Travel Guide: Our Week in Rangley Maine
My grandma and grandpa on my Dad’s side of the family discovered the small town of Rangeley, Maine together long before me or any of my wild ass cousins were even a snowflake in the clouds. The crisp air, endless outdoor activities, and delightful people compelled them to invest and build a small home there. They personally spent a few months at a time in Rangeley. As kids, our own parents brought us up to see what it was all about during both the summer and the winter months. During the summer, we were hiking canoeing, swimming. During the winter, it was all about skiing–downhill and cross country.
This year, 16 of us gathered together to make new memories and to honor our grandparents and my late uncle who loved the area so much. In fact, my uncle was the mastermind behind this trip. He left us before we could enjoy it with him. We’re so fortunate his wife found a way for us to bring his vision to life a year later. We honored them during special moments throughout the whole trip. We ate, we explored, we laughed, and we challenged ourselves.
Here’s a little recap and travel guide to this sweet, beautiful small town.
A quick stop in Portland, Maine
We converged from different areas of the country to kick off our adventure. For most of the group, that meant we met up in Portland, Maine, which is a little over 2 hours south of Rangley. We rented vehicles for the week to get arounnd, which we picked up near the airport. Once we got our luggage and loaded up, we headed to Allagash Brewery to wait for the rest of our crew to trickle in. The brewery was perfect for relaxing inside or outside, complete with fire pits and murals. We met some other really nice travelers who also decided to head there to kick off their adventure.
My favorite part about this stop was that Bite Into Maine is on-site at the brewery. Among other tasty finds, they serve up the lobster roll “flight,” a showcase of three ways to enoy the dish Maine is most well known for. My favorite of the trio was the “Picnic” style with coleslaw. Check out this video of me and my brother trying them all!
Where to Stay
We had a big old crew, so we needed a big old house. This vacation rental house was right on Rangeley Lake and within walking distance to everything the small town had to offer. Of course, during the winter the lake is frozen and buried below the snow. During the summer, though, it’s a stunning and peaceful view. No matter the season, there’s a gorgeous sunset to see almost every day.
For something more intimate, my aunt and her partner recommend The Rangeley Inn. It was just as conveniently located and has a nice bar and lounge. There are lots of other sweet bed & breakfasts, inns, and vacation rentals. Check them out here.
Where To Get Outside
I’m an intermediate skier. Many of my relatives are snowboarders and skiers at more advanced levels. We are all well-traveled and have skied more than a few mountains together around the globe. I think we are in agreement that it doesn’t get much better than Saddleback Mountain. It’s not the largest resort or mountain, but it’s got quite the diversity of runs with different elevations and varied views. It’s an excellent mountain for a crew of all levels and not too far from a home base in Rangeley. See a little peek of Saddleback in my video here.
We also hopped over Sugarloaf Mountain for a day. It’s a larger operation, with several eateries and even food trucks on-site during the weekends. As with most ski resorts these days, you can enjoy biking and hiking here during the warmer months and catch the same views and sweat sans snow.
Then, I tried something brand new to me this time: snowmobiling! It’s a workout, but well worth the views and memories. There are 150 miles of well-groomed trails, all regularly maintained and monitored. The trails can take you to Canada, New Hampshire, and other destinations. Check out some local now mobile rental options here.
Pro tip: the ski season in Maine is generally from January 1 to April 1.
Where to Eat + Drink
As a large group, we did cook most of the mornings and nights to make things easier and more affordable. Honestly, we have great cooks throughout the family, so there’s never a complaint. BUT, we do love to eat out and explore. There are several sweet spots for casual or more upscale dining.
For casual lunch vibes, you have to go to Parkside & Main for cozy soups, sandwiches, and a lovely view of Rangeley Lake. A classic when we were kids was the Red Onion for pizza.
For a laid-back drink and hardy bar dinner after being outside all day, we went to Sarge’s Sports Pub more than once. We also went to Moose Alley for some bowling, apps, and drinks. We may have caused a ruckus, but I still recommend it!
For a decadent upscale dinner out, we spent our last night at Loon Lodge. An extensive wine, craft beer, and cocktail list made us all happy. The creative menu had items like roasted duck, braised lamb shank, and Pork Osso Busco, which was my choice.
See more Rangeley dining options here.
Where to Shop
There are several special shops around town. You can’t leave Rangeley without going to the Alpine Shop, a catch-all of fun gifts, art, clothing, and more. I remember always patiently waiting to go there to shop with my dad as a kid. I’d carefully pick items to bring home to my mom or friends. I’d touch everything before we left! I’m so glad it’s still there. Backwoods Clothing is another option if you’re looking for apparel. Books Lines & Sinkers is a unique shop to get lost in full of art and books. You can definitely find something special here to bring home.
See where else you can find something unique here.
Don’t Forget to Pack a Shotski
Thanks to my pals down here in Virginia at Devil’s Backbone, I had this blow-up shotksi to pack up and bring along. It was fun every day and light enough to pack. Shop it here.
Shop More of My Ski Gear Favs
