The city of Bangor, which is biggest city of Maine, located on the bank of Penobscot River. It’s a major commercial place in the state. Known for huge timber production and beautiful resort area, Bangor is home to a lot of makers of paper, shoes, and electronic gadgets. But aside from being known for these industries, it is also known for other things. Here are things to do in Bangor, Maine, in case you happen to visit this beautiful city.
More...
Best Things to Do In Bangor Maine
Visit Different Museums
If you’re visiting Bangor with kids, or if you just want to learn something new, check out some of the museums in Bangor, Maine.
- University of Maine Museum of Art
Since the year 1946, this museum has been devoted to helping people cultivate an appreciation for modern art. Currently, the museum has a collection of more than 3,800 artwork of 20th-century art, focusing more on photographs as well as original prints.
Works of notable artists including Andrew Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Diego Rivera, Richard Estes, and Pablo Picasso are found here. University of Maine Museum of Art also hosts traveling expos and workshops, and it offers classroom resources.
- Maine Discovery Museum
Another place perfect for families where kids will really have fun is Main Discovery Museum. This big museum is devoted to stirring creativity, innovative learning, and a sense of imagination in our young fellows. There are weekly programs devoted to art science, math, as well as fitness being held here. This museum even host birthday parties!
- Cole Land Transportation Museum
Land vehicles like cars, trains, and trucks played a great role in clearing and forming the land that would become the Maine region. The Cole Land Transportation Museum aims to preserve these vehicles and the past of the early innovators and businessmen who lived here.
The Cole Foundation wants their stories to inspire upcoming generations to strive and realize greatness. The museum has exhibits of old vehicles and machines. You will also find exhibits and collectibles devoted to the military personnel of Maine.
-Hudson Museum
The Hudson Museum, which is a part of the University of Maine, is situated on Collins Center for the Arts campus. The museum has a big collection of historical relics and items from different cultures all over the world.
Permanent exhibitions have more than 2,000 pre-Columbian porcelains, Northwest coast art, almost a thousand articles from the Indians, as well as ceramic relics from a lot of different Native American cultures. The Hudson Museum also hosts traveling exhibitions, lectures, as well as field trips for students.
- Telephone Museum
Located in a Maine warehouse, this museum has collected and kept old-fashioned technology that was once not only supported worldwide communication but also has been the stepping stones of that have led us to our present state of smartphones.
Established in the year 1984 as the colossal Bell Systems domination was scattering, the Telephone Museum offered a unique chance to save and renovate a rare model of telephonic called the “Panel” that became the best piece of the collection. Throughout the years, they are continuously collecting abandoned artifacts and apparatus from the history. Old eccentric telephones, hand-operated telephone exchange, and other antique talking device are on-display in the museum and in great order.
Attend Annual Events
Bangor has a lot of different events that attract all ages regardless of what season you decide to go.
- Maine Maple Sunday: Fourth Sunday of March
Maple syrup farms all over the state of Maine open their doors to the public while they are making syrup. You will see how locals turn maple sap into the real syrup. There are a lot of sugarhouses that offer tastings.
- Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race: Third weekend of April
Hosted by the Bangor Dept. of Parks, this 16.5-mile race starts in the Town of Kenduskeag and finishes close to the Penobscot River confluence in downtown Bangor.
- Anah Shrine Circus: Last weekend of April
If you want to be amazed, dazzled, and thrilled, then witness the acts of Anah Shrine Circus which ranges from contortionists to elephants to dancers to magicians and trapeze artists. The shrine clowns also keep the audience entertained throughout the show.
- Mount Hope Cemetery Tour: First Friday of June to
October; third Saturday of June to September
This is one of the oldest garden cemeteries in the country, which is about 300 acres. This is home to a lot of famous public figures. It was a location for Pet Sematary film.
- Bangor State Fair: Last weekend in July to August
During this festive weekend, there would be hundreds of shows performed every day. There are a lot of rides, for both children and adult.
- American Folk Festival: Last weekend of August
Here you can enjoy nice music, dance, along with other performing arts that showcases cultural traditions not only all over North America but also different parts of the world.
There are markets in Bangor Waterfront as well as the Bangor area and these attract thousands of party-goers annually.
This offers party-goers the chance to buy authentic, handmade crafts and delicious food from all over the state.
- Bangor Car Show: The weekend after the Labor Day
This car show features more than 40 classes and over 300 cars. There are also many food booths and different kinds of entertainment.
- Fright at the Fort: Last two weekends of October
Bangor is known to have the best Halloween in whole Maine, that’s why it’s one of the best times to visit the city. Visitors are guided through the dark corridors of Fort Knox where extreme things prowl in the shadows, which screams of a scare.
- Festival of Lights Parade/Santa’s workshop: First Saturday of December
Meet the local Santa and join Santa Scavenger Hunt all over the downtown. You can also decorate some cookies, create some crafts, and a lot more. It will also be nice to watch city tree lighting and watch the festival of lights parade.
Go Camping
If you are looking to experience something that will get you closer to nature, then pack your tent and camping gear Bangor is an amazing central location for camping. Just an hour away from Bar Harbor, you can reach Acadia National Park or Mt. Katahdin. Open to the public from the month of May to October, there are a lot of campgrounds that will accommodate all of your needs while offering a lot of recreational activities along with a calming atmosphere.
Acadia National Park is a rugged wasteland situated just off the coast of the state. The park that’s made up of Mount Desert Island and other smaller islands is known to be the oldest national park located in the eastern part of the Mississippi River.
Acadia is home to Isle Au Haut, the Schoodic Peninsula, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, as well as Cadillac Mountain, which is the tallest peak you will find in the eastern seaboard. Here you can enjoy hiking, boating, bicycling, fishing, camping, picnicking, and even horseback riding. Activities like snowmobiling, skiing, as well as ice fishing are popular winter activities. Acadia is open to the public all year round. However, there are roads and attractions that might be closed during this time of the year.
Pleasant Hill Campground, situated right off of I-95, is another good choice and attracts a lot of visitors for its great facilities.
Shop at Bangor Farmers Market
The Bangor Farmers Market is an outdoor gathering of sellers held every Sunday of the month of May to November. A lot of local farmers and gardeners are offering fresh vegetables and fruits for sale to everyone.
The market is being held all over the city from 11 in the morning up to 2 in the afternoon. Throughout the winter season, the market moves inside the Sea Dog Brewing Company. Most market vendors may accept cash or credit cards.
Visit Mount Hope Cemetery
Registered as one of the National Register of Historic Places, Mount Hope is one of the country’s oldest garden cemeteries. As Bangor grows in population, residents start requesting for more spaces outside of the city limits where they can bury their loved ones who passed.
Mount Hope Cemetery was established in the year 1836 and covers 300 partly-wooded acres that overlook the Penobscot River. Trees, flowers, shrubs, and monuments cover the warily landscaped grounds. There are paved roads which make walking or driving easier. The cemetery is open every day all year long.
So, there you have some of the best things to do in Bangor, Maine. Hopefully, this article has been helpful for you, if it did, make sure to share it in your social media to make sure your friends and family can learn the same information. If you have other question, then let us know about that in the comment below! For more informative travel tips about North America, make sure to check out other posts in this blog.