We made a short stop to view this garden finding it quiet, tranquil and less than impressive though…read moreobviously your mileage may and very likely will vary.

Really pretty, I love coming here. It's nice all year round and even has a Geocache in it.read more

I thought this spot was beautiful. Quiet. The grounds area…read morecould use some updating. But it's got water, rocks, shade trees, and a swing! Precious low key spot for some relaxing.

Nice little park. Not too busy and has a few nice trails by the water. Also picnic tables and and…read morespace to play catch or toss a football. Lots of trees for hammocking as well!

It was given that we had to visit at least one lighthouse in Maine, and what better way to do that…read morethan by visiting the most visited one in the state?? We were staying nearby in the area, so it was an easy drive here. This park is small, but has such a rich history. The guys working at the park were super friendly, and one gave us some fun facts about the lighthouse before heading up to the top! Speaking of, going up to the top is really neat. It's a tad bit scary and has a steep, spiral staircase, but has some great views once you get up there. There's also a little room with more on the history. Outside, you can climb around on the rocks to have a great viewing spot of the ocean. You need to come visit this place if you are nearby!

Pemaquid point lighthouse park is the lighthouse on the back of the Maine quarter. It is located in…read moreBristol. We were here on a foggy June day. There was a line to go up in the lighthouse. It is tiny, but worth the view, even in a foggy day

Such a fun, family friendly place!! The walking trails are well maintained and clearly marked…read more There's plenty for kids to do around the grounds. It was really fun to walk the trails and see all the trolls! The grounds are really pretty this time of year with the hyacinths and daffodils blooming. Soo many varieties and colors! The gift shop was cute and well maintained. Service at the Cafe was great.

A great spot in mid-coast Maine to enjoy flora from around the world. It's large enough that you…read morecan spend a day there, but not too large that you feel like you can't see enough of it. If you enjoy a bit of a scavenger hunt, they have these huge wooden troll sculptures scattered throughout the park that are fun to hunt down and makes sure you get your steps in. I mean, they're clearly marked on the map and on signs, but we enjoyed finding the right paths to see all of them. Definitely take your pictures but don't take too long in front of them so other visitors can get theirs! The park is very accessible for people of all mobility levels, and the less accessible/steeper paths are clearly labeled. Most of the paths have a slow rise and fall, so they're not strenuous. They have little features like waterfalls, a meditation garden, a town of fairy houses, sculptures, information on conservation and the local indigenous tribes, a dock into the bay that you can walk out to, a butterfly garden, and kinetic sculptures (some of which you can make music with). Also highly recommend stopping by their cafe! We ended up eating lunch there and were happy that they had a number of vegetarian and vegan options. The lentil soup was so tasty, particularly on a more temperate summer day. The Botanical Gardens are a must visit!

A gentle hike…read more Penny Lake Preserve was opened in the fall of 2005 and is roughly 55 acres. It contains a couple of miles of trails and nothing that is difficult or strenuous. A very nice hike for older folks, kids, or people that want to be outside but can't negotiate a more difficult terrain. The hike features wide and slightly hilly trails with nice views. The main trails goes through some open fields, woody areas with lots of mature pine trees and then down to the water. The entrance can be a bit difficult to locate but if you go right behind the Carousel Music Theatre you will find it. It can get a bit mucky at times and during the warmer weather the bugs and ticks can be pretty brutal but the trails are nice in the winter for snow shoeing and cross country skiing. A pleasant little area that is great for anyone that wants an interesting short hike that is accessible to a wide variety of different people

Such a peaceful and scenic spot to visit! The views from the lighthouse were absolutely stunning --…read moreyou can see the waves crashing along the rocks and feel the salty ocean breeze. It's the perfect place to relax, take photos, and just enjoy the beauty of the coast. The area was clean, easy to walk around, and not too crowded, which made it even more enjoyable. Whether you're into photography, sightseeing, or just love ocean views, this lighthouse is definitely worth the stop.

This was my first ever SUN RISE with a lighthouse and it was AMAZING. Came here around 7am Friday…read moremorning and made it just in time for Sunrise. There were plenty of parking and only a few people here. The View was absolutely breath taking. The sun was slowly making its away up on the beautiful water. The sound of the ocean waves against the rocks, the ocean breeze smell were absolutely magnificent. There is even a bench for you set and enjoy the sun rise. It was truly peaceful and definitely made my morning. Highly recommend coming here.

