Houlton/GHCA and Presque Isle capture County titles

By Rene Cloukey

Published: May. 24, 2022 at 11:28 AM EDT

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) -The Results have been tabulated and the Presque Isle boys and Houlton/GHCA girls captured the County track and Field titles.

Freshman Even Durepo of Caribou won the Emory Plourde trophy. He won four events and ended with 40 points. Malachi Cummings of Presque Isle was second with three wins and Michael Cyr of Caribou was third.

There were a couple of County records set. Xavier McAtee of Presque Isle set a new discus record of 141 feet and 1 inch, Jonah Roy of Presque isle set a new pole vault record of 12 feet 2 inches.

On the girl’s side. Houlton/GHCA picked up the team title with 177 points, Presque Isle was second with 171 and Fort Kent ended up third.

Limestone Maine

Limestone is a town in Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,526 at the 2020 census. The town is best known for being the home of the Loring Commerce Centre and Maine School of Science and Mathematics, which in 2019 ranked #2 in the United States by the US News and World Report.

Job Fair Hopes to Put Aroostook County to Work

By WAGM News

Published: Mar. 30, 2022 at 11:25 AM EDT

Employers and Job Seekers alike gathered at the Aroostook Centre Mall Tuesday morning.

Nearly 30 employers turned out for a Job Fair held by Career Center and the Maine Department of labor to conduct on-the-spot interviews and accept resumes for current job openings around the County. According to the Maine Department of Labor, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 4 percent, down from nearly 4.6 percent this time last year.

“We are featuring about 28 employers today and giving everyone an opportunity to meet with employers and see what’s out there for the job market. I think what we’re seeing is that there’s a lot of upscaling on jobs, and people transitioning forward and there’s a big demand for remote work as well as hybrid positions. I think this is a great opportunity for job seekers in the area to see what’s available and to find a great position for themselves.” says Robb Miller – Career Center Consultant for the Maine Department of Labor.

Miller says now Covid restrictions have began to loosen, he hopes people will take advantage of job openings and adds the Career Center has plans to hold quarterly job fairs moving forward. If you are a job seeker looking for resources or openings, or an employer looking for resumes or to be involved in future hiring events, you can find more information at https://joblink.maine.gov/

What is Caribou Maine famous for?

Caribou became the largest potato shipping hub in the world, and had many related industries. Nearby to the northeast, Loring Air Force Base opened in the early 1950s near Limestone, with bomber and tanker aircraft of the Strategic Air Command.

Page Farm and Home Museum of the University of Maine

5787 Museum Barn, 12 Portage Road Orono, ME Phone: 207-581-4100

This museum is part of the University of Maine, and its mission is to describe industry, agriculture, economy, and lives of rural Maine farmers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Centerpiece of the property is the three-story, post and beam Maine Experiment Station barn, built in 1833. Also on the farm and museum property are the 1855 Chute Schoolhouse, the Winston E. Pullen Carriage House and the blacksmith shop. A garden containing herbs, flowers, and vegetables that were grown from 1865 to 1940 is on the property. The museum contains the state’s most important collection of farm technologies and artifacts of rural culture.

Hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m

Moosestompers Weekend

2/4/22 - 2/6/22

Join us at the Houlton Area Winter Carnival for free and healthy entertainment for the whole family. Ski, skate, slide, or ride. Fun for everyone of all ages!

Celebrate winter in Houlton, Maine all weekend long in the first weekend of February! Mark your calendar February 4-6- Join us at the Houlton Area Winter Carnival for free and healthy entertainment for the whole family. Ski, skate, slide, or ride. Fun for everyone!!! Find out more online or at our Facebook page

Things to Do in Caribou

Besides snowmobiling, Caribou has plenty to offer. Just outside of Caribou is the Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge, which has more than five miles of trails perfect for hiking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing. The Aroostook Valley Trail passes through Caribou on its 28 miles of multi-purpose trails from Presque Isle to New Sweden. An unexpected treasure is the Nylander Museum of Natural History where there are delightful displays from the archeology, paleontology and other natural sciences collections. The museum exhibits the collections of Swedish-born naturalist Olof Nylander, who spent years studying the fauna of Aroostook County. The Caribou Historical Society is another popular spot with more than 10,000 artifacts on the campus and a replica of an 1860s one-room schoolhouse.

