Welcome to Norway!
Note – we put some scheduled times in here just to give you some ideas. You can pick and choose what you want to do. Be sure to look at when they are open and if there are any COVID restrictions. In fact, it would probably be a good idea to call any that you plan to visit just to be on the safe side.
The area around Norway’s Pennesseewassee Lake was inhabited by Native Americans for millennia before European settlers arrived in the late 1700s. The town of Norway was incorporated in 1797 and has grown to become one of the prominent towns of Oxford County. Abundant water power drove the construction of mills and factories, and fertile soil promoted agriculture. The Great Norway Fire destroyed much of the downtown area in 1894, but it quickly recovered. Norway was once the global leader in snowshoe production, led by the Tubbs Snowshoe Company.
Today, Norway is a popular destination for its vibrant, historic, and very walkable downtown shopping district and Pennesseewassee Lake is a major tourist destination for its beautiful, clear waters and fish.
Start your visit to beautiful Norway at the Hillside Cottages
279 Harrison Rd, Norway, ME 04268 | (207) 744-0110
“If you’re looking for a friendly vacation destination that offers a truly relaxing getaway then look no further. Close to the shores of Norway Lake on the beautiful Lakes and Highlands of Western Maine, Hillside Cottages are waiting for you.”
Breakfast at Cafe Nomad
450 Main St, Norway, ME 04268 | (207) 739-2249
This community café offers great coffee and other drinks, as well as a selection of healthy breakfast and lunch foods, and beautiful art on display at their in-house gallery.
64 Roberts Rd, Norway, ME 04268 | (207) 739-2124
Part of the Western Foothills Land Trust, this preserve offers over 7 miles of trails at all difficulty levels for summer hiking and winter snowshoeing, fat-biking, and skiing! Winter gear is available for rent and an on-site warming hut helps with the winter chills!
237 Main St, Norway, ME 04268 | (207) 739-2126
This family-run microbrewery with a great food menu, featuring local ingredients whenever possible You can also take a look at others on our Norway dining page.
Wander around the lovely historic district
Norway’s entire downtown area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its many well-preserved historic buildings. Click here for the historic walking tour: “A walk down Norway’s Main Street is a stroll back in time, showcasing numerous examples of period architecture dating back as far as the early 1800s, but mostly built immediately after the Great Fire of 1894.”
Walk the Ordway Grove Trail
Pleasant St, Norway, ME 04268
This short, easy hiking loop near downtown Norway passes some of the tallest and oldest White Pine trees in Maine access and views over Pennesseewassee Lake.
McLaughlin Garden and Homestead
(in the summer) 97 Main St, South Paris, Maine 04281 (207) 743-8820
This two-acre “formal garden features mature collections of hostas, daylilies, astilbes, iris, phlox, sedum, cimicifuga, sempervivums, and over 200 lilacs (the largest collection in New England) beneath a canopy of mature deciduous and coniferous trees. A diverse collection of Maine wildflowers and ferns border an old lane which rises up a wooded hill behind the barn.”
Dinner at the 76 Pleasant Street
76 Pleasant St, Norway, ME 04268 | (207) 744-9040
Highly-reviewed upscale American-style dinners, served in a historic home (the 1896 Judge William Jones house) right in beautiful historic downtown Norway!
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Packing List
The weather in Maine can be unpredictable. Therefore, here are some ideas to be prepared. Wear comfortable clothes and dress in layers, Maine is very casual, so you probably will not find any restaurants that require formal attire.
Spring/Summer/Fall: clothes, comfortable sneakers or hiking shoes for walking, sun hat, sunscreen, sweater or jacket, insect repellent, toiletries, and phone/camera
Winter: clothes (layers), ski pants highly recommended, winter boots, jacket, hats, scarves, gloves, warm socks, toiletries, and phone/camera. Please pack a helmet if you are participating in snowmobiling, skiing, or snowboarding.
Alternatives
Fun Facts
- Local legend has it that Norway’s name comes from an unexpected source – the original name of “Norage,” the local Native Americans’ word for “falls” was changed to Norway in order to sound more English.
- Maine humorist Artemus Ward and former Vice President Hannibal Hamlin both worked at the Norway Advertiser-Democrat newspaper office!