Augusta, Maine’s capital city, is a great place to spend a summer vacation. Since the 18th century, when it started as a trading post, the city has been around. What used to be a small town is now one of the most important sources of art and economic ideas for the whole state of Maine. In this article, you can learn about the best things to do in Augusta Maine.
Augusta also honors the people whose work helped it grow, and you can see this at most of its historical sites and monuments. This city will show you how important it is to support and be proud of your local traditions and products.
Augusta has a lot to see and do for tourists, as well as a lot of cultural events and festivals. Over the years, the city has become more and more popular with tourists. Thanks to its friendly residents, Augusta has been able to give visitors a very warm welcome.
It has a lot of great museums, parks, restaurants, and other places to visit that will make you feel great, relaxed, and happy that you chose this city for your vacation.
29 Best Things to Do in Augusta (Maine)
1. Maine State Museum
In 1836, the Maine State Museum opened for the first time. But its history is full of ups and downs because it was shut down six times before it finally reopened in 1971. At the moment, the state pays for the museum so that it doesn’t close again.
It has a lot of different kinds of exhibits, like old stores, blacksmith shops, a sewing room, a mill that works, and a locomotive. Some of the most popular displays in the museum are about science. This museum is a great place to learn about Augusta and Maine’s history.
2. Fort Western
In 1754, in the middle of the French and Indian War, this fort was built.
This wooden building on the Kennebec River is a National Historic Landmark and is owned by the city. It could be called a “living museum” that shows how Augusta has changed over the past 260 years. Guided tours are very interesting because they show you how people lived in the second half of the 18th century.
Whenever repairs have been needed over the years, they have been done in a way that keeps the Fort’s original look.
3. The Pine Tree State Arboretum/Viles Arboretum
The Pine Tree State Arboretum was the old name for the Viles Arboretum. It’s one of Augusta’s most beautiful spots. There is a collection of lilacs and conifers, as well as a garden with native plants and a beautiful rock garden. There are 36 kinds of trees in the Arboretum. These trees were chosen because they do well in cities. It’s a great place to unwind, relax, and see some of the most beautiful trees and plants in the area.
4. Fun at Capitol Park
If you were making a list of fun things to do in Augusta, Maine, Capitol Park would have to be on it. Capitol Park was built in 1827 and put on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. It is known as Maine’s first known planned landscape.
Large green lawns for public gatherings, wide paths between four rows of a formal granite entryway, and old elm trees are all part of the park. Capitol Park has a bandstand and a great place to give speeches. There are also many tennis courts where you can play a fun game.
The park also has a beautiful garden with trees and shrubs that are native to the area. This is a great place to relax and pass the time. Capitol Park is a beautiful place with great views of the mountain and a clean atmosphere.
5. Kennebec River Rail Trail
The Kennebec River Rail Trail could help you feel like you’re a part of nature. Hiking the over 6.5 miles of trails in the park is a great way to spend a day. On the Kennebec River Rail Trail, you can skate on the paved paths, run or ride a bike on the paved trails.
Some trails in the park go along the Kennebec River and even an old city rail line. If you want to take a lot of pictures in the middle of so much nature, you will be in a great tourist spot.
6. Kennebec River Brewfest
The Kennebec River Brewfest was just one part of the Whatever Family Festival, but we think it was an important one since there was free beer. You can relax now that we’ve told you that the Brewfest will go on as planned. It takes place on the last Saturday of June and is a great event.
Craft beer is getting more and more popular, and for good reason: it tastes great and can be made close to home. Why wouldn’t you like it? The River Brewfest is the best way to honor this. Depending on which ticket you buy, you could have 5 hours of free 4-ounce tastes of the best craft beer Maine has to offer as well as free 1/2-ounce tastes of spirits. What could be better than a warm summer day, free drinks, and live music?
7. The Augusta Civic Center
The Augusta Civic Center is a big building that is 49,000 square feet. It has almost every kind of fun activity you can think of in one place. This place is also used for many different kinds of events. Gun shows last for more than two days and show off different kinds of guns and military weapons.
