7. Ice-Skating
Winter in New England is never complete without at least one visit to the skating rink, and there is nothing quite like skating in the fresh open air. Portland’s best spot is the Rink at Thompson’s Point, where skaters will find rentals and plenty of hot cocoa to sip while taking a break in the warming huts.
Mill Creek Park in South Portland offers the full pond-skating experience, and Riverside Golf Course also has an outdoor rink. Goddard’s Pond in Bath is another excellent pond skating spot, maintained by the town and free to the public with concessions and a warming hut.
Kennebunk is home to Waterhouse Pavilion, conveniently located downtown. This open-air rink has a covered top and is regularly groomed with a Zamboni to ensure smooth skating. There is no charge to use this rink, and it is open all day every day until 9pm in the winter.
8. Tobogganing and Tubing
The nostalgic appeal of tobogganing is undeniable, but finding a good place to actually try it can be daunting at best. Thanks to the folks at Camden Snow Bowl, visitors have the chance to chute down a 400-foot slope built just for that purpose. Each February, the ski area hosts the U.S. National Toboggan Championships, which include a full winter carnival for the whole family.
Tourists can also find plenty of tubing hills throughout the state. In Auburn, Lost Valley Ski Area offers 600-foot tubing lanes serviced by a tow lift, and Windham’s Seacoast Adventure has a dozen lanes open day and night. In Rumford, Black Mountain of Maine has tubing during school vacations and on weekends, and Sunday River Resort in Newry also offers tubing on a dedicated slope.
