Recreation

The Capital Area offers a variety of recreational activities enjoyed year-round by residents and visitors alike. Surrounded by many lakes, ponds, and the Kennebec River, the Capital Area is well suited for activities such as canoeing, boating, swimming, water skiing, sailing, jet skiing, ice skating and fishing. Visitors may rent or buy canoes and kayaks from Belgrade Canoe & Kayak and Farmingdale Kayak and Canoe. Boat rentals and marine services are provided by area marinas including Great Pond Marina & Belgrade Marine & Cottage in Belgrade Lakes, Foggy Bottom Marine in Farmingdale, Clark Marine in Manchester and Lakeside Motel and Marina in East Winthrop. Public boat landings located on the Kennebec River can be found in Augusta, Hallowell, Gardiner, and Richmond. Whitewater rafting along the Kennebec and other rivers is organized by rafting companies within the area such as North Country Rivers.

The City of Augusta maintains the popular Bicentennial Park, a recreation and swimming area on a city pond for residents of Augusta.

Outdoor swimming pools are located at three area playgrounds and at area hotels/motels including Best Western Senator Inn & Spa, Econo Lodge Inn & Suites, Fairway Motor Lodge, Holiday Inn Civic Center and Quality Inn & Suites, Maine Evergreen Hotel. Indoor swimming pools are located at Best Western Senator Inn & Spa, Comfort Inn and the Kennebec Valley YMCA.

The Kennebec Valley YMCA also offers a racquetball court, weight rooms, fitness center and a state of the art swimming pool. Other health clubs include KV Health Club, Flight II Fitness and the spa at the Best Western Senator Inn. Other indoor sports offered within the Capital Area include ice skating at Kennebec Ice Arena, candlepin bowling, and ten pin bowling at Sparetime Recreation.

The Kennebec River Rail Trail offers miles of scenic river views for walkers and bikers and stretches more than six miles between Augusta, Hallowell, Farmingdale and Gardiner. The University of Maine at Augusta maintains hiking and running trails for all levels and the Greenway in Augusta is a shorter pleasant river walk. The Pine Tree State Arboretum also offers beautiful wooded trails for nature lovers.

The Capital Area also hosts 7 outdoor tennis courts, 6 public golf courses, 1 private golf course, Augusta Country Club, and numerous parks, playgrounds and athletic fields.

Miniature golf is offered at two sites within the area, including T's Golf and Deb's Ice Cream. Capital Area residents and visitors also frequent our 10-theater movie cinema, numerous movie rental shops, and nightly Beano played at various halls and churches throughout our communities.

Cultural opportunities within the Capital Area include Shakespearean plays performed at the Theater at Monmouth throughout the summer and concerts performed by the Kennebec Performing Arts and the Augusta Symphony Orchestra plus year-round performances at the Waterville Opera House. Other venues for performing arts include Johnson Hall in Gardiner and Gaslight Theater in Hallowell and the University of Maine at Augusta.