September News – New Lodging and Trails

September 1, 2026

Maine Cabin Masters and Other Lodging News

Waters Run Bed & Breakfast in Monmouth has opened. Once part of the historic Woolworth Estate, this former bed & breakfast was bought and renovated by Chase and Sarah Morrill. He’s one of the stars of Maine Cabin Masters on the Magnolia Network, and they are now operating the 12-room property, which includes newly built cabins. Their painstaking, thoughtful transformation of the property can be seen on a new six-part series on Maine Cabin Masters.

Close to Acadia National Park, Lantern Camp in Orland opened as a “Landscape Hotel” with a collection of modern, minimal cabins artfully tucked into a wild blueberry barren that promises 100-acre views. The property features 24 Scandinavian-inspired, solar-powered cabins and offers hiking trails and views of Penobscot Bay.

The Residence Inn/ Moxy Hotel Portland Thompson’s Point is a dual-branded Marriott property that just opened in the city’s event and entertainment epicenter, Thompson’s Point. The 70 extended-stay suites at The Residence Inn are perfect for visitors staying a week or longer. Meanwhile, The Moxy has 78 guestrooms in varying layouts and a bright color palette, communal spaces, and state-of-the-art tech.

Mindfulness Trail

A Mindfulness Trail has opened in East Warren, offering visitors a free, self-guided forest experience built around curiosity, discovery, and the stories hidden in the landscape. The nonprofit trail is open seven days a week from 7:00 a.m. to sunset. The Loop Trail and Maze Trails include more than a mile of well-maintained, easy-to-hike paths, with information stops about glacial erratics, ancient shoreline evidence, stone fences, historic pastureland, and the remains of an 18th-century building foundation. Free guided tours are also available. Visit the Mindfulness Trail.

Goddard Mansion Reopens

The legendary Goddard Mansion has reopened at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth. The stately Italianate stone mansion was designed and built by noted New York architect Charles A. Alexander for local businessman John Goddard. Acquired by the army in 1900 as part of Fort Williams, the mansion fell into disrepair. The massive stone shell of the building remains, and the structure has been partially refurbished and is now open to visitors. The Park is also home to Maine’s oldest lighthouse, Portland Head Light.

The Eastern Trail Expands

A new section of the Eastern Trail has been completed, creating a continuous 16-mile off-road trail from South Portland’s Bug Light to downtown Saco. The new 1.6-mile segment is totally off-road, safe, and accessible for runners, walkers, and cyclists. This stretch of trail is part of the 65-mile-long Eastern Trail, which now runs from Kittery northward to Bug Light in South Portland. It offers more than 20 miles of protected, off-road trail and over 40 miles of on-road connections. It was built along the old Eastern Railroad corridor, the first railroad to connect Boston to Portland, which operated from 1842 until 1945.

10th Annual Maine Cheese Festival

The 10th Annual Maine Cheese Festival will welcome more than 45 Maine cheesemakers to Manson Park in Pittsfield on September 13, 2026. Along with local food, craftspeople, and live music, it’s an opportunity to sample the wares of some of Maine’s finest cheese producers. Hosted by the Maine Cheese Guild, the festival offers a vibrant, immersive experience of Maine’s artisan food economy. For tickets and event information, go to the Maine Cheese Festival.

Art of Ellsworth: Maine Craft Weekend

Art of Ellsworth: Maine Craft Weekend is set for October 1-4, 2026, an event curated by Heart of Ellsworth. It invites residents, visitors, artists, and local businesses to come together around craft, culture, and community. Part of the statewide Maine Craft Weekend, this year’s event has been developed with a special focus on sculpture, stone as a craft medium, and the creative process behind public art. The event will celebrate two new pieces of sculpture along the city’s Riverwalk. It will also offer the open studios, workshops, exhibitions, performances, demonstrations, and community events that make Art of Ellsworth a true downtown experience.

Kennebec Creeps & Crawls

Halloween is approaching, and Hallowell is the place to experience some ghostly thrills.Kennebec Creeps & Crawls has introduced a Boo Bus, a rolling Victorian Parlor that’s hosted by The Lady in White, Jodie Bennett.  She has deep local historical knowledge, a flair for the dramatic, and a variety of spooky stories. Among her tours are “A Tale of Two Cities” on Thursday nights and “Murder, Mayhem, & Madness” on Saturday nights.

Bold Coast National Scenic Byway

Maine’s National Scenic Byways are a collection of seven picturesque driving tours throughout the state. One of the most dramatic is the Bold Coast National Scenic Byway, a 125-mile route that invites visitors to explore the culture, history, and unspoiled beauty of coastal Downeast Maine. The byway extends from Milbridge and runs northeasterly through coastal villages to Lubec, skirting the coastline of Cobscook Bay as far as Eastport. It’s a drive filled with astounding ocean vistas, wild blueberry barrens, farmland, tidal marshes, and bays. Details at National Scenic Byway Association.