Visit Goughan’s Berry Farm, open year-round celebrating each season with homemade ice cream, gifts, pick your own gardens, a corn maze, Christmas tree farm, and farmer’s market.

Don’t leave town without a bag of locally-grown potatoes you’ll find at many roadside stands.

Aroostook County couple spices up Maine with 3 hottest sauces

by David DiMinno January 18, 2022

FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Aroostook County couple Jason and Jennifer Grass make and sell the hottest pepper sauces in Maine — Phoenix Fire measures in at 2.6 million Scoville units.

The Scoville scale measures the heat of chili peppers against pure capsaicin, which is 16 million Scoville units. 

The Grasses, who have been running Hill Gardens in Fort Fairfield since April 2021, have been gardening their half acre of land for about five years and fermenting peppers for three. They began making sauces as a way to preserve some of their produce from their 16 garden beds.

With a seemingly endless string of spicy food challenges and talk shows online, it’s no secret that hot sauce has become popular. There are several businesses in Maine that produce sauces, but none are hotter than those at Hill Gardens. In just a few months, the Grasses’ sauces have reached 19 stores in Maine and are shipped to other states as well. Since beginning to sell last April, Hill Gardens has expanded its market to Maryland, Texas, California and Florida.

“Not only do our sauces have heat, but they have flavor as well,” Jason said. “We have had a lot of people who say they don’t like spice, but they end up liking the sauces that we produce.”

Hill Gardens produces a wide range of sauces, from its more mild Serrano Poblano and Spicy Teriyaki sauces, to its hottest sauce by Scoville rating, the Phoenix Fire. The company has 16 licensed sauces, meaning the Food and Drug Administration has approved the sale and distribution of them. The couple hopes to license a total of 36 sauces.

Circle B Farm’s Food Reaches Further Than Before.

By Corey Bouchard

Published: Jan. 7, 2022 at 11:12 AM EST

One County Farm’s food is reaching further than ever before.

Circle B Farms in Caribou, through the help of Sodexo, a food distributer, is now supplying food for 6 of the 7 University of Maine System Colleges, along with many other schools and hospitals in Northern, Central, and Southern Maine.

Thomas Ayer - Owner, Circle B Farms “Having Sodexo as a partner in feeding the UMaine System’s drastically increased our production rate, we’re able to put out a bunch of different products, diced carrots, diced turnips, diced potato’s and we’re able to get our products from one end of the state to the other”

Dan Roy - District Manager , Sodexo “We were able to connect with Circle B, Have them become a vendor of ours and from there begin our relationship to grow vegetables and have them aggregate in the Aroostook county area so we could supply our students with the food they’re looking for and start to grow our local presence.”

Ayer says that in the future he hopes to be able to supply more types of vegetables and continue growing the reach of their products.

Winter Break Gives Kids The Opportunity to Enjoy Outdoor Activities

By Brian Bouchard

Published: Dec. 29, 2021 at 11:53 AM EST

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) -

With children out of school on winter break, many take the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. NewsSource8′s Brian Bouchard takes a look at how some kids are getting some fresh air.

Instead of sitting down, playing video games, or watching tv, many families chose to enjoy the nice weather and do some outdoor activities, such as skiing, snowtubing or ice skating.

“My girls only started skiing about 6 years ago. Something to do in Aroostook county during the winter time, getting out and about. It was a good way to get the family going. My oldest daughter Allison started skiing first, I actually learned how to ski at the same time she did, just because I never learned how to ski before.

Over at Big Rock Mountain in Mars Hill, kids were skiing with their friends. When asked why they enjoyed skiing and being outdoors they had this to say:

“It’s really fun. I get to see friends that go to different schools and I get to spend time with my family and be outside

Over the weekend, Joshua Stahl from Presque Isle Recreation and Parks was out at Mantle Lake Park, preparing an outdoor ice-skating rink. They also hold events offering hot chocolate and smores.

And even if you’ve never done an outdoor activity, it is never too late to learn a new skill.

“It’s never too late to learn, and try and get out and about, stay healthy. It’s a great activity, being outside, and enjoy what Aroostook County has to offer” says Joe Fagnant.

