The crisp mountain breeze whizzing by you, sparkling clean waters from numerous lakes, rivers, streams inviting you, colourful leaves falling on your shoulders creating an array of colours for you to capture on canvas, skiing over the fresh layer of snow and avoiding to fall over the snowman while learning to ski !!
Welcome to Western Maine, also known as Vacation-Land, in the midst of "Lakes and Mountains". Western Maine is also a called a “Four Season Destination” for it's ability to offer you all year round outdoor activities, suitable for all ages, be it fall, spring-summer or winter.
I am sure your planners and schedulers are out to plan a perfect family vacation, which should be a mix of various activities.
Allow me to take you on a small informational tour of Western Maine, which will hopefully make it easier for you to experience this wonderful place to its fullest. As I had mentioned earlier, Western Maine is a four season destination offering diverse activities all year round. Easy accessibility from Portland International Airport gives Western Maine extra brownie points. Most importantly, Western Maine is family-friendly, safe and easy on your pockets.
Since fruit picking in this region of Maine, is one of the favorite activities, it just can't get more easier to sift out variety of outdoor activities Western Maine offers you, your family and friends. But given this regions vastness and endless offerings you might be a little greedy in devouring all the beauty this place offers which is truly natures gift to mankind. You can choose a "perfect base" for yourself which has great outdoor activities and also enables you to explore other areas around your base.
You could head out to SUNDAY RIVER RESORT which is a "all in one four season destination", which is easily accessible from Portland Airport. SUNDAY RIVER RESORT is located in Newry, Bethel. This is one of the most popular and premier destinations with tons of outdoor activities you can undertake, which also makes this a perfect base for you to explore further in surrounding areas. You will be spoilt for choices considering the huge range of outdoor activities with lot of hotels/lodges in and around Sunday River Resort and Bethel area. To further cement your relationship with Western Maine, land Maine offers you ample choices to buy a piece of land to build your own dream vacation or primary and retirement house.
Sunday River Resort Summer Activities : Canoeing & Kayaking, dozens of trails to walk and hike, bicycling on a variety of terrains, loops and trails, fishing, boating, camping, guided wildlife tours, summer zipline tours, chairlift rides, mountain biking, scenic drives, ATV rentals, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, dog sledging, windjammers, light house tours, whale watching, amusement parks, movies, cultural attractions, farm tours, orchards & berry picking, lighthouse tours, horseback riding, antiquing ….PHEW!!, if you are tired all day after your adventure escapades, there is a Spa Service & Wellness centre to soothe your tired nerves !!!
During winter : Two free shuttle services are offered during days and evenings between your hotel/lodges, outdoor activities and Bethel. Sunday River Resort, being the second largest ski resort with more than 120 trails on eight interconnected mountains, also caters to Nordic Skiers with a number of ski touring centers with skiing, sledding, snowboarding to ice fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and skating.
If this still doesn't satiate your inner hunger, you can venture in and around Bethel - which is called Maine's most beautiful Mountain Village, just few minutes from Sunday River Resort, enabling you to dig out more outdoor activities.
You could venture a little up north to Grafton Notch State Park - which opens its gates for summer camping season and is a haven for rock climbers in summer as well as ice climbers in winter or try White Mountain National Forest or watch the local concert in the village common gazebo or after dropping off your wife in the local shopping market, simply play golf at one of the best Golf Clubs Sunday River Resort offers, keeping your kids engrossed in The Big Adventure Center. Well, you could join them for ice skating after your golf !!
If you choose Bethel or Sunday River Resort as your base, you and your family could also take day trips to other surrounding areas and towns, known for its natural beauty, outdoor activities and peppered with its own local flavour, which you must experience. These places are all within an hour n half drives range from Bethel / Sunday River Resort. You could have breakfast in the following places and return for your evening meal back in Bethel / Sunday River Resort.
The places you could take day trips to:
1) Rumford - Pennacook Falls, up north of Bethel and east of Rumford falls, Screw Auger Falls and Mother Walker Falls, all in Grafton Notch State Park, North East of Bethel is Black Mountain of Maine, famous for its finest family winter sports facilities in Maine.
2) Norway / South Paris - in the heart of the Oxford Hills Region, is a treasure of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams ideal for swimming, boating and fishing. With lots of Cross country ski and snowmobile trails.
3) Livermore Falls - If you want to pick your strawberries and apples and enjoy the fall season, this is a perfect place. The area's natural resources offer vast options eg. swimming, fishing, boating, golfing, camping, hunting, hiking and not to forget alpine and Nordic skiing during winter.
4) Farmington - Visit the Stanley Museum in Kingfield, take a walking tour through the quaint villages and downtown main streets.
5) Naples - Here Sebago Lake provides opportunity for all kinds of water sports - power boaters, sailors, kayakers, canoers. Sebago Lake also connects to Sebago Lake State Park, a popular destination with picnic areas, sandy beach, woodland walking trails.
6) Lewiston / Auburn - in Androscoggin County, located along the Androscoggin River. Lewiston / Auburn is a gateway to scenic beaches and picture postcard coastal villages
7) Bridgton - Perhaps you may be wanting to recharge YOUR batteries here at Pleasant Lake with peace and tranquility freely available.
Even after your day of vigorous - outdoor activities, hearing the birds chirp and being one with nature, you could include a visit to one of the local markets in any of these towns to experience "local way of life", have a bite in local bakeries or simply buy some souvenirs for yourself and friends, which will help you rewind your memories.
Since Western Maine is a "all four season destination" it offers different kinds of outdoor activities to suit everyones needs, lets take a quick geography lesson about this region.
Western Maine is easily accessible from Portland Airport. GreyHound and Amtrak can get you to Portland swiftly.
Western Maine is divided into 10 small towns and villages, each offering myriad of outdoor activities in all four seasons :
1) Androscoggin County
2) Bethel Area
3) Greater Bridgton Lakes
4) Flagstaff Area
5) Franklin County
6) Jay, Livermore, Livermore Falls Area
7) Oxford Hills Area
8) Rangeley Lakes
9) River Valley
10) Sebago Lakes
The vacation doesn't here. Since this region is also called a foodies paradise you must awaken your sensory buds by tingling them with local delicacies made from farm fresh ingredients. Don't leave without taking a slice of Western Maine with you - spare some time in capturing ready frames of natural beauty God has made in Western Maine, you just need to click and freeze the moments with your family.
Lastly, inspite of the endless outdoor activities Western Maine offers you, if you just sit with your legs up with a fresh glass of cider in summer or a hot cup of cocoa / hot soup ( choice is yours ) during winters....BE CAREFUL, you could possibly face the wrath of your family !!
