Maine is the largest state by area in New England with 38,380 square miles of varied terrain, from lakes and beaches to woods and mountains. Then, there are all the quaint towns and the handful of happening cities where you’ll find theaters, museums, stadiums and so much more.

Here, we offer 30 things to do in Maine that span the four seasons and will appeal to first-time visitors and lifelong residents alike.

VISIT TWO LIGHTS STATE PARK

Cape Elizabeth. maine.gov.

The jagged rock formation dates back thousands of years, and the views of the Atlantic ocean are vast and awe-inspiring. There are many paths to explore and places to have a barbecue or picnic. This is one of Maine’s treasures, and it’s only 15 minutes from downtown Portland. Two Lights State Park is accessible year round for a fee of $5 for adult residents, $7 for adult non-residents and $2 seniors.

GO TO A PORTLAND SEA DOGS GAME

Hadlock Field, Portland. portlandseadogs.com.

The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. This means you’ll sometimes see Red Sox players during rehab stints and before they make the big time. Be ready for a foul ball as you eat the requisite Sea Dogs biscuits (an ice cream sandwich, for the uninitiated). The entertainment value of team mascot Slugger the Sea Dog alone is worth the price of a ticket. The season starts in April , but nothing beats a late July or early August night game.

CLIMB MOUNT KATAHDIN

Baxter State Park. baxterstategov.org.

At 5,267 feet, Mount Katahdin is Maine’s highest mountain. Scaling it is not something a novice hiker should consider, but if you’re an experienced one who wants a thrill, this is definitely something to make happen. Summit views are lush, and the sense of accomplishment will stay with you long after you’ve unlaced your hiking boots.

STROLL THROUGH GARDENS AGLOW

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay. mainegardens.org.

Gardens Aglow is a wonderland of more than 750,000 LED lights that are used in displays spread over 1 mile of pathways throughout the central garden areas of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens during the holiday season. While strolling, you’ll encounter the gigantic wooden trolls Roskya and Lilja, who will also be lit up. Gardens Aglow typically runs from mid-November to Dec. 31.

VISIT MAINE WILDLIFE PARK

Gray. maine.gov/ifw/wildlife-park.

Maine Wildlife Park in Gray is where at least some of the wild things are. Nestled in the woods, you’ll find more than 30 species including moose, dear, bobcats, owls, black bears and bald eagles. The park is open from mid-April to mid-November. Special events are held every year, including a harvest festival and educational programs. Plus, it’s really a fun place to bring kids who appreciate an up-close and personal look at some of Maine’s wildest residents.

TAKE A FERRY TO MONHEGAN ISLAND

Gulf of Maine, Lincoln County. monheganislandwelcome.com

You’ll take a 10-mile ferry journey from either Port Clyde or New Harbor and will arrive at one of Maine’s most treasured islands. Monhegan Island is home to 12 miles of trails, many with gorgeous views from high cliffs. In the summer months, the island is bustling with artists and galleries and a handful of inns and restaurants are open.

HIKE TO SCREW AUGER FALLS

Grafton Notch State Park, Newry. newenglandwaterfalls.com.

We hate to contradict the advice of TLC, but in this case, we think you should go chasing waterfalls. Maine’s got some lovely ones, including Screw Auger Falls in Grafton. Head to Grafton Notch State Park where you’ll take an easy hike to find the 25-foot waterfall that follows a narrow gorge on the Bear River. If it’s warm enough, you can kick off your shoes and go wading.

WATCH THE PORTLAND HEARTS OF PINE

Fitzpatrick Stadium, Portland. heartsofpine.com.

One of the most exciting things to happen in recent Maine sports history is the formation of the Portland Hearts of Pine professional soccer team. The USL League One team’s inaugural season was one of the hottest-selling tickets out there. So, if you want to go to a game in 2026 or subsequent seasons, you had best keep an eye on the team’s website. The fans are devoted, and a few of them formed the Valentine Band, which performs in the stands during every home game.

GO TO THE YARMOUTH CLAM FESTIVAL

Downtown Yarmouth. clamfestival.com.

You don’t have to be a clam fan to appreciate the Yarmouth Clam Festival. It’s one of Maine’s most beloved events of the summer and has been since the mid-’60s. Sure, there are thousands of clams consumed, but there’s also a whole bunch of live music and entertainment and a parade so popular that chairs are lined up days in advance to assure a good spot. The three-day festival kicks off on the third Friday of July every year.

EXPLORE ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

Bar Harbor, Mount Desert Island and Isle Au Haut area. nps.gov.

