Midcoast Maine Fall Fun
A Maine summer is gorgeous, but a Maine fall is truly fantastic. Midcoast Maine fall fun is everywhere you look. From gorgeous foliage to festivals to apple picking, Maine is the gold standard in autumnal experiences. Why should you visit when the weather cools? Read on and find out!
Fall Foliage in Midcoast Maine: Get Up High!
It’s no secret that New England boasts the most fiery foliage around in the autumn, but how about getting a bird’s eye view? The Camden Snow Bowl’s proclaims itself to be the only ski resort on the East Coast with ocean views, and taking in that view is a special treat when you take advantage of their foliage chairlift rides.
The schedule for 2019 chairlift rides has not yet been posted but, in past years, they were on Sunday in October. I’ll watch for updates to post here, but you can check for yourself at the Snow Bowl site!
If you can’t fit the chairlift ride into your schedule take a drive up to the top of Mt. Battie at Camden Hills State Park and see one of Maine’s most iconic coastal views from there. If you’re looking for a physical challenge, try hiking it!
Attend a Midcoast Maine Fall Festival or Fair
Attending a fair with the family is the perfect fall activity. Popular midcoast Maine fall festivals are Damariscotta Pumpkinfest (main events always Columbus Day Weekend, but see their website for others) and The Common Ground Country Fair in Unity. There are other local celebrations around the area, and you can even celebrate oysters! Check out the current list of fairs and festivals on the VisitMaine site for more information.
Brave the Corn Maze at Beth’s Farm Market
You’ve eaten your sweet corn in the last days of summer. Now is the time to try the corn maze! Each year, Beth’s Farm Market in Warren constructs a truly mind-blowing feature that serves as a favorite midcoast Maine fall destination. Read all about it in this wonderful article from DownEast Magazine.
Don’t forget to stop into the farm stand for autumnal treats like cider and fresh donuts!
Get out on the Water
Boating doesn’t end in midcoast Maine in the fall. In fact, there are numerous ways you can enjoy the foliage from the sea or the river! For information on which captains in the Rockland and Camden area are setting sail into October and how you can schedule a trip, check out the links in our article on Sailing in Midcoast Maine: How to Arrange a Day Sail
To get out on the water a little further south in the midcoast check out Monhegan Boat Lines, Hardy Boat, or Tevake Sailing Charters.
Don’t forget the river! Damariscotta River Cruises offers seal watching and tours focusing on the local oyster farms, right into the weekends of October,
Get Spooked on a Haunted History Tour
Credit: Red Cloak Haunted History Tours
Nothing could be more appropriate for fall than some wholesome ghoulish fun.
Operating in numerous cities up and down the coast, Red Cloak Haunted History Tours will give you a guided evening historical walking tour of your chosen midcoast Maine fall town. Tours are lantern-lit and last about 90 minutes. They are suitable for children and even well-behaved dogs! Not only will you learn about potential hauntings and local ghostly lore, but you are sure to also pick up quite a bit of local history in the process.
To find out how you can savor the thrill this autumn, check out their calendar to find out when tours are happening near you and how to book your spot.
Go Apple Picking
Is there a more quintessential fall activity than visiting an apple orchard? Sample the delightful varieties available in the midcoast at one of the many pick-your-own farms in the region. Hope Orchards is one of the closest to us in Rockland, but you can see a whole list of options by county here. Not listed on the site, but a favorite of our cleaning manager Hillary at OrganiClean is Clark’s Cove Farm and Inn. This is a great option for those a little farther south of Rockland.
Fall into Arts and Culture
If you’ve exhausted yourself with the brisk autumnal air or, maybe, it’s raining, do not despair! Midcoast Maine is slopping over with wonderful museums to get you in out of the cold for a few hours. Art lovers will enjoy The Farnsworth and the CMCA in Rockland. For maritime history, options range from the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath to the Sail, Power, and Steam and Lighthouse museums in Rockland, to the Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport.
One of our favorite visits with the kids is the Owls Head Transportation Museum, which features an incredible collection of antique cars, planes, and trains…even a gypsy wagon!
For the littlest among us, the Coastal Children’s Museum in Rockland or the Boothbay Railway Village can give parents a little break.
Or how about immersing yourself in Maine history at the Matthews Museum of Maine Heritage, which features a collection of Moxie memorabilia, among other things?
There are even more great museums we haven’t mentioned. Check out the chamber of commerce in your chosen city for more ideas!
Midcoast Maine Fall Fun Goes On…
What we haven’t even covered:
- Visit some lighthouses
- Take a foliage hike
- Eat at amazing restaurants
- Take in a movie at a historic theater
- Go shopping
- Visit the beaches for a walk
- Go horseback riding
- Get in some kayaking or canoeing
- Enjoy a fishing excursion
- Experience candlepin bowling
…and on and on. For more ideas browse our collection of articles in What to Do in Midcoast Maine.
If these ideas inspire you, check out our availability for the Fall and come to stay!
Did we miss a favorite midcoast Maine fall activity of yours? Tell us all about it in the comments!