If you are looking for off-the-beaten-path places to visit in Maine, this list is for you! I have been lucky enough to live in Maine all of my life. After 30+ years, I’ve explored a lot of Maine and want to share my favorite places with you!
Among this list are my favorite Maine restaurants, hikes, state parks, beaches, campgrounds and more.
I hope that this list will give you inspiration for your first or your 5th trip to Maine. Either way, welcome to my home state.
Read More: Your First Trip to Maine: Everything You Need to Know
Our Favorite Places Along Maine’s Coast
Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land
Cutler, Maine
What we love: While my husband prefers the mountains of Western Maine, I am obsessed with the coastline of Downeast Maine. The Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land trail offers gorgeous views of Maine’s rocky and jagged coastline.
Local’s Tip: The Fairy Loop trail extends into a swampy inner section. Opt to double back along the coastline instead. And if you’re even more adventurous, you can try to snag one of the few campsites along the trail and backpack in your supplies for the night.
Read More: Stunning Photo Diary of Maine’s Beautiful Coastline
Cobscook Shores
Lubec, Maine
What we love: Cobscook Shores is a series of trails and parks along the beautiful coastline in Lubec, Maine. First, I can’t believe the amount of trails and parks in this area. Over “20 waterfront parks” showcasing an area in Maine few come to visit.
Local’s Tip: Plan to spend a half or full day exploring the trails. Bring a picnic lunch and see how many you can see.
Read More: 19 Best Things to do While Visiting Lubec, Maine
Owl & Turtle Bookshop
What we love: Whenever I go to Camden Maine, I always make sure to stop in the Owl and Turtle Bookshop. It’s this cute quiet little gem that features both a cafe and of course a bookshop.
They also have an upstairs which offers even more books!. It’s the coziest little place and I really love it. It’s not the most expansive selection of books, but it’s perfect for a day in Camden.
Local’s Tip: Pick out a new book and then head over to the Camden marina and wharf for a delightful afternoon of reading by the ocean.
Camden Hills State Park
Camden, Maine
What we love: There are so many great trails in Camden Hills State Park!
For a challenging but quick hike, check out the Mount Battie trail which offers great views of downtown Camden. We also loved the Ocean Lookout via Nature Trail Loop.
Local’s Tip: Drive or hike up Mount Battie for sunset – gorgeous!
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Boothbay, Maine
What we love: You’ve probably already heard of the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens and for good reason.
These are the most impressive gardens in Maine. Not only is the landscape gorgeous, but it’s also along the coast of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, one of the most scenic areas along the Midcoast region.
Local’s Tip: Spend the morning strolling along the gardens and stop for lobster at one of Boothbay’s many seafood restaurants.
Popham Beach State Park
Phippsburg, Maine
What we love: In 2014, Ben and I got married on the tiny knoll next to Fort Popham. It was a small ceremony with just our families.
We danced on the nearby beach, took pictures in the historic fort, and ate dinner together at the restaurant next door, Spinney’s.
Popham Beach will forever hold a place in my heart.
Local’s Tip: Get here early to snag a parking spot. On busy days the roads will line with cars and people have to walk LONG distances to get to the beach.
Hermit Island Campground
Phippsburg, Maine
What we love: This campground was the one vacation my family made sure to take every year. What started as a weekend trip with my parents and brother turned into a full week of camping with at least two friends each.
I have so many fond memories of riding my bikes throughout the campground, going to the store to load up on candy, and listening to the ocean waves as I fell asleep.
Hermit Island Campground only offers tent camping, pop-ups, and a few cabin rentals. RVs are not permitted.
I love how they still require you to reserve by snail mail. I remember our family looking over the campground map each January deciding which campsites to request.
Local’s Tip: If you visit in June, be prepared for horse flies. It’s better to visit July or August, but be prepared for crowds.
Wild Oat’s Bakery
What we love: Another great restaurant to visit in Maine is Wild Oats Bakery.
Fun fact I grew up with the owner’s children and I used to work there after my college years.
This is not just a bakery. This is a full-fledged food market. They offer everything from morning pastries to delightful lunch options and even some meals that you can take home and make yourself.
