Sarah’s List Of Things To Do In Augusta If You’re A Tourist This Summer

Memorial Day weekend is upon us and that means it's the start of tourist season in Maine.  Also known as Vacationland, Maine has many beautiful places from Kittery to Calais that you can visit.  Here are my reasons why you should make a pitstop in, our State's Capital, Augusta.  

1. Hungry?  You must try an italian at Whipper's Pizza.  If you're not from Maine, then the term 'italian' has you thrown just a bit.  Also known as a Hoagie or Submarine sandwich, the italian comes on a 12" role with ham, cheese, onions, tomatoes, pickles, green peppers & black olives and topped with oil.  No one does it quite like Whipper's.
2. Still hungry?  You have to get a hamburg pizza from College Carry-Out.  It has to be a large, though.  Not sure why, but the large tastes so much better than a 10" or 12".  They have the BEST hamburg pizza in town!
3. Take your food and go have a picnic in Capital Park!  It's gorgeous with the Capital Building in the background and plenty of green to sit on and let the kids run and do cartwheels.
4. Visit the Maine State Museum.  A lot of fun for the kids.  You can explore the museum with scavenger hunts and activity guides.  $2 for adults and only $1 for kids and a max charge of $6/family.
5. Take a walk on the Kennebec River Rail Trail.  The trail starts in Augusta and goes along the Kennebec River through Hallowell, Farmingdale and ending in Gardiner.
6. Visit Old Fort Western.  Travel back to the 18th century as you tour this restored Fort that was built in 1754.  It's a blast from the past.
7. Sit along the Kennebec River and watch the Sturgeon jump and leap out of the water like dolphins.  Be patient, but I promise you won't miss them as they leap out of the water and a big splash as they fall back into the water.
8. Take a hike at the Pine Tree State Arboretum.  Over 200 acres of land filled with beautiful trees and flowers, the Pine Tree State Arboretum has some hidden history, like The Piggery, and worth the trip.
9. Shopping your thing?  Visit Augusta's biggest shopping centre, The Marketplace at Augusta with stores like: Old Navy, Children's Place, Famous Footwear, Charming Charlies, Ulta Beauty, The Dress Barn, The Paperstore and so much more.
10. Book an air tour through Maine Instrument Flight at the Augusta Airport

And for hilarity purposes, if you want to catch a funny and not so rare site in our State's Capital, go sit downtown by the railroad bridge.  For certain, you are bound to see some rogue tractor trailer driver and his rig try to cram their way under a 12' 10" bridge when they are 13' tall.  It's something to cross off your bucket list!