21 Towns that Make Up The Greater Bangor Region 

THE GREATER BANGOR REGION IS HOME TO 21 SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, EACH WITH THEIR OWN UNIQUE ATTRACTIONS AND ACCOMMODATIONS.

BREWER

Cross one of the three bridges from Bangor to Brewer and you’ll be in the birthplace of Major General Joshua Chamberlain. The 32nd Governor of Maine and Civil War hero, is memorialized at the Chamberlain Freedom Park, which replicates Little Round Top, a battlefield at Gettysburg. The park, complete with split rail fencing, is also a monument to the Underground Railroad.

As the sister city to Bangor, Brewer was as famous for its bricks in the 19th century as Bangor was for lumber. With over 12 million bricks being made annually, there were 1,215 brickyards shipping much of their production to Boston. Much of Boston’s Back Bay and South End neighborhoods are built from bricks made in Brewer.

Tour this lovely city and be sure to make a stop at the revitalized Penobscot Riverwalk and Children’s Garden for a walk through the half acre park, located right on the Penobscot River.

ORONO, OLD TOWN, VEAZIE, AND THE PENOBSCOT NATION

Located just north of Bangor is the state’s flagship university, the University of Maine in Orono. Orono is one of the youngest towns in Maine, with a vibrant, healthy, and friendly feel, featuring abundant recreation opportunities with all the comforts of home. The community is host to seven parks, including a five-acre riverside park, great for picnics and concerts alike. There are over 1,200 acres of walking and bike trails and riverfront parks in Orono and nearby Veazie, complete with takeout sites for canoes and kayaks for the adventurous.

While in the area, catch a performance at the Collins Center for the Arts, host to many national touring acts including Broadway shows. If you’re on campus around the holiday season, don’t miss the Page Farm and Home Museum’s wreath making classes. Or you can visit the three exhibition areas of the Hudson Museum, which highlights world cultures and rare artifacts in the Maine Indian Gallery. Live sports more your speed? Take in a hockey game or other collegiate sporting events at the University of Maine.

A visit to the University of Maine isn’t complete without exploring downtown Orono’s unique restaurants, breweries, and shopping opportunities. Old Town, with miles of rivers and streams, is home to Old Town Canoe Co. The major manufacturer has been based in Old Town for over 100 years and has a retail location on-site. Old Town is a unique island community; the developed area is mostly located on large Marsh Island. Located within city limits but on its own island is the Penobscot Indian Nation. Learn more about Maine Native American history by visiting their museum, located on Indian Island.

MILFORD, BRADLEY, AND EDDINGTON

Immerse yourself in Maine heritage at the Maine Forest and Logging Museum in Bradley. One of Maine’s oldest historical sites, the museum is open year round for self-guided tours, picnics, and hiking along beautiful nature trails. Watch the sawmill and logging village come alive with volunteers in period dress, performing tasks typical of the seasons in the 1790s during Living History Days

HOLDEN, DEDHAM, AND ORRINGTON

Visit the Fields Pond Audubon Center in Holden, where trails wind through fields, wetlands, forests, and lake-shores. With dozens of year-round public programs, this center is ideal for wildlife-watching, snowshoeing, and enjoying nature. In the area? Don’t miss the unique historic site of “The Orrington Pound.”

Drive a bit south to the scenic Route 1A corridor in Dedham to visit the “Switzerland of America.” This nickname was given due to the views of the surrounding mountains. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, The Lucerne Inn was a family home built in the early 1800s. Today its Colonial architecture and beauty are completely restored.

HERMON, HAMPDEN, WINTERPORT AND NEWBURGH

Home to Bangor’s closest ski area, Hermon Mountain offers a variety of ski terrain, as well as a tubing park. The mountain also features night skiing, both ski and snowboard lessons, 20 trails, and base lodge. Hermon is also home to the Ecotat Gardens and Arboretum. You can enjoy tours of over 55 gardens during the growing season, hike through trails during fall foliage season, or snap on some cross-country skis or snowshoes in the winter.

Take a drive through Winterport, home to far-ranging sea captains, and visit the Union Meeting House. Built in 1834 it houses a bell cast by Paul Revere, a belfry clock, and a Masons and Hamlin hand-pumped reed organ.

HUDSON, LEVANT, KENDUSKEAG, GLENBURN AND CARMEL

Feeling adventurous? The Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race starts in Kenduskeag and ends in Bangor every April. This race is one of the largest paddling events in the country and is the largest in New England. It is a 16.5-mile paddle, where each year the race is different based on water levels. The Kenduskeag Stream has all classes of rapids, including Class IV rapids.