10 Things To Do In Maine
Hire a Maine Guide and go fishing
Maine is beautiful and has so many lakes to explore. Whether you are an avid fisherman or new entirely, if you aren’t sure where to go, hire a guide. We went with Bronze Bass Guide Service and had the option for a half or full day on the lake with our own personal Maine Guide.
Why hire a guide? Well, not only did he know all the good spots to fish, but rod and reel, including bait and boat were all included. All you have to do is show up with a good attitude and be ready to catch some fish. Having a professional explain the basics of reel casting (it had been a while for both of us), learning what bait to use for small and large mouth bass, and getting to catch more than a handful each, the trip was well worth it.
Even if you don’t catch “the big one”, seeing the beauty of Maine from a fishing boat and hearing the Loons makes for a great day.
Want to actually see what the experience looks like? Check out our YouTube video here.
Hike Tumbledown Mountain
Views looking out from the top of Tumbledown Mountain in Mt. Blue State Park (the swimming pond is directly ahead)
Ever consider swimming in a lake on top of a mountain? Choose a 4 mile out and back trip up Brook trail, or make it a 5 mile trip traveling up Parker Ridge Trail and coming back on Brook Trail. Either way, be prepared for amazing views of Mt. Blue State Park.
This trail can be challenging at times and there are sections that are steep, including some areas where we used our hands to assist in climbing. If you are considering this trail, we saw lots of people making the trip out to the lake in July and you won’t be alone. We even brought our Yorkie, and at 7 pounds, he made it 4 of the 5 miles, only to be carried over the rocky terrain that he couldn’t jump due to low ground clearance on his part.
Be sure to pack a swimsuit and enjoy swimming at the mountain top lake. Some people even packed small tube floats to lounge at the top.
Want to see the experience? Check out our YouTube video here!
Step Falls Preserve
A short hike (mildly challenging walk) approx 1 mile or less and you reach spectacular rock waterslides. What more could you ask for during a summer vacation in Maine. This is something the entire family can enjoy. We packed a lunch, brought our dog, and spent the afternoon sliding down natural waterslides while catching some views across the way.
You can stop early in the walk at the bottom of the waterslides and enjoy shallow swimming pools, or as you travel further up the trail, the top portion has at least 5 unique slides.
The best part of the whole adventure is the view from the waterslides. Directly across is a valley where you look out over what appears to be an endless Maine forest.
Check out our adventures here in our YouTube video!
Camden Mt. Battie trail
Top of Mt. Battie in Camden, Maine
Mt. Battie is located near Camden, along the coast of southern Maine. It is a 1.1 mile trail, out and back, that includes a step climb, rock scrambling, and can be challenging despite its short length. At one point climbing up we did have to carry our yorkie, but he made most of it, and likely you can too!
Once you reach the top, you have a spectacular view of coastal Maine. Hiking in May-October will give you the benefit of seeing the colorful leaves in Summer and Fall. I would recommend not going in very early May as we did. The black flies at that time were HORRIBLE! Of course, unless you have a face net.
Lucky catch Lobster Tour
Kari catching her first Lobster
Looking for your fix of lobster? Look no further. If you are in Portland, enjoy eating lobster, and want to know more about how they catch your favorite crustacean, this is it. For approx $30-$40 per person, we found ourselves on a 1 1/2 hour adventure learning the basics of lobster catching. On this trip you head out into the bay near Cape Elizabeth and on a clear day you can see the lighthouse.
During the trip you will learn fun facts like how large can a lobster get, how to tell the difference between a male and female, and what is a breeding female? Once you are out near the traps, you get to learn and take part in setting up the bait, setting the trap, and placing it in the water.
You will likely catch something while you're out and even get to hold a lobster. At the end of it all we had the option to purchase a live lobster for around seven dollars and take it right next-door to get cooked. Talk about fresh steamed lobster, right on the boardwalk. It doesn’t get fresher than that.
