11 Coolest Small Towns in Maine for a Summer Vacation
Welcome to Maine, the northernmost contiguous state in the USA. While it's mostly rural since it's such a large space full of unmarred natural beauty along the Canadian border, there are plenty of family-friendly attractions to keep you busy this Summer. Maine has more to offer than it's major cities like Portland, Augusta, and Bangor. Find your favorite new spot for people watching or dive into the refreshingly cool Atlantic waters. Learn about American history or discover a new skill. Start planning your next vacation now – and what better way to see the state than through smaller towns popular with locals, rather than the ones everyone knows about? Scenic and stunning activities of Maine await you!
Old Orchard Beach
You'd never know it during the summer months, but this lovely beach town with Coney Island-style attractions counts as a small town most of the year with a population under 10,000 people – in the summer, the tourists flock to this cool and breezy town for some family fun in the sun!
Practice your French with Canadian visitors, who find Old Orchard Beach more welcoming possibly even than American tourists. Join their numbers to discover delightful beaches for swimming, fishing, and boating or enjoy the local fare and try your hand at Skeeball or mini golf. Not to mention the Seaside Pavilion which hosts a variety of entertainment from comedians to concerts. Visit the Harmon Museum for a taste of what the Historical Society has to offer.
Mount Desert Island
This locale is home to Acadia National Park which encompasses woodland and rocky beaches. Visitors can rent a camp site or go biking and hiking through extensive trails. There are also sites for launching kayaks and fishing. Whether you're paddling through the water or climbing the highest peak, you'll encounter stunning natural scenes wherever you go. No wonder so many people choose to live in Maine, despite the cold Winters.
Home to many summer cottage owners, like Martha Stewart and heirs of Rockefeller, Mount Desert Island is a popular summer attraction for more than the gorgeous views of Acadia. The island also includes the even smaller town of Bar Harbor – famous for its socialite history and contemporary boutiques and fine dining.
York, Maine
Stop in at the lovely and historic downtown area of Old York to learn about colonial-style schooling and agriculture – as well as other local cottage industries. Visit old churches and meeting houses from before the American Revolutionary War.
Stroll down Long Sands Road (or drive) to arrive at York Beach. There's a lovely beach area for the usual picnic and swimming activities, but there is so much more! Fully-fledged arcades with bowling live beside the beach and further into the boutique shopping area you'll find candy shops and seafood restaurants not to be beaten. Watch how salt water taffy is made in the glass windows of The Goldenrod before you buy some to eat, or watch while you're snacking on the melt-in-your-mouth treat.
Millinocket
Baxter State Park, located in Millinocket, Maine, involves 209,644 acres of wildnerness – including over 300 campsites and 215 miles of hiking trails. Nature lovers can bask in the glory of the outdoors on their Maine Summer Vacation at this lovely and spacious location!
Millinocket is also a fantastic location for a Moose Photo Scavenger Hunt! This is when you drive slowly along roads surrounded by woods and pray for a view of a moose – but not up too close! While that might seem fun, it can also be dangerous, so follow the advice of posted signage and any advice from the locals. They know what they're talking about.
Appleton
Every early August, Maine holds a Wild Blueberry Weekend – restaurants and farms alike take part! Appleton is home to Ridgeberry Farm, where guests can wander and search for wild blueberries of their own. Then enjoy some blueberry dishes at the restaurants nearby! Appleton's current economy is mainly comprised of agriculture such as blueberry picking.
The town of Appleton derives from the Plantation of Appleton in the town of Hope. The original downtown area was the village of Burkettville with a mill on the Medomac River that provided jobs and boosted the local economy. Many historical buildings in Appleton survive – though their purposes have changed many times over the years. The St. George's River is another local natural attraction.
Patten
Close to many natural landmarks, Patten is home to The Lumberman's Museum: a family-friendly historical museum recounting the history and stories of the men who worked the land in the early 1800s. It includes photographic evidence and multiple recreations of lumbermen camps of the 1820s. They host events at the museum, like an annual Beans dinner, among other fun nights of historic-style entertainment. The dinner is fun for the whole family, involving wagon rides and demonstrations of blacksmith and wood working.
