The 10 Best Summer Activities in Maine!

After the snow melts and the kids are let out of school for the summer, Maine transforms. Sleepy little seaside villages remove the boards off their windows, teenagers start to scoop ice cream, the docks are put out in the lakes, and the tourists begin to come in droves. It’s summertime in Vacationland. Here are the 10 best summer activities to do in the state!

1. Watch the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain

Cadillac Mountain is a unique mountain on the coast of Maine. It’s the highest point within 25 miles of the shoreline on the entire North American continent and it’s also the first place in the country to see the sunrise. Whether you choose to hike, bike, or drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain, you don’t want to miss the sunrise.

2. Eat lobster at Fort Williams

Nothing screams “Maine” more than eating a delightful lobster roll next to Maine’s most famous lighthouse with views of the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the perfect Instagram moment. Parked at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, the Bite into Maine food truck serves up some of the best lobster rolls in the state. And, what better place to get them than in front of the most photographic lighthouse in the United States?

3. Shop at L.L. Bean

Open 24 hours, 365 days of the year (yes, the doors really don’t have locks), L.L. Bean is Maine’s go-to shop for all your outdoor gear. With the summer months in high gear, you’ll need to stock up on camping, fishing, boating, and biking gear. When August comes around, you can even do you’re back-to-school shopping here. Don’t miss their summer concert series either!

4. Canoe the Saco River

Don’t have a canoe? No, fret! Saco River Canoe & Kayak has the boat for you. Gather up your closest friends and favorite beverages and head out for a weekend of canoeing and camping along the Saco River. The Saco River is a rather lazy river making it the perfect spot for a little relaxing paddle and a whole lot of laughs with your friends.

5. Go white water rafting in West Forks

If you’re looking for more of an adrenaline-pumping river, then you want to head to the West Forks for some white-water action. Three Rivers offers white water rafting on the Dead River, Kennebec River, and the Penobscot River. Grab some friends and be prepared for some serious thrills!

6. Celebrate Portland’s Old Port Festival

Kick off summer in Maine with the annual Old Port Festival. Every June, the Portland community comes together for a day to celebrate music, art, and food. This family-friendly event offers live music, food and drink vendors, kids games and activities, and tons of street vendors. You can even take a ride on the Casco Bay Eye Ferris wheel!

7. Hike Mount Katahdin

Every summer, thousands of Mainers and out-of-states flock to Baxter State Park to climb Maine’s tallest mountain. Standing at 5,267 feet, Mount Katahdin is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains and one stellar hike. With several trails to the top, it takes between eight and 10 hours to hike this granite beauty. Once you get to the top, you’ll be rewarded with incredible views.

8. Sail on an iconic schooner

Maine as a very long maritime history. What better way to experience a slice of it than sailing on an old schooner out of Camden Harbor? During the summer months, you can take a two-hour cruise along Maine’s rocky coastline on the Schooner Olad. Choose from morning, afternoon, or even sunset cruises.

9. Go lobstering in Portland

Lobster is synonymous with Maine. Lobstering is still a very big and profitable industry in Maine and going on a lobster tour with Lucky Catch in Portland is a great way to learn a little about what it takes to catch one of Maine’s famous crustaceans. Afterwards, you can purchase your catch at “boat prices.”

10. Go camping

Maine is a camper’s paradise during the summer months. With hundreds of campgrounds across the state, grab your tent and your cooler and head to a campground near you or across the state. From coastal campgrounds with seaside views to secluded wooded campsites nestled in the pine forests of northern Maine, you’ll find the perfect spot for you to build your campfire to roast some s’mores!

Share your favorites!
Maine Search
Best Things To Do Near You
Best Things To Do Near You
Mar
28
Mar
28
Mar
28

Film - Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

6:30 PM
Center Theatre for the Performing Arts, Dover Foxcroft, ME
Learn More
Mar
29
Mar
29
Mar
29
Mar
29
Mar
29

Film - Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

6:30 PM
Center Theatre for the Performing Arts, Dover Foxcroft, ME
Learn More
Mar
29
Show More
Best Places To Go Near You
Best Places To Go Near You
42 Depot Street, Unity, ME
Built from a one hundred year-old barn with an attached farmhouse, the Unity College Center for the Performing Arts (UCCPA), is a vibrant cultural ... Read More
93 Main Street, Waterville, ME
Mission: To Enhance The Quality Of Life in Central Maine Through The Performing Arts. Vision: To Be The Primary Destination For The Performing Arts... Read More
History: The Central Maine Egg Festival has traditionally been a celebration of the brown egg industry and is held annually in July at Manson Park... Read More
4730 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME
Atlantic Music Festival's mission is to cultivate originality, independence, and innovation in the American musical performance arena. During the e... Read More
5600 Mayflower Hill Drive, Waterville, ME
Mission: The Colby College Museum of Art is a collecting and teaching museum dedicated to the preservation, display and interpretation of the visu... Read More
Route 201, Hinckley, ME
The museum includes amazing natural history exhibits, fun local history, Native American collections, rocks and minerals, fossils, outside nature t... Read More
39 Poulin Drive, Skowhegan, ME
Basketball Courts and Skate ParkLocated at the Community Center, 39 Poulin Drive.  Open daily from dawn until dusk, weather permitting. C... Read More
41 State House Station, Augusta, ME
We invite you to experience what Snogoer Magazine rates as one of the TOP 10 best places to snowmobile in North America. Our system of well groomed... Read More
South Belfast Ave. (Route 105) and Cony Street Ext., Augusta, ME
The Augusta Nature Education Center is open every day of the year. And as each day goes by, new challenges arise.For many years, most of our visito... Read More
Begun in 1978, the Whatever Family Festival commemorates the cleanup of the Kennebec River and celebrates the people and environment of the river c... Read More
PO Box 5694, Augusta, ME
The Augusta Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to enriching the arts scene of the community by delivering the music of talented local musicians to the... Read More
The Kennebec Performing Arts Company started as the Augusta Symphony Orchestra in 1920 under the direction of Ernest Hill, in order to provide musi... Read More
230 State Street, Augusta, ME
About Us:Welcome to the Maine State Museum! This site will introduce you to the facilities and services provided by Museum staff members, Friends, ... Read More
Show More
Select a Maine town to find
the Best Things-To-Do and Places To Go around you