Things to Do in Maine

With access to thousands of acres of forests and fields, Carousel Horse Farm's expert equestrians take riders of all skill levels on scenic jaunts through the Maine countryside. Private or group trail rides in Casco explore the local woods, hills, and fields, sometimes including stops to fetch ice cream or to wipe down horses' windshields. Horse-drawn carriage rides, offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day, provide an opportunity to admire Old Orchard Beach in the summer. Guided beach horseback rides are also available from October 15 through April 30.

Inside a mint-green Victorian Home, the experienced artists at Artascope Studios share their expertise in various mediums with adults and teenagers of all skill levels. Throughout a schedule of workshops, instructors provide all the necessary supplies as they teach groups how to craft jewelry out of wire, beads, or metal, arrange glass bits into colorful mosaics, and use paint to expressively capture a mountain landscape's majesty or a urban wilderness's hidden Waldos. They also lead three-hour intensive Art Night Out sessions that focus on specific projects such as crocheting wire or setting a resin pendant. Through reservation, Artascope's experts can host private parties and one-on-one lessons.

After years of gliding through competitions on the international circuit, Sergei Slussky and Polina Kirillova moved to Portland to open a ballroom and Latin-dance school. Although a lifetime of formal training compels American Ballroom Dance Academy's instructors to keep classes structured and posture perfect, they place equal weight on fun. Channeling energetic beats and lighthearted vibes, instructors parse the steps of styles from salsa and Argentine tango to foxtrots and West Coast swing. They follow the established syllabi of the International Dance Association, which is upheld by the international dance police.

After developing a process to prevent cars from rusting in 1959, founder Kurt Ziebart continued to pursue automotive innovation, forming an international network of 400 locations in 30 countries. Skilled technicians update cars with a variety of detailing and protective services that keep paint jobs from fading and heal chipped windows. Their inventory contains a spread of accessories to personalize vehicles, including remote starters to heat vehicles in cold months, sunroofs to let in the summer's rays, and alarm systems to scare off falling leaves in autumn. Scratches and scuffmarks disappear with cosmetic touchups and tinted windows preserve privacy behind a thin layer of dimness. In addition to services for vehicles, Biddeford Ziebart also offers residential window tinting.

Since it's founding in 1944, Pratt-Abbott Cleaners has blossomed and branched out to 19 area locations. Employees revive apparel with premium dry-cleaning finishing techniques, spotting and processing textiles in roughly one day's time or on the same day if dropped off before 8 a.m. They also offer free dry-cleaning pickup and delivery services to homes or magical wardrobes that happen to lead to homes.

The uniform- and linen-rental service supplies businesses with everything from basic industrial uniforms from Chef Works and Reed to premium wear from Adidas and Champion. Pratt-Abbott Cleaners also partners with other businesses during the annual Coats & Toys for Kids campaign to clean and donate more than 40,000 gently used coats to families in need.

Dr. Sylvester Gardiner became the unwitting founder of a city in 1754, when he decided to use a 130-foot waterfall on the Cobbosseecontee Stream to provide energy for two saw mills, a felting mill, a potash factory, and a grist mill. Nearly 100 years later, in 1849, his plantation became the city of Gardiner. Today, the historical New England mill town is a home to artists, merchants, and students, and also hosts an array of seasonal events, such as an Easter parade, the Ride Into Summer festival, the Swine and Stein Oktoberfest celebration, and a Christmas tree lighting.

The town's brick sidewalks, Victorian and early 20th-century architecture, and long-running farmer's market have earned it a designation as a Main Street Maine and Preserve America community. Its downtown is recognized as a National Historic District, and some of its buildings have been included in both the National Register of Historic Places and the Empire State Building's list of secret crushes. Self-guided walking tours of the town take visitors past the homes of Pulitzer Prize–winning writers, such as poet Edwin Arlington Robinson and author Laura E. Richards.