Acadia National Park is one of Maine’s most idyllic spots, and sleeping under the stars there should really should be a life goal. There are a few campgrounds to choose from including Blackwoods, Seawall, Schoodic Woods and Duck Harbor. With gorgeous views and plenty of hiking trails, Acadia National Park is a bounty of Maine perfection. Reservations are required at the campgrounds. You can also spend the day on the trails on foot or bicycle.

GO TO THE FRYEBURG FAIR

Fryeburg Fairgrounds. fryeburgfair.org.

The Fryeburg Fair typically runs during the end of September into early October. It’s everything a Maine agricultural fair should be and more. The fair offers massive amounts of food, livestock, rides, entertainment, competitions (including a skillet throw) and more fun than you can shake a blooming onion at. For eight days every fall, thousands flock to western Maine town to take it all in. Fair fans should also consider the Cumberland Fair, Topsham Fair and dozens of others around the state.

DIG IN AT THE MAINE LOBSTER FESTIVAL

Rockland. mainelobsterfestival.com.

The Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland has been an August tradition since 1947. Run by volunteers, the festival features lobsters as far as the eye can see along with all sorts of entertainment and activities. The five-day celebration of local seafood draws thousands of locals and visitors to the Midcoast every summer.

WALK THE GIANT’S STAIRS TRAIL

Harpswell. harpswellmaine.gov.

For a fairly easy hike that affords sensational views of eastern Casco Bay, look no further than the Giant’s Stairs Trail in Harpswell. The rock formations that gave the trail its name date back about 500 million years. Captain William Henry Sinnett deeded the 2.5-mile strip of coastal perfection to the town of Harpswell back in 1910.

SEE THE MAINE CELTICS PLAY

Portland Expo, Portland. maine.gleague.nba.com.

For local basketball awesomeness, head to the Portland Expo for a Maine Celtics game. These are real-deal minor league players who are affiliated with the Boston Celtics. The season starts in November and winds down in March, with lots of heart-stopping three-pointers, free throws, rebounds and full-court presses to keep you cheering your head off all season long.

VISIT SEBAGO LAKE STATE PARK

Naples. maine.gov.

Sebago Lake State Park in Naples has a lot going for it. It’s a lakeside park on the shore of Maine’s deepest and second largest lake, and it’s close to the foothills of the White Mountains. With 1,400 acres of land full of sandy beaches, woodlands, ponds, bogs and a river, the park is teeming with plants and animals. Whether you’re on foot, bicycle or boat, this is a sweet spot to visit.

GO TO THE COMMON GROUND COUNTRY FAIR

Maine Organic Farmers and Gardens Association Education Center, Unity. mofga.org.

Every September, the Common Ground Country Fair is the place you can watch blacksmithing, oxen, spinning, goat milking and several other types of demonstrations. You can also attend workshops on invasive plants, archery, stoneworking, tree identification and many others. This is the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s big weekend, so expect to find delicious local food, live music, handmade everything and a whole lot of animals

SEE INSIDE A LIGHTHOUSE

Statewide. pressherald.com.

There are a total of 67 lighthouses in Maine, some of which you can visit. The best day to do that is on the annual Maine Lighthouse Day in September when the the United States Coast Guard, Maine Office of Tourism and American Lighthouse Foundation invites the public to explore more than 20 lighthouses including Wood Island Lighthouse, West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Portland Head Lighthouse and the iconic Pemaquid Point Lighthouse.

VISIT THE FARNSWORTH ART MUSEUM

Rockland. farnsworthartmuseum.org.

Rockland’s Farnsworth Art Museum has 20,000 square feet of gallery space, which houses a vast collection of more than 15,000 pieces of art. You’ll see works by N.C., Jamie and Andrew Wyeth and Louise Nevelson, whose sculptures are among the country’s largest. The Farnsworth opened in 1948 and is a must-see destination on the Midcoast for both serious and casual art fans.

ATTEND THE LEWISTON-AUBURN BALLOON FESTIVAL

Simard-Payne Park, Lewiston. laballoonfest.org.

The Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival happens every August and draws huge crowds. Along with the gigantic balloons, the festival offers all sorts of entertainment and food, as well as a parade, car show and pancake breakfast. Want to feel a natural high? Book a ride on a balloon.

EXPLORE THE MAINE MARITIME MUSEUM

Bath. mainemaritimemuseum.org.