The center also puts on concerts, which are always fun and bring in well-known musicians from all over the world. At this venue, there are also craft shows where artists and crafters from the city show off their artifacts and other items.
Most of the time, the craft shows take place in November. Aside from artistic events, the center also hosts fun events like basketball games, wrestling matches, boxing fights, fencing matches, and even cheerleading competitions. There are also dance events here, which are always fun to watch.
8. Governor Hill Mansion
This mansion is now used for events, but when it was built in 1902, it was the home of the State Governor. John Freemont Hill was Governor at the time. He hired a well-known architect to design a mansion fit for a powerful person. It was built with granite from the area and has three floors.
Before just after World War II, it was owned by the family, not the state. It has been well taken care of, and you can take tours of its rooms every day, though some parts are rented out as offices.
9. Visit Old Fort Western
Old Fort Western is a historic site in Augusta. It was built in 1754 and has a long history. The oldest wooden fort in the United States, it’s still standing after almost 250 years. It’s a popular place to visit in Augusta. The James Howard building from 1770, has a general store that Mr. Howard stocked to sell to settlers when they first came. At Old Fort Western, you can see what life was like in Augusta before it was completely settled. You’ll see what kinds of things the store sold to people on their way to their new homes in the wilderness.
10. Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine
The Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine is in a beautiful, modern building at the University of Maine. The building’s design won an international design award for the architect who made it.
The Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine helps spread the word about how important human rights are. It is run by volunteers only. The building has both permanent and temporary exhibits, and students in grades 6–12 from all over the state can take part in educational programs there.
The Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine has classes that teach about the Holocaust, human rights, and how to recognize and deal with bias. There are educational programs for a number of senior colleges and community groups, as well as workshops and seminars for adults and people who want to improve their careers.
11. Brook Bond Recreation Area
Augusta, Maine, has a lot of interesting places where nature is involved to make you want to go there. You might be interested in Brook Bond Recreation Area because it is a beautiful place with lots to do. This park is 270 acres big, and you can walk, ride a bike, or Nordic ski there.
The Brook Bond Recreation Area is open all year, but winter is the best time to go there. Even though it’s cold during these months, you can still enjoy the sport of Nordic Sky. The Brook Bond Recreation Area has 20 trails that anyone can use. The park is also dog-friendly, so you can take your dog with you.
12. State House
If you like learning about a place’s history, you should also visit the State House in Augusta. This impressive building is at the corner of State and Capitol streets and can be toured from 9 am to 12 pm every day of the year. There’s a lot to see, like a collection of butterflies, so get there early to move quickly through the screening.
13. Senator Inn Spa
The Senator Inn Spa is one of the best beautiful places to go when you’re tired from all the traveling. The spa is a great place to spend some time alone in the city. It has treatments like massages, sessions, pedicures, manicures, body wraps, and other spa services that help your skin and body feel better.
There are many different packages to choose from at the spa, depending on what you want. The Senator Inn Spa is a very peaceful place, so any treatment you get there will be worth every penny you pay.
14. Rock Shop
Sonny’s is the place to go if you like shopping and want to try something new. There are a lot of colorful handmade items made from rocks and gems that will look great in your house.
Rocks and gems from all over the world have been brought together. They are not all for sale, but many of the things you see are for sale. Everyone in the family can learn something here, and you are never pushed to spend money.
15. The Governor Hill Mansion
You can rent four rooms in the Governor Hill Mansion, or you can take a tour of the building. The Parlor can hold up to 54 people, while Columbus Hall can hold up to 250. The reception room can hold up to 10 people, and the Gold room can hold up to 15. It is an elegant building with beautiful rooms. It’s a great place for tourists to take pictures to remember their trip.
16. Marketplace at Augusta
The Marketplace at Augusta has everything you need all in one building. Spending a day at the Marketplace at Augusta is one of the best things to do in Augusta, Maine.
