Outdoors

Experience the great outdoors with Choice Hotels. Our Maine hotels are conveniently located near a number of picturesque gardens, stunning parks, and astounding wildlife. Take a look at the scenery and greenery that Maine offers.

Along the Southern Maine Coast (Maine Beaches)

Downeast Diving
1267 Route 1
Perry, ME   04667
207-263-8251

Scuba dive with the best at this Maine attraction, where experts will greet you with open arms – and lungs. Diving lessons in some of the most spectacular underwater locations are offered at Downeast Diving, and guests will find a comprehensive array of products and services sure to the meet the needs of any scuba diver, young to old, beginner to expert. Shore and boat tours are offered, and are of course headed by a knowledgeable sage of the underwaters.

Portland Guide Service
207-451-5858

Want to experience Maine through a fisherman’s eyes? Portland Guide Services is there to help you do just that. Cast a line with these expertly-trained folks, whose specialty might yield you a beautiful Striped Bass. Fly-fishing and light tackle are available, as well as shallow water “flats” style fishing in the Casco Bay area in the beautiful state of Maine. Full- and half-day charters are available.

Ogunquit Beach
Beach Street
Ogunquit, ME   03907
207-646-2939

There’s no way you’ll want to miss seeing Ogunquit Beach, which has been consistently rated among the top ten beaches in America. See the Maine coastline as never before at Ogunquit, which encompasses a three-mile-long coastline and is served by three beach entrances.

Old Orchard Beach
Grand Avenue
Old Orchard Beach, ME   04064
207-934-2900

Traveling down Grand Avenue, guests will run into Old Orchard Beach, a locale where the blue hits the sand and people from the world around gawk in wonder at the vibrant beauty contained within this expanse. Enjoy seven miles of sandy beachfront views, thrill and relaxation. Afterwards, be sure not to miss out on the ocean pier, which comes complete with accommodations, restaurants, and shops.

In Maine’s Lakes & Mountains Region

Ricker Hill Orchards
11 Ricker Hill Road
Turner, ME   04282
207-225-3455

At Ricker Hill Orchards, guests are invited to indulge in the outdoor fun that begins with this apple orchard. Established over eight generations, the orchards are located in Turner, a small town in the foothills of Maine. The farm has many activities, from hiking trails to fishing and arts and crafts. We know you’ll want to experience small-town Maine with this trusted source.

Lost Valley Ski Area
Lost Valley Road
Auburn, ME   04210
207-781-1561

During the winter, come here to experience the full gamut of Maine’s spectacular skiing opportunities like nowhere else. Services include night skiing, ski shop, and rentals. Guests can treat themselves to a pre-slopes lesson, and snowboarders will be relieved to find a welcome spot on the slippery slopes of the Lost Valley Ski Area.

In Kennebec & Moose River Valley

Penobscot Adventures
207-672-3173

A full-service whitewater rafting company, Penobscot is located in-between two gorgeous lakes and offers whitewater rafting on two gorgeous rivers, the Penobscot and Saboomick. Fans of the rapid rush of the water will have no better place to go than to Penobscot, where they just might end up spending the entire trip wafting down Maine’s majestic waters.

Along the MidCoast

Camden Hills State Park
280 Belfast Road
Camden, ME   04843
207-236-3109

This is a seasonal park, but that shouldn’t stop you – with over 30 miles of hiking trails and access from five major trailheads, Camden Hills State Park is a must for guests with an enthusiasm for exploring nature on foot. Absorb the beautiful views of the rocky Maine shoreline, and trek down the miles of human-blazed track which makes this Maine attraction so alluring.

Penobscot Narrows Observatory
711 Fort Knox Road
Prospect, ME   04981
207-469-7719

Not only will guests be afforded beautiful views of the cosmos from inside this one-of-a-kind 360-degree observatory, located at the top of the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. Visitors to Maine will also be rewarded from spectacular vantage points from the top of the observatory. Of course, to get there, guests will be inclined to take a short ride to the observatory’s summit in the fastest elevator in three states.

Thomas Point Beach Park
29 Meadow Road
Brunswick, ME   04011
207-725-6009

At Thomas Point Beach Park, guests to Maine will be enticed to enjoy the world-class beaches of Maine like never before. Make the 85 sprawling acres which comprise Thomas Point Beach Park your backyard for a day, and get some sand in your hair as you explore the gorgeous Maine coastline. Saunter down to the snack bar and gift shop when you get hungry for a souvenir, or simply swim, picnic, or play on the expanse which makes this park such a popular MidCoast Maine destination.

