Lamoine Campground

The Great Outdoors

Book an RV in Hancock County, and you will be one step closer to the vacation of your dreams. Begin that journey by heading to Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, which is open to the public year-round, providing you with opportunities to canoe and kayak, observe the wildlife, and practice your photography skills. The park is also open to fishing and hunting, so you'll want to ask if it's hunting season while you're in the area. There are several bog domes in the park where you'll see thick layers of peat moss and a variety of plants that can survive on just the rainwater that collects there. You will hopefully also see river otters; they are shy, and you're more likely to see them from a canoe or kayak than on foot.Acadia National Park is one of the most visited national parks in the U.S. and has tens of miles of historic vehicle roads that can take you through the park and expose you to nature from the comfort of your RV rental. It also has more than 100 miles of hiking trails that vary in difficulty and will ferry you along coastal areas and past lakes, along panoramic summits and through boreal and deciduous forests. The park has evidence of the glaciers that once existed here, such as numerous “U” shaped valleys and Somes Sound, a fjord-like structure that is the only one of its kind along the U.S. Atlantic coast. You'll also witness ridges of granite throughout the park that were created by the glaciers.Downeast Lakes Community Forest is managed by a nonprofit organization that was created by the citizens of Grand Lake Stream in 2001. The organization's purpose is to conserve and manage the forest. The area is world-renowned for its stocks of salmon, brook trout, and smallmouth bass and has a varied population of mammals including white-tailed deer, bobcats, and moose; there are almost 200 species of birds that call the forest home, making it a haven for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. Park your RV rental in the area, and you can use it as a nature and wildlife blind, enjoying the best of both worlds.

Exploring The Area

Once you're ready to come in from the wilderness, Franklin is a quaint little town that was named after Benjamin Franklin. The city has several organic farms that also serve as wineries; one of them has a tasting room with tables and chairs made from old used casks and a fireplace. The on-site bakery produces bread and desserts you can snack on while sampling their wines (they also serve cheese), but you can bring your own snacks if you prefer. They also have an outdoor seating area with a fire pit and string lights; dogs are allowed in the outdoor seating area. There are several restaurants in and around Franklin; one of them is a pizzeria that serves up Italian and deli items in addition to their thick crust pizzas.Another promising destination is Ellsworth, which has a telephone museum you can visit, another museum which is part bird sanctuary and a historic estate which is part museum (focusing on Ellsworth's history), part outdoor garden, and part public park with trails you can hike (you can also play croquet while you're there).While you're in the downtown area, you can take a train ride operated by volunteer staff who are very knowledgeable about the area's history and about how trains and train tracks are operated. If your stomach starts to complain, Ellsworth has a varied and reasonably priced restaurant industry; one of the venues serves Thai food in a quiet, relaxed environment with booth seating.While you're in the state of Maine, consider camping at Lamoine Campground; you'll be in the midst of all that this stunning region has to offer.