Sun and fun

Waterways, hiking trails, and a drive-in make town's

May 30, 2007|Kari J. Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

Its motto may be "The Maine Place for All Seasons," but Bridgton remains a relatively sleepy spot outside of July and August, when this town of about 5,000 people swells to about 35,000. Most visitors head to their lakeside camps or rental cottages and emerge only for grocery and ice cream runs, trips to the double-feature drive-in or town events, like the bimonthly tailgate auctions or big July Fourth celebration. The area's waterways draw boaters of all varieties, and Bridgton is a perfect jumping-off point for local nature walks and hikes in the eastern White Mountains.

This wonderfully laid-back town feels like it's about to experience a boom. Renys , a family-run Maine institution (think : Building 19 meets Target) is doubling in size; The Magic Lantern , a local movie house, is being rebuilt and will have a beer and wine license when it reopens this summer; and the big-name, Maine-based Hannaford supermarket and Hancock Lumber opened in the last year.

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Bring your canoe, motorboat, windsurfing board, inner tube, or water wings to Bridgton and enjoy the dozens of lakes and waterways that dot this outdoor haven. Here, you can explore islands, hidden coves, sandy beaches, or just drift along listening to the haunting calls of the local loons.

Sports Haus (103 Main St., 207-647-5100, sports hausski.com ; canoes $25/day; kayaks $20-$30/day; $30 delivery fee for canoes and kayaks) rents canoes, kayaks, sunfish, water skis , and kneeboards.

Families can enjoy easy rambles along nature trails in the Holt Pond Preserve (Grist Mill Road, 207-647-8580, mainelakes.org ), which also offers guided walks and environmental lectures throughout the summer and miles of groomed cross-country trails come winter. Or, do a 5.8-mile loop up 2,006-foot Pleasant Mountain (Lake Road, 207-647-4352, lelt.org ), where you may spot lady's slippers and red columbine, and enjoy views of cascading brooks, a glacial-formed chasm, and sprawling Moose Pond. More ambitious hikers have easy access to some of the most stunning and rugged treks in the White Mountains, including a challenging 9.1-mile loop up Speckled Mountain (Route 113) on the Maine -New Hampshire border.

Lifeguards keep an eye on swimmers at Highland Lake (Highland Road) and Woods Pond (Route 117) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., June through August. You can also fish for salmon, trout, and small mouth bass on local lakes (grab a permit from Town Hall or any marina, or hire a guide through maineguides .org).

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When you're ready to explore town, the Rufus Porter Museum and Cultural Heritage Center (67 North High St., 207-647-2828, rufusportermuseum.org ) is worth a stop. The museum highlights the work of Porter, an artist and inventor whose original 1828 murals are on view in this historic home-turned-museum.