9 Quirkiest Maine Towns You Didn't Know Existed

Maine is the perfect destination year-round. But if you love fresh seafood, warm forests, hiking, biking, and boating, head to Maine from late June through early November. Maine is also home to Acadia National Park and several historic lighthouses. For skiers, the runs stay open through mid-April for spring skiing. Maine is full of small towns, many with special quirks that make them worth visiting. Visitors looking to find near complete solitude must visit the remote eastern coast from Western Bay to Passamaquoddy Bay. Looking for a sandy beach, seaside villages, and cozy harbors? They’re in Maine. Lighthouses are sprinkled throughout the state. Festivals and fairs are popular during summer and fall. Each of the nine quirkiest towns you didn't know existed embodies the essence of Maine.

Frenchboro

Frenchboro sits on Maine's Long Island within the Blue Hill Bay, eight miles south of Mount Desert Island. The city is small, with the majority of residents living within sight of Lunt Harbor. When visiting Frenchboro, bring all the supplies you’ll need. Frenchboro doesn’t have everyday luxuries like grocery stores, movie theaters, medical facilities, or recreation centers.

The Frenchboro island dweller's spirit is friendly and outgoing with strangers. In Frenchboro, children are invaluable as the key to the future. It’s one of the places in the US that has provided laptops along with learning and individual attention. Learn more about the history of Frenchboro at the local history museum.

Visitors enjoy the challenging and remote trails and quiet, uncrowded wild beaches. Observe wildlife like songbirds, eagles, and mink around the island. Watch for whales and sea ducks in the water on the ferry ride over. Frenchboro offers visitors access to rugged shorelines and unmatched views of Acadia National Park's highest summits without the crowds.

Allagash

Allagash is known to Mainers as “Moosetown.” Allagash sits in the middle of the North Main Woods and attracts large numbers of moose. The town is one stop on the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, a collection of lakes, ponds, and streams running throughout the county. Visitors can choose one of the guide services in town for help navigating the waterway. Consider hiring a local registered Maine Guide to lead you through the northern woods on a guided trip. Adventurous paddlers typically complete the full waterway trip in seven to 10 days. In town, see the Allagash Guide Service, Black River Guide Service, or the Great Northern Outfitters.

Allagash is the largest town in Maine based on physical size. It’s home to Allagash Wood Products, makers of cedar outdoor furniture. For fun, visit the unique Louie’s Antique Chain Saws Museum curated by a local woodsman.

Aurora

Aurora, named for the Roman Goddess of Dawn, is home to one of the oldest brick schoolhouses in the US. The Aurora schoolhouse was built in 1827 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Aurora is home to two geological features created by ancient glaciers: The Silsby Plain and the Whalesback. Both are geologic deltas formed by streams produced from melting ice. Silsby Plain is home to wild blueberries that love the twenty-five feet of pure sand. The plain is red, which creates an odd backdrop to the usual green forests and blue waters.

The Whalesback is a ridge or glacial esker created by the moving ice. Currently, the ridge is paved for Route 9 with the Union River flowing on the east side. Experience the peaceful isolation of an authentic nature experience in the heart of unspoiled and undeveloped woodlands. Visitors can drive over Whalesback along Route 9 and enjoy the unique panoramic views of lakes and mountains. Nearby are numerous bodies of water for fishing, kayaking, and bird watching.

Fryeburg

Fryeburg is like many Maine towns, offering skiing in the winter and hiking, fishing, or remote camping in the summer. Fryeburg sits within the White Mountain National Forest and offers unique scenery. Visitors won’t have to wait long to see deer, moose, and other native Maine wildlife. Visitors can hike, fish, or enjoy the pristine mountain lakes.

Fryeburg is a tiny town, and until October rolls around, it’s time for the historic Fryeburg Fair. The Fryeburg Fair is a week-long celebration of all things agricultural. Contestants come from across Maine to create exhibits or compete in livestock shows and other contests. The town is engulfed in raffles, flea markets, and other festivities. Over 3000 animals and their humans come to Fryeburg each year for the fair.

The Fryeburg Fair started in 1851 and continues today as the most popular autumn fair in the state. More than 300,000 people descend on this tiny Maine town every October. Fryeburg is also home to the Saco River. The Saco River is the perfect spot for tubing, canoeing, and kayaking. The area is also home to dozens of hiking and OHV trails. Oddly enough, Fryeburg is also home to the International Musical Arts Institute.

