Lewiston, Maine

The Museum L-A is situated at the historic Bates Mill on Canal Street in Lewiston, Maine and shares the story of community and work in the state’s “Twin Cities” of Auburn and Lewiston. Visitors to the museum can discover the area’s rich history of cultural influences, community expansion, industrial commitment, and labor, through a number of special programs and engaging exhibits that encourage learning across generations and family fun. The Museum L-A also features a Museum Shop.

35 Canal Street, Lewiston, ME 04240, Phone: 207-333-3881

The Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary is owned and operated by the Stanton Bird Club and has been an active part of conservation efforts within the area of Androscoggin County for more than eighty years. This nature sanctuary in the city of Lewiston, Maine encompasses approximately 450 acres of wildlife preserve and has been the bird club’s primary focus throughout the years. Located at the city’s highest point at 510 feet, the Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary is set as a “green capstone,” providing a forest oasis in the middle of urban life. The area offers activities like nature photography, hiking, birdwatching, and more.

360 Montello St, Lewiston, ME 04243, Phone: 888-363-0007

Attractions for Couples

The Public Theatre is a professional Equity theater that puts on Broadway-quality theater productions for both local residents and tourists alike the Maine, but at a more affordable ticket price. The Public Theatre produces a variety of contemporary plays from the month of October through the month of May, performed by talented, professional actors.

31 Maple St, Lewiston, ME 04240, Phone: 207-782-3200

The Androscoggin River, which extends from Brunswick/Bath to the border of New Hampshire, has transformed from one of the Northeast region’s most polluted rivers to a year-round outdoor recreation area. Anglers divide the Androscoggin River in two as the "Lower Androscoggin" and the "Upper Androscoggin," and fishing is allowed throughout all four seasons down the whole length, with some regulations at different sections. The Lower Androscoggin travels through the Auburn/Lewiston area downstream to the Merrymeeting Bay, combining with the waters of Kennebec River. This section is popular among boaters and shoreline anglers, particularly fishing for northern pike and smallmouth bass.

The Bates College Museum of Art is located on the campus of Bates College and is home to a variety of art mediums showcasing the state of Maine, as well as the greater area of America. The collection at this local art museum provides an overview of contemporary and modern art, with a primary focus for the main collection on work on paper, which includes photographs, prints, and drawing of both contemporary and modern artwork. The Bates College Museum of Art also publishes several art publications and art collections each year and offers many workshops, artist symposiums, and lectures.

75 Russell St, Lewiston, ME 04240, Phone: 207-786-6158

The Dolard and Priscilla Gendron Franco Center in the Lewiston-Auburn area is the premier event and performance center in Central Maine. The Franco Center believes that heritage and history are action verbs, the same as neighbor and community, and practices these through engaging the members of the local community, both old and young, to share their traditions and experiences so everyone may benefit from them. The Franco Center serves as an organization for the performing arts, celebrating the Franco-American culture and heritage, as well as cultures from other parts of the world, including presenting symphonic and folk music, Broadway, choirs, and more.

46 Cedar St, Lewiston, ME 04240, Phone: 207-783-1585

Recommended Activities for Families

The Androscoggin Bank Colisee in the city of Lewiston, Maine measures approximately sixty-seven thousand square feet and is a multi-use facility capable of seating more than 4,500 people for concerts and over 3,600 for hockey games. The multi-purpose Androscoggin Bank Colisee hosts a wide array of different events throughout the year that both local residents and tourists alike can enjoy, such as hockey games, theatrical productions, ice shows, rodeos, trade shows, basketball games, and boxing matches. The facility has positioned itself as the main recreation and entertainment venue in the state’s Androscoggin County and the surrounding area.

190 Birch St, Lewiston, ME 04240, Phone: 207-783-2009

Established in 2005, the Marsden Hartley Cultural Center - Lewiston Public Library has aided in transforming the perception people have of a library for the city’s residents from a “passive repository of knowledge” to a vibrant center for the community, providing a wide variety of cultural resources and programming.

The center gets its name for Marsden Hartley, native of Lewiston and renowned poet and artist. Hartley was one of the twentieth century’s top American painters, with his work being displayed in museums throughout the world. Callahan Hall in the Marsden Hartley Cultural Center hosts numerous cultural enrichment activities, such as dance programs, concerts, and films.

200 Lisbon St, Lewiston, ME 04240, Phone: 207-513-3004

Founded back in 1960 by Frank Chiaravelotti, The Italian Bakery Products Co has been operated by the Chiaravelotti family for three generations. The bakery offers freshly baked breads, tasty pastries, more than forty flavors of doughnuts, made-from-scratch deep dish pies, desserts like tiramisu and cannolis, bagels, and gluten-free options.

There are also daily specials like salmon pie, chicken pot pie, burgers, coleslaw, and red hot dogs, as well as some local favorites.

225 Bartlett St, Lewiston, ME 04240, Phone: 207-782-8312