Some were too busy Snow Tubing at Quoggy Jo Ski Center to speak with us, but his mother said that if he had a choice, he would be out snowtubing all day.

Maine to receive more than $5.5M in school meal assistance

By Associated Press

Published: Dec. 27, 2021 at 10:43 AM EST

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine will receive more than $5.5 million from the federal government to support its school meal programs.

Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree said Maine Department of Education will receive the money.

She said nearly $4 million will be supply chain assistance for schools, while the rest of the money will help food purchases, including from local producers.

Pingree said allowing schools to purchase food produced locally will be “a true win-win for child nutrition and Maine farmers.”

Moose stompers Weekend | This moose is loose! In Houlton Maine

Joseph Cyr • January 24, 2020

HOULTON, Maine — The moose is ready to be turned loose once again in the Shiretown as the town is busy gearing up for the 24th annual Moose stompers winter carnival.

Moose stompers weekend is billed as three days of winter fun for the family and features a variety of activities for children and adults to enjoy together. Returning favorites include the Hogan Tire Skate Night, sliding under the lights on Derby Hill in Community Park and the ATV/UTV/Snowmobile Light Parade and many other activities.

Gas prices fall again in northern New England

By Associated Press

Published: Dec. 13, 2021 at 11:20 AM EST

Gas prices fell in northern New England again over the past week. GasBuddy, which surveys stations, said prices in Maine fell 1.4 cents per gallon over the past week. The organization said Monday price in the state was down to $3.42 per gallon. Prices in New Hampshire went down 1.5 cents, to $3.31. In Vermont, prices fell 2.5 cents to land at $3.37. The national average was $3.32 per gallon. That was a decrease of 2.4 cents.

Women Veterans Honored at Historic Joint Event

PAT HRITZ • November 16, 2021

Two women’s organizations in Erie with a long history made more history at a downtown gathering on November 16th.

For the first time in the 124 year histories, the Women’s Club of Erie and the Presque Isle branch of the Daughters of the Revolution joined forces to honor women veterans from the area.

The veterans event is an addition to the Women’s Club’s Christmas in the mansion event.

According to each group, sacrifice is a big part of why they wanted to honor the group of women there tonight.

“They’re doing that for their country, our country, some of them have given the ultimate sacrifice of their lives, others have put their lives on hold, or not had children yet because they’re doing their fulfillment to their country, and we just want to honor these women,” said Judy Santone Husted, Erie Women’s Club.

Honored at this event were Colonel Priscilla Hamilton from the United States Army, Sergeant Lindsey Millet from the United States Army, Captain Nora Oslak from the United States Army Reserves, and Sergeant Schelly Reitsma from the United States Army.

Committee to Promote Area-wide Holiday Events

Contributed • October 27, 2021

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Is your business or organization having a holiday open house or event this year?  If so, the Star City Spirit of Christmas Celebration Committee wants to help promote your holiday plans courtesy of a marketing grant from the Maine Office of Tourism. Submissions will be listed on the committee’s website, which will be showcased in publications including, among others, the Star-Herald, Bangor Daily News, Bangor Metro magazine, The County.ME and the tourism office’s website, visitmaine.com, and more.  

Kim Smith of Presque Isle Historical Society said she recently read an article that named Ogunquit as the town with the most Christmas spirit in Maine because they market all of their events as one celebration.  

“We have so many fun, interesting and unique as well as traditional events here in Central Aroostook that more people need to know about.  That is how the idea for the Star City Spirit of Christmas Celebration started,” Smith said.

To submit your event (there is no cost), list the name of the event, date, time, cost of admission if any, location, description, who to contact for more information and the name of the organization putting the event on.  All events must be submitted to the committee by Nov. 12. Submit information to  Smith at ksmith@presqueisleme.us. 

The Star City Spirit of Christmas Celebration Committee is a partnership of organizations including the City of Presque Isle, Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce, Presque Isle Historical Society, Wintergreen Arts, IgnitePI, and Northern Light A.R. Gould Hospital.  

The committee’s website can be viewed at http://ksmith0459.wixsite.com/starcitychristmas. For more information, contact Smith at the email listed above or at 207-760-2722.  

