The Kennebec Explorer 2014 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 36

Summertime Rules in Winthrop Lakes Summertime giggles, tan lines and the great American camping trip. Cobbosseecontee, or Cobbessee as it is lovingly called, is one of the best lakes in all of the Northeast with plenty of Maine’s largest bass lingering just beneath its surface and it sports Maine’s only working inland lighthouse (see page 6). The magic of this corner of the Kennebec Valley lies in its lakes. Gorgeous stretches of clean, pure, wonderful water. They are a real crowd pleaser. In addition to Cobbosseecontee you’ll find Androscoggin, Annabessacook and Maranacook: havens for boating, kayaking, canoeing, fishing, or swimming. C’mon, welcoming waters await. A quick climb to survey our entire area. Don’t forget to take the opportunity to make the short hike up the Mt. Pisgah trail to climb the 60-foot historic fire tower. You’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the region. Hikers here will appreciate the good work of the Kennebec Land Trust who have, through years of work, put together access to some of the most beautiful and unspoiled hiking spots. Check them out. Our brand of fun is meant for kids of all ages, too. All summer long the Norcross Point Concert Series will delight visitors with an easy afternoon of entertainment. 34 Or spend Independence Day on our shores and then Winthrop’s Annual Fourth of July Fireworks on Lake Maranacook. Small, and proud of it, Monmouth packs a punch in a number of ways. Located just outside of Augusta on Route 202, a trip up Main Street shows off its best features. You’ll immediately be taken with Cumston Hall, the cultural center of the area, with its 250-seat opera house, a library and Maine’s Official Shakespearean Theatre. Up the street you’ll also find The Monmouth Museum; it actively documents 19th-century farm living. Come summer, the annual Monmouth Fair has all the makings of an honest-to-goodness down-home fair. But if you go, be careful, or you might just find yourself getting pulled into the skillet toss. Summer fun for generations of kids. These shores also serve as the backdrop for many of the Maine Summer Camps which have long enjoyed their place as some of the finest in the world, filling summers with smiles, activity and laughter. Our region offers some of the finest and most well- established camp experiences in the country and the world. To learn more about the Winthrop Lakes area, visit KennebecValley.org.