Winter is a great time to visit Acadia National Park. Snow brings opportunities for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and, for the truly adventurous, winter camping. In Bar Harbor, the nearest town to Acadia, some stores remain open year round, and you're likely to have the place to yourself as you browse. A fun evening activity is the Reel Pizza Cinerama, a movie theater in Bar Harbor that serves a wide variety of specialty pizzas right in the theater. Lodging options are limited in winter, but if you want to take a step back in time, try the Coach Stop Inn, Bar Harbor's oldest inn, built in 1804.
Acadia National Park
Route 233 McFarland Hill
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207-288-3338
nps.gov/acad
Freeport is a popular destination in summer, but winter offers tourists the same activities at a much more relaxed pace. Shopping is the main draw with over 150 outlet stores, shops and boutiques in town. You can learn to cross-country ski or snowshoe, courtesy of the L.L.Bean Flagship Store. Galleries and museums are open and activities are scheduled throughout the winter. Stay at the Harraseeket Inn, rated one of the World's Best Hotels by the "Travel and Leisure" reader's poll.
Freeport Merchants Association
23 Depot Street
Freeport, ME 04032
800-865-1994
freeportusa.com
If you like to ski or snowboard, Sugarloaf, in the Carrabassett Valley of western Maine, is worth a visit. With 138 trails, the mountain offers alpine skiing for all abilities and miles of cross-country trails. The season typically runs from mid-November until the end of April. For non-skiers, a large sports and fitness center also offers massage and spa services.
Sugarloaf
5092 Sugarloaf Access Road
Carrabassett Valley, ME 04947
800-843-5623
sugarloaf.com
