Maine’s little communities, some of which date back to the earliest years of European colonization, are rich in natural beauty and historically fascinating. There are charming small towns in Maine. Maine’s rocky, uneven coastline is absolutely brimming with lovely, quaint communities that are just begging to be discovered and appreciated.
While Maine’s interior is home to numerous lakes that draw visitors in the summer, its shoreline is filled with inlets and archipelagos that are delightful to explore by boat. At the entrance to Maine’s vast northern woodlands are a few small settlements.
12 Charming Small Towns in Maine
1. Boothbay Harbor
Boothbay Harbor, which dates to the 17th century, has experienced its fair share of history, from British colonial times through the industrial era of the late 19th century, with its fisheries and factory for canning lobster. Boothbay Harbor is as picture-perfect a seaside hamlet as you can imagine. It is located on the eroding coast of Lincoln County, south Maine, and has just over 2,000 residents.
In the summer, tourists throng to Boothbay Harbor one of the small towns in Maine where sailing around the craggy shoreline, islets, and inlets makes for an enjoyable but restful time on the water. Every June, this lovely village holds an outstanding Windjammer’s Day celebration to honor its maritime history. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, with its breathtaking grounds and gardens, is another attraction in Boothbay Harbor.
2. Rangeley
This rural community near the border of Maine and New Hampshire is a natural wonder. Rangeley was founded on a foundation of hard-working farms and sawmills, and by the late 19th century, tourism had come. People went there from emerging US cities to unwind in the serene setting and go fishing in its magnificent lakes.
Today, not much has changed; Rangeley remains the center of the Rangeley Lakes Region, where tourists swarm all year long for activities that depend on the season. Its lakes are the most well-known, drawing sports-fishing aficionados in with their attraction. Rangeley itself is as quaintly convenient as it is quaintly rural, with a wide variety of stores and eateries.
3. Monhegan
Tiny The town of Monhegan is situated on an island off the coast of Lincoln County. Since the island is 12 nautical miles from the mainland, the Algonquian name Monhegan, which means “out-to-sea island,” is appropriate. Prior to the founding of the Plymouth Colony in 1620, Monhegan was an English fishing settlement. Since then, it has experienced pirates, trade, battles, and its primary industry, fishing.
You might be able to comprehend why this incredibly attractive hamlet developed into a vibrant artist community given its distant location, the bleak sea views from Monhegan, and the island itself, which is craggy and green. The stunning cliffs and pine forests, which had already become well-known by the turn of the 20th century, are still drawing artists today.
4. Castine
Castine, a coastal community in Hancock County, offers stunning views of numerous inlets and bays from its location on a promontory into Penobscot Bay. From 1670 to 1674, this little, charming town served as the capital of the French province Acadia before being seized by the British in 1710. Visitors can find a wealth of historic structures in this town because of its lengthy history and significance as the capital.
The attractive Unitarian Universalist Church, built in 1790, the oldest operating post office in the United States (1794), the Wilson Museum, a handsome collection of 1920s structures, and the charming rows of picture-perfect hotchpotch houses lining Castine’s Main Street are just a few examples.
5. Damariscotta
Damariscotta is known for its laid-back lakeside lifestyle due to the undulating Damariscotta River to the west and the serene Lake Pemaquid to the east. This is especially true in the summer when residents and the many visitors to this quaint town enjoy swimming in the lakes, boating on the river, and fishing.
Fresh seafood is a specialty of Damariscotta; local restaurants sell Pemaquid oysters and mussels from the area. The town’s abundance of gorgeous historical structures, such as the brick-built Lincoln Theater and the oldest building in the community, Chapman-Hall House, add to its allure. The Whaleback Shell Midden, which dates back more than 2,000 years, is also close by.
6. Bar Harbor, Maine
The small but renowned town of Bar Harbor is situated on Mount Desert Island, the largest island off the coast of Hancock County. Prior to a fire in 1947, this location was a well-liked summer retreat for the wealthy and powerful, together with 76 opulent homes on the street known as “Millionaires’ Row.”
