Mainepedia
Planning Guide

Rainy Day Activities in Maine

When fog rolls in or rain falls, Maine offers museums, breweries, indoor markets, and cozy spots to wait out the weather. Your guide to indoor adventures.

Maine weather is unpredictable. Fog can smother the coast for days. Summer thunderstorms roll through without warning. Fall nor’easters bring sideways rain. Rather than fighting the weather, experienced Maine travelers embrace it—retreating indoors to discover a different side of Maine.

The museums are world-class. The breweries pour exceptional beer. The bookstores invite hours of browsing. And sometimes, the best Maine experience is a cup of coffee by a rain-streaked window, watching the storm move through.

Museums

Art Museums

Portland Museum of Art Maine’s premier art museum features an outstanding collection of American art, including works by Winslow Homer, Rockwell Kent, and Andrew Wyeth. The building itself—designed by I.M. Pei—is worth the visit.

  • Highlight: Homer’s seascapes painted at Prouts Neck
  • Time needed: 2-3 hours
  • Tip: Free admission Fridays 4-8 PM

Farnsworth Art Museum (Rockland) Devoted to Maine’s role in American art. The Wyeth Center houses exceptional works by N.C., Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth.

  • Highlight: The Wyeth family collection
  • Bonus: Tour the Olson House (site of Christina’s World) on clear days
  • Time needed: 2-4 hours

Ogunquit Museum of American Art Perched above the ocean with a collection focused on American modernism. The views are spectacular even in rain.

  • Highlight: The building and setting as much as the art
  • Time needed: 1-2 hours

Bowdoin College Museum of Art (Brunswick) Free admission to an impressive collection including works by Homer, Eakins, and Copley.

  • Highlight: Ancient Mediterranean collection
  • Time needed: 1-2 hours

History Museums

Maine State Museum (Augusta) Comprehensive history of Maine from geology to the present. Excellent natural history exhibits.

  • Highlight: “Made in Maine” industrial history
  • Time needed: 2-3 hours
  • Admission: Free

Penobscot Marine Museum (Searsport) Maritime history across multiple historic buildings. Ship models, photographs, and the story of Maine’s seafaring past.

  • Highlight: Historical photographs of coastal Maine
  • Time needed: 2-3 hours

Maine Maritime Museum (Bath) Shipbuilding heritage in the city that built more ships than anywhere else in America.

  • Highlight: Percy & Small Shipyard
  • Time needed: 3-4 hours

Abbe Museum (Bar Harbor) Wabanaki history and culture, including contemporary Native art.

  • Highlight: Connections between past and present
  • Time needed: 1-2 hours

Science and Nature

Maine Discovery Museum (Bangor) Hands-on children’s museum with exhibits on nature, music, art, and more.

  • Highlight: Nature trails and animal encounters
  • Best for: Families with children under 10
  • Time needed: 2-3 hours

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine (Portland) Interactive exhibits for younger children in downtown Portland.

  • Highlight: Camera Obscura
  • Best for: Ages 0-10
  • Time needed: 2-3 hours

Maine State Aquarium (West Boothbay Harbor) Touch tanks and local marine life. Small but engaging.

  • Highlight: Hands-on tide pool experience
  • Time needed: 1-2 hours

Breweries and Distilleries

Portland Beer Scene

Portland has more breweries per capita than almost any American city. A rainy day is perfect for sampling.

Allagash Brewing Company Pioneers of Belgian-style brewing in America. Free tours explain the process; the tasting room pours the results.

Maine Beer Company “Do What’s Right” is the motto. The beer—especially Lunch IPA—lives up to it.

Bissell Brothers Hazy IPAs in an industrial Thompson’s Point setting.

Foundation Brewing Epiphany pale ale and Burnside Brown Ale anchor a solid lineup.

Austin Street Brewery Neighborhood brewery with rotating taps and a welcoming vibe.

Beyond Portland

Bigelow Brewing (Skowhegan) Western Maine brewery with Maine-themed beers.

Orono Brewing Company College town brewery near the University of Maine.

Baxter Brewing (Lewiston) Canned craft beer pioneer. Tours available.

Marshall Wharf Brewing (Belfast) Waterfront brewery in a converted sardine factory.

Distilleries

Maine Craft Distilling (Portland) Spirits made from Maine ingredients. Tours and tastings.

Sweetgrass Farm Winery & Distillery (Union) Wines, spirits, and smoked meats on a working farm.

Cold River Vodka (Freeport) Award-winning potato vodka made from Maine potatoes.

Bookstores

Portland

Longfellow Books Monument Square independent with excellent curation and knowledgeable staff.

Print: A Bookstore Book bar concept—browse books while sipping wine or coffee.

Yes Books Used books in three floors of organized chaos.

Beyond Portland

Sherman’s Books (Multiple locations) Maine institution since 1886. Bar Harbor, Camden, Freeport locations.

Gulf of Maine Books (Brunswick) Excellent independent with strong Maine section.

Owl & Turtle Bookshop (Camden) Cozy bookstore in a quintessential Maine town.

