We could have stayed all day just admiring the beautiful view, enjoying the sun and the refreshing…read morebreeze. I wish I could live on this pond in the summertime. It really is big enough to be a lake and it goes by a couple of different names. It was quiet with just a few people around. A boat ride around the pond is ideal to fully appreciate the beauty of of the area.

Pleasant Pond is 3.5 miles long and is connected via a bridge to Upper Pleasant Pond, which is 2.5…read moremiles long. Encompassing a total of 797 acres, the ponds have a maximum depth of 26 feet with a minimum depth of 10 feet. Pleasant Pond encompasses the towns of Litchfield, Richmond, Gardiner, and West Gardiner, (Kennebec County), Maine. There is a public boat launch on Thorofare Road, in Litchfield. Pleasant Pond is known as one of the best bass fishing locations in Central Maine. It is a 4 season body of water to enjoy activities including; ice fishing, snowmobiling, ice skating, swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, jet skis, and so much more. Pleasant Pond is also teeming with wildlife, including loons, osprey, falcons, bald eagles, largemouth bass, pickerel, perch, and brown trout. A beautiful, expansive body of water not to be missed if you are in Central Maine!

Beaver park is one of Maine secret gems. You'll find yourself navigating cute paths in this sweet…read morelittle woodsy park. Hike, swim, fish or take your kayaks for a peaceful ride amongst the ducks that often reside here.

This is our local town park in Lisbon, it's sort of our hidden gem! Want to hike? Lots of trails…read more Want some peace and quit? Beaver park is the place. Do you like to fish? Yes, you van and you should of course you need a fishing license. We have a gauge field, with two softball/ baseball fields. The cost is a few bucks it's worth it. I'm all about local, so if your in the Lisbon area stop by sometime.

Diana's Bath is a natural pool with some small waterfalls. The walk from the parking lot is about…read more.6 miles one way, it's a quick and easy hike to reach this gorgeous spot. There is a parking lot and we were able to find parking but I'm sure it gets full at peak times. We enjoyed the hike and the waterfalls. It was in late May so there were quite a few people there. It's a peaceful spot to relax, sit in the pool, and just enjoy nature. I'm glad my family and I got to visit during this trip!

We came here on a nice Friday around 10:00am. When we arrived there was a bit of a wait to get in…read more The parking lot is kind of small so you have to wait for someone to leave to get a spot. When you park there is a kiosk to pay that takes credit cards. At the start of the trail there is a bathroom that is just a big outhouse. It was a little rough so I recommend not using it if you get sick easy. The hike is short and easy to the water. When you get there it is a little tough climbing over rocks and tree roots. We spend time in the water. It was not deep anywhere we were so not really swimming just cooling off or sun tanning on the rocks.

This is a great little trail to take your kiddos on. There's a playground, a story walk (that…read morechanges monthly), beautiful water views and an easy to follow trail around the pond. If you take a little detour off the story walk, you'll even find a cool teepee shaped bunch of sticks leaning against a tree. Children love to explore this area. It's not so far off the path that you'd ever get lost. In between the first few pages of the story walk, when you have an opportunity to go straight, do so. I promise it's only a few feet down the path. Can't miss it!

I wasn't expecting so much from this little park right off Route 302 (it's located on a dirt road…read morejust after the Westbrook Pool & Spa; there's a large granite sign at the mouth of the road, and you've probably passed it a million times - I know I have - but once you see it, you'll know exactly where this gem is forever)! Donnabeth Lippman Park - formerly known as Chaffin Pond Preserve - is 123 acre mostly wooded area that surrounds a 10 acre pond that's apparently great for fishing. I came here for a walk in the woods and was delighted to find that there was more than meets the eye: there's a family-friendly (you could easily take a stroller here - it's packed earth and not very root-y), totally accessible to all abilities, story book trail with a giant "Once Upon A Time" sign inviting you into the woods (how magical and fantastical is that?). Once you're finished, you can walk back to the parking lot from here via the yellow trail or you can take that same trail and follow it up alongside the pond, through the woods, then back down around the opposite side of the water (side note: I love loop trails - who wants to double back and see the same things?). A red trail deviates off to Mud Pond, and a green trail just adds an extended path through the forest before reconnecting to yellow. All of it is perfectly marked! It's a wonderful walking trail and if I lived nearby I could see this also being a solid spot for a good run! Admittedly, after heavy rain or during spring you should expect it to be quite muddy. No hunting allowed here, so it's a good spot for year round enjoyment (for those of you who are looking for a new snowshoeing spot!); there's an abundance of picnic tables overlooking the pond, a swing set, a big playground area, and plenty of green space to stretch out on. Again - what an unexpectedly great spot hidden in plain sight!

