It's no accident that Maine long ago dubbed itself "the vacation state." Year-round, Maine offers some of the most breathtaking beauty and enjoyable outdoor activities available anywhere in the U.S.
For most of the year, horseback riding ranks high on the list of preferred choices. A casual trail ride is one of the best ways to partake of Maine's rustic, unspoiled serenity. Before or after the ride, enjoy a broad range of seasonal activities, from hunting and fishing to canoeing and kayaking to snowmobiling and cross-country skiing. You can choose from accommodations that range from laid back to luxurious. For spectacular fall foliage, plan a vacation between early and mid-October.
Located in Casco, Maine, Carousel Horse Farm features top-quality riding facilities and cozy nearby accommodations. Ride a variety of trails that feature mountaintop vistas, wooded paths, river crossings and watershed trekking.
Stay at the Carriage House, which sleeps up to six and includes a kitchenette and full bath, or a nearby house on Sebago Lake that sleeps up to 13 in five bedrooms and features a beach.
Camp for free, but there is a daily parking fee of $10.
Carousel Horse Farm
69 Leach Hill Road
Casco, ME 04015
207-627-4471
MaineHorseVacation.com
Located in Andover, Maine, in the western part of the state, Memory Lane Vacations is open year-round for riding. Miles of rustic horse trails wind their way through rolling hills.
Enjoy a vacation package that includes accommodations from May through October. Stay in studio-style accommodations that sleep six or more and feature a large hot tub. Public facilities include a picnic table and fireplace. The complex also has room for two or more self-contained campers.
Memory Lane Vacations
551 S. Main St.
Andover, ME 04216
207-392-2381
MemoryLaneVacations.net
Located in the heart of north-central Maine, Moosehead Lake is one of the state's top tourist attractions. Enjoy four full seasons of outdoor activities that include hiking, fishing, hunting, whitewater rafting and snowmobiling, in addition to some of the most scenic horseback riding in New England.
Mount Katahdin, the Appalachian Trail and the Allagash Wilderness are all within a short drive. Stay in a rustic log cabin, a cozy lakefront cottage or the more luxurious The Birches Resort. Another good option is Evergreen Lodge, a log-cabin-style bed-and-breakfast. For more information, contact the Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce.
Moosehead Lake Region Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 581
Greenville, ME 04441
207-695-2702
MooseheadLake.org
Located in the legendary north woods of Maine, historic Pittston Lodge, in the rural enclave of Pittston Academy Grant Township, offers the perfect gateway to 329,000 acres of pristine wilderness. A variety of horseback riding trails offer something for every taste and skill level. Learn about the region's fascinating past at a blacksmith shop and logging museum.
Enjoy year-round seasonal activities that include a lakeside picnic, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hunting, hiking and snowmobiling. Whitewater rafting on the Penobscot River is available nearby.
Stay in your choice of a rustic lodge, cozy cabin or newly renovated carriage house. Camping is also available.
Historic Pittston Farm
53 Pittston Farm Road
Pittston Academy Grant Township, ME 04478
207-280-0000
PittstonFarm.com
