Pick a town to see what to do there, from museums, beaches and harbor walks to hikes, boat trips and day trips. Swipe through each region on your phone.
Southern Maine
Marginal Way cliff walk, Perkins Cove, Ogunquit Beach, the Ogunquit Playhouse, and the best restaurants on the Southern Maine coast.
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Dock Square, Gooch's Beach, the Kennebunk River, whale watching, and the best restaurants in Southern Maine. Complete 2026 guide.
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The Old Port, Portland Head Light, Casco Bay ferries, the Observatory, museums, breweries and day trips, from a local guide.
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Wolfe's Neck Woods, the Desert of Maine, harbor boat tours, lobster, plus day trips to Portland and Brunswick.
See things to do →Midcoast & Penobscot Bay
Whale watches, sailing trips, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, kayaking, and lobster on the water in one of Maine's most scenic harbors.
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Oyster farms, the Pemaquid Peninsula, Salt Bay, excellent restaurants, and why this Midcoast village punches well above its size.
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The Red's Eats lobster roll, Castle Tucker, the Sheepscot River, and why this tiny village calls itself the prettiest village in Maine.
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Mount Battie and Camden Hills State Park, harbor cruises, village shops, plus what to do in every season.
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Farnsworth Art Museum, the Breakwater Lighthouse walk, ferry to islands, Maine Lobster Festival, and the best restaurants on the Midcoast.
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Walk the historic district, visit Fort George, explore the Maine Maritime Academy waterfront, kayak Penobscot Bay, and eat at Dennett's Wharf.
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The bridge, Stonington, craft studios, coastal walks, boat trips and nearby day trips to Castine and Acadia.
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Take the ferry to Isle au Haut, kayak the archipelago, hike Settlement Quarry, explore the granite heritage, and experience Maine's most authentic…
See things to do →Acadia & Downeast
Bar Island at low tide, the Park Loop Road and Cadillac Mountain, whale watching, the Abbe Museum and rainy-day ideas.
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The easternmost US city, Old Sow whirlpool, summer whale watching, Passamaquoddy Bay, and the most remote coastal town in Maine.
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West Quoddy Head lighthouse, Bold Coast trails, Campobello Island day trip, and why this easternmost US town is worth the long drive.
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St. Croix Island historic site, Moosehorn wildlife refuge, the waterfront, St. Stephen across the border, plus Eastport and Lubec day trips.
See things to do →Western Maine
Sunday River skiing, Grafton Notch hiking, covered bridges, and a classic New England village. Complete four-season guide for 2026.
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Lake kayaking, hiking Saddleback Mountain, Wilhelm Reich Museum, snowmobiling, and why this western Maine lakeside town is worth the drive.
See things to do →North Woods & The County
Moose watching, lake cruises on the Katahdin, fly fishing, hiking Mount Kineo, and why this is Maine's great north woods destination.
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Canoeing the Moose River, fishing, hiking, moose watching, ATV riding, and staying at a traditional sporting camp.
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Baxter State Park, Katahdin Woods and Waters, the Appalachian Trail, Penobscot rafting and winter snowmobiling.
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Aroostook State Park, the river trail, balloon festival, outdoor recreation, lodging and nearby Aroostook County towns.
See things to do →Bangor & Central Maine
The Paul Bunyan statue, museums, the waterfront, restaurants, plus day trips to Acadia and Bucksport.
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The Colby College Museum of Art, downtown, the Two Cent Bridge, Head of Falls, the film festival, plus nearby day trips.
See things to do →More Maine Towns
Town guides with things to do, dining and places to stay.
Seven miles of sandy beach, the Palace Playland amusement park and a 475-foot pier, with a lively boardwalk on summer evenings.
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Nubble Lighthouse at Cape Neddick, two miles of Long Sands Beach, and the 18th-century buildings of Old York.
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Miles of uncrowded beach, salt-marsh trails at Laudholm Farm and Route 1 antiquing.
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Scarborough Beach State Park, the Prouts Neck shoreline walk and the largest salt marsh in Maine.
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The free Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum and the Androscoggin Riverwalk.
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The restored Grand Auditorium, the Colonel Black Mansion and kayaking on Branch Lake, 20 minutes from Acadia.
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Acadia National Park trails, 45 miles of carriage roads and sea kayaking along the rocky shores.
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Moose safaris, floatplane tours and Lily Bay State Park on Moosehead Lake.
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The Bold Coast Trail, the 1770 Burnham Tavern and tidal camping at Cobscook Bay State Park.