Maine Maritime Museum is situated on 20 acres on the Kennebec River. The indoor and outdoor areas of it connect visitors to the past, present and future of Maine’s waterways. Along with the galleries of exhibits, Maine Maritime Museum features an immersive lighthouse experience and the chance to walk around the last surviving shipyard in the country where giant wooden sailing vessels were built. The museum also offers a variety of seasonal boat excursions.

VISIT THE SABBATHDAY LAKE SHAKER VILLAGE

New Gloucester. maineshakers.com.

With a history that dates back to the 18th century, Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village is the world’s only active Shaker community. It’s a fascinating place to visit with a museum, working farm, herb gardens and frequent workshops and community events throughout the year. Visitors can also take tours and stop at the gift shop for Shaker products and items from local artisans.

WATCH THE CAM-AM CROWN INTERNATIONAL SLED DOG RACES

Fort Kent. cam-am-crown.net/home.php.

Considered to be one of the most challenging sled dog races in the eastern United States, the Cam-Am is popular among mushers, spectators and enthusiastic dog teams. The races are 30,100 and 250 miles long. All of them start on Fort Kent’s Main Street and finish at the town’s Lonesome Pine ski lodge. You’ll find designated spectator spots in Portage Lake and Allagash. These are indeed the dog days of winter in Maine.

SEE A SHOW AT OGUNQUIT PLAYHOUSE

Ogunquit. ogunquitplayhouse.org.

Ogunquit Playhouse opened in a garage in 1933. Four years later, a theater was built at 10 Main St. where it still stands. If its walls could talk, they would reveal decades of world-class productions featuring stars like Sally Struthers, Betty White, Lillian Gish, Walter Matthau, Jessica Tandy and hundreds of others. Maine is also home to other terrific theaters including Portland Stage, Maine State Music Theatre, Theater at Monmouth, The Public Theatre and City Theater in Biddeford.

VISIT THE PORTLAND MUSEUM OF ART

Portland. portlandmuseum.org.

Portland Museum of Art is the state’s largest and oldest art museum. With a significant permanent collection, as well as world-class visiting exhibits, the PMA offers visitors much to see. The museum also is home to an auditorium where foreign and independent films are screened.

GO TO A MAINE MARINERS GAME

Cross Insurance Arena, Portland. marinersofmaine.com.

Portland-based professional hockey team the Maine Mariners is part of the ECHL. From the second the puck drops, the action is thrilling, and thousands of hockey fans descend upon the Cross Insurance Arena where the games are played.

TAKE A RIDE AT THE SEASHORE TROLLEY MUSEUM

Kennebunkport. trolleymuseum.org.

The Seashore Trolley Museum is the world’s first and largest electric railway museum. Visitors will turn back time by riding on a trolley that was once part of Maine’s Atlantic Shore Line Railway. There are also several outdoor exhibits and trolley cars displayed in three buildings. You’ll see subway cars, locomotives, buses, a switching tower and an array of other historical transportation artifacts.

VISIT OGUNQUIT MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART

Ogunquit. ogunquitmuseum.org.

With a history dating back to the 1950s, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art plays a significant role in Maine’s art world. The permanent collection features paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and photographs from the late 1800s to today. The museum’s goal is to exhibit, preserve and interpret American art and does a fine job of it.

SEE ICE CAVES IN NORTHERN MAINE

Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area, Piscataquis County. mainetrailfinder.com.

South of Baxter State Park, not far from Mount Katahdin, is where you’ll find the Debsconeag Lakes Wilderness Area and its thousands of acres of forests. It’s also where you’ll find the 1-mile Ice Cave Trail, which leads to the ice caves. The deep hole beneath a mass of boulders retains ice as late as August. Exploring the wondrous caves means you’ll climb down iron rungs, and you should have proper gear to avoid slips.

ATTEND THE CAMDEN WINDJAMMER FESTIVAL

Camden Public Landing. camdenparksandrec.com.

Every Labor Day weekend, Camden celebrates its rich maritime heritage with majestic windjammers and a bunch of events. The Camden Windjammer festival includes a lobster hauling demonstration, radio-controlled boat races, Camden walking tours, the Schooner Bum talent show, live music and more. Sailing fans should also consider Windjammer Days, which happen every June in Boothbay Harbor.

VISIT THE MAINE MINERAL & GEM MUSEUM

Bethel. mainemineralmuseum.org.

The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum is as interesting as it sounds. With a vast collection of minerals, fossils and gemstones, you’ll learn all about Maine’s geological history. There are interactive exhibits, and the Discovery Gallery has drawers full of specimens from Maine and around the world. You’ll also love The Critical Zone. It’s a two-story diorama that shows a cross-section at the earth’s surface.