Northern Light Health Launches ‘Digital Vaccine Card’

Corey Bouchard • November 15, 2021

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) -Northern Light Health is offering new technology that allows patients to access their COVID Vaccination records digitally.

In order to be eligible for the digital cards, you have to be a Northern Light Health patient and have received your vaccines through Northern Light Health. It provides a Q-R code that when scanned, gives a patient’s name, birthday and vaccination status. Northern Light officials say the technology will make providing COVID-19 vaccination status for travel or other events much easier for patients.

Ben Isenhour- VP of Information Systems - Northern Light Health “Well you know the paper card can be lost, some people have laminated it but that can become unreadableBen Isenhour.A digital card also as I mentioned is required for travel I know some countries require a physical digital card…that’s the benefit of having it available digitally instead of in your wallet

In order to access the digital vaccination cards, you have to sign up for their patient portal, which can be done on their website, northernlighthealth.org.

This Year Should be Good for Deer Hunting in Maine

Pete Warner • October 29, 2021

It’s the day thousands of Maine outdoors enthusiasts have been yearning for since late last year. It’s opening day of the firearms hunting season for white-tailed deer.

Archers and crossbow enthusiasts had the first crack at this year’s crop during the expanded archery and regular archery seasons during September and October. And many youngsters 16 and under participated in Youth Deer Day on Oct. 23.
Now, the number of hunters in the woods will increase dramatically as deer enthusiasts attempt to harvest an animal and put some organic, free-range, 100 percent natural meat on the dinner table and in the freezer.

Saturday is reserved for Maine residents only, while folks from outside the state may hunt deer starting on Monday, Nov. 1. 

For hunters, there’s nothing quite like the excitement of heading out for a long sit in a stand, a slow, quiet walk in the woods or a stint in a well-placed ground blind on opening day.

Prospects for the 2021 season appear good. That’s coming off last year’s harvest of 33,157 deer, which was the highest total in 18 years.

Nathan Bieber, deer biologist for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, said while populations in southern and central Maine are stable, things are more in flux in northern and western regions.

“There should be a lot of deer out there. We’re hoping for a better hunting season in northern Maine,” Bieber said. “For northern Maine hunters last year, the harvest was way down.”

He explained that not only does the population fluctuate more in those areas because of the severity of winter weather, but hunting conditions marked by warmer temperatures and a lack of snow during the season also hampered efforts.

“It makes a lot easier when there’s snow on the ground,” Bieber said. “You want to track, of course, but also if there’s enough snow deer start congregating for the winter early and can start moving towards towns where there’s actually hunters.”

Opening day can be a highly productive one. There hasn’t been much, if any, hunting pressure in most places and discriminating hunters have long since scouted locations where they have seen numerous deer or their target animal on their trail cameras.

Speaking of the weather, Saturday looks to be a day of varied conditions depending upon your location.

Aroostook County hunters will be treated to a mostly cloudy day with a high temperature of 50 degrees and light winds. In Greater Bangor, it will be cloudy and 56 while southern Maine is expecting rain and a high of 53.

More people had more time to hunt last year after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic which, combined with the health of the state’s deer herd, helped facilitate a higher take.

Another key factor was the number of any-deer permits issued in 2020. The state again established a record by offering up 153,910 “doe tags” this year, which is another harbinger of good deer numbers and a bigger harvest.

For all deer hunters, the focus heading out on Saturday or in the coming weeks, must be on enjoying the experience safely.

Maine had two hunting-related shootings last year in which someone was injured, both of which were self-inflicted wounds.

Hunters should make sure they know the legal hunting hours for each day during the season. Hunting is allowed from a half-hour before sunrise in Bangor until a half-hour after sunset — regardless of where in the state you are hunting.

How to Enjoy Maine's Great Outdoors for Free

Katelyn Michaud • March 4, 2021

Booking a vacation in Maine doesn’t have to break the bank – you can hike, swim, cross-country ski and enjoy the arts scene, all for free. From York to Fort Fairfield and everywhere in between, there are tons of activities to do in Maine year-round. Hike along the rocky coastline in search of incredible vistas and native wildlife or give mash potato wrestling a chance in northern Maine. Just make sure you have your camera ready!

