Some people love Maine for its beautiful trails and salty ocean breezes. Others love it for its rough and remote feel. We love it for all of these things, PLUS its ability to laugh at itself. Here in Maine, life isn’t taken too seriously. Things are casual and calm. That might be why we felt compelled to put together this totally wacky road trip focused on the most notable roadside attractions in Maine. From a larger-than-life fisherman to museums that focus on some very specific (and unexpected!) subjects, take this road trip on a day when you just don’t feel like taking life too seriously.

Below we give you the attractions, but you can click here to view a full map with driving directions.

Google Maps
Start things off in the Rockland Area!
rmdesign / Flickr
Many of our road trips begin in southern Maine, but this one begins in the beautiful midcoast. You can really choose to start in any of the towns in this area, including Camden and Rockland. They're both beautiful, with charming downtown areas near the water that offer cafes and lunch spots depending on when you set off on your journey.
Start with lunch at Marriner's Restaurant.
gala62 / TripAdvisor
Fuel up with their extensive menu of things like lobster rolls and burgers.
Corny_04963 / TripAdvisor
They're located at: 35 Main St., Camden / 207-236-4949
Once you've paid your check, hop into the car for your first wacky stop: The elephant atop the Colonial Theater.
auvet / Flickr
The elephant that hangs out up here used to be a part of Perry's Nut House, which comes later on this trip. He was sold by Perry's in 1997 who later regretted the choice and tried to get him back to no avail. So, you'll have to visit him here. This is a quick one, so take some photos and get on your way. The exact address of the Colonial Theater is: 163 High St., Belfast.
Next it's on to Perry's Nut House.
James H / TripAdvisor
Perry's Nut House was once known for its strange collection of taxidermy animals and outdoor animal sculptures. In 1997, much of this was sold at auction changing the entire vibe. Until 2009 when new owners began seeking out and buying back the previously sold relics. This is where the Colonial Theater elephant went! Fortunately, Ape-Raham the gorilla made its way back to Perry's, but as we know the elephant is still at large. The exact address of the Colonial Theater is: 45 Searsport Ave., Belfast.
From here it's on to Bangor with a stop at the Penobscot Narrows Bridge in Prospect.
Colleen C / TripAdvisor
The 42-story bridge is also an observatory that provides a wonderful 360-degree view of the coast. It's the only bridge with an observatory in the United States and you can visit between May and October. Gaze out across the bay, to see Maine's own Fort Knox.

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Author, Stephen King's house is next.
lawrence_evil / Flickr
The king of horror's home is located in Bangor, the same town where he was a teacher and penned his very first book. Take a few photos outside, but be respectful. This is his actual home. The exact address is: 47 W. Broadway, Bangor.
For more odd Maine, head next to the world's largest statue of Paul Bunyan.
auvet / Flickr
Well, it's CLAIMED to be the largest. It's hotly contested by some others. And yes, there ARE other large statues of Paul Bunyan if you can believe it. This guy can be found in the park across from the Civic Center and stands at about 31 feet high. Meet him and remember Maine's lumbering history at, 519 Main St., Bangor.
This next bit of the trip includes a long stretch of driving, but you'll pass through some of the most quintessential inland Maine towns, including Ellsworth pictured here.
smilla4 / Flickr
Rather than give you our recommendations for food in Bangor, we want you to explore the small towns here. Stop at general stores and see what each individual spot looks like. Support local business and appreciate that so much of Maine is actually not on the coast. Plan on stopping for a number of photos here or just appreciate the beauty.
The drive will have you nice and ready for one of the wackiest spots in Maine: Wild Blueberry Land in Columbia Falls.
Ali R / TripAdvisor
Since 2001, owners Dell and Marie Emerson have been welcoming visitors in search of all things blueberry. From scones to ice cream to muffins to...well, just about anything else that can involve blueberries. The best time to visit is summer, but they do have some unexpected hours so be sure to call ahead. Plan for time to walk the grounds for photos. There are lots of photo face cutouts and fun things to see here. The exact address is: 1067 US-1, Columbia Falls.
Your next and last wacky stop is another larger-than-life oddity: Big Jim the Fisherman in Prospect Harbor.
sheriffaj / Flickr
Big Jim has been a part of the local community of Prospect Harbor for more than 40 years. Originally used to promote the former Stinson Canning Company, he's undergone a few...renovations of the years. Jim traded his "Beach Cliff Sardines" tin for a lobster trap in support of the lobster processing facility now housed in the former Stinson factory. But, our favorite anecdote is how he was rebuilt in metal after his wooden pants blew off in a storm. Any Mainer who hasn't lost an article of clothing on a gusty day is lying. We support you, Jim. Jim is located at: 200 Main St., Prospect Harbor.
From here you might as well end the day with some classic Maine views: The Schoodic Peninsula.
allison_taylor / Flickr
The Schoodic area is the only portion of Acadia National Park that is located on the mainland. While the Schoodic Peninsula is just about five miles from Mount Desert Island as the crow flies, driving there takes about an hour and will have you meandering around the rocky coast of the island.
Time your road trip right and you'll be met with beautiful end-of-day views like this.
criana / Flickr
This is by no means the entirety of Maine's wacky road side attractions. Like much of Maine, they're spread out throughout a very large state and seeing them all takes a few days of road tripping through small towns.

But, that doens't mean you can't explore them on your own. The next time you're headed out on a trip, try to see what attractions might lie just off the beaten path. Perhaps you'll find yourself looking at the world's largest chocolate moose. Or a travel sign indicating the mileage to all of Maine's most international sounding towns. Whatever you find, as long as it's in Maine you'll probably be okay.

If it’s hot out, consider one of our other favorite road trips: the one that goes to some of Maine’s most hidden beaches. Or, consider the lighthouse road trip that will fill your memory card with the most Instagramable moments in Maine.

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