The Marketplace at Augusta is a great place to go with other travelers. It is Augusta’s largest open-air shopping, dining, and entertainment center.
Several stores in the mall, like Barnes & Noble, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Charming Charlie, Ulta Beauty, Yankee Candle, Sam’s Club, Home Depot, and Dick’s Sporting Goods, offer a wide range of goods and services.
There are a lot of great restaurants in the Marketplace at Augusta, such as Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Red Robin, Panera Bread, and more.
The building is spotless and well-kept. It has a great atmosphere and is a great example of hospitality.
17. Monument to Samantha Smith
In the 1980s, Samantha Smith’s protests against the cold war brought Maine a lot of attention. Samantha Smith was only 12 years old when she made a big difference in the Cold War. She lived in Manchester, Maine.
The young woman wrote letters to the USSR and the US asking them to stop fighting and put an end to the cold war. Because of Samantha’s activism, generals in countries at war rethought her position. She died in a plane crash when she was only 13 years old, so she never saw the cold war as a young woman.
You can pay your respects to a brave young citizen by going to the memorial for Samantha Smith. It is right across from Capitol Park.
18. Greenway Trail
If you like being outside, you would really enjoy the Greenway Trail. It starts at the Old Fort Western (or ends there, depending on how you want to do it) and goes down the river through some interesting historical places. Even though the trail isn’t paved, it’s known to be easy, so don’t worry if you haven’t been going to the gym as much as you’d like to admit. This trail is part of a much longer 381-mile Maine trail. Now, that would need a little bit of preparation.
19. Castle-Like Old Post Office and Court House
Since it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, the Old Post Office has become one of the city’s most famous landmarks. It was built in the Roman Revival style in the 1880s, making it one of the best examples of Roman architecture in the state of Maine. Stones and granite from the area were used to build the whole building.
It has three towers and two and a half floors. The Old Post Office is in the city’s downtown area. It is both a post office and a courthouse. At the moment, the building is privately owned, but people can go inside and look at how beautiful it is.
20. Colburn House State Historic Site
Major Reuben Colburn lived in this family home in Pittston, which was built in 1765. He built ships and was a fierce patriot. Nearby, there was a brickyard, a boatyard, and a mill, all of which helped the area grow and change. Colburn was a very important part of this change and the fight for independence.
In 2004, the place was put on the National Register of Historic Places. Even though the Major had some hard times with money, the family lived there for a century.
21. The Stained Glass Experience
A few miles outside of Augusta is a place to shop called the Stained Glass Experience. The city of Manchester is where it is. Monday through Friday, the store is open from 9 am to 6 pm, and on Saturday, it’s open from 9 am to 5 pm. The store sells stained glass crafts and the materials needed to make them, as well as other arts and crafts materials. It also has classes in glass art where people can learn how to make stained glass projects.
22. Bowling & Entertainment Center
One of the best things to do in Augusta, Maine, with your friends and family is to go to the 1-7-10 bowling and entertainment center.
The 1-7-10 bowling and entertainment center is a place for the whole family to have fun. It has a lot of fun things for everyone to try.
A fun center is a great place for people to have fun and unwind. At the 1-7-10 bowling and entertainment center, there are twenty nice lanes and free bumpers for kids. At the 1-7-10 bowling and entertainment center, there is an arcade room with fun games for both kids and adults.
There is a sports bar and grill that serves delicious food like seafood platters, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, salad, and their signature pizza, which has been voted the best pizza in town. Also, the full-service bar has a variety of drinks from the United States and the area. Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm, Saturday from 12 pm to 8 pm, Wednesday from 10 am to 8 pm, Thursday from 12 pm to 9 pm, Friday from 10 am to 9 pm, and Saturday from 11 am to 9 pm.
23. Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery
Everyone can feel very emotional when they visit the Veteran’s Memorial. You can see the Maine heroes who fought for the world we live in today at the Memorial Cemetery. It is a beautiful place with lots of well-kept trees and plants.
The design of the Memorial Structures is good. You can take a moment to walk across them and read the names of people who have helped make the world a better place.
