Many visitors to Maine’s Kennebec Valley region come to spend time with friends and family. Many will spend time at a traditional summer cottage or camp. If you are looking for ways to keep a multi-generational group busy and happy, we have a few ideas.
Head Outdoors
Visitors need only step out the door to find that there is an adventure right at hand. Take a hike. Bring along some binoculars and make it a nature walk. Grab some lunch for the local four corners store and make a day of it. Whether a canoe, kayak, or SUP, if it needs a paddle, you will find an opportunity to do it here. Go fishing. Even if you aren’t catching, it will still be fun. Raft or tube down the Kennebec River, the choice is yours
Classic Summer Fun
Who doesn’t like a rousing round of mini-golf? There are several courses in the region and most come with a side of ice cream. There is also Disc Golf, where you avoid obstacles, like trees and shrubs, to get the disc in the basket. Expend a bit more energy at the driving range or batting cages. Too hot or rainy? There’s are a couple of bowling options around Augusta and one in Skowhegan.
As the sun sets, the fun does not have to stop. Head to the Skowhegan Drive-In, where they serve up classic movies, new releases, Encore Concerts, and even selects from the Maine International Film Festival. Tired from a full day? Maine’s Kennebec Valley has some of the darkest skies in the country, and the nightly show of stars—plus occasional Northern Lights—should not be missed. You may even see some fireflies to boot.
Add in a Little Culture
Everyone has heard of Benedict Arnold. In Augusta, Visit Old Fort Western saw the wooden stockade and riverside where he launched his ill-fated march north up the Kennebec River to Quebec. On July 4th, Augusta’s mayor reads the Declaration of Independence in period dress, and local re-enactors hold several events through the summer and fall.
At the Capitol Complex is the Maine State Museum. The museum offers the best of Maine’s history, environment, and pre-historic past, all under one roof. Currently closed for much-needed significant renovations, it plans to reopen to visitors in early 2023. In the meantime, stop into the Readfield Historical Society and Museum or L.C. Bates Museum in Fairfield for a bit of Maine history.
Get a little Wild
Take the whole family, even the dog, to the Viles Arboretum for six miles of trails, several botanical collections, and local art set on 224 acres along the Kennebec River.
Head further west to Mount Vernon and spend half a day at DEW Haven. The non-profit Maine Zoo & Rescue is home to over 200 animals worldwide, including lions, tigers, bears, plus badgers, binturongs, and wallaby.
Experiences: Paddling | Outdoor Adventure | World-Class Fishing | Hiking | Whitewater Rafting | Fat Biking | Snowmobiling | ATV Riding | Food & Drink | Craft Breweries | Arts & Culture | Shopping | Wildlife & Bird Watching | Golf | Camping | Scenic Drives | Maine Maple