Bar Harbor is still well-liked today, nevertheless. There are still traces of its distinguished past. Consider the Mira Monte Inn, a magnificent hotel that was formerly a Victorian “cottage.” A lovely trip down Mount Desert Street in Bar Harbor shows an illustrious past that evokes the opulence of the United States’ Gilded Age, with many gorgeous and historic structures.
7. Rockport
Rockport in coastal Knox County, with its modest, charming harbor and outstanding collection of historic buildings, is an almost unfathomably gorgeous destination to visit. The community even has its own Rockport Historic District, which comprises antebellum homes and businesses. This is a pretty attractive location, as you could anticipate, to take a tour about and learn about Rockport’s history.
The herd of Belted Galloway cattle at the 136-year-old Aldermere Farm is even more well-known than its rich architectural history and picturesque harbor views. This landmark is a well-liked tourist attraction where guests get the opportunity to tour the farm and get up close to the endearingly referred to as “Oreo cows” themselves.
8. York
The well-known vacation destination of York is located on the Gulf of Maine in York County. Like many coastal villages along the Maine coast, this historic town was first established by Europeans in 1624 and is home to a number of historically significant locations. For instance, the oldest part of Old York Gaol dates back to 1720, and one of the state’s oldest homes, the John Sedgley Homestead, was built in the 18th century.
But York isn’t only about the past; it also includes Cape Neddick, York Beach, York Harbor, and the region known as “The Yorks.” Visitors can go hiking at Mount Agamenticus, enjoy one of the area’s four beaches, or play golf on any of the area’s three courses.
9. Stonington
Stonington appears to be as quaint as a little town in Maine can be, with wooden buildings lining the sparkling water, a variety of tiny boats bobbing next to piers, and lush trees standing in contrast to jagged cliffs. It simply exudes charm from its location at the southern tip of Deer Isle, off the coast of Hancock County.
Stonington is popular with tourists because of its attractive surroundings, which are ideal for activities like sailing in the tranquil harbor, hiking through the Crockett Cove Woods Preserve, and discovering the islands between here and Isle au Haut. Apart from tourism, Stonington is a major player in the fishing and lobster sectors, dominating the state in terms of capture and sales by the pound and dollar.
10. Greenville
The famed wilderness in the state of Maine’s far north can be reached from the town of Greenville, which is located in Piscataquis County. It is located along Moosehead Lake, the largest lake in Maine.
The primary pursuits in this lakeside community are, unsurprisingly, aquatic. On the calm waters of Moosehead Lake, visitors can go boating or indulge in some fishing. In addition, guests can walk up Mount Kineo for breathtaking panoramas of the region. However, it’s not only about the summer; the best time to see moose is in the spring, and there are also winter activities like dog sledding, ice fishing, and cross-country skiing.
11. Camden
Self-described as “The Jewel of the Maine Coast,” Camden is a small town in Maine Knox County that is a favorite summer getaway destination for people who live in northeastern cities. Its Main Street has stores, boutiques, cafes, and restaurants situated in attractive, wooden historical buildings, like other seaside towns in Maine.
A picturesque park surrounds the attractive Camden Public Library, which is made of brick and offers patrons a place to relax and enjoy a picnic while taking in the scenery. For those who are interested in exploring, day tours to adjacent islands show off the town’s charming attractiveness from the bay as well as the splendor of this varied coastline and its archipelagos.
12. Kennebunkport
The town of Kennebunkport, which is located in York County and is a well-liked summer vacation spot, comes in first place in our list of the most endearing small towns in Maine. This business, which once made its fortune in shipbuilding, quickly gave way to tourism after northern urbanites realized how stunning this stretch of coastline really was. Along with its beaches, boating excursions and fishing are very popular here.
The Dock Square neighborhood is home to a wide variety of gift shops, art galleries, and seafood restaurants, all housed in attractive structures that exude a true sense of New England elegance. The little community of Cape Porpoise is a component of Kennebunkport. This community is easily accessible from town, but it has a distant and tranquil feel due to its sparse houses and lone lighthouse.