The town itself consists of a charming downtown with some small stores and a variety of local restaurants like Craig's Clam Shop, The Trough and the Ellis Family Market, not to mention churches, a town office and a catering company.
Boothbay Harbor
Windjammer Emporium Maritime Heritage Exhibit, located in Boothbay Harbor, is free to the public. Learn about the history of ice cutting and building racing yacht boats in Maine. Explore artifacts and models like a large ship model of the Titanic and information about arctic explorer Admiral Donald MacMillan. The gift store has a slew of nautical novelty items to remember your trip.
Boothbay Harbor also encompasses Maine State Aquarium and The Gulf of Maine Learning Lab, which is part of the Department of Marine Resources’ Boothbay Harbor marine science research facility. The DMR encourages community participation in education through special programs. Make reservations ahead of time for an educational summer vacation learning about the ocean in a breezy coastal town.
Cape Elizabeth
Eat lobster by the rocky Maine beaches of Cape Elizabeth. Enjoy delicious nibbles at Tostones Cafe which has huge burgers and stays open until 8pm or gourmet snacks at The Busy Bee which opens as early as 6:30am.
While the most fascinating landmark of this town is clearly the historic Two Lights Lighthouse, the grounds are not open to the public. However, it might be appreciated from Crescent Beach and the attached State Parks, including one named after the lighthouse. The lighthouse had two towers originally, one for a steady light and the other for a flashing one, but only one remains in service. In the late 1800s, the Keeper and former Civil War soldier, Marcus Hanna, saved the lives of a few shipwrecked people. He was the only person to receive both the Life-Saving Service's Gold Medal and the Congressional Medal of Honor (the latter for his Civil War heroism).
Rockland
Owl's Head Lighthouse is positioned at the top of a steep cliff near Rockland Harbor. The original “keeper's house” is now used as the interpretive center for the American Lighthouse Foundation. Built in the 1800s, many ghost stories are attached to this historic landmark. At least one schooner was shipwrecked nearby (in which a couple was frozen, rescued, thawed and lived to be married) and in the 1930s a dog was trained to pull the bell to warn ships away from the rocks – not to mention the previous human inhabitants. Take a tour of this spooky and spectacular historic site.
From the Rockland Ferry Terminal departure point you can visit the islands of Matinicus, North Haven and Vinalhaven. Go for a short boat ride to see even more cool sites on your summer vacation in Maine!
Skowhegan
Maine is full of local artists, contributing their art to local galleries. The River Roads Gallery resides in Skowhegan, Maine and displays art of all types – from ceramics to jewelry to basketry. Maine artisans collaboratively manage the Gallery and give back to the community. They also host interactive creative nights where you can watch artists at work.
Skowhegan also boasts Fairgrounds of its very own! The Skowhegan State Fair takes place in the second week of August. To find out more about upcoming events, pay attention to the Skowhegan State Fair website. Other fairs and conferences are held on the grounds, like the Artisan Bread Fair, farmers markets and job fairs and more held by local businesses like the University of Maine.
Stacyville
Adventure awaits you in Stacyville – or just outside. Visit the stunning scenic trails of Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. Take a ride down the river in a rafting expedition! Learn to navigate the rapids with deft motions – or just sit back and enjoy a guided tour. If you prefer a more leisurely journey, take a spoiled stroll hitting little white balls into holes at Va Jo Wa Golf Club.
Finish your day at the cozy and relaxing Bear Den Family Restaurant and Pub in nearby Benedicta, Maine. They host fun events like live music and pool competitions. Most importantly, they have great reviews from visitors. Feel like one of the family!
Whether you're searching for some death-defying adventure or glorious natural views – or merely some refreshing blueberries, you can find everything you're looking for in Maine this summer! Stop by the famous Acadia National Park or visit the haunted Owl's Head Lighthouse. There are boats and seafood and plenty of boutiques to add to your pantheon of experiences on your summer vacation. No matter what adventures you choose, you're in for a treat. Let Maine make you a memory you'll never forget.
