Bangor is the gateway to the Maine Highlands region, which boasts stunning vistas of Mt Katahdin and Baxter State Park. Moosehead Lake is host to unlimited outdoor activities. Visit the wooded paradise of ? and be the first to see the sun rise in the United States. Now matter what your Maine destination, the TravelMaine Guide is your one-stop source for Maine Regional information.

Southern Maine!

Southern Maine has been welcoming vacationers during all four seasons for more than a century. The region offers everything from shopping to sunbathing to soaking up the scenery. It’s also where you’ll find Portland, the urban centerpiece of the state as well as  the starting point for those arriving by air into Portland’s International Jetport.

Travelers preferring to use Boston as a jumping off point can rive from Beantown to the Pine Tree State in 90 minutes, or hop on the Amtrak Downeaster for a relaxing train ride. By car, Route 1 is the major artery running through the region and the link to some of the most exquisite beaches along the Atlantic – at Kittery, York, Ogunquit, Kennebunk, Biddeford, and Old Orchard.

Southern Maine fun for serious shoppers begins at the border, where Kittery’s retail outlets number more than 120. At the other end of the region is Freeport, home to world-famous L.L. Bean.

Throughout Southern Maine you can find forts, lighthouses, colorful villages, summer theaters, antique stores, historic homes, and museums. Accommodations range from antique-filled bed and breakfasts to campgrounds. If you like the outdoors, you can go fresh or salt water fishing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing, white-water rafting, swimming, or sunbathing, golfing, hiking, or biking. In winter, you can ski, snowboard, drive a dog sled, skate and ice fish.

Finally, if you enjoy eating, Southern Maine has more to offer than just boiled lobster and fried clams. The region features a number of award-winning restaurants and chefs, year-round farmers’ markets, and plenty of “pick your own” blueberry, raspberry and apple farms.

SKOWHEGAN AREA

In the unique town of Skowhegan you’ll find the treasured New Balance Factory Outlet … where you can always find a GREAT DEAL!

Skowhegan was settled in 1773, it’s brimming with American History yet is host to modern businesses such as SAPPI Fine Paper, New Balance Shoe, Howard P. Fairfield, and Redington-Fairview General Hospital.

Skowhegan is also nationally known as the home of Senator Margaret Chase Smith, the first woman U.S. Senator. The Margaret Chase Smith Library houses the Senator’s memorabilia and serves as a museum and educational center on her life and career.

Downtown Skowhegan, a Mainstreet Maine Community, is watched over by the world’s largest sculptured Indian… a 62 ft. giant crafted by the renowned sculptor Bernard Langlais of Cushing.

(Source: Skowhegan Chamber of Commerce): www.skowheganchamber.com

JACKMAN

Info coming soon …

THE FORKS

Info coming soon …

WATERVILLE

Info coming soon …

AUGUSTA

Info coming soon …

MACHIAS BAY AREA

Jonesboro, Centerville, and Whitneyville lie west and north of Machias.  In these wooded river towns, boating, fishing swimming, hiking, and hunting are popular activities.  Jonesboro has the grave site of Hannah Weston who with her sister carried powder and lead to Machias patriots for their capture of the British warship MargarettaWhitneyville is an ending point for canoe trips down the Machias River; its Fairgrounds are the site of rodeos and exhibitions.

Historical sites in Machias, the county seat, include the beautiful Centre Street Congregational Church and Maine’s oldest building east of Bangor ~ the Burnham Tavern Museum, which contains items related to the 1775 capture of the British ship Margaretta by local citizens who won America’s first naval battle of the Revolutionary War.  The University of Machias, America’s easternmost college campus, is here and the town often is used as a base for ATV day trips.

The Roque Bluffs State Park has a half-mile-long sandy beach.  Route 92 in Machiasport is one of the county’s most scenic, with beautiful views of Machias Bay, Fort O’Brien State Park, and Jasper Beach, one of the world’s two jasper beaches.  Attractions include the Gates House Museum, Indian petroglyphs more than 1,500 years old on Hog Island, and the Libby Island Lighthouse.

The photogenic town of East Machias contains several historic buildings, including Washington Academy and the beautiful Congregational Church.  The East Machias River, which flows through the center of town, offers fishing and whitewater canoeing.  The 11,000-acre Rocky Lake Public Reserve, north of town, provides boat launches, campsites, and fishing!

EASTPORT

Here in Eastport, the easternmost city in the U.S., the sun and the moon rise over Campobello Island and the photo ops are everywhere. For those who want an active outdoor experience, there are ocean kayaking, deep-sea fishing, golf and hiking, as well as swimming, fishing and canoeing in nearby lakes. For a more leisurely stay, try dining out on locally-caught seafood, seasonal whale watching aboard the schooner Sylvina Beal, shopping for antiques and Maine-made art and crafts in the galleries and shops on Water Street, attending a concert of classical or country music at the Arts Center, selecting fresh organic produce and meats at the weekly farmers’ market, or simply relaxing to enjoy the breathtaking views and the massive ocean tides. We’re a welcoming community, proud of our artists, fishermen and farmers, supportive of a wide range of cultural activities, and eager to make our visitors feel at home.

