City of Gardiner, Maine
Source: City of Gardiner, Maine Facebook Page
Downtown Gardiner, Maine
With a population that hovers around 5,600, Gardiner is a smaller city but it has much to offer. Throughout Gardiner, you’ll see historic buildings, homes, and sites like the Gardiner Common that have been kept in beautiful shape or renovated and revamped for modern usages like storefronts and apartments. Gardiner’s location is prime for drawing visitors and for making it a convenient place to live. It’s located right off the highway, and a short drive to the state capital of Augusta. Residents of Gardiner have an easy commute to state government offices, or even to companies in Portland. Visitors can enjoy the government and political sites of the state capital, then travel just 15 minutes to spend an evening dining and shopping along the river in historic downtown Gardiner.
Exploring Gardiner Maine
Source: NICHE, INC. Facebook Page
NICHE, INC. Performance Stage
Shopping & Dining
Gardiner’s Water Street is home to numerous unique local shops, restaurants, and breweries. Parking is usually easy to find—and free—and the area is pedestrian-friendly. Driving into town from the north, you’ll see the iconic A-1 Diner at the entrance to downtown. Located on the side of a bridge, seemingly hovering over the Kennebec River, the diner is a popular spot for all three meals, and its menu options extend beyond the usual diner food.
El Oso Taqueria and Lisa’s Legit Burrito’s offer Mexican food, and Gerard’s Pizza is a favorite for pizza and sandwiches. The Blind Pig Tavern is a favorite spot for lunch, dinner, and cocktails, as well as special events like trivia night and karaoke. Ruby’s Place is a bakery that also offers takeout meals during certain times of the year. To grab a beer and watch the game in Gardiner, head to The Bench or The Depot.
Shoppers will find plenty to enjoy in downtown Gardiner, as well. Music lovers and board games will love NICHE, INC. For unique gifts, head to Monkitree, and for a little bit of everything head to the downtown Gardiner location of the Maine-favorite chain, Reny’s.
Gardiner also has stores for the necessities of life; both Hannaford and Shaw’s both have locations close to downtown. And when you need your fast food fix, there’s a Dunkin’ Donuts, McDonald’s, and Subway all in the area.
For healthier, community-oriented food shopping, head to the Gardiner Food Co-op for both groceries and pre-made options.
Recreation & Events
Gardiner has plenty of spots for people to enjoy the outdoors. Waterfront Park offers paths for walking, picnic tables to sit and enjoy views of the river, and a boat launch for people to set off into the Kennebec River. Motorboats and kayaks are frequent sites on the Kennebec during the warmer months.
Walkers, joggers, and bikers can enjoy the Kennebec River Rail Trail, which runs for 6 1/2 miles along the river from Gardiner to Augusta.
Families can head to the Gardiner Common to enjoy the playground, watch the fountain, or spread out a blanket for a picnic. The Gardiner Common is also home to a gazebo, where concerts and other events are hosted. During the summer, visit the Common to pick up local vegetables at the Farmer’s Market. An attractive green space flanked by historic churches, the Gardiner Common adds to the city’s reputation for small-town charm.
Head further into Gardiner, away from the downtown area, and find spots along the Cobbosseecontee to fish.
Gardiner also has events throughout the year that bring the community together and draw people to town.
Each fall, Swine & Stein brings crowds to the riverfront area to enjoy drinks, food, and music during the local Oktoberfest-style celebration. During the Christmas season, Johnson Hall hosts a Festival of Trees and the Gardiner Parade of Lights is a festive event for all ages.
Source: Johnson Hall Facebook Page
Johnson Hall in downtown Gardiner, Maine
Arts & Culture
If you’d like to learn more about Gardiner while you’re in the downtown area, you don’t have to look far for information about the city’s history. Throughout the downtown, plaques guide you through a historical walking tour.
At one end of the historic downtown, you’ll find the Gardiner Public Library. Housed in a beautiful red brick building with a stained glass rosetta window, the library serves neighboring towns as well as Gardiner.
Johnson Hall is a music and arts event center located in downtown Gardiner. They bring national acts to the city, as well as host local performances, and put on a waterfront concert series during the summer.
Gardiner was the home of writer Edwin Arlington Robinson, perhaps most notable for the poem Richard Cory which was later adapted into a song by Simon and Garfunkel. Robinson’s home on Lincoln Avenue is on the National Register of Historic Places and the city’s signs note that it inspired Tilbury Town, the setting for many of Robinson’s works.
Education
The Gardiner public schools are part of Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 11. Students from the towns in MSAD 11 travel to Gardiner to attend Gardiner Regional Middle School and Gardiner Area High School. Gardiner is also home to the Laura Richards Elementary School. The local community rallies around the high school sports team, especially at the annual Cony-Gardiner game, the oldest continuously played high school football game in Maine.
For higher education options, the University of Maine at Augusta is just a quick trip away.
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