Here is a video of the adventure…
Rent Paddle boards at Belgrade Canoe and Kayak and launch at long pond
The ponds in central Maine are some of the most beautiful I have seen. Clear, calm, and refreshing on a warm summer day. Belgrade Lakes Region is just outside of Augusta Maine and there are several spots to launch, but our favorite is Long Pond. You can launch off Castle Island road and enjoy paddling under the bridge and work your way across the entire pond.
While you are paddling, you will likely see Loons, turtles, lily pads, and there are great shallow spots to park and relax. Swim in a cove and enjoy some lunch on one of the many small rocks along the shore.
Hike to a waterfall
Houston Brook Falls in Winter
Hike to a waterfall, or two, or 8! We did it all. There are Houston Brook Falls and Moxie Falls, which are two easy, but spectacular falls worth seeing. They are fun in both Winter and Summer. If you are looking for even more adventure, you can take the 8 Waterfalls in a Weekend trip. However we did split it up into two weekends due to a flat tire mishap along the way.
The 8 Waterfall in a Weekend trip guides you through, you guessed it, 8 waterfalls in central Maine. There is quite a bit of driving involved, but well worth the trip as you explore the Maine scenery along the way.
Click here for our post on the 8 Waterfall Guide, or click here for the Moxie Falls and Houston Brook Falls trip.
Castine Cottages and Lubec Maine
West Quoddy Headlight
Ever want to say you made it to the most eastern part of the United States? You can see Canada!
Take a weekend trip to Lubec Maine and be sure to visit the lighthouse and take the small hike to the lookout, then you too can say you made it to the furthest eastern point in the US. If you are looking for our recommendations on where to stay for the weekend, look no further than Castine Cottages. It is a bit of a drive from Castine to Lubec, but the cottages are truly a unique Maine experience. Comes with a small kitchen, two bedrooms, a private deck, and you can view the ocean from your cottage.
Katahdin
Katahdin Summit
If you want a challenge, then hike Katahdin. At 5,269 feet in elevation, Katahdin is the highest peak in Maine, as well as the last leg of the Appalachian trail. You must get a pass to enter the park and plan ahead for this hike, but the panoramic views at the top are worth the effort. If you’re wondering how difficult the hike is, we saw a wide range of experience levels hiking this mountain, but it can take an entire day, there is a significant amount of bouldering involved, and don’t take it lightly.
If you want more information on this adventure, check out our YouTube link here of our hike up the Hunt Trail, or a blog post all about planning your Katahdin Trip here.
float the androscoggin river
Kari enjoying some sun on the Androscoggin River
Want to relax on your vacation? Then floating the Androscoggin River is a must. We went with Bethel Outdoor Adventure for our tube rentals. They offer full or half day tube and kayak rentals, which includes a life jacket and the option to rent a special tube just for your ice chest. Don’t want those refreshments getting warm.
It was a relaxing ride with only one small section of rapids that didn’t even tip our ice chest. Bethel Outdoor Adventure takes care of all the leg work. Park your car at their campground location, catch a ride several miles up the river and launch. After a few hours float, find yourself pulling out right back at their campground. You can see in the picture above, Kari enjoying the sun as we parked along the river bank to enjoy the day.
Want to know more about planning your trip? Check out Bethel Outdoor Adventure.
summary
Hope this helps you plan out your adventure to Maine. Feel free to leave us a comment below or find us on instagram, Facebook, or YouTube if you have any questions.
Also, feel free to check out the Road Tripping PT Podcast: A Tale of Two Travelers where we interview strangers turned friends on our travel adventures.
related
Hiking Half Dome. Looking for details on how to hike this iconic landmark? We outlined our adventure hiking up Half Dome including a video from the Yosemite Valley to the Top. Included is what harness we used for the cable section and our water filtration system in case you need extra water. This was one of our toughest hikes to date and our longest in both mileage and time. If you want to know more about hiking Half Dome. Check it out.