Maine’s 2025 August Update

August 1, 2025

Sugarloaf Bike Park

Sugarloaf Bike Park’s highly anticipated lift-serviced downhill mountain bike park officially opened for its first summer season on July 4, 2025. Providing 1,050 feet of elevation per lap via the Whiffletree Quad, it offers the ideal amount of vertical for a bike park. The machine-built gravity trails are 2.5-3 miles long at a mellow grade, while hand-built enduro trails are shorter and steeper. Emerald is a 3-mile intermediate flow trail built for speed, progression, and pure downhill fun. A machine-built trail, it features smooth rollers, sweeping berms, and optional features designed to challenge experienced riders while still welcoming those new to gravity-fed biking. The lift also provides access to Sugarloaf’s more advanced Enduro and Downhill trails, including iconic tracks from past Eastern States Cup and Enduro World Cup races—like Jackpot, Widowmaker Extension, and Rookie River. Bike Park Manager Adam Craig – a Maine native, Olympian, and national champion – played a pivotal role in shaping the Sugarloaf Bike Park experience, from trail design to rider development.

Breakwater Inn, Kennebunkport

The 35-room Breakwater Inn, one of Kennebunkport’s historic and most beloved ocean-view hotels, reopened on July 1, 2025, after the sale of the property, the complete renovation of its harborside guest rooms, and the debut of a brand-new restaurant and bars. Located at the picturesque point where the Kennebunk River feeds into the Atlantic Ocean, the boutique hotel seamlessly blends its original 1880s cottage architecture with contemporary comfort and style, with the renovation featuring interior design by Hurlbutt Designs. Accommodation combines classic nautical elegance and water views with modern comfort, many with views of yachts and boats as they glide out to sea. They refreshed each guestroom in the 15-unit Harbor Building while carefully preserving the property’s historic charm and maritime character. The original inn building, featuring 20 spacious waterfront guest rooms, most with private decks, has also been refreshed and continues to offer guests an authentic glimpse into Maine’s coastal heritage. The hotel’s new dining venues include Port Fish & Chop House, Tin Bar, and Mabel’s Pantry. The new owners are First Serve Hospitality Group, who also own such popular southern Maine restaurants as Mabel’s Lobster Claw, Robert’s Maine Grill, Bob’s Clam Shack, and The Maine Catch.

Moose Watching in Maine

Maine has plenty of moose, with a population of between 40,000 and 60,000 of them, more than any other state in the lower 48 states. The sight of your first moose is unforgettable, since they can stand up to seven feet tall and weigh close to 1,100 pounds. But spotting these elusive creatures is another matter. Summer and fall are great times to go moose watching, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. Location, time of day, and season are the three primary considerations. Then factor in patience and a little luck. Getting off the beaten path is also critical, since being away from other people is often essential to spotting moose. For more details on spotting moose, check out the recently published online guide called Moose Watching in Maine from The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife.

Bowdoin College Museum of Art: Gordon Parks: Herklas Brown and Maine, 1944

In January 1944, at the height of World War II, Gordon Parks photographed Herklas Brown, owner of the general store and Esso gas station in Somerville, Maine. Parks, who would go on to have a distinguished career at Life magazine, traveled to the state under the auspices of the Standard Oil Company to record its contributions to the war effort and to document the home front. Consistent with his work before and after, Parks made it his mission to get to know his subjects and show their humanity. At a time when transportation, food, and lodging were a challenge, and more so as a Black man traveling alone, Parks nonetheless created a compelling documentary record of rural America that offers insight into this historic moment. These 65 photographs are being exhibited at the Bowdoin College Museum of Art in partnership with The Gordon Parks Foundation. Gordon Parks: Herklas Brown and Maine, 1944 runs through November 9, 2025.

Maine Craft Weekend

The annual Maine Craft Weekend will run on October 4 and 5, 2025. It’s a celebration of basketry, ceramics, glass, fiber + textiles, jewelry, printmaking, leather, and the artisans who excel in these mediums. For the public, it’s an exclusive, excellent opportunity to visit private artist studios, glass-blowing studios, outdoor installation sites, non-profit craft organizations, craft-based schools, craft beer breweries collaborating with artists, and pop-up shops. This year’s featured cities are Belfast, Biddeford, Ellsworth, and Freeport, but there are events throughout the state. Visit Maine Craft Weekend for more information.