Sometimes you just want to ditch the beaten path. We can help, with our “Go Here, Not There” guide.
The problem with some popular Maine destinations is that they’re too popular. You know the drill: spend all that time getting there — be it a trailhead, restaurant, or beach — only to find it so overrun that your objective suddenly becomes escape. We’re not suggesting you don’t check out these teeming places — they’re popular for a reason! — but for those days you’d rather detour to a lesser-known, equally awesome destination, here are quiet counterparts to three of summer’s busiest places.1. Instead of: Sebago Lake State Park
An hour from Portland and densely developed with seasonal and year-round homes, Sebago is Maine’s busiest lake. No wonder Songo Beach, a long and narrow strip of sand in the state park, gets crowded fast. It’s noisy too: powerboats and jet skis skip over the water all day.
Try: Range Pond State Park
Just half an hour northeast of Sebago, in the town of Poland, lies a gem of a sand beach on Lower Range Pond. Range has most of the amenities that Sebago has: lifeguards, picnic tables, and restrooms. It also has a nicer, wider beach, and while it’s hardly a secret, it doesn’t feel crowded. Powerboats are limited to 10-horsepower motors, but you rarely see them.
2. Instead of: Katahdin
The state’s highest mountain at 5,267 feet, Katahdin is one of the toughest and most spectacular climbs on the Appalachian Trail, and the Knife Edge Trail is on the bucket list of every Maine hiker worth her salt. But it’s hardly a solitary experience — the party-like atmosphere atop Baxter Peak can be a bit surreal.
Try: Doubletop
With two peaks joined via narrow ridge, Doubletop is a mini Katahdin. Unlike its hulking neighbor, it’s not an all-day commitment, but reaching the 3,488-foot summit is an achievement just the same. For starters, the 6.6–mile round trip via the Slaughter Pond and Doubletop Mountain trails is steep and strenuous. Plus, you’ve done something most Baxter State Park visitors never do: journeyed beyond Katahdin. When you emerge out of the forest onto Doubletop’s peaks, you’re treated to breathtaking views of the Brothers, Mount Coe, and Mount OJI, as well as Harrington, Ripogenus, Chesuncook, and Caribou lakes — guaranteed to whet an appetite for deeper exploration of the park.
We went to Baxter State Park specifically to reach Baxter Peak, only to realize we were two days early; the trails were not open for the season yet due to the snow at the top. I was disappointed at first but we made the best of our day and climbed Douple Top Mountain, thanks to the Rangers recommendation. We ended the day playing cards in the car while listening to game 7 of Ottawa-Pittsburg hockey game on the radio. 10/10 – we salvaged the day. Katahdin, I will be back for you 
#baxterstatepark #doubletopmountain #firsthikeoftheseason #thewanderingdaph3. Instead of: Freeport
Summer in downtown Freeport means bumper-to-bumper cars stopping frequently for pedestrians. It doesn’t get any better when you turn off Main Street: a sea of jam-packed parking lots, in which you slowly loop row after row in search of a spot. If you’d rather spend that time on your feet, head one town north.
Try: Brunswick
Brunswick’s distinctively wide Maine Street is lined with independent stores you won’t find anywhere else. Local Market & Cafe (148 Maine St.) is stocked with cool kitchenware and craft food products and has a lunch counter serving creative sandwiches, salads, and soups. Nest (100 Maine St.) is a fabulous home furnishings store — a little pricey, but fun to browse and dream. Time-tested locals’ favorites include poet Gary Lawless and Beth Leonard’s 39-year-old Gulf of Maine Books (134 Maine St.); Finestkind Vinyl Haven (147 Maine St.), selling vintage records and stereo equipment; and Spindleworks Art Gallery (7 Lincoln St.), where 13 developmentally disabled artists make paintings, sculptures, and fiber art. Alas, no L.L.Bean. But you can stop there in the wee hours, when most of Freeport is asleep.
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