Chase lighthouses

Most of Maine’s lighthouses are free to explore, including the famous Portland Head Light. Commissioned by George Washington, Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth is the most photographed lighthouse in the country. Pack a picnic and enjoy the adjacent 90-acre Fort Williams Park with its stunning ocean views and old forts. Not far down the road you have Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse and Big Light in South Portland, too.

As you head up the coast, you’ll find even more lighthouses in the Midcoast region, like Owl’s Head Lighthouse and Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse in Rockland and the famous Marshall Point Lighthouse in Port Clyde (you might recognize Marshall Point from Forrest Gump).

West Quoddy State Park in Lubec is the easternmost location in the continental United States and home to West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, a distinct candy-striped tower commissioned by Thomas Jefferson.

Sunbathe on southern Maine's beaches

Southern Maine largely consists of York and Cumberland Counties and most of the state’s 1.3 million people. York County is home to some of Maine’s best sandy beaches – Long Sand Beach in York and Ogunquit Beach are two of the most beautiful and largest beaches in Maine.

Old Orchard Beach may be one of Maine’s busiest beaches in the state during the summer, but you’re close to the iconic pier and amusement park. As you head north, sandy beaches begin to turn into Maine’s famed rocky coastline, but you’ll still find a few sandy spots for a dip in the Atlantic.

The best beaches in Maine

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Visit Stephen King’s house

Horror fans don’t want to miss Stephen King’s spooky mansion on West Broadway Street in Bangor. The stately red mansion and its creepy wrought-iron fence evoke the author’s most famous works. The recently added wooden tree carving in the front yard is worth the stop alone.

Unfortunately, you probably won’t catch a glimpse of the famous author (as he resides mostly in Florida now), but you never know! There are plans to eventually open the house to the public as a museum.

Other famous homes you can visit or see from the street include Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's residence in Portland, E.B. White's in Brookline, and Harriet Beecher Stowe's in Brunswick.

Looking for more free stuff in Bangor? Snap a selfie with the Paul Bunyan statue, look for wildlife in the 80-acre Bangor City Forest, and walk or bike along the Penobscot River Walkway. Fort Knox and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge are a 25-minute drive from Bangor, offering incredible views of the Penobscot River and tons of history. 

Hike the Appalachian Trail, which cuts through several of Maine's parks and reserves © Cavan Images RF / Getty Images

Take a hike

Maine is home to thousands of miles of hiking, biking and nature trails throughout the state. Alewive Woods Preserve in Kennebunk is a 625-acre nature preserve with 2.5 miles of easy hiking trails that is open to the public for free. Just an hour north of Portland, Pleasant Mountain in Bridgton is the perfect day hike with rewarding views of western Maine.

The Shoreline Trail in Moosehead region’s Lily Bay State Park is an easy two-mile trail for the whole family, and you may even see a moose if you’re lucky.

For slightly harder hiking trails, the Bethel area is home to Grafton Notch State Park and the Mahoosuc Public Lands. The Appalachian Trail runs through the park, but there are other nearby easier trails if you prefer a shorter day hike.

10 breathtaking hikes in Maine

Stroll the First Friday Art Walk in Portland

Maine’s largest city is the state’s cultural hub, home to tons of world-class restaurants, breweries, coffee shops and more. It’s easy to spend hundreds of dollars on food and beer alone here, but there are lots of free things to do.

Portland’s First Friday Art Walk happens on the first Friday of every month, and is a free self-guided tour of the city's art galleries and studios. Many stops provide free snacks and wine.

The Portland Museum of Art in the heart of downtown has a permanent collection of over 18,000 artworks from Andy Warhol to Claude Monet. PMA is home to one of the largest collections of works by Winslow Homer – considered to be one of the greatest American painters of the 19th century – who spent much of his life in Maine.

PMA owns Homer’s studio in Prouts Neck and tours are available for an additional fee. Portland Museum of Art is always free to the public on Fridays.

Jam out at L.L. Bean’s outdoor concerts

Every summer, L.L. Bean hosts Summer in the Park at its flagship store in Freeport. Shop for flannel and duck boots before enjoying a free concert with big names like Walker Hayes and Brandi Carlile. In addition to regular concerts, L.L. Bean also hosts free yoga classes, fitness classes, movie nights, and more. All events are family friendly so even the little members of your family can have heaps of fun. 