24. Catch an enjoyable
In Augusta, there is a theater called Regal Augusta 10 with ten screens that show first-run feature films. There are recliner chairs in the theater so you can watch the movie in comfort. There is also a snack bar in the lobby so you can get food before the movie starts. With RealID 3D and digital projection, the technology is at the cutting edge.
25. Sam’s Italian Foods
In Augusta, there is a restaurant called Sam’s Italian Foods that serves delicious food from around the world. The restaurant serves delicious Italian food, and there are options for vegetarians, vegans, and people who can’t eat gluten.
Sam’s Italian Foods has a lively and exciting atmosphere, and it’s a great place to try a new Italian dish. They serve delicious pizza with different kinds of toppings, like Gluten-Free Dough, Greek Olives, Green Peppers, Ham, Hamburg, Italian Sausage, Meatball, Mushroom, Onion, Pepperoni, Salami, Tomatoes, and so on.
Aside from pizza, they serve grilled chicken salad, Ham Italian, Genoa Salami Italian, Traditional Triple, Chicken Salad Italian, Buffalo Chicken, Broccoli Lasagna, Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Parmigiana, and more.
26. Sonny’s Museum
When you’re in Augusta, Maine, you can go to Sonny’s Museum to get in touch with your inner geologist. As soon as you walk into the Museum, you will see beautiful stones of many different colors. In Sonny’s Museum, you can see rocks that have been shaped by hand and have a lot of different colors.
This museum in Augusta has rocks from all over the world and is bringing them to you so you can look at them. You can also buy special rocks inside the Museum to remember the city. You don’t have to buy the rocks, though, so you can also go to the Museum and take pictures of them.
27. Dunkin
You are missing out if you haven’t tried a delicious plate at the Dunkin restaurant in Augusta. Dunkin is the best place to get delicious coffee and espresso, and there’s no better way to start the day than with a special cup of coffee from Dunkin.
The cafeteria serves a lot of people every day and has a long list of foods for them to choose from.
Dunkin offers Sweet Black Pepper Snackin’ Bacon, Blueberry Lemonade, Hummus & Roasted Tomato Toast, Egg White & Veggie Omelet Bites, Coffee Roll, Chive & Onion Stuffed Bagel Minis, Turkey Sausage, Egg, and Cheese, and more.
They have a long list of iced and cold drinks, such as Iced Signature Latte, Iced Cappuccino, Iced Matcha Latte, Vanilla Cold Brew with Sweet Cold Foam, Coconut Almondmilk Cold Brew, Oatmilk Iced Latte, Frozen Matcha Latte, Cake Batter Iced Signature Latte, and many more.
28. Harvest Festival
Between September 21 and 23, the Harvest Festival is held in Augusta and a few other North American cities. You can plan to go to the city between those dates to make sure you don’t miss this great event. You can get free food, beer, and traditional games at the festival.
29. Festival “What’s Family”
If you plan to visit Augusta in June, you could stay to see the “What’s Family” festival in Mill Park. You can take your kids to the fair to ride rides, talk to clowns, and get their faces painted. At this festival, they also have sports tournaments, give out food, and put on concerts with local artists.
Conclusion
Maine’s Augusta is a small city, but it has a lot to offer. Don’t discount it just because it’s small. You can spend a nice day with your family and other tourists in Augusta by going to the museums or natural parks. Many of these tourist spots are free to visit, while others may ask you to help keep the facilities in good shape.
Augusta, Maine, has cheap things to see, so you can go on a tour of the city this summer. Even in the winter, going to Augusta is fun because you can try out a new sport like Nordic skiing. When you go to Augusta, Maine, don’t forget to take pictures of the most interesting places so your friends will be jealous.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) about Best Things to Do in Augusta Maine
Is Augusta Maine worth visiting?
Augusta, Maine’s capital city, is a great place to spend a summer vacation. Since the 18th century, when it started as a trading post, the city has been around. What used to be a small town is now one of the most important sources of art and economic ideas for the whole state of Maine.
