Mid-Maine offers fun for both visitors and residents all year long. Whether relaxing on the shore of a picturesque lake or battling the mighty Kennebec River rapids or strolling through Downtown Waterville, mid-Maine promises recreation for all.

Springtime features the sweet smells of maple sugar cabins boiling up their brew. Area schools flurry with activity and offer their spring concerts as well as competitions in tennis, softball, baseball and track. Winter ice fishing melts away into freshwater fishing, canoeing, kayaking, boating, swimming, sailing, water skiing, jet skiing and camping on hundreds of lakes, rivers and streams that speckle the mid-Maine region. Our variety of habitat and climate zones make mid-Maine a great place for bird watching as they migrate back from winter territories. French's Mountain in Rome and Oxbow Nature Preserve in Waterville offer short hiking trails and dozens of species of birds and animals. Colby College's entire campus is designated as a state wildlife management area and 128 acres have been set aside as an arboretum and bird sanctuary. Colby offers trails maintained for walking and nature study.

Summertime offers an opportunity for white water rafting adventures on the Kennebec River. Contact Magic Falls Rafting Company and North Country Rivers to sign up for an exciting tour today. Children may also participate in any of the various summer camps. Young golf enthusiasts can enroll in the Kennebec Junior Golf Camp. The Alfond Youth Center hosts Camp WOW!, Central Maine Basketball Camp, Camp Tracy, Karate Camp, Climbing Camp, Baseball Camp, Summer Golf Camp and Summer Gymnastic Camp. Thomas College and Colby College host softball, soccer, basketball and cheerleading camps in the summer, too. If that's not enough, one of the school-sponsored programs in Fairfield, Winslow, Oakland or Waterville may fit the bill. Students attending the New England Music Camp perform concerts that are open to the public.

The area boasts of six spectacular golf courses including the Waterville Country Club in Oakland (rated 4 stars by Golf Digest), Pine Ridge Municipal Golf Course in Waterville, and many others.

Outdoor tennis courts are scattered throughout the area, including the Colby College campus. Parks and playgrounds featuring soccer fields, baseball diamonds, bike trails and basketball courts can be found in Fairfield, Winslow, Waterville, Oakland, Unity, and in most towns in the mid-Maine region. Photo opportunities are endless with panoramic views of Lake Winnecook, rivers, and woodlands. Mini-golf and go-kart parks can be found in Benton, Waterville, and Oakland.

Fairs, craft shows, parades, and celebrations occur year-round. The Taste of Greater Waterville, held the first Wednesday in August, is a spectacular event. Downtown Main Street is closed to traffic, restaurants serve the best cuisine that mid-Maine has to offer, and bands and musicians entertain the crowd under the stars. .

Cool down from the summer heat by visiting one of the area pool facilities located at Judge Morton Brody Playground, the Alfond Youth Center, the Holiday Inn, the Best Western, Comfort Inn & Suites, the Hampton Inn, and the Econo Lodge. The Pressey House Bed and Breakfast in Oakland, Alden Camps in Oakland, and Belgrade Lakes Resources feature camp rentals with lake front usage. Various lakes, ponds, and rivers in the area offer abundant swimming access as well.

With its beautiful scenery, bike-friendly roads and shared-use paths, mid-Maine is a great place to bicycle. Other summer outdoor recreation opportunities include canoeing and fishing the Kennebec River basin or relaxing to a beautiful Maine sunset.
Many are familiar with the Maine fall season, and for good reason. Summer green foliage slips away and brilliant colors of red, orange, and yellow leaves glimmer in the crisp, clear, fall air. Fall time in Maine is harvest season and tourists can pick their own apples and pumpkins, and taste the homemade goodness of freshly baked apple pies at the area's apple orchards. Visit the Maine Foliage Site. Mid-Maine offers thousands of deer-abundant acres with over 22,000 any-deer hunting permits awarded annually. Experience world-class hunting for wild turkey, ruffed grouse, upland game, and waterfowl. Mid-Maine has abundant hunting opportunities along with the appeal of nearby hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers.

In the wintertime bundle up for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and ice fishing! Indoor andoutdoor skating rinks can be found at Colby College. Sledding is popular among young and old alike check out Colby College and at Pine Ridge Golf Course in Waterville. Snowmobile trails are extensive in Winslow, Fairfield, and the outskirts of Waterville, as well as most towns in mid-Maine. Visit www.mesnow.com for an area snowmobile trail map. Ice fishing tournaments are plentiful in the area as professional anglers and amateurs alike battle for the heftiest catch. The various waterways in the area offer a range of species sure to make a fun-filled day of ice fishing.

On days with unfavorable weather, stop by one of mid-Maine's indoor recreation facilities. A variety of indoor tennis, racquetball, wallyball, and basketball courts, aerobics, weight rooms, pools, saunas, massages, and physical therapy programs can be found at various health clubs in the area. Call Champions Fitness Facility, the Holiday Inn, Curves, Weight Room Fitness Center, Nitro Fitness Center, or Gilly's Gym for additional information.

Strike Ten Bowling Center, housed in Waterville, offers fun for the whole family, including Rock'n Bowl and leagues. Nightclubs, sports bars, and taverns are spread throughout the area for a night on the town. Waterville is home to both the Flagship Cinema and the Railroad Square Cinemas and an ever-popular opera house. The Waterville Opera House offers spectacular concerts and plays year round. Video rentals are available at many locations in the region.

A chem-free nightclub for teenagers only is offered on Saturday nights at Rockers located in Champions Fitness Club. Attend an indoor track meet or basketball game for warmer winter entertainment. Or if you prefer college level ball, visit Thomas College, Colby College, or Unity College for an energetic game. Sports rivalries run strong in our region, so every game promises to be exciting. Downtown Waterville offers a variety of small specialty shops and outstanding restaurants that appeal to adults and children.

For a taste of history, visitors enjoy the Redington Museum and Apothecary and the L.C. Bates Museum at Good-Will Hinckley. Colby College and Thomas College offer art museums featuring pieces from local and famous artists.