The Hills and Lakes Region of Maine:
This is in the middle of the Lakes Region of Maine. A short drive to Long Lake in Naples with multiple marinas and various boat, jet ski, and paddle boat rentals. Dining and a lake cruise can be had aboard the Songo River Queen- a stern wheeler. Ski plane rides are available. A little further is the huge Sebago Lake with many marinas and boat rentals also.
For the canoe or kayak enthusiast the choices are unlimited, small ponds and lakes with interconnecting waterways are every where. Deer, moose, muskrats, racoons, otters and waterfowl of all description frequent these backwaters. There are cold trout ponds, shallow pickerel pounds, deep lakes with salmon and lake trout, shallower lakes with both large and small mouth bass. It is a lake experience epicenter.
For hiking try Pleasant Mountain, Jockey Cap, Speckled Mountain, Stowe Mountain, Bald Pate and Douglas Mountain. For beautiful nature trails, look for the trails of the Loon Mountain Trust.
Entertainment and Dining:
The area has some very good entertainment nearby. Bridgton has a recently opened a rebuilt Magic Lantern Theater with several well appointed movie theaters, a pub and frequent live entertaiment. The Big Kahuna in Bridgton offers great folk and blues acts during the summer months. In Brownfield, The Stone Mountain Arts Center offers great big name entertainment in an intimate atmosphere with a small venue. Great meals are served prior to the entertainmet. Folks like Roy Clark, Kathy Mattea, Suzy Boggus and Susan Tesdechi play there.
There are several acts a week year round and all are great. Look for their website and book early to avoid disappointment.
There are some very good resturants in the area. Fryeburg, Bridgton and Waterford all have good resturants and there are many in the N. Conway and Conway area of New Hampshire. All levels of elegance and price.
Attractions:
Nature is the biggest attraction. Evans Notch, Crawford Notch and Grafton Notch with the breath-taking Screw Auger Falls are all nearby.
Over in the White Mountains there are spectacular natural attractions like the beautiful hiking trails along the Kangamangus Highway and the impressive rock moutains overlooking the Saco River Valley as well as the commercial attractions the region is famous for: Conway Scenic Railroad, Santa's Village, Story Land, Polar Caves, Lost River, Mt Washington Auto Road, Mt Washington Cog Railway, Heritage New Hampshire, Flume Gorge, Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway and more. Something for all ages.
