Maine

There’s a lot more winter fun at Maine ski areas than just skiing. Here’s a few.

Published

1 month ago

January 26, 2026

Press Room

There’s a lot more winter fun at Maine ski areas than just skiing. Here’s a few.

Two people speed down the toboggan chute at the Snow Bowl in Camden. (Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer)

With great powder comes great responsibility.

The folks who run Maine’s ski areas seem to understand that. They have these beautiful hills with scenic vistas, state-of-the-art snow machines, groomed trails, warming huts and everything else you need for winter fun.

And while skiing is the main reason these places were built, the folks who run them want to share them (usually for a price) with all the non-skiers, too. All around Maine you can find ski areas that also offer tubing, tobogganing, snowshoeing, ice skating or fat tire biking.

Here’s a list of places where a non-skier can enjoy the powder as much as anyone else.

The Edge Tubing Park at Black Mountain is now open for the winter. There are two 500-foot-long chutes for the tubes, and a lift to bring people and their tubes back up to the top. The tubing park is usually open on selected Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and school vacations. Tickets are $25, tube included, and there’s no time limit. You can come and ride all day.

The Jack Williams Toboggan Chute at the Camden Snow Bowl in Camden is a one-of-a kind attraction. First built in 1936, it’s a 70-foot-high and 400-foot-long wooden chute that sends tobogganers speeding through the trees at up to 40 miles an hour and onto frozen Hosmer Pond. The chute is open most Saturdays and Sundays in winter, after the U.S. Toboggan National Championships (Feb. 6-8). It costs $10 an hour per person, toboggan included. The Snow Bowl also has a 500-foot-long tubing hill, besides ski slopes. There’s a lift to carry you and your tube back up to the top. The cost is $15 per person, for an hour.

While your friends are skiing or snowboarding at Lost Valley, you could be showshoeing. Passes for snowshoe trails at Lost Valley are $6 and snowshoe rentals are $18. A map on the Lost Valley website shows a half-dozen or so trails winding around and at the base of the ski area.

This ski area near Bangor features a 600-foot tubing hill, with a slightly U-shaped slope. It’s usually open from Feb. 1, with hours every day but Monday, although it’s sometimes open on holidays, as it was on MLK Day this year, which was a Monday. Tickets are $20 per person and there’s a lift so you don’t have to trudge back up the hill when your ride is over.

Not strictly a ski area, but Pineland Farms offers 18 miles of groomed trials over gently sloping hills for Nordic skiing. But it’s really become a winter fun hub, with lots of other things to do, including sledding, ice skating, snowshoeing, fat tire biking and even a disc golf course that’s open in winter. The flooded skating area is lit up at night, and, along with the sledding hill, are both free to the public. The disc golf course is $8 to $10 a round or $10 to $12 for all-day play, plus $2 for disc rentals. Showshoe passes are $9 for a half day and $12 for a full day, while a fat tire bike pass is $5 a day. For rental information call 207-688-4539.

The Rangeley Lakes Trails Center, while not officially part of Saddleback, is nestled at the base of the mountain. So if you have friends skiing at Saddleback, it would be very easy for you to take advantage of the snowshoeing or fat tire biking at the trails center. The trails have stunning views of the Saddleback range and beyond. Snowshoe day passes are $10 to $15 while a fat bike pass is $10. Snowshoe rentals are $12 to $18 while fat tire bike rentals are $50 for half day or $75 for a full day, trail pass included.

This major ski resort in the state’s western mountains offers snowshoeing and ice skating at its Outdoor Center. All the trails, and the rink, have beautiful views. Skating is at an outdoor, NHL-sized rink, open daily from December through mid-March, weather permitting. Rink passes are $5 (children) to $15, while skate rentals range from $5 to $13. Snowshoe trail passes are $6 (children) to $21, while snowshoe rentals range from $11 to $22.

The Iglu at Sunday River is a slopeside lounge, carved into a giant igloo made of snow and ice. It’s open daily from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and is definitely a different place to have a drink. People can ski in or take a shuttle to get there. There are sweets, drinks and music.

Source link

Maine

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

Published

11 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

Maine competition gives creative entrepreneurs the chance to win money

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – If you’ve ever wondered what goes into pitching a good business idea, you might want to stop by a Big Gig event.

The Big Gig Entrepreneurship Pitch Off brings professionals from across the state together to network and pitch their early-stage business ideas for a chance to win $500.

