Aroostook County Historic 2-Day Fall Itinerary
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.
DAY 1
9:00 AM – Breakfast at Tim Hortons
779 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769
Start off your day at Tim Hortons for baked goods, breakfast sandwiches, and coffee.
15 min drive to Maple Grove Friends Church
10:15 AM – Maple Grove Friends Church (Historic Friends Church)
Maple Grove, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742
The Maple Grove Friends Church was built in 1863 and renovated in 1906, and it is believed to be the oldest church in Fort Fairfield. In the year 2000, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The church also acted as part of the Underground Railroad, hiding refugees before they crossed the border into Canada.
5 min drive to the Blockhouse Museum
11:20 AM – Fort Fairfield Blockhouse Museum
342 Main Street, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742
The Fort Fairfield Blockhouse Museum was built in 1976 as a replica of the original Blockhouse, which served to prevent the transport of lumber into Canada during the 1839 “Bloodless Aroostook War.”
The Blockhouse Museum is typically only open during the annual Potato Blossom Festival, but you can still tour the grounds or call ahead to see about making an appointment.
0 min drive to R&J Market
12:20 PM – Lunch at R&J Market
26 Presque Isle Street, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742
Stop at the R&J Market for lunch for some delicious pizza, subs, burgers, and ice cream.
0 min drive to Riverside Park Pavilion
1:20 PM – Riverside Park Pavilion
49 Limestone Road, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742
Take a break at the Riverside Park Pavilion, located along the Aroostook River. The pavilion has bathrooms, large covered picnic areas, and a boat launch.
5 min drive to McIntosh One-Room Schoolhouse
3:25 PM – McIntosh One-Room Schoolhouse
Brown Street, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742
The McIntosh One-Room Schoolhouse was built in 1848 before any other public buildings in the area, so it was used for town meetings, social gatherings, church services, weddings, baptisms, and funerals. Today, the original layout of the schoolhouse remains in place and they host school groups and tours throughout the year.
0 min drive to the Fort Fairfield Railroad Museum
4:25 PM – Fort Fairfield Railroad Museum
Bangor & Aroostook Railyard, corner of Depot and Brown Streets, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742
The Fort Fairfield Railroad Museum, located at the old Bangor & Aroostook Railyard, is a museum with displays of the old locomotive and cars. It has a newly refurbished combination sleeping-dining car that is used for gourmet dinners and other events.
The Railroad Museum hosts a public pancake breakfast and open house during the Maine Potato Blossom Festival, and during other times of the year you can still tour the grounds or call ahead to see about making an appointment.
5:25 PM – Follow this map for a drive through the Amish community in Fort Fairfield.
The Amish community in Maine has been expanding over recent years, including in Fort Fairfield. The Amish run local businesses including a store, dairies, and schoolhouses. Many of the Amish recently moved up to Fort Fairfield for a fresh start, to begin a new settlement in Maine. If you would like to read more about one particular family’s experiences in moving, here is an interview with Noah Yoder, an Amish man discussing his journey and daily life.
6:25 PM – Dinner at Boondock’s Grille
294 Main Street, Fort Fairfield, ME 04742
Finish off your day at Boondock’s Grille, a popular restaurant known for its signature steaks, fresh seafood, and great desserts.
DAY 2
8:00 AM – Breakfast at Riverside Inn Restaurant
399 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769
Start off your day at the Riverside Inn Restaurant for breakfast.
5 min drive to the Air Museum
9:05 AM – Presque Isle Air Museum
650 Airport Drive, Suite 10, Presque Isle, ME 04769
After the Presque Isle Air Force Base closed, the Presque Isle Industrial Council was formed in 1962 to turn the old base into an industrial park to stimulate the economy. The base now houses an airport, technical college, housing unit, and 440 acres of industrial park, which is where the Air Museum is located.