Eastport is a working waterfront, with fishermen bringing in their catch of lobsters, scallops, clams, mussels, crabs, mackerel and halibut. Two tugboats assist freighters that bring in wind turbine blades and leave with wood products. You can catch your own fish off the Breakwater, no license required. Nothing beats the taste of freshly-caught seafood!

The walkable downtown, a National Historic District, was completely rebuilt after a disastrous fire in October 1886. Here you can visit the Tides Institute and Museum of Art, the Peavey Library, the country’s oldest ship’s chandlery and a variety of restaurants. A little farther from downtown you’ll find the nation’s oldest working stone-ground mustard mill, a world-renowned boat-building school, hiking trails, and an airport equipped for executive jets. Some visitors arrive by car, others by boat or plane, and stay in a variety of accommodations from motels and B & Bs, to campgrounds.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe of nearby Pleasant Point shares its strong history and culture, most notably during Indian Days every August. Traditional Native baskets made from sweetgrass and ash are available downtown.

Other festivals include Maine’s best Fourth of July celebration, also known as Old Home Week, a time for families and friends to reunite and celebrate old-fashioned values. Don’t forget the Pirate Festival and Salmon Sunday in mid-September, and our very special New Year’s Eve festivities.

The Eastport Arts Center is the thriving hub of our creative community. Its programs include a theater company, a youth string orchestra, a symphony orchestra, an art gallery, arts education classes, a film society and a concert series that brings many music and drama groups here to perform.

Bring your passport: the border with Canada runs down the middle of Passamaquoddy Bay between Maine and New Brunswick, making Campobello, Grand Manan and Deer Islands our international neighbors. Visiting is easy, by car or ferry, and nearby sights include the Roosevelt family’s summer home on Campobello and many lighthouses.

If you’re interested in a three-nation vacation with lots of possibilities for every member of the family, consider making Eastport your destination.

FREEPORT

Freeport is a historic coastal Maine village with over 170 retailers, upscale outlets, designer ships, eclectic boutiques, charming B&B’s, hotels, fantastic restaurants and casual cafes.  It’s also home to world-famous L.L. Bean.

L.L. Bean started in Freeport in 1912 with 100 pairs of boots.  By 1982 the store’s immense popularity with shoppers inspired more than 130 brand name outlet stores, boutiques, specialty stores, fabulous restaurants and gift shops to open their businesses in Freeport.

Today Freeport is a tourist destination with more than 3.5 million visitors annually.  Adding to your shopping experience are open air concert series, talks with tips on outdoor activities, art festivals and street performers.

While shopping diversity has become synonymous with Freeport, you’ll find the town has retained an allure and elegance that builds on its cultural past.  Many businesses retained the original architectural style of buildings from an early era, which gives Freeport’s Main Street a traditional historic flair.

A short distance from the thriving downtown you can find the amazing Desert of Maine with natural 70-foot sand dunes; Winslow Memorial Park with a beach, boat landing, playground and campsites; the Audubon Society’s Mast Landing Santuary with day camp and trails through the woods and fields and Wolfe’s Neck State Park offering 233 acres to explore.

BETHEL

Bethel is a beautiful four-season recreational area and convenient to reach … but a world away from the hustle and bustle that most people live in.  Bethel is uncrowded and unpretentious.  Whether you are seeking the exhilaration of high adventure or a quiet walk in our National Historic District or a stroll along our riverbank, your experiences here will weave themselves into your inner fabric.  Each season provides a myriad of opportunities to connect with the natural world … and you determine the pace.

Our mountain forests provide recreation and opportunities in every season, a source of relaxation for the outdoor crowd!  The Appalachian Trail and the recently-opened Grafton Loop Trail provide multi-day backpacking trips … but shorter hikes/day hikes here abound … for folks of all ages and abilities.  Bird and wildlife watching opportunities are abundant, from teh trails in the forest and also from the comfort of your vehicle along our scenic highway system.  Guided ATV tours are increasing in popularity!  Fishing and swinning in our dozens of rivers, streams, and lakes are wonderful ways to get closer to nature. There are few pastimes that beat sitting near one of our many waterfalls, several within an easy walk of the roadsides.  Our fall foliage provides a breathtaking backdrop for several weeks in teh autumn.  Winter provides an endless array of active outdoor pursuits as well as just snuggling up in front of a fire in one of our classic New England hostelries.

The Bethel area offers an abundant choice of accommodations, food services, and recreation amenities in all seasons.  This is the perfect place for a family reunion or a quiet getaway; it’s a place where you can climb one of our mountain peaks and be one with nature!  Bethel claims to be Maine’s Most Beautiful Mountain Village … and so much more!