Recreation & Entertainment

Industry Snapshot | Economy/Cost of Living
Education | Transportation | Geography & Climate
History | Suggested Reading List

From the towering White Mountains to a coastline dotted with hundreds of tiny islands, Maine’s geographic diversity creates a multitude of outdoor recreation options, while cities host numerous artistic and sporting events.

Ample snowfall provides for several winter recreation options. Skiing, both downhill and cross-country, can be enjoyed at one of Maine’s 17 ski areas, such as Sugarloaf Mountain, or in the backcountry. Snowmobiling is also popular, with over 12,000 miles of trails, including the Interconnecting Trail System. Other popular winter activities are ice fishing, dog sledding and ice climbing.

Maine offers many summer recreation activities as well. For those who enjoy water sports, there is swimming, sailing and fishing or water skiing and boating. Camping and hiking are popular in one of Maine’s state parks, such as Baxter State Park, Acadia National Park, or along the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Other activities include hunting, golf and rock climbing.

Maine’s cities thrive with arts and entertainment. Opera can be enjoyed at the Portland Opera Repertory Theatre or Opera Maine. Maine is home to many theatres, including the Portland Stage Company and the Maine State Music Theatre. Hundreds of museums are located in Maine, such as the Portland Museum of Art and the Maine Maritime Museum. Festivals such as the Maine Festival and the Festival de Joie enliven urban areas with food, artisans and music.

While Maine does not host any professional sports teams, many residents are enthusiastic fans of local college and minor league teams. The Portland Pirates, of the American Hockey League, are a favorite, as are minor league baseball’s Portland Sea Dogs. The University of Maine’s Black Bears are the most popular college team.