9 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Maine
A relatively small state with extensive rocky coastlines, offshore islands, and vast stretches of untouched nature, Maine is also known for its limitless supply of fresh seafood, especially lobster. It is plentiful in stunning lighthouses and diverse historic architecture, and is actually known as the Pine Tree State for the tree's prominence in the many parks and mountain ranges that punctuate the state. Maine is even home to a large portion of the famous Appalachian Trail. Maine has so much to offer, but its real draw, and the key to truly getting to know its traditional New England charm, is found in its endearing and attractive downtowns.
Incorporated in 1739, Brunswick is an old town whose history includes early settlements by the Wabanaki Indigenous people, later establishments as a shipbuilding and textile production center, and becoming home to Bowdoin College in 1794. Today, Brunswick is a lovely college town with around twenty thousand residents and saltwater beaches around Maquoit Bay, plus other, smaller Atlantic Ocean offshoots, like the Androscoggin River. It also has a vibrant and beautiful downtown area, centered around its cleverly-named Maine Street.
This downtown strip represents stereotypical New England vibes with its mix of historic architecture and modern amenities. Locally owned businesses line the street and center around the Brunswick Town Mall, which is not a shopping mal, but a very nice town square with lots of greenery and a gazebo. In the summer, events take place at this park constantly, like the weekly Brunswick Farmers Market and the Brunswick Outdoor Arts Festival, which takes place every August. Some of the aforementioned businesses include Broadway Delicatessen, a popular breakfast and lunch restaurant; The Abbey, a hybrid craft cocktail bar and coffee shop; and Bao Bao Dumpling House, an Asian fusion restaurant. For shopping, visit Gulf of Maine Books, an independent book store founded in 1979, or Cabot Mill Antiques. Housed in an old textile mill, the beautifully restored building is worth the trip alone.
Biddeford
A city perfect for people who appreciate a good waterfront, Biddeford has both coastal and riverfront varieties. It is home to several stunning Atlantic beaches, including Biddeford Pool, Middle Beach, and Fortune's Rocks Beach, all of which are stunning and quite popular with tourists during warmer months. While these areas of Biddeford are definitely very nice, they are not the only draw to the town, and are not even the center of the action year-round.
Originally established as a harbor way back in the 1600's, Biddeford's location along the Saco River became a huge part of the city's development, as its rushing waters and large falls helped power the textile mills which helped its economy to thrive. Therefore, it is unsurprising that today the downtown is centered around the river, not the ocean, with the scenic Biddeford RiverWalk as a focal point and draw for visitors and locals alike. In the last ten years, this city which once struggled after the decline of the textile industry has been brought back to life, and its beautiful town center is thriving.
New businesses have moved into, and in some cases totally renovated, the old mill buildings once abandoned, giving the town unique character, traditional Maine charm, and a sense of excitement. A few of these businesses which come highly recommended are Palace Diner, a cute counter-serve restaurant built into a vintage railcar; Elements Books Coffee Beer, a combination coffee shop, bar, and bookstore, which stays open late and has something for everyone; and Pizza By Alex, a locally-owned staple of the city for over fifty years and counting. Biddeford is home to multiple breweries as well, if beer is your thing, including Lucky Pigeon Brewing Company and Sacred Profane Brewery and Tankpub.
Bath
An iconic shipbuilding center located on the Kennebec River, Bath is both scenic and lively. It is a small town with just under nine thousand residents, but it is also a tourist attraction due to its rich maritime history. It is often called the "City of Ships" because it is the long-time location of Bath Iron Works, which continues to drive the local economy with the construction of naval ships to this day.
The riverfront downtown strip is marked by cute boutiques, a variety of restaurants with diverse cuisines, and a beautiful public outdoor space along the Kennebec called the Linwood E. Temple Waterfront Park. This park has a boat dock, an accessible paved walking path with benches, and a pavilion where the weekly Saturday morning Bath Farmers Market takes place. Behind the park, mostly along Front Street, you will find many local businesses where visitors gather, keeping downtown Bath buzzing with all the fun things to do.
