Maine Bucket List
Even though I have lived in Maine my entire life, I have always struggled to “find things to do”. Simply because there are too many things to choose from. This is my Maine bucket list of special things to do while you are here. Some of the items on the list are broad, such as “eat a lobster roll” because there are so many restaurants to try. I made the list simple and to the point in hopes that it will give you ideas to create your own trip the way you want to. I will give suggestions to some popular spots if there are some under each bucket list item.
1) Eat a lobster roll
There are a few hit spots to grab a lobster roll while visiting Maine. The most talked about spot seems to be Red’s Eats in Wiscasset. Our favorite spots are Five Islands (Georgetown), The Lobster Shack at Two Lights (Cape Elizabeth), Highroller Lobster Co. (Portland) and Cameron’s (Brunswick).
2) See the Puffins on a boat tour (early summer only)
Hardy Boat Cruises offers Puffin Watch cruises out of New Harbor. The cruise takes you to Eastern Egg Rock which is 5 miles from New Harbor, and circles the island for half an hour to get a good view of the puffins inhabiting the island.
3) Take a tour of a lighthouse
Certain Maine lighthouses are open for tours during the summer (to see the inside of the lighthouse), most others are open all year round to explore on your own.
4) Take a ride on a Windjammer
There are a lot of options for taking a cruise on a windjammer, the most popular places for rides are in Bar Harbor, Camden, Portland, Rockland, and Boothbay.
5) Visit Acadia National Park
Acadia is a must-see if you’re visiting Maine. Make sure you have ample time to visit, it does take some time to get there and back from the Portland area.
6) Go berry picking
Prime time for picking strawberries is in mid to late June. There are many local farms that open for berry picking by the pound, be sure to bring your own containers. Blueberry season tends to be in mid-July. You can either pick high-bush blueberries on a local farm for a per-pound fee or find your own natural blueberry spots. Most Mainers are a bit secretive about their favorite native spots.
7) Visit a Maine State Park
There are Maine State Parks near almost every major recreation spot. Each one has a unique feature to check out, and most of them offer well-priced camping.
8) Go whitewater rafting
There are three big spots to choose from to whitewater raft in Maine, the Kennebec, Penobscot, and Dead River. You’ll want to choose your location and guide company based on what level of rafting you want to do.
9) Visit the Seashore Trolley Museum, Kennebunkport
The Seashore Trolley Museum is not your average museum. You’ll be able to take trolley rides and learn about the Maine railways in the local area.
10) Visit Coastal Maine Botanical Garden, Boothbay
The spring time is magical at the botanical gardens, but so is the winter. They host Gardens Aglow leading up to Christmas, where you can walk around thousands of twinkle lights.
11) Visit the Desert of Maine, Freeport
The Desert of Maine is a giant sand dune, in the middle of a forest. Its a really cool adventure stop for your trip, and is a great place to bring kids. They have a campground, playground, hiking trails, tours, a gem hunt, and kids fossil dig site.
12) Shop or eat at the Old Port
This one is a given, and is one of the most visited places every summer. Locals and tourists alike mix in the Old Port during the high season. You’ll find some of the best restaurants and bars as well as an abundance of things to do. Simply walking down Commercial Street is a Maine experience.
13) Tour Fort Knox, Prospect
Fort Knox was built in 1844 to protect against invasions by the British Navy, but never saw battle. Today it is one of New England’s best-preserved forts. Take a tour of both the fort and Penobscot Narrows Observatory (if you’re not afraid of heights).
14) Visit Popham Beach, Phippsburg
Popham Beach is one of only a few non-rocky beaches north of Portland. It is known for great boogie boarding, Striper fishing, and sand castle building. There are two separate parts to the State Park, the beach portion and the fort. You can access sandy beach from either spot.
15) Visit Wild Blueberry Land, Columbia Falls
This spot could qualify for the world’s wildest roadside attractions and is a really cool road trip side trip. A blueberry-colored geodome surrounded by a blueberry-themed mini golf park. Inside they have pies, muffins, scones, baked goods and Maine-themed souvenirs.
16) Check out the Fairy Village, Mackworth Island
A short hike on Mackworth Island will bring you to fairy village. The forest is littered with intricate fairy houses, stay a while and build your own or admire previous works.