They have an incredible cake selection and I can attest, everything is made from scratch.
Local’s Tip: A local tip is to try the sesame noodles and the Cajun Chicken salad both are delightful.
Bradbury Mountain State Park
What we love: My in-laws used to live just a few minutes from Bradbury Mountain State park so we visited often.
Bradbury Mountain is not exactly a mountain. It’s more of a large hill, but nonetheless, we love this area. There are multiple trails great for family walks or mountain biking.
Local’s Tip: Check out the super short, .5 mile, Summit Trail during sunrise. Which, yes, can be a little scary, but just bring a headlight so you have ample lighting.
Whale Watching
Kennebunk, Maine
What we love: Whale watching is probably already on your radar for your visit to Maine and that’s for good reason – Maine’s whale watching is epic.
There are humpback whales, minke, North Atlantic right whales, fin back, and more. We were lucky enough to go whale watching with the New England Eco Adventure Tour company out of Kennebunk and we were so impressed.
We got really lucky and saw multiple finback whales. And because they use a boat that is relatively small, the whales were able to get super close to us. It was the most magical wildlife encounter of my life.
Local’s Tip: A local tip is to go in the morning or evening. This is when whales and other marine wildlife tend to be the most active. But anytime you go is going to be amazing.
Of course, you’re not guaranteed to see whales, but they do have a policy that if you don’t, you can come back.
Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park
Freeport, Maine
What we love: I love how easy the trails are making it great for those beginner hikers or folks wanting a quick walk through the woods.
I also love that the trails never seem to be that busy, it’s a but of a hidden gem.
The Casco Bay Trail is a super quick .5 mile trail down to the water while the Harraseeket and White Pines Trail is a 3 mile long easy walk through the woods and along the coast.
Located just minutes from downtown Freeport, it’s the perfect way to get fresh air after a morning of shopping.
Local’s Tip: Don’t forget to visit Wolfe’s Neck State Park for camping. They offer RV and tent sites!
Read More: Top 15 Best Things to do in Freeport, Maine
Bailey Island Beach
What we love: Although it takes a while to drive out through Harpswell and Orr’s Island to Bailey Island, it’s well worth the journey. The drive out here is beautiful and it offers a really great point of view that not a ton of visitors know about.
There’s a little gift shop at the end, Land’s End Gift Shop that you can peruse after visiting the beach.
Bailey Island Beach isn’t a beach you’d sunbathe on, but it’s a great spot to explore the rocky coastline.
Local’s Tip: There are a few other attractions in Harpswell and the islands you may want to check out like the Giant’s Stairs, Cedar Beach, and Cook’s Lobster & Ale House.
Kayaking Along Maine’s Coast
Multiple locations
What we love: The best part about kayaking along Maine’s coastline is seeing wildlife. Often we’ve seen porpoises, seals, eagles, and jellyfish. Knowing that you can see wildlife at any time makes the adventure that much more special.
Local’s Tip: Make sure to go kayaking at high tide. Check out this resource for public boat launches in Maine.
Our Favorite Places in Northern and Western Maine
Mount Katahdin
Baxter State Park, Maine
What we love: There’s nothing quite like hiking Mt. Katahdin for Mainers. We don’t have a ton of epic mountains in Maine, but Katahdin holds a special place for many Mainers. Here are multiple trails to the top of Mt. Katahdin. For those who are daring, opt to hike along Knife’s Edge.
Local’s Tip: If you drive to Mount Katahdin before sunrise you are bound to see Moose along the entrance to Baxter State Park. Keep your eyes peeled and be careful!
Gulf Hagas
Rockwood, Maine
What we love: I first hiked Gulf Hagas with my husband’s family. And it was a great experience to do altogether. The trail takes you to a series of waterfalls where you can swim, picnic, and lounge for the afternoon.
Local’s Tip: The parking lot can get busy. So be sure to be early if you want a parking spot.
Fielder’s Choice Ice Cream
Multiple locations
What we love: This is by far our favorite place to get ice cream. With locations in Bangor, Sabattus, Auburn, Old Orchard, Manchester, and Brunswick there is bound to be one close to you!