What is Augusta Maine known for?
Augusta is known for the National Historic Landmark called Fort Western. It is the oldest wooden fort in the United States and was built by British colonists on the Kennebec River. Most people don’t know that Portland was the capital of Maine for a short time before Augusta took over.
Is Augusta Maine nice?
“But,” says Justin, “we’ve probably only been to Hallowell four times in the last two years. I love Hallowell, don’t get me wrong, but we don’t need to leave the city anymore. We have everything we want here, and it keeps getting better every day.”
Is Bangor Maine worth visiting?
Bangor is known as the Queen City of the East. It is in the middle of the state on the Penobscot River. This small city is a jewel because it has great places to eat, shop, and stay, as well as many things to see.
What is the best month to visit Maine?
So, if you want good weather, the best time to visit Maine is between June and August. During the summer, you can go to the beach and soak up the sun. You might be right next to other tourists and have to pay a lot for a place to stay, but this is when the state really shines.
What are some fun facts about Augusta Maine?
General James Edward Oglethorpe set up the city of Augusta in 1736. Princess Augusta of Wales was the inspiration for the name Augusta. On Broad, Greene, and Telfair streets, Augusta’s most important people lived. They were called “Pinch Gut” because the women who lived there wore corsets.
Is Augusta walkable?
Most of the time, you won’t need to hail a ride while you’re in Augusta. Augusta is easy to get around on foot, and the weather is mild enough that people can walk from their meeting space to restaurants, museums, shopping, and nightlife. In a three-block area, there are more than 30 locally owned shops.
How is living in Augusta Maine?
It’s beautiful, and it’s way up north by Canada, where there are a lot of open spaces and not many people. Many people who move to Maine, especially to Augusta, the capital city, find it to be a great place to live. This is especially true if you want to live in a city that is great for families and has lots of other benefits.
Is Augusta Maine Suburban?
Augusta is a town in Maine that is home to 18,662 people. Augusta is in the county of Kennebec. Most people who live in Augusta own their own homes, giving it a suburban feel. Augusta is home to a lot of young professionals and retirees, and most of the people who live there tend to be liberal.
What is Bangor Maine most known for?
Bangor is still the business and social hub of Northern, Central, and Eastern Maine. It has become the most important place for government, education, and jobs in the area. It also has the most retail and service businesses.
Is Maine expensive to visit?
You should plan to spend about $166 per day on your trip to Maine, which is the average price per day based on what other tourists have spent. On average, travelers have spent $41 on food for one day and $34 on getting around town. Also, the average cost of a hotel room for two people in Maine is $171.
When can you see the northern lights in Maine?
The best time to see the northern lights in Maine is between December and February. Spring’s longer days and shorter nights make it harder to see the northern lights, but it’s still possible.
How many days do you need to visit Maine?
To see the best coastal towns in Maine, you need between one and two weeks. You can also spend just a few days if you choose one or two favorite towns and take day trips from there.
How long is the walk at Augusta?
Between the Georgia pines at Augusta National, there are more than 11,000 steps that go up and down. It requires making shots from different starting points. To dig into the pine straw when it was necessary.
How much does it cost to walk in Augusta?
Between the Georgia pines at Augusta National, there are more than 11,000 steps that go up and down. It requires making shots from different starting points. To dig into the pine straw when it was necessary.
Can anyone play at Augusta?
Can I go to Augusta National and play a round of golf or just look around? No. The only people who can go to Augusta National Golf Club are club members and their guests. The public can only go to the course when the Master’s Tournament is going on and they have the right ticket or badge.
Is Augusta a tough walk?
Augusta National is known for a lot of things, and the difficulty of the course is one of them. For example, Justin Thomas called it the toughest walk on the tour calendar.
What is Augusta Maine known for?
Augusta is known for the National Historic Landmark called Fort Western. It is the oldest wooden fort in the United States and was built by British colonists on the Kennebec River. Most people don’t know that Portland was the capital of Maine for a short time before Augusta took over.
