10 Best Things to Do in Maine This Summer 2025

Looking for the best things to do in Maine this summer? Whether you’re craving coastal adventures, unforgettable meals, or quiet moments with nature, this curated list of 10 can’t-miss experiences has you covered. From rowing lessons with a Registered Maine Guide to sipping wine on an oyster cruise, cheering on Portland’s new soccer team, or sleeping aboard a luxury houseboat, these are the season’s most memorable ways to explore the Pine Tree State—no matter your travel style.

10 Best Things to Do in Maine This Summer

1. Row, Row, Row Her Boat – Learn to row with a Registered Maine Guide and connect with the water in a whole new way.

Nicolle Littrell’s Belfast-based business, DoryWoman Rowing, is all about introducing the sport to folks who’ve never imagined taking the oars. As we learned when catching up with this Registered Maine Guide for Weekends with Yankee Season 9 (check your local PBS listings), Littrell’s little wooden dory is a safe space to experience the exhilaration of setting out into a briny world filled with life. Her warm personality ensures that you’ll feel comfortable from the first stroke.

2. Get Your Kicks in Portland – Cheer on Maine’s first pro soccer team, the Hearts of Pine, all summer long.

It’s taken five-plus years to achieve the goal of having a professional soccer team in Maine, and now fans are gaga for the Portland-based Hearts of Pine. Their inaugural USL League One season features matches all summer and into October, so get yourself to Fitzpatrick Stadium. And get your hands on some merch, too—the team’s logo is as beautiful as their name suggests.

3. Sip and Slurp on the Damariscotta River – Cruise, taste oysters, and sip wine with views of Maine’s shellfish capital.

An oyster-and-wine-tasting excursion with Damariscotta River Cruises is an indulgent two hours of scenery and gastronomy. Damariscotta is Maine’s oyster capital, and on this cruise you’ll motor past several of the farms that cultivate the 10 different oysters you’ll sample, all expertly paired with wines by an onboard sommelier. If you arrive back at the dock a bit tipsy, walk down Main Street to The Shuck Station, where you can linger over dinner and another dozen oysters straight out of the nutrient-rich river.

4. Sleep on Water in Kennebunk – Drift into luxury aboard the White Barn Inn’s dreamy new floating guesthouse.

You haven’t been rocked to sleep like this since you were a baby. The latest collaboration between Kennebunk’s esteemed White Barn Inn and interior designer Jenny Wolf has a sweet name: Cora. It’s an ultra-luxurious houseboat with a rooftop deck, afloat on the Kennebunk River but tethered to the property’s private dock. So you’re not going anywhere … except into a deep, tranquil dream state.

5. Line Up for Maine’s Sweetest Bites – From viral croissant buns to Polish donuts, these bakeries are worth the wait.

Operating out of what was their Camden home’s garage, Chelsea Kravitz and Chris Dawson have made The Place a wait-in-line destination. The New York Times writer Melissa Clark helped, naming this tiny bakery one of the best in the nation. Here’s a tip: Stalk their Instagram and preorder by noon on Thursday for the weekend ahead. Their croissant cinnamon buns are a must. Wondering where Maine’s next bakery sensation might be hiding? Our eyes are on Mount Vernon’s lakeside Scapes Cafe and its filled Polish donuts (available weekends only).

6. Crack Into a Whole-Lobster Dinner – Go big (and buttery) at Nunan’s Lobster Hut, a 72-year-old Kennebunkport legend.

When a mere lobster roll won’t do, devour a whole-lobster dinner at Nunan’s Lobster Hut in Kennebunkport. Even locals can’t resist the draw of fresh-caught “bugs,” boiled, pre-cracked to make feasting easy, and served with sweet butter. It’s a formula that’s kept this family-owned business busy for 72 years.

See More: How to Cook Lobster | Tips from Bertha Nunan

7. Explore the Wilds with a Maine Guide – Book outdoor adventures with experts who know Maine’s rugged terrain best.

The wilds of Maine are best explored with a Registered Maine Guide. The state is unique in its training and certification of outdoor experts who make pursuits like moose viewing, fishing, kayaking, and whitewater rafting both successful and safe. Even in the most remote parts of the state, you’ll find Registered Maine Guides who know the ins and outs of the terrain, and their knowledge guarantees that you’ll come away from your adventure with new confidence and skills.

8. Picnic at a Historic Horse Sanctuary – Enjoy lunch and equine companionship at the MSSPA in Windham.

The MSSPA has been saving neglected and abused horses for more than 150 years. Their farm home in Windham is a picturesque picnic spot, with umbrella tables available to those who reserve visits with these lovingly tended equines: Time slots are available at no charge (although donations are appreciated) Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Order takeout from Yolked Farm to Table, 15 minutes north of the farm, for an elevated alfresco lunch.

9. Feel the Force with the Symphony – Hear Star Wars like never before with live accompaniment by the Portland Symphony.

As the Portland Symphony Orchestra wraps up its 100th-anniversary season, it’s tuning up for powerful performances of Star Wars: A New Hope in Concert (May 3 and 4) featuring a screening of the film that introduced us to Luke, Leia, Han, and Obi-Wan and the live accompaniment of John Williams’s beloved score. The centennial celebration continues through the final rousing note of Dvořák’s New World Symphony on June 17.

10. Stay Somewhere That Gives Back – At Inn by the Sea, your stay plants trees and supports eco-initiatives.

From restoring habitat for endangered New England cottontails to serving responsibly harvested seafood, Cape Elizabeth’s Inn by the Sea takes sustainability seriously. Having long been recognized as an eco-leader, the beachside property deepens its commitment this year by planting a tree for every reservation. Your vacation memories will live on as a fire-ravaged forest in Colorado is reborn.

See More: 2025 Maine Travel Guide | Hotels, Dining & Attractions

What tops your list of the best things to do in Maine this summer? Let us know!

Kim Knox Beckius

Kim Knox Beckius is Yankee Magazine's Travel & Branded Content Editor. A longtime freelance writer/photographer and Yankee contributing editor based in Connecticut, she has explored every corner of the region while writing six books on travel in the Northeast and contributing updates to New England guidebooks published by Fodor's, Frommer's, and Michelin. For more than 20 years, Kim served as New England Travel Expert for TripSavvy (formerly About.com). She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and is frequently called on by the media to discuss New England travel and events. She is likely the only person who has hugged both Art Garfunkel and a baby moose.

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