I don’t know how they do it, but their flavors are incredible!
Local’s Tip: My husband likes to ask for them to surprise him with any combination of flavor for their “Wind Up”. It turns out delicious every time!
Mooselookmeguntic Lake
Rangeley, Maine
What we love: We love packing a picnic and loading up our canoe for this Maine adventure. Mooselookmeguntic Lake has multiple campsites along it’s shorelines and even on an island, Toothaker Island in the middle of the Lake. These campsites are first come first serve.
While we prefer RVing over tent camping, there’s no reason you couldn’t spend just the day at these campsites. I like to bring a book or a craft project while my husband fishes.
On a recent trip, Ben caught a beautiful Brook Trout that he couldn’t help but brag about the rest of the day.
Local’s Tip: We loved visiting this lake in September because there was no other visitors, but overall the area doesn’t get busy except on holiday weekends during the summer.
Height of the Land
Rangeley, Maine
What we love: The Height of the Lands is a beautiful viewpoint overlooking Rangeley, Maine.
I love this area during the fall time, the summer, but even the winter offers beautiful views of Western Maine.
Local’s Tip: Spend a whole day driving around Western Maine. Going from Rangely to Grafton notch state park.
Grafton Notch State Park
Newry, Maine
What we love: Grafton Notch State Park, is located in Western Maine and offers gorgeous views of the White Mountains.
What I love most about this area is taking a scenic drive through the park.
But you can also hike their numerous trails. Some are quite challenging, so just be aware of what’s the best fit for you.
Local’s Tip: If you’re looking for an even more epic experience, consider hiking. The Grafton Loop Trail which offers a 38 mile multi-day trek. This trail is intense and should only be for those experienced hikers.
Chain of Ponds
Franklin County, Maine
What we love: If you’re looking for a secluded area and a true Maine experience, venture all the way up to the Chain of Ponds in Franklin County.
Located 3 hours north of Portland, Chain of Ponds is minutes from the Canadian border.
This series of ponds offers incredible views and an incredible serene atmosphere.
Local’s Tip: Plan to spend the day here kayaking or canoeing. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy a true Maine experience away from it all.
Blueberry Mountain
Stow, Maine
What we love: This is my husband’s absolute favorite hike. He loves the beautiful views and wild blueberries along the trail.
Local’s Tip: Pack bug spray if hiking in the summer months as it can get pretty buggy. Or opt to visit during the beautiful foliage in late September, early October.
Nezinscot Farm
Turner, Maine
What we love: This local farm offers natural and organic ingredients in delicious comfort meals. They also feature homemade baked goods, bread, organic produce, homemade cheeses, and locally sourced meats.
Local Tip: Check out their Yarn and Fiber Studio upstairs!
Wallingford’s Fruit House / Orchard
Auburn, Maine
What we love: There are so many orchards in Maine, but one of my favorites is Wallingford’s in Auburn, Maine.
They have a vast area for apple picking and the most amazing old-fashioned donuts. And of course in the fall time, they also have pumpkins that you can select. This is a real local gem.
Local’s Tip: This is a great spot for families, plan to spend a few hours wandering around the orchard, corn maze, animals petting area, and kiddo play area.
Read More: 21 Best Things to Do in Lewiston Auburn Maine and Why I Love This Area
Italian Bakery
Lewiston, Maine
What we love: This is an amazing *tiny* locally owned bakery in Lewiston, Maine. You’ll probably only visit if you’re passing through, but they have hands down, the best donuts I’ve tried.
They’re also a local favorite for lunch.
Local’s Tip: The Italian Bakery has some of the most affordable baked goods I’ve ever seen. Stock up on their goodies while you can!
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are countless things to do in Maine. It truly doesn’t matter where you go in this state, you will always find gems. I hope this list of my favorite places in Maine inspires you for your next trip to Maine.
Whether you’re visiting our favorite ice cream spot, Fielder’s Choice. Or you’re having a beach day at Hermit Island campground, we hope you enjoy it!
Happy Traveling!