10 min drive to Mantle Lake Park
10:15 AM – Mantle Lake Park
110 Pine Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769
In 1883, the “Big Fire” destroyed most of Main Street in the city, so they decided to start a fire protection program. The city built a man-made lake, Mantle Lake, in 1887 to serve as a water reservoir. In the 1950s and 1960s, the town expanded on the area to build a park now known as Mantle Lake Park.
11:15 AM – Self-Guided Walking Tour around the city
Presque Isle, ME 04769
Follow this guide for a self-guided walking tour around the historic city of Presque Isle, or call (207) 762-1151 to arrange a guided walking tour.
12:15 PM – Lunch at the Irish Setter Pub
710 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769
Head over to the Irish Setter Pub for lunch, the only Irish restaurant in northern Maine.
Varying travel times
1:15 PM – Lunch at Micmac Museum
7 Northern Road, Presque Isle, ME 04769
The Micmac people’s culture dates back to 9,000 years ago in the areas now known as Quebec, maritime provinces of Canada, and Maine. The Micmacs worked together with another tribe, the Maliseets, to gain federal recognition in the 1970s, but split when the Maliseets achieved federal recognition in 1980. Eventually, after a lot of hard work, the Micmacs achieved federal recognition in 1991. The name “Micmac” comes from the mi’kmaq language, possibly meaning “our kin-friends” or “people of the red earth.”
The Micmac Museum is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
2:15 PM – Loring Military Heritage Center
161 Cupps Road, Loring, ME 04751
The Loring Air Force Base was built in Aroostook County due to its close proximity to Europe. At one time, this air force base was the largest base for the U.S. Air Force’s Strategic Air Command. The base was in use from 1950 to 1994. Now, you can drive through the old base and tour the Loring Military Heritage Center which houses artifacts from the base.
The Loring Military Heritage Center is open on Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and on Sundays from 12:00 to 3:00 PM, or by appointment. If you are visiting on a weekday and do not wish to make an appointment, feel free to drive through the base.
20 min drive to the Presque Isle Historical Society
3:35 PM – 1875 Vera Estey House Museum
16 3rd Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769
The Vera Estey House was built around 1875 and demonstrates a common upper-middle-class Victorian home. Vera Estey was known for her gardens, in which she grew tulips and lilies to sell at the Boston Fresh Flower Market. Following the opening of the museum, there have been minimal changes to the original building. Guided tours are $5.00, offered from April to September on a recurring schedule, or by appointment for groups of five or more.
5 min drive to the Northern Maine Museum of Science
4:50 PM – Northern Maine Museum of Science
181 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769
The Northern Maine Museum of Science was opened in the early 1970s when the University of Maine at Presque Isle received two large natural history collections. Since then, the museum has expanded to include sections on biology, geology, chemistry, physics, agriculture, forestry, mathematics, and more.
10 min drive to the Double Eagle II Balloon Site
6:00 PM – Double Eagle II Balloon Site (Trans Atlantic Balloon Site)
140 Spragueville Road, Presque Isle, ME 04769
The Double Eagle II Balloon Site marks the launch of the first manned hot air balloon to cross the Atlantic Ocean. The balloon was launched in 1978 and traveled from Presque Isle to Miserey, France.
10 min drive to Mainely Mexican
6:40 PM – Dinner at Mainely Mexican
6 State Road, Presque Isle, ME 04769
Finish off your day at Mainely Mexican for dinner.
0 min drive to Houlton Farms
7:40 PM – Houlton Farms Dairy
792 Main Street, Presque Isle, ME 04769
If you’re looking for dessert after your meal, be sure to stop at Houlton Farms Dairy for a sweet treat.
Restaurant Alternatives
Hotel Alternatives
Packing Checklist
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.
Activity Alternatives
Fun Facts
The Amish community in central Aroostook began with the Yoder family in 2007, and as of a decade later the community has expanded to include over 30 families.
In 1978, the Double Eagle II hot-air balloon was launched from a field in Presque Isle and was the first successful transatlantic balloon crossing.
Presque Isle was also chosen as the take-off spot for planes traveling overseas in World War II since northern Maine is the closest location in the US to Europe.