Winter Weekend Itinerary: Rangeley Lakes Region Maine
The Rangeley Lakes region is the perfect destination for your next Winter weekend getaway. Why? Because this little slice of paradise has something for every kind of vacationer— the ski bum, shopper, hiker, foodie, and everyone in between. It’s time to pack your bags and experience a weekend like no other that will leave you feeling refreshed!
Lodging
Rangeley has plenty of diverse rental options to meet your getaway needs. If you want to stay downtown and be able to walk to restaurants and shopping, check into the picturesque Rangeley Inn and Tavern. If a waterfront stay is more your style, check out the adorable cabins at Bald Mountain Camps in Oquossoc. If mountain views is what you’re after, Saddleback Mountain has plenty of beautiful, mountainside condos. If you can’t go without a pool, check out The Rangeley Saddleback Inn. For everything in between, check out all of the short term rentals on Air B and B and VRBO.
My favorite: Bald Mountain Camps. I love their on-site restaurant and gorgeous lakefront sunsets!
Friday
Get a jump start on your weekend by skiing at Saddleback Mountain. Be sure to get there early (before 8:00a.m.) to secure a decent parking spot. If you don’t have your own equipment, they have a rental shop run by top notch staff that will get you geared up with everything you need to have an enjoyable day on the slopes.
Saddleback has a few lunch options. For a quick, grab-and-go lunch, check out the Market on the first floor of the lodge. If you’re looking for a sit down meal that offers amazing food and views, check out The Pub, located on the third floor of the base lodge. You have to get the fried chicken sandwich as well as the buffalo wings, which come with the most delicious homemade bleu cheese dressing I’ve ever had. If you’re looking for a one-of-a-kind dining experience, check out The Nest—an innovative restaurant perched at 3620’ where every dish is served alongside a view.
After a full day of skiing, it’s time to check into accommodations. After settling in, head over to Bald Mountain Camps for their famous prime rib buffet dinner. Yeah—I said buffet. It’s all-you-can-eat prime rib, potatoes, veggies, and dessert for only $42.00. And let me be the first to tell you—it’s delicious! If prime rib doesn’t hit the spot, the braised beef short rib bolognese or the chicken pot pie will. You also can’t go wrong with their spinach artichoke dip and Bavarian pretzel sticks.
Saturday
After a good nights rest, grab some yummy breakfast sandwiches from Oquossoc Grocery and head to the Bald Mountain trailhead, located down the road from Bald Mountain Camps, on the Bald Mountain Road.
The hike up to Bald Mountain is so much fun in the Winter! The packed snow makes the trail more level and makes for a very gradual, enjoyable hike. The summit has picnic tables and a fire tower that provides outstanding 360-degree views of surrounding lakes, mountains, as well as the Maine 4000’ footers and the White Mountains.
After burning off a trillion calories, head on over to the Portage Tap House in Oquossoc for some much needed nourishment. Their dining room has little touches—reclaimed wood, hanging canoes, twinkle lights— that really connect you to the local history of the Rangeley Lakes Region. Their wood-fired pizza, BBQ ribs, and meatloaf are all delicious.
Once you’re well-fed and rested, head over to Moose Alley for an afternoon of big ball bowling, arcade games, and billards. They have ten state of the art bowling lanes with comfortable seating, large tv screens, electronic scoring, and automatic bumpers. If you work up an appetite, the on-site restaurant makes small bites, pizza, salads, burgers, sandwiches, and desserts.
Wrap up your Saturday with a delicious dinner in downtown Rangeley. If you’re in the mood for wood-fired pizza, visit The Furbish Brew House & Eats. For yummy pub food in a casual atmosphere, check out Sarge’s Sports Pub & Grub. For a quieter, more “intimate” dinner, make a reservation at Parkside & Main. Their french onion soup, chicken marsala, and baked stuffed haddock are exquisite.
Sunday
If you like to go out for Sunday breakfast, there’s no place better than The Rangeley Inn & Tavern’s historic dining room, where breakfast is served from 7-11:00a.m. on weekends.
After filling up on pancakes, take a stroll through downtown Rangeley and explore the quaint shops, stores, and galleries for a little keepsake of your time spent in the Rangeley Lakes region. After shopping, walk down to the water and take in one last look at Rangeley Lake before heading home.
Additional Activities
Rangeley Lakes Trail Center: Over 50K of recreational trails. In the Winter, enjoy nordic skiing, snowshoeing, and fat tire biking.
Hiking: Check out Rangeley Lake State Park, West Kennebago Mountain, Azicohos Mountain, and South Bog Conservation Lands.
Lakeside Theater: This historic theater does a whole lot more than show movies—they also put on concerts, live theater, comedy shows, and other events right in downtown Rangeley.
Whenever you visit, be sure to respect the places you visit and the people you encounter. Maine is a unique place filled with a lot of natural beauty and we need your help keeping it beautiful! Always leave no trace and carry in/carry out.
Enjoy your visit and happy exploring, friends!
MyMaine