Old Orchard Beach

Old Orchard Beach sits inside Saco Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Old Orchard Beach, known as OOB, has been a popular seaside resort since 1898. Tourists flock to OOB for the seven miles of beach. Visitors also visit the beach pier and the Palace Playland Amusement Park. The pier includes shops and restaurants, features live bands, and provides access to the amusement park. Palace Playland has 25 rides, including a Ferris wheel. Frank Sinatra once sang in a casino that held 5000 dancers. Visitors can visit the vast beach for swimming, surfing, and paddleboarding. Hike on the Eastern Trail Bike Path or explore history at the Old Orchard Beach Historical Society. The Dunegrass Golf Club provides a memorable golfing experience within the OOB seaside paradise.

Bar Harbor

Bar Harbor sits on Mount Desert Island. Bar Harbor is a coastal town where the mountains meet the ocean. The city is a popular tourist destination with plentiful dining and shopping options. Bar Harbor is at the foot of Acadia National Park and a popular place to stay when visiting the park. Cadillac Mountain provides visitors with local hiking and biking trails within Bar Harbor. The Shore Path trail takes visitors along the bay overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and the Porcupine Islands.

Bar Harbor also offers visitors scenic drives with oceanside cliffs and mountain forests. See the Thunder Hole and hit the beach at Sand Beach. Most visitors spend time in town while they hike and bike through Acadia. The town has whale watching and other scenic boat tours for those who prefer more leisurely activities. From Bar Harbor, visitors can book a unique scenic tour through Acadia via horse-drawn carriage. Participants wind through the vast scenery on the maintained historic carriage paths created by Maine’s early settlers.

Rockport

Rockport, Maine, is a small coastal town often enveloped by fog in the morning. Local camping spots provide access to the incredible scenery of Penobscot Bay. The city feels like a seaside resort. Like many coastal Maine towns, it’s a popular summer tourist destination. Visitors can beat the crowds by driving Route 1 and heading toward the Schoodic Peninsula and Camden Hills State Park.

Rockport is home to a unique local legend. Andre the Seal is Rockport’s most famous former resident. Andre was a baby harbor seal found abandoned on the shore in Rockport by Harry Goodridge. Harry and Andre became fast friends. Harry trained Andre to do more than 50 different tricks. Andre attracted visitors to Rockport every summer. As Andre and his popularity grew, so did the need to house Andre during the winter. Harry made a deal with the New England Aquarium in Boston to house Andre during the winter. At the start of summer, Andre swam back north to Rockport. Andre’s monument now sits at the Rockport Harbor’s Marine Park. There are typically more visitors at Andre’s monument than fishermen lined up at the dock. Enjoy Rockport's fishing, beaches, and nature, and don’t miss visiting Andre’s monument.

Bethel

The town of Bethel is known for having built the world’s tallest snowman. Plus, the townspeople are enthusiastic and spirited, hosting a variety of festivals year-round. During winter, the town hosts skiers and snowboarders at the Sunday River Resort. Visitors interested in ice or rock-climbing head to nearby Grafton Notch State Park.

Bethel is also home to the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum. The museum hosts an extensive collection of lunar meteorites and moon rock specimens. There are two campgrounds in Bethel. The Bethel Outdoor Adventure and Campground sits on the Androscoggin River. The Pleasant River Campground also offers rentals and guided tours for hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.

Bethel holds a local art fair every summer featuring more than 50 local artists, gallery showings, and art-related activities. It’s also home to the Bethel Harvestfest & Chowdah Cookoff in the fall. The Harvestfest includes arts, crafts, a farmer’s market, and live music.

Southport

Southport may be Maine’s best-kept secret. Southport features historic lighthouses, museums, and scenic beaches. Southport offers a laid-back atmosphere with more open space and fewer crowds. The town sits 60 miles northeast of Portland.

The first Lighthouse visitors see is the Cuckolds Lighthouse in Boothbay Harbor. Cuckolds started as a fog station in 1892 and is one of the last lighthouses built on the coast of Maine. History lovers will enjoy the Hendricks Hill Museum's extensive collection of historic local information and artifacts. Admission is free.

Southport is known for its lobster and fresh seafood. Relax at uncrowded beaches, swim, hike, or take in the harbor scene in laid-back Southport. Enjoy the best seafood in Maine and discover the New England coast without the historic tourist crowds.

Maine is known as the Pine Tree State based on its abundant wild and pristine woodlands. Visitors can immerse themselves in forests, coastal beaches, and experience unsurpassed scenery. Whether hiking, biking, swimming, boating, or driving, visitors can experience the powerful beauty of nature in Maine. Find fresh seafood, historic theme parks, state parks, and pristine waters in Maine's many unique and quirky small towns.