I'm sure this is a different experience if you're coming through via a boat; or even seeing a boat…read morecome through (as a side note: this place reminded me of spots in Scotland for some reason). Anyway, my first visit was during a quiet midweek day when this was mostly a fishing hole. The Songo Lock - a hand turned swing bridge - is the last surviving lock that used to connect Long Lake to the Atlantic Ocean (via the Cumberland and Oxford Canal). According to the placard on site: "This lock, originally built of stone masonry in 1830, was a vital link in the 50 mile long waterway from Portland Harbor to Harrison at the head of Long Lake until the advent of the railroad in 1869. At one time 100 'canal boats' were engaged in freighting lumber out of and supplies in through the waterway. These boats were 65' long and were towed by horses and oxen through the canal, sailed across the lakes and poled up the Songo River. A total of 27 similar locks were constructed in the canal to compensate for the 260 foot difference in elevation between Sebago Lake and sea level. Traces of the old canal, abandoned since 1872, can still be seen at various places between Sebago Lake and Portland. This lock remains as service to pleasure boats and a reminder of a bygone era."

This old school bridge is human operated and costs $15. It can be a bit of a wait if theirs traffic…read moreor other boats in-front of you. You go into the lock and the water either rises or lowers depending on what way you are going. I honestly never saw anything like this before. Even if you are not on a boat it is still something different and unique to see.

Great facilities here and an interesting layout to explore with some fun trails leading directly…read morefrom the campground. We really liked taking a dip in the swimming area after a day of hiking Mt Madison and Adams which are very close by. Campsite 43 was spacious with fire pit and picnic table, close proximity to site 42 and 41 which were empty for most of our stay. Staff were welcoming, great experience all around

Nice park! Very close to town and the Mt Washington auto road. We had camp spot 34 which was right…read morenext to the bathroom and a few steps away from another bathroom with showers. I usually do not like to be so close to the bathrooms but it was a great location. There is a huge grassy area behind the camp spot which made it feel so much bigger!

Paved paths, natural beauty, easy access, plenty of parking, port-a-potty. Boat rentals in the…read moresummer. So much to do - walk, bike, horseback ride or maybe even roller blade. Canoe, kayak, paddle board on the Presumscot on a hot summer's day. Something for everyone!

This park is a dog-walkers dream…read more There is a 2-mile loop that includes part of the mountain division trail that goes all the way around the park. There is water for your dog to jump into, and fields for him to run in. During the summer they have boat rentals. Along the walk is the Gambo Dam. There are a few bridges to cross as well. Trash is carry-in, carry-out but they do have a dog-potty bag station and a few port-a-potties. The park is very clean and well maintained. A nice swing set and picnic tables too!

Lucky Catch Cruises was one of the highlights of my first visit to Portland. As a solo traveler, I…read morewas looking for experiences that felt comfortable and fun on my own, and this was absolutely perfect. The excursion was not only enjoyable but also educational. I learned so much about Maine's lobster industry including how lobsters are caught, which ones are kept for restaurants, and why certain lobsters are returned to the water. It was fascinating to learn about the process and get a behind-the-scenes look at such an important part of Maine's culture. One of my favorite parts was getting to choose my own lobster. It was only $12 to keep the lobster I caught, and then I took it over to Portland Lobster Co. (just about a one-minute walk away) where they cooked it for an additional $15. The meal came with corn on the cob and a baked potato, and I was able to enjoy it right on the waterfront with plenty of seating, additional menu options, and live music. The boat ride itself was about 1 hour and 45 minutes and included beautiful views of Portland's coastline, seals, and other famous landmarks. The crew was wonderful, friendly, knowledgeable, and they made sure everyone had a chance to participate. Even with 17 people onboard, no one was overlooked. They also took photos of everyone, which was a thoughtful touch. A few tips for future visitors: the boat has limited restroom availability, so I recommend using the restroom before boarding. Also, if you have time, definitely plan to enjoy your lobster afterward at Portland Lobster Co. it completes the experience. This was such a memorable way to experience Portland and a must-do for anyone visiting Maine.

We had such a great time on the lobstering excursion! It was early season but our crew managed to…read moresnag two lobsters. Even with the limited catch the crew were super friendly and provided some good information about lobsters, the industry, and the harbor! They made sure that everyone was able to get involved and had plenty of photo opportunities! We bought two lobsters off the boat and took it to Portland lobster co next door afterwards! I'd recommend this trip! Make sure you bring cash to purchase the lobsters from your trip. They were $12.50 each for ours!