The Kennebec Explorer 2020 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 16

The Lakeside Life
If only everyday life could be this easy.
Loons call to each other as the waning
hours of the day cast an indescribable
light across the water. A vacation in
one of the lakeside communities across
Maine’s Kennebec Valley is an ideal
way to make life a bit more relaxed.
Time well spent: fishing,
paddling, swimming
Maybe it’s the laid-back vibe here that
melts the tension. It’s a “whatever” sort
of attitude that makes you want to grab
your pole and head out to a favorite
fishing hole. Who cares if you catch
anything, though you probably will.
In Winthrop, Lake Cobbosseecontee
is a mecca for anglers, with plenty of
Maine’s largest bass just beneath its
surface. Long and Great Pond are filled
with trout and bass, too. It must be
something about the water.
Fayette has Echo Lake, where trout
will just about jump in the boat if you
whisper the right words. Long and
skinny, Messalonskee has Belgrade
at one end and Oakland at the other.
Straddled between Vienna and Mount
Vernon, Flying Pond is nestled among
rolling hills. A popular summer cottage
location the pond still offers long
stretches of natural shoreline.
Further up Route 201 in Somerset
County, the lakes become wilder in
character. Moxie Pond, located east
of Mosquito Mountain, is a favorite of
paddlers. Pierce Pond has long occupied
a special place in the hearts of outdoor
enthusiasts. Attean Pond, west of
Jackman, boasts more than 40 islands,
offering both a peaceful retreat and
great salmon fishing.
Getting into the swing of things
Many find the easy lake lifestyle
transfers perfectly to the golf course
as well, which makes good sense since
Golf Digest continues to place the
Belgrade Lakes course atop the list of
Maine’s best public courses. Here’s a
shortlist of courses around the lakes
of the southern Kennebec Valley:
Belgrade Lakes Golf Club, Augusta
Country Club, Natanis in Vassalboro,
and The Meadows in Litchfield.
Whether it be catching fish, taking a
swim, playing a round of golf, or grabbing
an ice cream cone at the store after a
long hot day, these lakes and the towns
that call them home are more than
just a place to play. They are genuinely
summer living, perfected.
But it’s not just this lake or that lake; it’s
all of them—Androscoggin, Maranacook,
and Annabessacook. Each is a gorgeous
stretch of crystal water that reflects the
light of dawn and the glow of sunset
with perfection. Each a haven for boat-
ing, water skiing, paddling, fishing, and
a favorite with the kids, swimming.
The list of lakes goes on and on
China Lake to the east of Augusta is a
fishing and boater’s paradise and holds
a place on the Bassmaster list for top
bass fishing. Belgrade’s Great Pond and
Webber Pond near Vassalboro are also
regulars on the list.
Toward the southern part of the region
in Litchfield are the Tacoma Lakes.
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