The Kennebec Explorer 2014 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 40

THE REGION’S SEVEN LAKES Belgrade Lakes Great Pond Belgrade / Rome Messalonskee Belgrade / Oakland / Sidney Long Pond Belgrade / Mt. Vernon / Rome North Pond Mercer / Smithfield East Pond Oakland / Smithfield Salmon Pond Oakland / Belgrade McGrath Pond Oakland / Belgrade Breathtaking scenery. Crystalline lakes. Plentiful activities. Here beauty abounds. Ask anyone here what makes Belgrade Lakes a special place and the answer you’ll probably come away with is that it’s a four-season recreational paradise. Generations of visitors have passed along the message of relaxation, rejuvenation and recreation. The wholesome, free-and-easy attitude seems to just melt away life’s tension. Golfing, swimming, fishing, canoeing, hiking or just running into town to grab the necessities, whatever your pleasure, Belgrade Lakes is the iconic American summer vacation destination. Set out on foot with pole in hand (don’t forget your fishing license); soon you’ll find your new favorite fishing spot, even if you never make your first cast. Find your way to Blueberry Hill for a sweeping view of the seven lakes. Or take a scenic drive and be rewarded with some of the finest lake-side views in Maine. American playwright Ernest Thompson was so inspired by childhood summers spent on Great Pond that he penned On Golden Pond. Enjoy a round on the 18-hole championship Belgrade Lakes Golf Course, which was recognized as one of the best in Maine by Golf Digest. Perhaps the soft, fragrant summer breezes that lull you to sleep in your camp-side hammock will put you in the swing of things. Nature’s colorful fireworks truly showcase the beauty of our region in the autumn. In the colder months, the region becomes a winter wonderland offering activities ranging from cross-country skiing and snowshoe trekking to ice fishing or snowmobiling on the area’s well-cared-for trails. Having shed its “summer only” moniker years ago, Belgrade Lakes offers a wide selection of lodging available in all four seasons. Belgrade Lakes is the kind of place where the happiest of vacation memories are made, no matter what your age or activity. 38 38 To learn more about Belgrade Lakes, visit KennebecValley.org.