Ben & Allison
Maine Attractions
Freeport
Freeport is the home of the original L.L. Bean store and headquarters plus many other outlet shops, including Patagonia, The North Face, J. Crew, and more! Freeport is also home to one of the Abacus Gallery locations, which sells amazing local art, jewlery, and gifts. Buck's Naked Barbeque is highly recommended for great smoked meats, and, for beer lovers, the Maine Beer Company tap room is located on Route 1 as you enter downtown Freeport.
Portland Old Port
The Old Port is a fantastic part of Portland to walk around. Be sure to have a lobster roll or some clam chowder down by the water, becasue it won't get any fresher than what you'll find at the waterfront! Another Abacus gallery is located in the Old Port as well, along with a number of other art galleries and local shops, plus the original Stonewall Kitchen store! There are also sight-seeing boat tours available from the pier, including a short ferry over to Peaks Island, a small island with great ocean views.
Bald Mountain Hike
One hike that is relatively easy and will show off all the beauty of the area lakes and leaves, is a climb up Bald Mountain. This hike is 2.5 miles round trip, with a 900 foot elevation. At the top, hikers can enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding Rangeley, Cupsuptic and Mooselookmeguntic Lakes as well as Maine's Saddleback Mountain, Elephant Mountain, the Height of Land, and New Hampshire's Mount Washington in the White Mountains. This trail is especially popular in the fall when the autumn colors are in full swing and moose and deer are commonly seen crossing the forested slopes.
Aziscohos Mountain
Aziscohos is a more challenging hike located about 20 minutes from Oquossoc off of Route 16. Although much more strenuous in comparison to Bald Moutnain, the views from the top are nothing short of spectactular (15 visible bodies of water and exceptional foliage). Expect to spend about 3 hours on this climb roundtrip. Additional hikes can be found at https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/trails
Smalls Falls
A short, easy family hike that follows natural waterfalls along the Sandy River. If it's warm enough, jump into the natural pools or slide down the rock slides. Bring a picnic, and enjoy the beautiful scenery!
Saddleback Mountain
Saddleback was once one of Maine's premier ski resorts, but in the summer and fall, it becomes a great spot for hiking. The mountain is approximately 4,000 feet in elevation, so it's a rather challenging trek. The Appalachian Trail also passes over Saddleback.
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian Trail begins (or ends) at Mt. Katahdin in Maine's Baxter State Park, but it runs right through Saddleback Mountain and Rangeley! There are a number of easy inland hikes, including one to Piazza Rock (a "rock floating in mid-air") that are close. For those of you who want to say you have hiked the Appalachian Trail, here is your chance!!
Rangeley Lake
Rangeley Lake has plenty of public access areas for those interested in kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, renting a power boat, fishing, or simply sitting by the water reading a book. There are many guides available for finding great local fly fishing spots as well.
Sugarloaf Resort Area
Sugarloaf is a 45 minute drive from Rangeley, and it offers many fun fall outdoor activities including mountain biking, segway tours, ziplining, golf (there are also two small, easier courses in Rangeley), scenic ski lift rides, and hiking trails. In the winter, Sugarloaf is one of Maine's most popular ski resorts.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is the crown jewel of New England's coast located in Bar Harbor, Maine. This is one of the top destinations for leaf peepers every fall, so it can be quite busy. Never the less, Acadia offers over 140 hiking trails, trolley tours, camping, and other activities for the whole family.