Bangor Between Art and Nature Trails

When choosing Bangor as a destination, you can focus on different aspects of art, city history, and nature trails. The Zillman Art Museum and the story of Paul Bunyan sit alongside historic sites, wooded areas, and the Bangor Waterfront Trail along the Penobscot River. To help plan your trip, first consider whether you are most interested in contemporary art, local history, or outdoor activities. The places below offer specific starting points.

Art, History, and Local Stories

The Zillman Art Museum moved to downtown Bangor in December 2002. It hosts an annual exhibition program featuring contemporary artists and contemporary themes. This means that, alongside city history, contemporary art is also part of Bangor’s cultural profile. For travelers interested in current art, the museum is a specific point of interest in the city’s offerings.

Paul Bunyan, the legendary lumberjack said in local tradition to have been born in Bangor, is part of local folklore. A massive fiberglass statue welcomes visitors to Bangor. Mount Hope Cemetery offers a different historical perspective: the cemetery opened in 1836 and is described as the second-largest garden cemetery in the country. The Bangor Historical Society also runs the Best of Bangor Walking Tour. Together, these topics offer different points of historical interest, from a local legend to a cemetery with a long history.

The Penobscot Theatre Company is also based in Bangor, Maine, and produces five youth productions each year. Thus, youth productions are part of the city’s cultural offerings alongside contemporary exhibitions.

Forests and Trails

The Rolland F. Perry City Forest in Bangor encompasses more than 680 acres of wildlife habitat and managed forest. The area has more than nine miles of trails for running, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. These activities range from running and hiking to biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing.

Essex Woods offers a different landscape. Its trails pass through wetlands and reforested areas and are suitable for hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing. Compared with the Rolland F. Perry City Forest, the focus here is on wetlands and reforested areas, while the forest stands out for its more than 680 acres and more than nine miles of trails. Comparing nature destinations by landscape and activity gives you two different options.

Along the Penobscot River

The Bangor Waterfront Trail complements the forest trails with a riverside and park setting. The paved trail, about one mile long, runs along the Penobscot River through Bangor’s Waterfront Park. It connects to the East Coast Greenway, the Kenduskeag Stream Trail, and the River City Trail. Features of the trail include views of the Penobscot River, sculptures, a public dock for small boats, and food trucks. Its riverside location, park setting, and paved surface distinguish it from the wooded areas and their respective landscapes.

Getting Around Bangor

The Community Connector provides scheduled transportation services within Bangor. If you plan to use it during your day, check the schedule for the routes you need. Along with the city’s range of cultural and nature destinations, this is a practical point to consider when planning your stay.

Discover more destinations: Brewer, Lincoln, Millinocket, Dexter, Glenburn, Orono, Lee, Corinna

For the broader travel overview: Penobscot.