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Whale watching, the Old Sow tidal whirlpool and free tours of the historic mustard mill in the easternmost city in the US.
Read the Eastport guide →Maine offers an extraordinary range of things to do in every season. From hiking the granite summits of Acadia National Park to paddling the remote lakes of the North Woods, from watching the sun rise over the Atlantic from Cadillac Mountain to skiing the trails of Sunday River, Maine rewards visitors with experiences that are difficult to find anywhere else on the eastern seaboard. This guide covers the best activities and attractions across the state by region.
Things to Do in Southern Maine
Southern Maine is the state’s most accessible region and one of its most varied. The York County coast delivers sandy beaches, historic lighthouses, and a lively restaurant scene. Ogunquit is home to Perkins Cove and the Marginal Way cliff walk, one of the most scenic coastal paths in New England. Kennebunkport offers whale watching, art galleries, and the famous Dock Square shopping district. Old Orchard Beach brings classic seaside amusements with a long sandy beach and a pier. Inland, Portland punches well above its weight with one of the best food and craft beer scenes of any small city in America — the Old Port district alone is worth a full day.
Things to Do in Midcoast Maine
The midcoast is Maine at its most iconic — rocky peninsulas, working lobster wharves, windjammer schooners, and the Camden Hills rising straight from the sea. Camden is the centerpiece, with Mount Battie offering panoramic views of Penobscot Bay from its summit. Rockland hosts the Maine Lobster Festival each August and the excellent Farnsworth Art Museum. Boothbay Harbor is a classic Maine sailing village with whale watching cruises, botanical gardens, and a picturesque footbridge. The entire region rewards slow exploration by car along Route 1.
Things to Do in Downeast Maine & Acadia
Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are Maine’s single most visited destination, and for good reason. Acadia’s 47,000 acres encompass Cadillac Mountain, 158 miles of hiking trails, 45 miles of historic carriage roads, and some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in the country. Beyond the park, Bar Harbor offers whale watching, sea kayaking, world-class dining, and easy access to the quieter corners of Mount Desert Island. East of Ellsworth, Downeast Maine stretches toward the Canadian border through Machias and Eastport — one of the most remote and undervisited stretches of coastline in the eastern US.
Things to Do in Western Maine
Western Maine is four-season outdoor recreation country. Bethel anchors the Oxford Hills with Sunday River ski resort, excellent hiking in the White Mountain foothills, and the Androscoggin River for paddling. The Rangeley Lakes region is a premier fly fishing and snowmobiling destination, with hundreds of miles of trails and some of the clearest water in the state. Sebago Lake near Portland is the summer hub for boating, swimming, and water sports. Fall foliage in western Maine peaks in early October and draws leaf peepers from across New England.
Things to Do in the North Woods & Moosehead Lake
Maine’s North Woods are a different world — 10 million acres of largely unbroken forest, remote ponds, and wilderness rivers. Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in Maine and one of the best moose watching destinations in the country. Millinocket is the gateway to Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin, the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway offers 92 miles of canoe camping through pristine boreal forest. Snowmobiling, ice fishing, and sporting camps define the winter experience in this region.
Outdoor Activities in Maine
Maine’s outdoor recreation opportunities are among the finest in the eastern United States. Highlights include moose watching in the North Woods and western mountains, fall foliage drives along Routes 2, 17, and 11, fishing for landlocked salmon and brook trout, snowmobiling on 14,000 miles of groomed trails, ATV riding through the western hills, and sea kayaking along the island-studded coast. Maine’s campgrounds range from full-hookup RV parks in southern Maine to remote backcountry sites accessible only by canoe.
Maine Activities by Season
Spring (April–May): Fishing season opens, migratory birds arrive on the coast, and wildflowers bloom on the forest floor. Mud season is real — unpaved roads can be impassable in April.
Summer (June–August): Peak season for beaches, whale watching, sailing, hiking, and paddling. Bar Harbor and the southern coast are at their busiest. Book accommodations well in advance.
Fall (September–October): The best season for many visitors. Foliage peaks from late September in the north to mid-October on the coast. Crowds thin out after Labor Day but the weather remains excellent through Columbus Day weekend.
Winter (November–March): Skiing at Sunday River, Sugarloaf, and Saddleback. Snowmobiling and ice fishing across the interior. The coast is quiet and dramatic — a completely different Maine than summer visitors see.
See also: The Best Things to Do in Maine — our guide to the top experiences across the state.
Planning: The Best Time to Visit Maine — an honest month-by-month guide to weather, crowds, and value.