One must-see attraction seems obvious, because if you want to learn about Bath's culture and its journey to becoming a significant location in the shipbuilding industry, a visit to the Maine Maritime Museum is essential. In addition to its exhibits, the museum also offers a range of river cruises on the historic Kennebec. Nearby food options include the highly rated oyster bar, OystHERS, and a local favorite, Best Thai. For craft beer, Bath Brewing Company is a great choice, as is grabbing dessert at The Fountain Ice Cream and Deli.
Rockland
Stunning Penobscot Bay on Maine's MidCoast is dotted with islands and framed by rocky beaches. This is only one of the beautiful scenes you can find in Rockland, alongside harbors filled with sailboats, picturesque lighthouses, and a vibrant downtown area on the waterfront.
Being on the bay, Rockland is known for fresh seafood, specifically lobster. It is an active hub for lobster fishing, and is home to the annual Maine Lobster Festival which takes place every August. This festival is a huge deal, taking place over the span of five days, and it was reportedly attended by over 30,000 people in 2024, with attendance numbers expected to rise again in 2025. Needless to say, lots of delicious seafood can be eaten in Rockland. Two great places to try are Archer's on the Pier, a very successful Rockland staple serving daily fresh catches, and Hill's Seafood Co, family owned and operated with waterfront views.
Rockland is also known for being a city with an appreciation for the arts, and this is reflected in its downtown, which has public art on display everywhere. A very pretty, colorful outdoor mural called "Water Town" is painted over several buildings and was crafted by more than 40 volunteers, from local kids to senior citizens. Nearby, you can find the Farnsworth Art Museum, which focuses on showcasing the state of Maine's role in the American art world. Also downtown on Winter Street, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art presents a huge collection from internationally recognized artists who have ties to Maine.
Belfast
Also along the Penobscot Bay, north of Rockland, is the town of Belfast, whose downtown strip leads up the banks of the Passagassawakeag River. The mouth of the river feeds into the bay, meaning anywhere you go on the east side of town is comprised of pretty waterfront views. Belfast is a historic town, settled by Scottish and Irish immigrants in the late 1700's, who named the town after the city in Northern Ireland. It was, like Bath, relevant in the shipbuilding industry throughout the 19th century, and still has a working waterfront.
Belfast is also another haven for local artists in Maine, which makes sense, because the natural beauty would be sure to inspire anyone creative. Every June, Belfast hosts Arts in the Park, an outdoor festival which has a ton of art and fine crafts vendors, live music, and food stands. This popular event has been going for almost thirty years. Waterfall Arts, a local art center, is another great place to go if you want to hone or display your own creative expression.
The art of film thrives here as well, with Belfast's Colonial Theatre celebrating its 113th year serving the community this summer. This iconic staple of the town is a visual gem, with the interior decked out in vintage Art Deco style and a huge elephant sculpture on the roof. They play box office hits as well as independent and foreign language films. Balfast's culinary scene is great too, with restaurants like Marshall Wharf Brewing Company, with a lively beer garden on Belfast Bay, and Laan-Xang Cafe, a popular spot serving unique and authentic Laotian and Thai dishes.
Skowhegan
Further inland, also along the Kennebec River, you will find Skowhegan, a small town of around eight thousand residents. This town has an abundance of greenery and gorgeous outdoor spaces, plus a lovely downtown area buzzing with activity. In fact, the two can be combined here, because near the downtown center you will find several opportunities for scenic outdoor exploration.
The Skowhegan River Trail/DeBe Park runs along the waterfront from downtown to the Rivers Edge Bike Park. It is an ADA accessible paved walkway with plenty of very pretty stops, including eighty feet of riverfront views. Another sightseeing trail is the Langlais Art Trail, which has 21 unique sculptures made from wood and found objects, including one that stands an imposing 62-feet tall. All were created by Bernard Langlais, a revered Skowhegan native. He dedicated this largest piece to the Indigenous People of Maine, specifically the Abenaki People who were some of the first settlers on the land that would become the town, and whose language was even used to name it.