17) Visit the B-52 Memorial on Elephant Mountain, Northeast Piscataquis
A short hike from the parking lot is the crash site of a B-52 from January 1963. The plane was on a training mission when it crashed into Elephant Mountain. The remnants of the plane are still at the crash site as a memorial to the crew of the plane.
18) Visit the Artist’s Bridge (covered bridge), Newry
If you’re headed to Sunday River or Bethel the covered bridge is a fantastic photo op. There is a small pull-off before and after the bridge for parking. This parking area can fill up when busy, so be prepared for that.
19) Charter a fishing trip
Fishing is a great way to spend time out on the water. There are a few different types of fishing charter to hire, from Lobster fishing tours to day trips fishing for Stripers.
20) Go on a moose safari
Greenville, Millinocket, Rangeley, Jackman, Bethel, and the lake regions are amazing places to spot moose. You may spot a moose in coastal towns but it is far less likely. Season, time of day, and weather are all factors on how active moose are, and thus your probability of seeing them.
21) Go whale watching
Prime whale watching season in Maine is May through October. Most major coastal towns offer whale-watching tours, I would suggest booking in advance if you’re visiting during the middle of the summer.
22) Drive scenic Route 1
Route 1 will take you through all of the beautiful coastal towns, each one with a unique feature. If you don’t have a specific spot in Maine to visit I would suggest road-tripping up Route 1.
23) See the Lupines at peak season (late June-early July)
The best spots to go looking for Lupines are mostly in the coastal and mountain regions. Camden, Rockland and Boothbay are good coastal towns with lots of Lupine fields. Rangeley and Greenville are mountain spots that have fields overlooking the lakes.
24) Go kayaking
If you own your own kayak there is nearly unlimited options for places to go, and nearly the same amount if you need to rent. Most major towns and lakes have kayak rental locations nearby to help.
25) Try out mountain biking trails
Mountain biking has grown in popularity over the last several years, and with it new trails. If you’re looking for downhill mountain biking try out Mt. Abrams park, or try out any of Maine’s NEMBA trails.
26) Take the ferry to Peaks Island (or one of the other islands)
Leaving from the Portland Ocean Gateway terminal on Commercial Street, the ferry will drop you off on the docks of Peak’s Island. You won’t need a car for this trip unless you have a specific destination in mind. The main inn and restaurant are within a short walking distance of the pier.
27) Visit Perkins Cove, Ogunquit
Perkins Cove is a beautiful summer getaway with Cape Cod vibes. Coastal shops and restaurants are the focus of the little peninsula, with the Marginal Way bike path connecting to the beach.
28) Canoe the Allagash Waterway
Not for the faint of heart, canoeing the Allagash can take over a week, you’ll face portages and minor whitewater. There are a few guide services that you can book through, or you can do it on your own.
29) Visit Baxter State Park
Home of Mt. Katahdin, Baxter State Park is another very popular recreation spot during the summer. Unlimited hiking opportunities for all skill levels. If you visit you will need to book parking in advance for Mt. Katahdin.
30) Take a seaplane ride in Greenville
Curriers Flying Service and Jack’s Air Service offer flightseeing opportunities where you can see Moosehead lake from the sky. If you’re up for an adventure they also offer flights to Mt. Kineo and Mt. Katahdin.
31) Visit L.L. Bean
Another top visited location in Maine, L.L. Bean is a must do. L.L. Bean has grown to be a nationwide store for home, hunting and outdoor gear. The Freeport location is the main campus for L.L. Bean, and they host events all year long that bring fun to freeport.
32) See Stephen King’s house in Bangor
Another roadside attraction that brings people to Bangor is Stephen King’s house. It’s eccentric and perfect to visit in the fall when you’re looking for spooky vibes. Note: It is not open to the public, you’ll have to view from outside the gate.
33) Drive by Walker’s Point, Kennebunkport
Walker’s Point is the summer home of the Bush family and is known to have had some very famous visitors. The compound is well monitored by security and you won’t be able to visit the point, but you can view from the nearby beaches.
34) Check out the Pier in Old Orchard Beach
No summer trip to Maine is complete without visiting the pier. It is lined with shops and has a restaurant and bar at the far end, overhanging the water. Next to the pier is Palace Playland, a small beachside amusement park with boardwalk games and rides.
