When you live on a Maine island, sometimes boats just don’t suffice. Take Matinicus Island (population: 50) for example: it’s 22 miles offshore, the only ferry service runs once a month, and sometimes you just want a pizza. 

Delivering groceries, medicine, and offering transportation to and from the mainland, Penobscot Island Air’s fleet of Cessnas serves as a lifeline to the many Mainers occupying tiny offshore islands that are difficult to reach even by boat.

They also offer scenic tours over the bay for non-islanders, giving you a chance to take in the breathtaking views of Midcoast Maine’s coves and inlets, towering lighthouses, and rocky islands—some occupied by gulls and seals, but others that lifelong Mainers call “home.”

Call to book with Penobscot Island Air and they’ll customize a sightseeing tour, with the length of the flight, destinations, and even specific lighthouses completely up to you. Weather is a factor in planes leaving the ground, so be sure to check the forecast before reserving your flight. 

The Katahdin Woods & Waters National Monument is known for hiking, paddling and unparallelled outdoor recreation—most of which is daytime-oriented. There’s one great reason, however, to explore once it gets dark: this part of Maine has some of the darkest skies east of the Mississippi.

In fact, the International Dark-Sky Association—a non-profit organization working to combat light pollution worldwide—has designated the monument as an International Dark Sky Sanctuary. That means you’ll enjoy some of the best stargazing in Maine, including a chance to see the aurora borealis dance over Mount Katahdin.

No matter the season, stargazing here on Katahdin is extraordinary. The summer months receive more meteor showers, though the sky is at its most clear in the colder winter months (just bring a thick jacket!).You can experience dark skies anywhere throughout the Monument, but the stargazing from Katahdin Loop Road Overlook or the Sandbank Stream campsites are particularly spectacular.  

If you have a penchant for cars, motorcycles, or general machinery, the Owls Head Transportation Museum is your ticket to ride. Their year-round exhibits focus on everything from the history of the Wright Brothers to international bicycling culture. The museum’s pièce de résistance, however, comes every August when they host their Wings & Wheels Spectacular. 

Known as “The Rally,” the first iteration took place in 1975 and now features more than a dozen rare, restored, and replica aircraft that fill the skies above Owls Head for two days of high-octane performance. There are also vintage car rides, live demonstrations of many antique vehicles, and interactive displays throughout the weekend. Want to get up above it all? Visitors can book a 20-minute scenic biplane ride on-site for an open air, sky-high experience.

The show proceeds rain or shine, with indoor demonstrations at the ready in the event of inclement weather. In the spirit of all-things vintage, all pre-2001 vehicles are welcome to the exhibit free of charge.

Between the boat ride across Moosehead Lake and the two-hour hike up the 700-foot cliffs of Mount Kineo, you’ll have to pace yourself—there’s a tower to be climbed at the final summit. While it once served as a fire lookout, Mount Kineo’s Fire Tower is now a steel set of steps that allows for panoramic views of the lake and beyond.

The monstrous mountain is said to contain one of the world’s largest formations of rhyolite—glassy, volcanic rock that is rich in silica. It’s believed to have been used by indigenous Wabanaki to make tools and weapons.     

If you don’t have your own watercraft, the Mount Kineo Golf Club ferries explorers between the Rockwood town landing and Mount Kineo during the warmer months. They leave every hour in the summer, with each trip across Moosehead taking roughly 10 minutes. In the winter, visitors can simply walk or snowshoe over the frozen lake.

The Camden Snow Bowl—a small, town-owned ski area—is something of a local treasure. A modest two-chairlift mountain, it’s where local kids learn the ropes on the bunny slopes and where serious skiers get their lunchtime fix before heading to Maine’s western mountains on the weekends. It’s also home to a challenging mountain bike track, great hiking, and the U.S. National Toboggan Championships—a raucous weekend in February when teams vie to be the fastest down the chute.

Its least adrenal offering, however, may also be its most scenic: in the fall, visitors can ride the triple chairlift to the peak of Ragged Mountain to appreciate the changing foliage, the Midcoast’s mountains, and the sea beyond—no skis required.