Tuesday’s competition was held at the Salty Brick Market in Bangor, and it drew a lot of spectators.

“The winners of each semifinal event get $500 and the opportunity to compete for $5,000, so that can make a huge impact on a business that’s just getting off the ground,” said Renee Kelly, a Big Gig organizer.

The winner of the competition, Colin McGuire, was also grateful for the opportunity to showcase his idea “Art on Tap,” which would connect local artists with local venues trying to put on events.

“The support tonight is huge, and it’s just giving me more enthusiasm for running with the idea,” he said.

The season finale of the competition will be held May 19th.

The location is yet to be determined.

If you’d like to apply to compete in the contest, you can go to biggig.org.

Source link

Maine

This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak

Published

23 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

This Monster Burrito Challenge in Waterville, Maine, Is Not for the Weak

Are you up for a Maine food challenge, or are your eyes bigger than your stomach?

A Waterville staple, Buen Apetito has a monster burrito just waiting for someone to eat it down to the very last bite.

This thing is a beast, literally called La Bestia, and it’s definitely a mighty task for a fearless foodie.

Take on the Buen Apetito La Bestia Food Challenge in Waterville, Maine

According to Buen Apetito, if you can finish a super-sized burrito in 30 minutes or less, you’ll get the $60 meal for free, a La Bestia champion shirt, and a picture on the wall of fame. That’s not to mention the bragging rights of dominating a task few will be able to conquer.

Wondering what’s in the burrito?

The Mexican restaurant shared in a Facebook comment on a post that the burrito is filled with “grilled chicken, chorizo, and tender shredded beef or pork. Built on a layer of seasoned rice, refried beans, and French fries, it’s melted together with a shredded Mexican cheese blend and a drizzle of creamy cheese sauce, sautéed peppers and onions, green salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, creamy guacamole, and a bed of shredded lettuce all wrapped in three extra-large tortillas fused into one epic wrap.”

Let’s just say that this thing is packed full.

The first La Bestia contender took up his fork and knife in December 2025, but despite coming close, he couldn’t come out with the win.

As of March 2026, the challenge has remained undefeated. But you never know, someone is bound to come out victorious.

Just note that you can only try your hand at this food challenge on Wednesday and Thursday.

Buen Apetito Has Been a Longstanding Waterville, Maine, Restaurant

First opened in 1999, Buen Apeitito has been around for nearly 30 years.

Centralmaine.com reported that the Mexican restaurant was originally located at the Railroad Square complex off Chaplin Street before moving to 99 West River Road in 2023.

A little over a year later, in 2024, Buen Apetito shared on Facebook that it was passing on the torch to new owners, including Dalia, “the heart and soul of [the] kitchen for twenty years,” her daughter, Norma, and Norma’s husband, Shawn.

READ MORE: Famous Maine Restaurant Buen Apetito Adds Powerhouse New Owner to Crew

And it seems like not only are things still going strong, but new additions like La Bestia food challenge are only enhancing the spirit of big flavor and delicious Mexican food at the Waterville staple.

So, you think you’re up for the task of taking down a beast of a burrito at Buen Apetito? Good luck.

You Know You’re From Maine If You’ve Tried All 19 of These Foods

Here’s a number of foods associated with Maine. How many of them have you had?

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

The New York Time’s Best Restaurant Lists Feature These 7 Maine Spots

Gallery Credit: Sean McKenna

Source link

Maine

How the Good Neighbor Day of Giving telethon is impacting Maine’s communities

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

How the Good Neighbor Day of Giving telethon is impacting Maine’s communities

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) – Monday’s telethon held by WABI in partnership with Penquis and Heart of Maine United Way Monday raised money for the heating of homes, something so basic, yet so significant in a state like Maine.

Danielle Hewes, Penquis contributor and volunteer, says some people might not even know that they qualify for heating assistance.

“I think there’s this misconception that you can’t get that if you’re working. Like that’s just for people on general assistance. The truth of the matter is this is for the people that are maybe not able to work, but also for the people that are working. They’re making ends meet,” she said.

For Danielle, that’s what makes events like the telethon so special: it’s making a real difference in the community with people who need the help the most.

Speaking about Penquis in particular, she said, “You learn about all of the other things they do and how they help the community and you can’t help but want to be a part of that.”

If you weren’t able to donate Monday, donations are still being accepted.

You can go to homeunitedway.org/heat.

You can also call 941-2800.

Source link