35) Spend the day at Funtown Splashtown
If you’re looking for some thrill, Funtown is a great place to bring the family. They have classic rides from bumper cars to a wooden rollercoaster and games. Splashtown is the neighboring waterpark that has everything from raft rides and slides to pools. You can get combination or single tickets to either of the parks.
36) Spend the night in a treehouse at In the Trees, Stoneham
In the Trees has three different tree houses to choose from for your stay. The smallest treehouse is the size of a large, realistic treehouse. The largest tree house is quite literally a luxury house in the trees. It makes for a very unique stay, and who gets to say they’ve stayed in a treehouse?
37) Visit the Wire Bridge, New Portland
On the way to Carrabassett Valley is the New Portland Bridge, one of Maine’s last remaining wire bridges. It was built in the 1860’s and renovated to maintain structural integrity in 1960. It is a great spot to take photos and is the star in many New England magazines.
38) See Ripogenus Dam, Northeast Piscataquis
If you’re interested in history and structural feats this is a spot for you. The dam was first constructed in 1853 and upgraded in 1913 to give hydropower to Great Northern Paper Company in Millinocket. If you visit during the late spring after a good rain storm the water will be fast flowing and mesmerising to watch.
39) See fish swim up the Fishway, Brunswick
Visit the Brunswick Fishway viewing room to see fish swimming up river to their spawning grounds. The dam is on the Androscoggin River and gives you the chance to see Alewives, Lampreys, River Herring, Salmon and American Shad. Be sure to check online in advance for viewing room hours and special closures before you visit.
40) Go on a brewery tour
Maine has so many amazing microbreweries and full-scale operations. Foodie tours and individual companies offer brewery tours, such as the brew bus that will take you brewery hopping.
41) Go camping
There is no shortage of choices for camping in Maine. The state parks are absolutely beautiful and affordable where private campgrounds tend to have more amenities and be more expensive. Check Airbnb and Harvesthost for private campsites.
42) Hike Maine’s 4000 footers
If you’re working on your New England 4000 footers, Maine actually has more of them than you would think. Mt. Katahdin is the most popular, followed by Saddleback, Sugarloaf and Old Speck. They all have amazing views and I would suggest getting an early start in the high season.
43) Watch a lobster boat race
Work hard, play hard…right? The most popular races to watch from shore are the Portland, Harpswell, Pemaquid, Winter Harbor and Bass Harbor boat races. The boats are put into classes based on horsepower and fuel type, followed by a few other fun classes such as the tug boats.
44) Go to a fair
There are several opportunities to check out a Maine fair. Towns all over the state host their own, with the top three most popular being the Commonground Fair, Cumberland, and Fryeburg fairs. Most of the fairs are week-long affairs but some like the Commonground Fair are weekend-long.
45) Visit a museum
Depending on the towns that you plan on visiting, the type and amount of museums vary. The best museums are in Portland, Rockland, Camden, Brunswick and Bath.
46) Visit Maine Wildlife Park
If you’re looking to see Maine wildlife check out the wildlife park in Gray. There are over 30 species that live in the park after being rescued and rehabilitated, but unfortunately, most cannot be returned to the wild.
47) Take a ride on the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad
Maine has a long history of using railroads for commercial logging practices. Made specifically for Maine’s unique landscape, the 2-foot wide rails allow the trains to traverse the hills. You can book a ride on the Portland Narrow Gauge Railroad or the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway.
48) Try surfing
Surfing, boogie boarding, and kite surfing are popular in the shoulder seasons. The sandy beaches of Southern Maine are perfect for learning to surf. Higgins Beach, Wells Beach, Ogunquit Beach and a few others are good locations and have a host of surf shops.
49) Tour Long Lake on the Songo River Queen
The Songo River Queen is a replica of a Mississippi River Paddle Wheeler. Most public tours of the lake are around 2 hours, and they also offer special cruises such as sunset and concert cruises.
50) See a play at the Ogunquit Play House
A popular place in the summer months, they choose several plays to showcase during the performance season.
I hope that our Maine bucket list helps you plan your perfect trip to Maine, or reminds you of some of the most fun things to do in your home state as well. You don’t have to be visiting from another state to enjoy all that Maine has to offer, get out and explore!