Town of Bridgton, Maine
Source: Town of Bridgton, Maine Facebook Page
Long Lake in Bridgton, ME
Bridgton is located in the section of Cumberland County, Maine that is considered one of the state’s premier inland resort and lakes areas. The population of about 5400 residents enjoys the advantages of upscale surroundings combined with rural and natural settings.
Yup, you could say it’s like having the best of both worlds.
That includes getting here as the interstate is a ways away. Overall, that’s a good thing since it means visitors to the area really want to be here! You can take Route 302 southerly into Portland in an hour or pick up I-95 for a bit to get to Portland’s International Jetport. Of course, 302 also comes in from the west and New Hampshire’s White Mountain National Forest.
What’s special about being here is that you can come and enjoy Bridgton’s amenities for a week or years. Ultimately, the choice is yours! When it comes right down to it, just about anything you like to do, or wish you could do more of, is available in this area.
Source: Shawnee Peak Maine Facebook Page
Shawnee Peek in Bidgton, ME
Exploring Bridgton Maine
Four Season Fun
Bridgton boasts true four-season fun for all ages. Whether your family and friends prefer chilly weather to warm, or speedy adventures to those of a slower pace, everyone gets to have their pick. Take Shawnee Peak for instance. This is Maine’s longest operating ski resort, a place where you can ski, board, rent equipment, and take lessons. No worries about being new to skiing and boarding, this mountain truly has terrain for all abilities. If your interest is more in winter adventures of the motorized variety, then check out the Bridgton Easy Riders Snowmobile Club, a group that proudly maintains the local trail network for winter riding pleasure.
Even between the peak seasons of winter and summer, there’s plenty here to enjoy during spring and fall. Really, there’s hardly anything prettier than watching Spring unfold in Maine. And when the temps dip months later, the autumn colors are spectacular. That goes even for the years that the locals think are dull. It makes me chuckle to hear that, as folks still get out for foliage rides!
It’s good to get off the couch or out of your vehicle to stretch your legs as you enjoy local parks and trails. You can go for the elevation and views from Bald Pate Mountain or take a break while shopping to visit Pondicherry Park right in the center of town. You can use these trails any time of year, as is the case with most of those around here.
Talking about any time of year brings me back to thinking about summer fun! A lot of that in the Bridgton area involves water as there’s so much around here. Why, even long stretches of coastal Maine beaches are only just an hour or so away. Though you may want someplace where you can go for a quick dip or a handy-by day of warm water leisure. There are a few public beaches for you to visit as Bridgton is fortunate to have a selection of fresh water sources.
As you can imagine, that means you can enjoy boating and fishing, one day here, another over there. Either before or after your time on the water, you can head over to
Bridgton Highlands for a round of golf or set of tennis. You’ll enjoy the magnificent vistas there as well as the use of a putting green and driving range. Why you can even take advantage of their twilight rate and get takeout for supper.
Fresh Food & Comfortable Lodging
Well then, the mention of supper brings up the all-important topic of food! Being outside most of the day means working up an appetite along with having ample snacks to keep you going. Bridgton has full-service grocery stores as well as special stores. For instance,
The Little Mountain Store has meals made to order, and you can even grocery shop online with them! This sure is a good way to pamper yourself while having the treats and eats you want to enjoy while you’re here.
The Bridgton area abounds in places to stay, from inns and resorts to several campgrounds and motels. You can find these and cottage rentals online by running a fun and informative search, aka armchair travel adventures! A lot of these places are quite reasonable so you may find you have some money to burn. If that’s the case, try your luck at the Oxford Casino about 30 minutes away.
Specialty Locations
That brings to mind that there’s other special places right here in Bridgton, especially a couple I want to point out before wrapping up our time together. One is the Rufus Porter Museum of Art and Ingenuity, devoted to this artist and inventor who founded Scientific American in 1845! At the time it was a newspaper. I decided to share this with you as the publication is amazingly relevant in today’s world. That’s one reason I’m a fan of the museum’s name including the word ingenuity.
That makes me think of all the creativity and other special places in Maine. Another of those that’s right here is Bridgton Academy. This school provides young male high school graduates with a unique educational experience, preparing them for “the rigors of college and beyond.”
Now, we both know that life does have its rigors. It can also have its delights, as in picking places to visit that perhaps become someplace to live. And, if not that, a place for creating memories that endure for decades.
