Day Trips in Maine

Acadia National Park in Maine is 47,000 acres on Mount Desert Island that is covered in forest, rocky beaches, and granite peaks that have been scoured by glacier movement over thousands of years.

The park attracts over 3.5 million outdoor adventurers from all over the world who want to climb and hike Cadillac Mountain which is the highest point on the east coast.

Over two hundred miles of trails can be explored including motor roads, hiking trails, and carriage roads. Visitors often spot a lot of different wildlife and a variety of birds while on the mountain and can sign up for whale watching tours off the Atlantic coast as well.

Bar Harbor, Maine, Phone: 207-288-3338

One of the best vacation spots in Maine is Bar Harbor, the gateway to Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor is surrounded by ocean cliffs, beaches, lakes, and valleys, that were formed by glaciers thousands of years ago and the boreal forest seems to stretch on for dozens of miles.

Famous American artists include Thomas Cole, Edwin Church, and Fitz Henry Lane have painted the scenic landscapes of Bar Harbor.

Visitors to Mount Desert Island will find that Bar Harbor is the place to be for shopping, dining, and fun nightlife on the island and the coastal community offers many tourism experiences including Acadia National Park with bridges and roads built by John. D. Rockefeller.

Bar Harbor is also the ultimate place for outdoor recreation, including cycling, hiking, water sports, and rock climbing, and features many summer homes and heavy foot traffic from June through August.

Bethel is a place where visitors can go all year round to enjoy thrilling or relaxing, outdoor recreation from skiing and snowshoeing in the winter to fishing, boating, and beaches in the summer.

The authentic New England town of Bethel features a walkable downtown area with locally-owned shops and restaurants.

Visitors can also explore the Broad Street Historic District where there are two museums and walking tours available of the village.

Bethel is also known for its gems and minerals. Visitors can mine for their gems at several outdoor recreation businesses and learn all about the gems at Maine Mineral & Gem Museum.

There are two top-notch golf courses in Bethel as well as a casino, and many events that happen through the year. Bethel Map

Boothbay Harbor was settled in the mid-17th century by fishermen and farmers from England.

The area was resettled by the Scottish and Irish farmers in 1729, and eventually the harbor became the known for the excellent fishing as well as shipbuilding, with several naval vessels for both World Wars and the Korean War. Today, Boothbay Harbor is a popular area for summer residents, retired adults, and as a vacation destination.

Visitors to Boothbay Harbor can explore waterfront art galleries, shops, and restaurants. Many special events and festivals happen on the waterfront.

Besides boating, there are also tidal pools, coves, hiking, and botanical gardens that can be explored for outdoor fun. The Boothbay Railway Village is another popular attraction where visitors can board an authentic steam engine. Map

Blue Hill is a small town settled between the Blue Hill Mountain and the Blue Hill Bay.

The city was known for shipbuilding and sawmills, as well as granite mining when it was established in the mid 18th century.

Today, Blue Hill is known as a summer destination with amazing seafood, unique art galleries, and great local shops and boutiques.

The town offers both a summer and winter farmer’s market as well as concert series, parades, and other special events throughout the year.

The Blue Hill Fair over Labor Day Weekend features vendors, exhibits, and great entertainment. The event draws visitors from around the east coast. Map

There is no shortage of activities in Camden especially when it comes to outdoor recreation. The natural scenery is beautiful, the ocean vistas are pristine, and the idyllic location between the hills on the Penobscot Bay make this town the perfect place for a relaxing day away from city life.

Camden Hills State Park is a popular attraction in Camden that includes 5,700 acres of oceanside parks, camping, and hiking to the summit of Mount Battie.

Many people spend the day boating, sailing, and fishing in the clear blue harbor waters and ocean.

The Fort Knox Historic Site is also nearby in Prospect.

Only 500 people live in the Carrabassett Valley all year round, but the winter months see the valley packed with skiers and other winter recreation lovers on Sugarloaf Mountain.

Skiers with children can utilize the lodge’s childcare center that offers kid-friendly snow and ski activities.

There are several notable restaurants worth checking out in the Carrabassett Valley including Shipyard Bew Haus, Bag & Kettle, Double Diamond steakhouse & Wine Bar, and Widowmaker Lounge.

Several hotels and bed and breakfasts are located close to Sugarloaf Mountain including the Sugarloaf Mountain Hotel; however, most people visiting the mountain or Carrabassett Valley rent summer houses.

Access to the Appalachian Trail isn’t too far from the Carrabassett Valley, and there are many other hiking or snowshoeing trails nearby. Carrabassett Valley Map

Some of the most dramatic mountainous trails are found in Cutler , a small fishing village on the east coast of Maine.

Thousands of acres of the quiet town are set aside for public land for recreation and wildlife which has left the land and water in pristine condition.

There are three nature preserves at Cutler and visitors can also venture over to Machias Seal Island to check out the lighthouse and puffins that call the rock coast home.

The lighthouse has seasonal open house days and even overnight stays on select dates.

Visitors can also take boat or kayak chartered tours to the Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge. The only stores are in the nearby Cutler Naval Base. Cutler Map

The history of Damariscotta goes back to the early 17th century, but the town was incorporated in 1848.

The small town is only twelve square miles but together with Newcastle makes a broader region known for shipbuilding, military and maritime history and culture, and the first automated lighthouse in Maine.

Some notable historic attractions to explore in the Damariscotta Newcastle region include the Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, Fort William Henry, Fort Frederick, Fort Edgecomb Historic High, and the Thompson Icehouse.

The area is known for its festivals including the annual ice harvest, Harbor Fest, Oyster Festival, Pumpkin Fest, and Festival of Lights, to name a few. Damariscotta Map

John Steinbeck’s book, Travels with Charley, put Deer Isle on the map and turned it into a tremendous touristy town since the 1960s. The 1,000-foot Eggemoggin Reach suspense bridge, constructed in 1939 is still the way visitors reach the island by car today.

The island is known for their beautiful beaches in the Penobscot Bay and historic farmsteads, many of which remain operational today.

There are also many places on Deer Isle that are perfect for hiking and wildlife viewing including Barred Island Preserve which is only accessible by car or walking during low tide, Crockett Cove Woods in Stonington, and the Edgar M. Tennis Preserve.

The village of Deer Isle has many excellent locally-owned restaurants that serve freshly caught seafood, wine bars, and coffee houses.