The Kennebec Explorer 2015 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 41

Belgrade Lakes
THE REGION’S SEVEN 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
HERE BEAUTY ABOUNDS
Breathtaking scenery. Crystalline lakes. Plentiful activities. Ask anyone here what makes Belgrade Lakes a special place
and the answer you’ll probably come away with is that it’s a recreational paradise in every season.
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 lakeside 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 the
region in autumn. And in 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.
Learn more at KennebecValley.org 39