Camden, Maine

1. Mount Battie & Camden Hills State Park

A pleasant and easy two hour hike up the Camden Hills that loom above the charming harbor village of Camden will take you to the verdant 5,700 acre Camden Hills State Park. Offering 30 miles of hiking trails through the forests and wonderful views of surrounding lakes and hills on every corner, this park is the perfect spot for a day of outdoor adventure.

Visitors can even bring a packed lunch to enjoy at the well-maintained campground which features a spacious picnic area for families. How long is Maiden Cliff Trail? The one-mile Maiden's Cliff Trail provides wonderful views of scenic Megunticook Lake, and the park's 800 foot rocky summit Mount Battie offers breathtaking views of Penobscot Bay and the nearby islands. The view is said to have been the inspiration for Edna St. Vincent Millay's renowned poem "Renascence."

Mount Battie & Camden Hills State Park, 280 Belfast Road, Camden, ME 04843, Phone: 207-236-3109

2. Camden Harbor Park and Amphitheatre

Camden Harbor Park and Amphitheatre are two beautiful parks in Camden, located on the grounds of the city's stately Public Library, just off Main Street. The amphitheater is the centerpiece of the library's grounds and was designed by renowned landscape architect Fletcher Steele. Harbor Park is a 2 acre naturalistic park located just across Atlantic Avenue designed by the Olmsted Brothers between 1928 and 1935.

The park continues the magnificent views of the harbor and the bay from the Amphitheatre. The parks were given as a gift in 1931 to the Town of Camden by the philanthropist Mary Louise Curtis Bok Zimbalist to add to the renovated Camden Library. Serene, beautifully tended gardens are popular for just about any social event in Camden, from picnics, weddings, graduations and craft fairs to concerts, festivals and theater productions. Both parks are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Camden Harbor Park and Amphitheatre, Atlantic Avenue, Camden, ME 04843, Phone: 207-236-3440

3. Megunticook Lake

Just a short drive from the charming and tourist-friendly village of Camden, serene Megunticook Lake is snuggled at the base of the Camden Hills. Only three miles from the Camden harbor, at the east end of the lake is Barrett's Cove Beach, a lovely spot for picnicking and swimming that is seldom crowded. The beach has a shallow area for kids and a diving platform floating in the lake. Keep in mind that there are no lifeguards.

There is a nice grassy picnic area with tables and grills and a boat launch around the cove, for those who want to explore the lake by kayak or boat. From the beach you can enjoy breathtaking views of the rugged coastal cliffs as they drop into the sea on the western slope of Mount Battie, the highest peak of Camden Hills.

Megunticook Lake, Barrett's Cove Beach, Beaucaire Lane, off Route 52, Megunticook Lake, Camden, Maine

4. Merryspring Nature Center

Merryspring Nature Center is a nature-lovers paradise. This 66 acre park is open to visitors for free from sunrise to sunset every day. Guests can stroll through the park's beautiful specialty gardens, which feature plants such as herbs, roses, daylilies, annuals and perennials, or take a hike on one of ten nature trails that wind throughout the preserve.

Merryspring is also a non-profit educational center that features weekly talks on such topics as local plants and wildlife, beekeeping, gardening and more. Guests can also enjoy seeing and learning about the native plants, wildlife and birds of Maine at Merryspring.

Merryspring Nature Center, 30 Conway Road, P.O. Box 893, Camden, ME 04843, Phone: 207-236-2239

5. Camden Opera House

At the Camden Opera House, history, art and culture all combine for one incredible experience. This 500 seat auditorium is over 120 years old and features beautiful Victorian-era details such as antique moldings, gilt stenciling and large chandeliers.

The venue hosts a variety entertainment, including ballets, musicals, comedians, films and classical music concerts. The Camden Opera House is owned by the city of Camden and is a featured part of the one-hour Walking Tour of Camden. Event tickets are available through the box office or can be purchased online or by phone.

Camden Opera House, 29 Elm Street, P.O. Box 1207, Camden, ME 04843, Phone: 207-236-7963

6. Camden Snow Bowl

The Camden Snow Bowl is the place to be for outdoor fun, all year-round. In the winter months, guests can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing and snowshoeing on 5 miles of trails and 20 ski runs of various levels of difficulty. In the summer months, the Snow Bowl becomes a warm, green mountain forest perfect for hiking, biking, tennis, baseball and softball.

Boating and fishing on Hosmer Pond are also available, and The Snow Bowl offers camps for children during the summer. The Snow Bowl Lodge seats 100-150 people and is perfect for wedding receptions, parties and family reunions.

Camden Snow Bowl, 20 Barnestown Rd, Camden, ME 04843, Phone: 207-236-3438

7. The Schooner Surprise

The Schooner Surprise is a historic schooner ship harbored in Camden, Maine. This 57-foot racing ship was built in 1918 and had a distinguished racing and sailing career before being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Today, Surprise is available for two-hour trips during the summer and early fall months. Passengers will see various kinds of wildlife, lighthouses and beautiful views of Penobscot Bay while on board. There is even a sunset cruise available in the evening. Surprise can also be chartered for private parties of up to 18 passengers. (The Schooner Surprise, Phone: 207-236-4687)

8. Uncle Willy's Candy Shoppe

Take a trip back to a simpler time at Uncle Willy's Candy Shoppe. The candy shop is housed in an old-fashioned building and is a fun, happy place for children and adults.

Uncle Willy's offers both modern and classic candies such as lollipops and suckers, jelly beans, gumballs, bubble gum and taffy. Uncle Willy's also makes their own fudge and chocolates in-house.

Uncle Willy's Candy Shoppe, 57 Bay View Street, Houlton, ME 04730, Phone: 207-532-3640