Damariscotta Lake Park
8 State Park Road
Jefferson, ME   04348
207-549-7600

At 17 acres, Damariscotta Lake State Park may be small in size. But the legendary Maine beauty and the rampant tranquility afforded guests to the park will make up for that. Providing stunning views of Damariscotta Lake, the park offers something for everyone. Water-lovers will take to the lake’s glistening blues, and sports fanatics will enjoy a day of athleticism on the playing field. Picnic tables and grills and a small playground make this an essential family destination in the Maine outdoors.

In The Maine Highlands

Baxter State Park
24 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, ME   04062
207-723-5140

A visit to one of the largest state parks in Maine, and even the country, will astound visitors with the diversity of Maine-native flora and fauna contained therein. 50 trails in Baxter State Park wind through the Maine wilderness past fascinating geological formations, ponds, and mountains. An abundance of wildlife includes moose, deer, raccoons, and beavers. Keep an eager eye open for the transplanted caribou that make Baxter State Park their home.

Historic Pittston Farm
HC 85 20 Mile Road
Rockwood, ME   04478
207-280-0000

Historic Pittston Farm is a little piece of history in a state where history is one dominant force. Established in 1907, the farm was once home to a paper company, and lies at the beautiful natural intersection of two great Maine rivers. 44 acres of sprawling woodlands and forests contain some of the best park recreation in the state, as well as an array of wildlife that is sure to stun visitors to the beautiful state of Maine.

In Downeast & Acadia

Finest Kind Enterprises
70 Center District Road
Deer Isle, ME   04627
207-348-7714

Guests visiting Maine to witness the pristine wilderness that this beautiful state boasts won’t want to miss out on the opportunities presented at Finest Kind Enterprises. Canoeing and kayaking in both fresh- and saltwater are among the attractions; guests also have the option of renting a bike to speed down the mountain byways on.

Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company
1 West Street
Bar Harbor, ME   04609
207-288-2386

The boats you’ll board from Bar Habor, a beautiful coastline town in the heart of the unspoiled lands of Maine, will take you to the middle of a pristine ocean environment in which you’ll be glad you made it out to Maine. View some of the most majestic creatures of the earth as they swim right next to you, and let your informative guide interpret the experience to your advantage.

Acadia National Park
Eden Street
Bar Harbor, ME   04609
207-288-3338

Want to experience the rugged and rocky coastline of Maine like never before? Take a trip to Acadia National Park, where Maine’s mythic beauty is on full display along some of the most visually stunning coastline in the country. This expanse of 47,000 acres doesn’t stop at the beach, however; visitors will want to hike past mountains made of granite, lakes and ponds, and woodlands that provide a diverse habitat for an array of wildlife and vegetation.

West Quoddy Head Lighthouse
Quoddy Head State Park
Lubeck, ME   04652
207-733-2180

Guests to the beautiful state of Maine will want to stop at West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, where they can proudly exclaim that they are standing on the easternmost point of land in continental America. Quoddy Head state park is host to this eastern extremity, and guests will have no choice but to admire the lighthouse: built in 1808, its distinctive tower is painted in a quintessential red-and-white stripes scheme.

In Greater Portland & Casco Bay

66 Two Lights Road
70 Center District Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME   04107
207-799-5871

Relax and stretch out in one of the most beautiful locations in Maine, at which its legendary natural beauty is on full display. Guests to Maine won’t want to pass up the opportunity to take in the 243 acres of sprawling beachfront parkland that grace Maine’s coast at Crescent Beach State Park. Amenities for guests include a snack bar and a bathhouse with showers; families will enjoy the use of a picnic area and a playground.

Bradbury Mountain State Park
Route 9
Pownal, ME   04069
207-688-4712

Great for families and nature enthusiasts alike, Bradbury Mountain State Park offers everything from ballfields and playgrounds to hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and skiing trails. Enjoy the dramatic panoramic view afforded to you from the summit of Bradbury Mountain, or simply meander through the beautiful Maine countryside at this gorgeous state park.

Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park
425 Wolfe’s Neck Road
Freeport, ME   04032
207-865-4465

Wolfe’s Neck Woods are home to some of the most beautiful coastline that Maine has to offer. Winding along a hiking trail through the dense forestry of the state of Maine is where visitors to the park can experience a beautiful panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and Casco Bay. Paths also converse with the Harraseeket River, one of the major aquatic by-ways of Maine.

Two Lights Beach Park
66 Two Lights Road
Cape Elizabeth, ME   04107
207-799-5871

At Two Lights State Park in the beautiful Greater Portland & Casco Bay region of Maine, guests are afforded a beautiful plot of land directly situated overlooking the Maine shoreline. Wander alongside lapping water, or mosey on over to one of 60 picnic sites. Are the kids already full? Rest assured of their entertainment at the children’s playground.

[Back to Top]