Not Just for Summer Camp: Maine is a Winter Wonderland

When you think of Maine, you may think of sunny summer days spent at overnight camp – but Maine has a ton to offer camp families during the winter months as well! From seasonal outdoor adventures to quaint romantic getaways – winters in Maine have something to offer for every type of traveler. So don’t wait – check out these things to do in Maine below, and then be sure to book your next trip to this Winter Wonderland! Ski Season Maine’s mountains may provide incredible summer hiking opportunities for campers – but did you know Maine is also home to some of the finest ski mountains on the East Coast? For those looking for a downhill thrill, ski mountains such as Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Mt. Abram, Saddleback, Big Squaw Mountain Resort, and Shawnee Peak provide exhilarating trails for skiers of all levels – and relaxing, comfortable environments for après ski lounging once the ski day is done. And for those who prefer Nordic-style skiing, Maine is traversed by countless breathtaking cross-country trails – it really is a wonderful way to see The Pine Tree State. Call in the Dogs You don’t have to travel to Alaska for a taste of the Iditarod – Maine has incredible opportunities to experience the thrills of dog sledding just a few short hours from New York City or Boston! Head to Oxford to give it a try – the Ultimate Dog Sledding Experience offers opportunities for all interest levels – from 1, 2 & 3 hour rides to 2 or 3 day dog sledding packages! And if you can’t decide between dogsledding or cross country skiing, why not put them together? Head to New England Dog Sledding for Skijoring – they’ll provide you with the equipment, the dogs, and the trails to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience! Sledding, Sleigh Rides, and Snow Tubes! If you want to experience the outdoors in Maine without putting in all the work, be sure to take advantage of these incredible opportunities in Maine. Carousel Horse Farms offers both couples and larger group sleighrides, and while they may not have reindeer in the style of Santa, you’re sure to be wowed by the majesty of the beautiful steeds who will guide your sleigh along. Maine is also home to several groomed downhill sledding trails, such as those at Pineland Farms, and your kids are sure to be shouting “again, again!” after each thrilling descent. For those looking for a little more modern equipment, Lost Valley Ski area offers snow tubing – you can even go snow tubing at night under the lights! Snowshoes and Snowmobiles The opportunities for fun in the snow are nearly limitless, and we would be remiss to leave out the unique opportunities for these other winter favorites in Maine. Be sure to head to Norway for the annual Norway Snowshoe Festival (pictured above) on February 16, which offers 2K, 5K and 10K snow shoe races in addition to a snowshoe parade and fun snowshoe games (like musical chairs and snowshoe tug-o-war – your campers will be experts here)! Maine is also full of snowmobiling opportunities – local snowmobile clubs maintain incredible trails that traverse the Maine woods; and you can easily rent equipment from Northeast Snowmobile to spend an exhilarating day coursing through Vacationland. Your Year-Round Vacation Destination Of course, many of Maine’s incredible tourist attractions are not limited to the winter season. Visiting downtown Portland is as full of wonderful restaurants in the winter as it is in the summer. For those with a taste for the fermented, you can visit some of Maine’s many incredible breweries (such as Baxter Brewing, Norway Brewing Company, or Foulmouthed Brewing), wineries (like Cellardoor), and distilleries (like Maine Craft Distilling)! Maine is also home to some of the country’s best antiquing – be sure to check out The Willows, the largest flea markets in Maine! With so much to do in Maine this winter, the question isn’t whether you should go – it’s how soon can you get there! So be sure to take advantage of this Winter Wonderland and book your trip to Maine today! — Maine Camp Experience Resources & Tools

You can share your own Maine camps memories & expressions of gratitude on our Memories of Camp section of our  website.

Looking for the perfect Maine camp for your child?  Try out our helpful tool where you can select a camp by choosing: type of camp (girls, boys or coed) and session length (1-8 weeks).  It helps to narrow down a few camps to a manageable list that includes rates.  Then you can research these camps in more depth.

Next, be sure to  to discuss these camps as well as for free, year-round advice and assistance on choosing a great Maine summer camp for your child.