Chairlift rides are offered each Sunday in October, with tickets available on-site, no reservations required. When you get back down to the lodge, round out the full autumnal experience beside fellow leaf-peepers with a pancake breakfast.

The Penobscot Narrows Bridge is supported by two obelisk-like towers that stretch skyward from either bank of the Penobscot River. One of these towers is actually an observatory, and the world’s tallest bridge observatory that is open to the public, at that. A marvel of engineering, it was modeled after the Washington Monument, which is, oddly enough, partially made of granite from nearby Mount Waldo.  

An elevator zips visitors up 420 feet in under a minute, where they can take in 360-degree views of the river, the town of Bucksport, and—on a clear day—the expanse of Maine’s western mountains. Autumn is a particularly beautiful time to be up this high, with the foliage of the Penobscot River Valley below at its most dazzling.

Tickets can be purchased at the entrance to Fort Knox (Maine's largest historic fort) located on the west end of the bridge.

The indigenous Penobscot people of northern Maine called Katahdin the “Great Mountain”—and for good reason. It’s why people flock to Baxter State Park every year, if not to make an ascent, at least to be close enough to behold its grandeur. It’s had quite an effect on outdoorsmen and artists alike: writer Henry David Thoreau wrote extensively about his adventure to Katahdin, and Maine-born painter Marsden Hartley devoted much time to capturing its expanse in oils.

Most hikers visiting Mount Katahdin have their sights set on Baxter Peak, the mountain’s highest point, at 5,268 feet. On the other hand, Hamlin Peak, which stands just north of Baxter at 4,756 feet, is no molehill, either. It grants visitors a different perspective of this impressive mountain range. It’s also less crowded and more serene compared to the bustle of Baxter, so once you’ve muscled through your hike, the summit will be a quiet place to appreciate the 360-degree view. 

Many trails leading to Mount Katahdin can be very busy in the summer, and weather can change quickly and dramatically. It’s recommended that you start your hike early in the day and with plenty of water, food, and emergency supplies. 

If you prefer your sunsets at elevation, shooting stars without light pollution, or simply the unadulterated smell of warm pine, but aren’t necessarily inclined to take on a big hike, the Height of Land is just the thing for you.

Situated along the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway, this overlook serves as the gateway to the Lakes region and is said to offer one of the best views in the state, regardless of season. Mooselookmeguntic Lake—one of Maine’s largest lakes—dominates the view from Height of Land, its name derived from an Abanaki word meaning "portage to the moose feeding place."

Wind your way up Route 17 until you arrive in Roxbury, where there’s plenty of parking, and enjoy the panorama. A helpful legend explains what makes up the 20-mile views you’ll take in from the peak.     

Sebago Lake is Maine’s second largest body of freshwater—only after Moosehead Lake to the north—and is an important watershed, providing the Greater Portland area with its water supply. The name comes from the Abenaki sobagoo, meaning “it resembles the sea.” Indeed, aside from the seasonally occupied town of Frye Island, it’s possible to look across the lake and see nothing but water.

One way to get above the lake to fully appreciate its scale is to scale Douglas Mountain, which can be done by car. After parking in a designated lot (found here), it’s a somewhat steep 30-minute hike to a stone tower where you can look upon Sebago, the surrounding towns, the White Mountains to the west, and—on a clear day—Casco Bay.

There’s a plaque at the mountain’s summit that reads: Non Sibi Sed Omnibus—“not for oneself but for all.” Bring a friend and take it all in.

Perched on a rocky bluff at the end of a peninsula overlooking Muscongus Bay, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (c. 1827) is one of the most dramatic in Maine. It’s one of only a few towers in the state that’s open to the public and—by popular vote of Maine residents—was chosen to be featured on the Maine quarter in 2003.

After a steep climb up the tower for a view of the bay, visitors can enjoy a history lesson from the museum staff before taking in the views from the lighthouse’s gallery. The shore below is made up of long, flat metamorphic rock—a perfect place for a picnic and for kids of all ages to play. Want to stay a bit longer? A one-bedroom apartment in the lighthouse keeper’s house is available for weekly vacation rentals.

The tower is open Memorial Day weekend until mid-October. It may be closed on rainy days, or if there are no volunteers available to help. There is no charge to climb the tower, but donations are appreciated.