With nearly 5,000 square miles of land, 250 square miles of lakes and ponds, hundreds of miles of rivers, streams, and trails it may seem hard to choose where and what to explore first. Relax away a week or two in the Belgrade Lakes. Spend some downtime in the small towns of Madison and Lakewood. Or save those for later and shoot straight up Route 201 to The Forks and a whitewater rafting adventure. This year you can even celebrate Maine’s 200 years of statehood in the capital at Augusta.

Maine’s Kennebec Valley is home to vibrant cities, riverside towns, and lakeside communities strung together like charms along the Kennebec River. Visitors should explore them all; from history down south in Gardiner and Hallowell to the bustling riverfront cities and towns of Augusta, Waterville, and Skowhegan. Then up north, you’ll find the outdoor recreation hubs of The Forks and Jackman.