Left Bank Books (Belfast) Used and antiquarian books in a welcoming setting.

Big Chicken Barn (Ellsworth) 21,000 square feet of books, antiques, and browsing.

Shopping

Freeport

L.L.Bean’s flagship store is open 24/7, 365 days a year. Rain or shine, day or night, you can browse outdoor gear. The rest of Freeport offers outlet shopping and local boutiques.

L.L.Bean highlights:

  • Outdoor Discovery School demonstrations
  • Hunting and fishing departments
  • Home and camp section

Portland Old Port

Brick streets and historic buildings house boutiques, galleries, and specialty shops.

Notable stops:

  • Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine (local products)
  • Treehouse Toys (classic toys)
  • Ferdinand (home goods and art)
  • Sea Bags (recycled sail bags)

Antiques

Wells Antique Centers Multiple dealers under several roofs. Route 1 in Wells is antique row.

Hallowell Antique District Historic Kennebec River town with concentrated antique shops.

Augusta Armory Antiques Large multi-dealer space in a former National Guard armory.

Food Markets and Food Halls

Portland Public Market House

Rebuilt market hall with local vendors, prepared food, and specialty items. Perfect for grazing on a rainy day.

Fork Food Lab (Portland)

Incubator for food businesses. Multiple vendors selling specialty foods.

Aurora Provisions (Portland)

Gourmet grocery, café, and wine shop. Browse the shelves, have lunch, wait out the rain.

Movies and Entertainment

Independent Cinemas

Nickelodeon Cinema (Portland) Six screens showing independent and art house films downtown.

Railroad Square Cinema (Waterville) Art house programming in a restored train station.

Strand Theatre (Rockland) Live performances and films in a restored 1923 theater.

Eveningstar Cinema (Brunswick) Historic theater with first-run and art films.

Performing Arts

Portland Stage Company Professional theater in downtown Portland.

Merrill Auditorium (Portland) Portland Symphony Orchestra and touring acts.

Chocolate Church Arts Center (Bath) Community arts venue with varied programming.

Cozy Cafes and Bakeries

Portland

Bard Coffee Serious coffee in a serious space. Watch the rain on Congress Street.

Speckled Ax Wood-roasted coffee in the Old Port.

Tandem Coffee + Bakery Exceptional pastries and coffee in a converted gas station.

Standard Baking Co. Breads and pastries from a pioneer of Portland’s food scene.

Coastal

Rock City Coffee (Rockland) Local gathering spot with good coffee.

Nervous Nellie’s Jams and Jellies (Deer Isle) Café attached to a jam kitchen and sculpture garden.

Downeast

Serendib Spice (Machias) Tea and Sri Lankan food in an unlikely location.

Indoor Activities

Escape Rooms

  • Puzzle Parlour (Portland)
  • Maine Escape Games (South Portland)
  • Trapped Escape Room (Ellsworth)

Bowling

  • Bayside Bowl (Portland): Rooftop bar, live music, modern lanes
  • Big 20 Bowling (Scarborough): Candlepin tradition
  • Various candlepin lanes statewide

Rock Climbing Gyms

  • Central Rock Gym (Randolph)
  • Vertical Maine (Multiple locations)

Arcades

  • Arcadia (Portland): Barcade with classic games
  • Fun-O-Rama (York Beach): Classic boardwalk arcade

Rainy Day Road Trips

Scenic Drives

Even in rain, Maine’s drives are beautiful—arguably more atmospheric.

Route 1 through Midcoast Fog adds mystery to coastal views. Stop in villages, explore shops.

Route 27 to Sugarloaf Mountain scenery through shifting clouds.

Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway Lakes and forests in any weather.

Covered Bridges

Maine’s remaining covered bridges offer shelter and photo opportunities.

  • Artist’s Covered Bridge (Newry)
  • Hemlock Bridge (Fryeburg)
  • Lovejoy Bridge (Andover)

Embracing the Weather

Storm Watching

When weather turns dramatic, coastal locations offer nature’s show:

  • Portland Head Light: Waves crashing on rocks
  • Pemaquid Point: Surf on the striated ledges
  • Schoodic Point: Storm watching at its best (stay safe)
  • Two Lights State Park: Accessible drama

Fog Photography

Maine fog creates moody images impossible in clear weather:

  • Harbors with boats appearing and disappearing
  • Lighthouses emerging from mist
  • Forest roads fading into gray
  • Coastal cliffs in shifting visibility

The Gift of Gray Days

Sunny days show one Maine—the postcard version of blue skies and sparkling water. Rainy days reveal another: the Maine of cozy cafés and empty museums, of browsing bookstores and sipping beer while rain drums on the roof. The quiet Maine. The local Maine.

Don’t fight the weather. Let it guide you indoors, and discover that Maine has as much to offer under gray skies as under blue.

Rain in Maine isn’t a ruined vacation—it’s a different vacation. The museums are less crowded. The breweries are just as welcoming. The bookstores offer shelter and discovery. When the weather clears, you’ll have new appreciation for the sunshine. Until then, embrace the gray.

Find more indoor activities and cultural attractions: