The 13 Places You Absolutely Must Visit In Maine This Spring
By Michelle|Published March 06, 2019
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Michelle
Author
Michelle's life is a colorful map of exploration and adventure. From the iconic streets of New York to the sunny shores of Florida, the jagged coast of Maine to the rugged terrain of Montana, she's been fortunate to call some of America's most beautiful states home. Beyond the U.S., Michelle's wanderlust has taken her on a motorcycle journey through India, led her to teach English in Hanoi, and saw her studying Spanish in Guatemala. Michelle graduated with a communications degree from the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and in addition to a career in advertising has worked with OnlyInYourState since 2016, where her love for travel and storytelling converges. Alongside writing and exploring, Michelle finds joy in photography, staying active, and time with her family.
For questions, comments and inquiries please email: mstarin@onlyinyourstate.com.
While it might feel like Spring will never come, rest assured that (at least for now) seasons are pretty reliable. The hard winters in Maine give way to the absolute best summers and in between we have the magic of spring. It’s a strange time of year – with the fluctuating temps and rain – but it’s also one of our favorites. There’s nothing like the first string of days when the weather is warm and we remember why we stick around for the winter. In anticipation of these days coming soon (we change the clocks in just a few days!) we’ve put together a list of some of our favorite attractions. While you might be able to do a lot of them year-round, we think they’re especially great in the spring.
The Fore River Sanctuary is comprised of 85 acre off Congress Street. Here, the Fore River meets the ocean creating a marshland, which provides a wonderful opportunity to see local wildlife, such as birds. Learn more about where to park (it's a bit secret!) and what you might see here.
This hikeable waterfall is one of the highest waterfalls in Maine. A 1-mile hike leads directly to the base of the falls, allowing you to gaze up in wonder. There's also a slightly more challenging route hike that will take you to the top. In the spring, this will be rushing with fresh snow runoff making this one of the best times to visit. For 9 more spring-strong waterfalls, check out this article.
Nubble Light was built in 1879 and is the southernmost of our lighthouses. The name refers to the rocky island on which it sits, just off shore. It flashes red every six seconds, and is visible for 13 miles. For the best view, head to the end of Nubble Rd. in York.It looks great in the snow, but come Spring it has a special kind of glow. Check out some of our other favorite Maine lights here.
Really, any farmers' market in Maine is sure to be a hit so you can plan on finding whichever market is closest to you. What makes this time of year extra special is that the winter markets come out of their school-gym hiding places and into the sunshine. You'll find flowers, fresh veggies and lots of fruit. What could make it feel more like spring than fresh, local food in the sunshine? You can read more about the Portland version right here!.
The small town of Greenville is situated along Maine's largest lake, which is 10-mile long and 20-mile wide Moosehead Lake. There area is known for its incredible wildlife viewing opportunities and there are tons of fun things to do for those here on Vacation. Go on a boat road, go on a moose-spotting mission or visit the fun campy store that those who have been visiting for decades will definitely remember. Find out everything there is to do by clicking here.
Head to the Bangor City Forest to find your way onto the Orono Bog Boardwalk. A few minutes of walking will lead you to the town line of Orono, officially beginning the trail. The boardwalk runs through natural wetland as well as a mixed wooded area, eventually looping around to a peat bog. While the wooded areas include black spruce and a variety of conifers, there are also beautiful blooming plants and flowers along the way including bog rosemary, rhodora, sheep laurel, bog cranberry, and four different species of orchid. Learn more about it here.
Built in 1872, the Sunday River Bridge is also known as "Artist's Bridge" due to its common use in photographs and art. It's easy to see why! in 1958 it was closed to traffic when another bridge was built nearby, but it's still worth a sightseeing visit. Some say this place is best in the fall, but we love it when everything is just turning greet, too! You can learn about more of the incredible covered bridges in Maine right here.
You'll probably remember this from a very recent article, but we couldn't resist including here because the views are even more stunning in the spring. The Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory is a cable suspension bridge measuring at an impressive 2,120 feet. It connects the towns of Verona Island and Prospect by spanning the Penobscot River, which is also known as "the Narrows." The best part, though, is the observatory at the top! Learn more about how to visit and what you'll see here.
This park is close to those of you who live near Lewiston and Auburn. It features a 1,000-foot sand beach for summer swimming in Lower Range Pond. This is a great choice for families. Get away from the water and enjoy the 750 acres for hiking and walking. This is a great spot for spring because if you're tempted to go swimming you might get some slightly warmer weather.
History buffs will love visiting this spot. Sure, it's green and lovely, but Fort McClary also has some great Maine history. It was used to protect the harbor of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Today, the Fort and the surrounding structures are owned and operated by the State of Maine as Fort McClary State Historic Site.
This organic coastal butterfly habitat offers paths and trails to meander through the grounds which are full of organically grown gardens. While the meandering paths do not require much effort, there are plenty of spots to rest along the way - and you'll want to take a break if only for the impressively calming views. You can read more about how this place came to be as well as how to visit by clicking here.
Bubble Rock is a large boulder sitting atop the South Bubble of Bubble Mountain in Acadia National Park. This isn't your run-of-the-mill rock. It's actually a "glacial erratic" left by ice age activity a very, very long time ago. Hikes are great any time of year, but we love doing this one before the crowds of the summer arrive. You can learn more about the history and how to tackle is in this article.
These yurts are a great way to get closer to the nature of Maine when everything begins to thaw. They sit in the remote Maine woods on some of the 100 acres that Rob and his wife acquired over the course of the last 30 years. These yurts offer the perfect place to relax and unwind. Want to visit? Check out what we had to say about this place here. Hint: We love it!
And, just in case our predictions are incorrect and we are in for a much longer winter than expected you might as well make the best of it. Check out these 10 winter attractions that will keep you warm until it’s time to hit the beach. Whenever that may be!
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