Many Maine parks groom their trails in winter for cross country skiing © Carl D. Walsh / Getty Images

Cross-country ski, snowshoe and sled in winter

With thousands of miles of hiking trails throughout the state, snow doesn’t have to stop your fun. Many trails across the state can be accessed by snowshoes or cross-country skis, including many of Acadia National Park’s trails, which are free during the winter months. Acadia Winter Trails Association volunteers groom miles of the carriage trails for skiing.

There are 15 miles of free cross-country ski trails in Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. If you’re new to cross-country skiing, you can explore the beautifully groomed trails atPineland Farms in New Gloucester for less than $20.

Sledding fans (both adults and kids), grab your favorite ride – there are lots of great sledding hills to enjoy. Payson Park in Portland, Essex Street Hill in Bangor, and Mighty Hill in Gorham are just a few places you can enjoy the thrill of a snowy hill. 

The best time to visit Maine 

Acadia National Park is free during National Parks week in April © Chris Bennett / Getty Images

Explore Acadia National Park

Every April, the U.S. National Park Services celebrates National Park Week, and you can visit any of the country’s national parks for free. Located on Mount Desert Island about 3.5 hours north of Portland, Acadia National Park the first national park established east of the Mississippi River.

Featuring 27 miles of scenic motorways, 158 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads mostly built by the Rockefeller family, Acadia National Park is an incredible place to explore.

Watch the sun rise over the country from atop Cadillac Mountain, take a chilly sip in the Atlantic at Sand Beach, or hike to the summit of the many granite peaks in the park.

While Acadia National Park encompasses a large section of Mount Desert Island, there's more to the destination than the national park. There are tons of free hiking trails and places to swim outside of the park limits for those on a budget.

Experience the Maine Potato Blossom Festival

For a unique Maine experience, head north into Aroostook County for the Maine Potato Blossom Festival, held annually in Fort Fairfield. The festival takes place in July during the potato field blossoming and features over 85 events throughout the nine-day festival.

There’s a town-wide yard sale, nightly entertainment, a huge parade, fireworks and the famous “Mash Potato Wrestling.” Most events are free or low cost and fun for the whole family.

Cycle one of Maine's bike routes to see some of the state's most beautiful landscapes © Ben McCanna / Portland Press Herald / Getty Images

Traverse the state on two wheels 

Maine is a great place to explore on two wheels. If you’re in the southern Maine region, just hop on your bike and cycle the 22-mile Eastern Trail from Big Light in South Portland to Kennebunk.

For the more hardcore cyclists, the multi-day Down East Sunrise Trail from Ellsworth to Ayers Junction is just over 100 miles in length on paved or gravel roads.

Bond Brooks Trails in Augusta has six miles of single-track mountain biking trails and Quarry Road Trails in nearby Waterville has many more mountain bike trails free and open to the public.

Best Things to Do in Northern Maine

Ian Aldrich • February 23, 2021

Maine is a deceptively large state. Its northernmost country, Aroostook, is larger than Connecticut and Rhode Island combined, while its coastline is longer (3,478 miles) than California’s (3,427). And yet for many, a Maine visit often ends midway up the coast, at Bar Harbor.

That’s a shame, because what lies to the north is unlike anything else east of the Mississippi. Big lakes, a big mountain, and big stretches of wilderness have long made this slice of New England a four-season escape for outdoor enthusiasts. But this is not a region for only extreme adventurers. The food scene is vibrant, and the lodging options cater to all manner of travelers. If your Maine visit includes nothing beyond the southern coast, you’re missing out.

Guide to Northern Maine | Things to Do

Baxter State Park | Millinocket & Patten

Although the lands east of Baxter State Park recently became a U.S. National Monument, most Mainers will say that if you want to experience northern Maine’s most spectacular chunk of wilderness, Baxter is the place. Edged by the Penobscot River and crowned by Katahdin — Maine’s highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail — “forever wild” Baxter welcomes hikers, wildlife-watchers, paddlers, and outdoors lovers (but leave the bikes, motorcycles, RVs, and ATVs behind).  Named a 2017 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best State Park.”  

