7 Best Small Towns To Visit In Maine
Maine has a popular reputation as a resort paradise on its beautiful rocky shores. Spread along its long Atlantic coastline are countless small towns with natural landscapes and the quintessential small downtown core: there are colorful stores, quiet streets, and relaxing afternoons. Here are some such towns that rank highly for their combination of amenities, scenery, and family-friendly activities.
York
York is known for its beautiful beaches. There's Long Sands Beach and there's Short Sands Beach: both are beautiful afternoon walks with seaside cottages accenting the skyline. The other natural attractions include Mount Agamenticus, featuring a walkable lookout over rolling hills, and the picture-worthy seascape of Hartley Mason Reserve. But more underappreciated is the town's 371-year-old history. It's the second-oldest town in Maine, and the main historic attractions can be discovered along the Fisherman's Walk trail, across the Wiggly Bridge, and into the downtown, marked by the Old York Historical Society.
Camden
Many visitors to Camden, Maine are seasonal because they're attracted to the Camden Snow Bowl, a popular ski resort on the eastern slope of Ragged Mountain. But the remaining majority visit Camden Hills State Park, where there are popular lookouts over the Atlantic coast, but also exciting trails like the Mount Battie Trailhead that finishes in a crested lookout with a panoramic stone observatory. The trail is so appealing because of the view that holds Camden's quaint marina, the Lyman-Morse Camde, the colors of the Camden Yacht Club, and, with good visibility, the Curtis Island Lighthouse. Popular events are often held in the middle-town greenery of the Camden Amphitheater which doubles as a park with stone features and full foliage.
Boothbay Harbor
It's hard to find Boothbay Harbor because it only holds 1,086 people and it's camouflaged within a myriad of coastal islands and inlets. Tourists who spend time here usually remember the experience of Cap'n Fish's Cruises that circle the area but are more touched by the beautiful blue of the water that passes under the Boothbay Harbor Footbridge. That same coastal beauty is available farther along the cove at the popular sunset spot of Boothbay Harbor Shipyard. The most calming scenery in Boothbay Harbor, however, is in Barrett's Park, where there are shallow, walkable waters perfect for seaside exploration.
Rockport
Across the peninsula from Camden is Rockport, marked by the iconic Andre the Seal statue. Most visitors walk around the coast of the Rockport Harbour, starting at the Aldemere Farm Ocean Trail and continuing through the Rockport Marine Park and up through the Harkness Nature Preserve, where there's an expansive view from a rocky sea-level outcrop. The main attraction, however, is a short walk further to the 295 lush acres of the Beech Hill Preserve. There are walkable trails following rolling hills to the Beech Nut: a stone hut built in 1924 that offers a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and a lush treeline on the other side. Plus, there are top-tier birdwatching and berry-picking opportunities.
Cape Elizabeth
In the south of Maine, Cape Elizabeth juts outward towards the Atlantic. The town trades traffic and business for space and nature, encompassing multiple lighthouses, historic monuments, and two state parks. There are picturesque twin lighthouses and magnificent waves at Two Lights State Park, calming walking trails through nearby Kettle Cove, and plenty of swimming and picnicking opportunities at mile-long Crescent Beach State Park. Following Shore Road north brings visitors to Port Williams Park and one of the most iconic lighthouses in the state, the Portland Head Light. It was built in 1791 and is completed with a navigational museum and of course majestic ocean views and sounds.
Bar Harbor
Mount Desert Island is one of Maine's many scattered islands, but the only home to Bar Harbor: a small town whose natural beauty makes it special. It borders Acadia National Park's beautiful foliage and many trails around the Cadillac Mountain and the Wild Gardens of Acadia. Walking down from these dense, forested views reveals coves and rocky beaches along a calm section of the Atlantic Ocean. Many visitors walk from the downtown core across the Bar Island Land Bridge, following the rocky oceanfront to the Bar Island Nature Preserve. The town is equally charming, featuring warm bakeries, boardwalks, and the best lobster in the country.
Ogunquit
Ogunquit combines Maine's popular seascapes with charming townhouses and attractions. The long stretches of seaside streets are filled with shops and restaurants, ending with popular stops at the Little Beach and the Lobster Point Lighthouse. There are daytime activities out of the sun as well, like the Ogunquit Museum of American Art and the Ogunquit Playhouse. The most notable attractions, however, include The Basin, where there's a postcard-worthy scene of boats and dories along Perkins Cove Road, and the long stretches of relaxation along the Footbridge Beach or the Ogunquit Beach. Further north, and particularly impressive in fall, are flat trails of boardwalks through marshes and forests of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve.
Small towns with big appeal
Maine is a consistent resort paradise because of its compelling combination of quaint feelings in small seaside towns and the natural beauty of the calm Atlantic Ocean that accents tall trees and rocky coastlines. There are picturesque destinations all down the varied coastline, from island to island and cove to cove. Of course, the summer months are the most popular, so prospective visitors shouldn't downplay the beauty of the most northern state in the spring, fall, or even winter.