What an amazing state park. It's super large with lots of beach front and a lagoon. Lots of parking…read moreand bathrooms in both areas. Just a small view to get in. The views were fantastic, if I lived closer I would frequent this place!

Reid State Park is a Maine tourist destination, but locals know the best time to visit is after…read moreLabor Day! This State Park is located off the beaten path. At the end of a winding scenic drive this place is what you think of when you think Coastal Maine. During the summer there is a concession stand, life guards, and park staff. The lagoon is a calm warmer more shallow place to swim, perfect for the kiddos. There beach goes on for miles and waves crash along the sand and the rocks. Tons to do and explore! Climb around the rocky shore, explore tide pools, and make sand castles! It's a family friendly place, with some of most breathtaking views in the State. Bring a nice picnic there are a lot of picnic tables scattered around there are two beaches to explore with plenty of parking as well as changing rooms, showers, and ADA compliant restrooms. There is also a large shelter that groups can use for meetings, cook outs etc. No pets allowed during certain months. Put this park on your must visit list if you're in Maine.

I love the views! It's great for a picnic and a little bit…read moreof history. There's plenty of open space for you to hang out with family or friends and enjoy the ocean views and breeze. While it may be controversial, I'm glad they moved the food trucks to the lower lot. It's less crowded when you arrive and less crowded near the food trucks - meaning only people getting food are in the area, vs people walking/running through with animals and kids that aren't going to the food trucks. It's also less noisy not being next to the generators. We love the food trucks there and will continue to enjoy them while also enjoying the peaceful hill. The kids in the family really enjoy the canons and the playgrounds. The times we have gone the playgrounds have been clean - thankfully no needles or trash anywhere to be seen.

Nice views. Mostly you should come to the Eastern Promenade if you love the overwhelming smell of…read moremarijuana everywhere you go and want your kids breathing in that drug as they play on the playground equipment. Can't say I fall into that category.

If you are passing through Bath or Edgecomb this is a great quick stop, it is a quick detour of US…read more1. There is a small gravel parking lot. There are a lot of picnic tables which would be great for a lunch with a beautiful water view. You can walk down some cobblestone stairs towards the water. It is a 2 story octagonal shaped fort built in 1809 to protect the port of Wiscasset. It was active during the War of 1812 holding British prisoners and reactivated again for during the Civil War. It was purchased by the state of Maine in 1923 for $501. I recommend stopping at Fort Edgecomb if you are in the area.

Gorgeous hidden spot! Walked around the grounds-beautiful 180 degree views. Picnic tables available.read more

I feel the need to preface all of my nature reviews with this: being 90% forested and having around…read more3500 miles of coastline, Maine has a tremendous amount of spaces, walkways, paths, and trails of all kinds and of all levels. There's something for everyone. What I'm reviewing is how a spot compares to similar outdoor spots in my personal opinion. Being in nature - and remembering to carry in, carry out - is always five stars! :) Parking? Sort of. Loop trail? Yes. Well marked signs? Yes. Element of surprise? Yes. What. A. Find. Whenever I'm journeying around Maine (checking out state parks or Atlas Obscura recommended spots), I try and also find a few trails or hiking spots to check out (because the state is huge, and when I'm in an area I'm not usually in, I want to discover spots I wouldn't otherwise!). Reynolds Forest was the best part of my day! In fact, one of the most standout spots I've been to in a while! According to the Kennebec Land Trust website (https://www.tklt.org/reynolds), "This 35 acre parcel provides visitors excellent birding opportunities, interesting wildflowers and floodplain species, and views of the powerful brook (now called Goff Brook), with its foaming water roaring over exposed rocks into stone-lined pools. Part of the conservation property not visible from the trail has seen an increase in invasive Japanese knotweed and non-native bush honeysuckle, and has served as a field research site for Colby College students studying invasive plant control methods." There's some parking off the shoulder of the main road, and the walk into the woods alongside Goff Brook is lovely. It's not long before you can suddenly hear the roaring of the (small, but mighty) waterfalls (which was once used for saw and grist mills. We made sure to come after a couple days of rain and it was worth it! We gently navigated out to some exposed rocks and sat in the sun, near the falls, surrounded by tall trees for a long time. Perfect spot for a picnic (and... I think we also spotted some foragers too). There's also a small Old Farm Loop Trail that passes by fields and an old foundation a little further beyond the Streamside Trail. BEWARE OF TICKS. BEWARE OF POISON IVY. WEAR APPROPRIATE SHOES.