Katahdin Lake Wilderness Camps | Near Millinocket

While it’s a little surprising that no cell service, no electricity, and no running water can figure into a heavenly getaway, these shorefront cabins in Baxter State Park deliver just that. Getting here requires either hiking three-plus miles or flying in via floatplane, but it’s worth the effort. Guests lodge in individual cabins stocked with wood, ice, and drinking water, with outhouses nearby. Enjoy breakfast and dinner in the main lodge; box lunches allow for spending the day hiking, paddling, or wildlife-watching. Named a 2017 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Adventure Lodging.”

Moxie Falls | The Forks

As one of New England’s highest and most dramatic waterfalls, with a single vertical drop of some 90 feet in addition to other plunges and pools, Moxie delivers a nice reward for modest effort. The roughly two-mile (round-trip) trail begins on a wide swath through the woods and then ascends via boardwalks and steps to the falls. Named a 2014 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Waterfall Hike.”

Northwoods Outfitters | Greenville

The Moosehead Lake region supports some of the most dense populations of moose in the country, and Northwoods is so confident of finding the gangly critters that it offers a money-back guarantee. Named a 2016 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best Moose-Spotting Tour.”

Roosevelt Campobello International Park | Welshpool, New Brunswick

No, it’s not technically Maine, but it sure feels like it. Cross the International Bridge into Canada from Lubec, Maine, and visit the 2,800-acre parkland commemorating U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who summered here. Tour the Roose­velt Cottage, hike the trails, and don’t miss “Tea with Eleanor,” a program in which park docents share local stories about First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt while serving tea and cookies. Named a 2016 Yankee Editors’ Pick for “Best International Excursion.”

Bold Coast Walk | Cutler

Hailed as one of the most beautiful seaside hikes on the eastern seaboard, this coastal adventure is laid out like a figure eight: The full loop covers almost 10 miles, and the shorter version is just about half that. Neither walk could be classified as easy, but if you’ve got the stamina, the longer one is a worthy goal. For a little more than three and a half miles you follow the coast, soaring above the water in places, finding your footing along a sandy landscape in others. In summer, pink sea roses, lupines, and other wildflowers dot the land, while offshoot pathways lead visitors seemingly to the edge of the earth.

Patten Lumbermen’s Museum | Patten

Lore Rogers, a research scientist and son of a lumberman, and Caleb Scribner, an artist and game warden, opened this museum in 1963. What they created isn’t a mere collection of artifacts but rather a tour through time. Over here is a replica of a sparse, dirt-floored 1820 camp; over there is its more accommodating 20th-century counterpart, complete with bunkhouse and dining quarters. The early saws give way to their gasoline-powered successors, and harnesses and haying tools yield to internal-combustion engines. In all, it’s a museum that paints a vivid picture of the past, and of the men and women who built the region.

Katahdin Woods and Waters | Millinocket

Standing in the shadow of Mount Katahdin on the eastern border of Baxter State Park, this National Monument encompasses more than 87,000 acres of wilderness in Penobscot County. At the center of the park is the Katahdin Woods and Waters Scenic Byway, which features 89 miles of roads, as well as access points for hiking trails, paddling spots, and campsites. Park property also includes the East Branch of the Penobscot River, which offers excellent fishing, canoe trips, and whitewater rafting opportunities.

12 Best Things to Do in Houlton, Maine

Located on the section of the border that runs vertically between the United States and Canada, Houlton is in Maine’s Aroostook County and is set among some of the state and country’s most rural, scenic, and rugged landscapes.

With a population of just over 6,000, it’s known as the end of the line for Interstate 95, which runs nonstop along the eastern seaboard from southern Florida to Houlton.

It’s also known for its variety of annual fairs and festivals that draw people from all over the region, and its border location makes day-trips into Canada easy as well.

Below are 14 things to do in and around Houlton.

1. Maine Visitor Information Center

2. Houlton Agricultural Fair

3. Houlton Fair BBQ and Music Fest

4. World’s Largest Scale Model of the Solar System

5. Southern Bangor and Aroostook Trail

6. Black Fly Brewfest

7. The Temple

8. Meduxnekeag River Canoe Race

9. Fredericton City Hall

10. Fredericton Lighthouse

11. Take a Canadian Micro-Brew Tour

12. Boyce Farmer’s Market