For indoor activities in this historic town, the charming main strip of Water Street is packed with options, most of which are located inside unique and beautiful historic buildings. Try out the Strand Cinema, a remodeled old venue which was originally built in 1929 and is said to be haunted. Joe's Flat Iron Cafe is a great spot for coffee, baked goods or sandwiches, and The Miller's Table is a farm-to-table restaurant that also has a small storefront. Both are wonderful locally-owned spots which guarantee to satisfy visitors to Skowhegan.
Gardiner
Situated between the coastal cities on this list and Skowhegan, also along the Kennebec River, is the city of Gardiner, which lies just south of the state capital of Augusta. Therefore, it makes sense that Gardiner is known for being in a great location, within driving distance of the coast, the headquarters of the Maine state government, and multiple highways, which provides easy access to anywhere you need to go within the state. It is also noteworthy for having a beautiful downtown with multiple nationally-recognized historic sites and a very pretty waterfront strip.
Many downtown businesses are housed within buildings from the 19th century, and Gardiner is filled with unique architectural styles, including Greek and Gothic Revivals. For example, the Gardiner Public Library is a Queen Anne and Romanesque-style building built in 1881, and the Italianate-style Johnson Hall Opera House was originally constructed in 1864. Johnson Hall has been remodeled and restored over the years to now become a modern and popular performing arts venue with a stage that boasts the best acoustics in New England, all while maintaining its original character. Some of the places exclusive to downtown which might give you a good impression of Gardiner include A1 Diner, a local legend inside a 1940's chrome dining car; Bateau Brewing, a riverfront craft beer spot with live music; or Bintliff's Corner Brew, a locally owned coffee shop with a warm and cozy vibe.
Wiscasset
About an hour north of the large urban center of Portland is the little town of Wiscasset, a village of only around four thousand residents. It sits along the banks of the Sheepscot River and has been known as the "Prettiest Village in Maine" ever since it was listed as such in a Wallace Nutting travel book all the way back in the 1920's. Wiscasset has river views of course, as well as iconic examples of New England Federal-style architecture and a beautiful downtown strip packed with MidCoast Maine essentials, like boutiques and seafood restaurants.
If you like antiques, Wiscasset is the perfect place for you, with multiple options including Bradbury Art and Antiques right on Main Street. The town is also home to several noteworthy restaurants, many of which serve ocean and freshwater fare, since Wiscasset has a working harbor. In fact, in addition to being Maine's prettiest village, Wiscasset was once dubbed the "Marine Worm Capital of the World," due to its significant import of bait and tackle. It should come as no surprise that the village is also a leader in locally-sourced lobster, and a few seafood hotspots are Sprague's Lobster, Water Street Kitchen and Bar, and Red's Eats, a take-out spot and a beloved Maine staple famous for their lobster rolls.
Damariscotta
Last but definitely not least, Damariscotta is a popular tourist destination for its scenic location on the town's namesake river, as well as its proximity to the coast. It is a small town that gives true New England vibes in every sense of the phrase, from the colonial architecture to the rocky beaches and popular, lively downtown.
The town is also known for being the oyster capital of the region, thanks to its specific brand of oysters of the same name. Damariscotta oysters are revered for being meaty and briney with the perfect level of saltiness. There are many places around town to get them, of course, including River House Restaurant, Schooner Landing, and Damariscotta River Grill, all of which are popular with locals and visitors alike.
If you want to do something besides eat, this downtown has much to offer. In addition to the dozens of boutiques and cafes any day of the week, there is the Damariscotta Farmers Market, which takes place every Friday and is known as one of the best in the MidCoast region. Another annual event, Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta, is very popular, with people visiting from far and wide to participate in events such as decorating and baking pumpkins. For a show, the Lincoln Theater downtown, built in 1875, is a wonderful option, showing a mix of films and live productions.
Maine is a wonderful place to both live and visit, and if your tourist destinations consist of exploring energetic downtown areas, this is a perfect state for that. From the coastal bay cities of Brunswick and Rockland, to the riverfront towns of Bath and Damariscotta, waterfront downtowns are abundant in Maine. These sweet spots all exude New England charm and make for fantastic socializing, art viewing, shopping, and eating, especially if you like fresh seafood! No matter what you are searching for in a downtown destination, Maine has it and more.
