Take the scenic routes to ski trips

November 15, 2009|Eric Wilbur, Globe Staff

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Ski areas: Lost Valley (200 Lost Valley Road, Auburn, 207-784-1561, www.lostvalleyski.com), Spruce Mountain (Ski Slope Road, Jay, 207-897-4090, www.sprucemountain.org), Titcomb Mountain (Morrison Hill Road, West Farmington, 207-778-9031, www.titcombmountain.com), Sugarloaf (5092 Access Road, Carrabassett Valley, 207-237-2300, www.sugarloaf.com), Saddleback (976 Saddleback Road, Rangeley, 207-864-5671, www.saddlebackmaine.com).

Other attractions: The Rangeley Lakes region claims one of the state’s largest snowmobile clubs (www.rangeleysnowmobile.com) and more than 150 miles of groomed trails along the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway. The University of Maine at Farmington boasts an art gallery (238 Main St., 207-778-7002, www.artgallery.umf.maine.edu) with works by Maine artists with a variety of styles. Learn about history and heritage at the Ski Museum of Maine (109 Church St., Farmington, 207-491-5481, www.skimuseumofmaine.org). Provided you don’t get enough air on the slopes of Sugarloaf, head to the Anti-Gravity and Recreation Complex (1001 Carriage Road, Carrabassett Valley, 207-237-5566, www.carrabassettvalley.org/content/4022/Anti_Gravity_Complex) featuring one of the state’s largest indoor skate parks, along with an indoor rock climbing wall and a multipurpose gymnasium.

Lodging: A half-mile from the Sugarloaf Access Road, the Nestlewood Inn (3004 Town Line, Carrabassett Valley, 207-237-2077, www.nestle woodinn.com, $175-$300) may be a log cabin, but it’s not exactly roughing it with private decks and Jacuzzi tubs. Step into Maine’s past at the Herbert Grand Hotel (246 Main St., Kingfield, 207-265-2000, www.herbertgrandhotel.com, $79-$119), which prides itself on not losing the feel and character of its 1918 opening. At the Pleasant Street Inn Bed and Breakfast (104 Pleasant St., Rangeley, 207-864-5916, www.pleasantstreetinnbb.com, $135-$155) guests find warm and comforting accommodations within minutes of Saddleback.

Dining: Pizza lovers flock to the Rangeley Red Onion (2511 Main St., Rangeley, 207-864-5022, www. rangeleyredonion.com, $10-$13) to taste whether the Reuben pizza is worth the hype. Enjoy unique Maine cuisine at the One Stanley Avenue Restaurant (1 Stanley Ave., Kingfield, 207-265-5541, www.stanleyavenue.com, $20.75-$35), a menu highlighted by duck, rabbit, and lobster dishes. For an equally unique dining experience, take a 20-passenger snowcat to the summit of Sugarloaf, where Bullwinkle’s (5092 Access Road, Carrabassett Valley, 207-237-6959, www.sugarloaf.com/EventsActivities/DiningNightlife/Bullwinkles.html, dinners $99 per person, reservations required) offers gourmet dining atop one of the state’s tallest peaks. Don’t miss: The commanding vista of Sugarloaf from Route 27 is considered among the unsurpassed views in all of New England.

Eric Wilbur can be reached at ewilbur@boston.com.