One of the most exciting ways to enjoy your Maine vacation is by lodging at a sporting camp.  The great appeal of sporting camps is their rustic setting, relaxing atmosphere and the legendary hospitality you’ll receive during your visit.

The people who vacation at sporting camps love the outdoors and appreciate the beauty and wonder of this extraordinary gift of nature.  You might take part in the many outdoor activities or allow the natural setting to inspire an inner calm.  You also appreciate that time shared as a family in a sporting camp can create closeness that is difficult to capture anywhere else.

Many sporting camps are located on one of Maine’s 6,000 pristine lakes or waterways.  You wake up to the aroma of appetizing home cooked breakfast, look out your cabin window to a majestic view and in a short time you’ll be fishing, canoeing, kayaking, or swimming.

Some sporting camps are deep in the Maine woods surrounded by rolling hills and mountainous peaks.  The vistas appear as you go hiking or mountain biking will provide you with memories that last a lifetime.

Among the thrills of making your vacation at a sporting camp is the sights you’ll see.  Colorful flowers and lush vegetation, birds not often seen out of their natural habitat, deer, moose, fox, grouse and other wildlife.

Each sporting camp has a personality that fits its location.  Some are rustic log cabins miles away from small towns with minimum facilities.  Others have attractive lodges and bungalows with updated amenities.

Many sporting camps have professional guides to help you if you’re new to camping.  Some have year-round facilities.  In the autumn you’ll be surrounded by acres of colorful foliage.  During the winter you can go ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and hunting.  To find a camp best suited to you, visit www.mainesportingcamps.com.

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

Info coming soon …

Info coming soon …

Info coming soon …

Info coming soon …

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 Margaretta.  Whitneyville 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!

Click here for detialed information on tides for all Maine harbors.

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.

ANDROSCOGGIN RIVER:
The 26 mile stretch of river, from the New Hampshire border, to Rumford Point, offers  a variety of canoe & kayak adventures.  The most picturesque section is from Gilead boat landing to Bethel, a total of 10 miles, taking an average of 3 hours.  Wildlife sightings are common and include bald eagles, osprey, great blue heron, loons, otters and even moose!   Several nearby canoe & kayak  outfitters are available for rentals, pick-ups, drop-offs and guiding services.

CUPSUPTIC RIVER:
For a short trip with easy-in and easy-out access (trip length about 1 to 1 1/2 hours), take Route 4 from Rangeley towards Oquossoc to the Information Pavilion. Turn right on Route 16 towards Wilsons Mills, continue across the Kennebago River, pass the Cupsuptic Campground, and go approximately 1 mile past the Maine Forest Service Station to the Public Boat Access on the Cupsuptic River. Do not cross the bridge; landing is on the east side.

MAGALLOWAY RIVER:
This 5.5-mile trip requires a shuttle (takes approx. 3 hours). Take Rt. 4 from Rangeley towards Oquossoc to the Information Pavilion. Turn right on Route 16 to Wilson’s Mills. At Wilson’s Mills as you approach the bridge, turn right on Bennett Road; immediately on the left is the launching point. There is fast water at the beginning of the trip, but it is flat. Shuttle: Take a car to the bridge at the Maine-New Hampshire border – there is only one bridge which crosses the river. Take out at bridge; it is quite steep.

DEAD RIVER (NORTH BRANCH):
This class-I paddle requires a shuttle and a portage. Follow Rt. 27 north, past Cathedral Pines Campground, to the King & Bartlett Road on the right. (approx. 1.5 miles past Eustis). At the sign, turn right and cross the bridge. Launch just past the bridge. Leave your car at the Cathedral Pines Campground. A portage circumvents a dam marked by a cable with barrels strung across the river. Pull out on the right where the cable is anchored. There is a path to the left.  Continue to Cathedral Pines. This 3.4-mile trip takes about 2 hours.

KENNEBAGO RIVER:
This trip offers a great opportunity to see moose and other wildlife. The trip (approximately 3 miles) also requires a shuttle. Take Route 4 from Rangeley towards Oquossoc to the Information Pavilion. Turn right on Route 16 and proceed 1.3 miles to the Kennebago River Road on the right. Proceed 2 miles on this gravel road to the so-called Steep Bank Pool on the left. You will see a path for launching at this point; park on the right side of road. You may have to carry over at this area under certain water conditions, depending on your paddling skills. After this it is flat water to the Route 16 bridge. Take out on the east bank
immediately after the bridge.

RANGELEY LAKES CHAIN CANOE TRIPS:
This trip offers flat paddling and takes approximately 3 to 5 days. Starting at the Town Park in the center of the Village of Rangeley, there is an eight mile paddle across Rangeley Lake to Oquossoc, with a portage of 1.5 miles to Haines Landing on Mooselookmeguntic Lake. A commercial camping area is located on the northern shore of Cupsuptic Lake.

SACO RIVER CANOEING & KAYAKING TRIPS:
With several points in which to put in or take out … you can choose canoe or kayak trips that range from 1 hour (3 mile stretch) to 3-4 days (43 mile stretch) and several options in between.  Put in at the Swan’s Falls in Fryeburg and you can paddle all the way to Hiram.  The Saco River offers wide-open non-obstructed river paddling with many beaches for swimming and picnicking.