Hallowell on the Kennebec River

Hallowell sits on the banks of the Kennebec River and combines a distinctive historic streetscape with a network of hiking trails in the heart of historic Hallowell. There is also a community theater, an annual town festival, and a walking tour. This raises a practical question as you plan your trip: Would you most like to explore historic buildings and local history, spend time on hiking trails, or plan your stay around a festival?

Historic Buildings and a Walking Tour

The Hallowell Historic District includes the downtown business area and adjacent residential neighborhoods. About 450 buildings are part of this historic district; nearly 85 percent of them were built in the 18th and 19th centuries. The district’s size and variety of areas give Hallowell’s historic character a broad scope: the focus is not just on individual buildings, but on a district that includes both the business center and residential neighborhoods.

Kennebec Row is a continuous row of brick commercial buildings. If you are interested in historic architecture, you can make this distinctive row a specific point of reference as you explore the town. The Museum in the Streets offers a different way to get to know Hallowell: it is a walking tour through historic Hallowell. This lets you combine your visit with a walk and focus on the town itself, rather than centering your visit on just one building.

Hiking Trails with Different Features

Vaughan Woods is a network of hiking trails in the heart of historic Hallowell. It includes about three miles of trails that vary in width and difficulty. If you like to choose between different types of trails when planning an outing, these differences may be useful to consider. The approximate total length also gives you an idea of the size of the network, without implying a particular walking time or a uniform level of difficulty.

Alongside its historic attractions, Hallowell also offers a focus on nature and hiking. Families who want to vary their travel days can consider whether to focus their stay more on history and a walking tour of the town or on hiking trails. Which of these two sides takes priority is a useful question to guide your choice of activities during the trip.

Community Life, Theater, and a Set Festival Date

The Gaslight Theater is the oldest continuously operating community theater in Maine. Its long theatrical tradition is a distinctive part of Hallowell’s cultural character. For travelers interested in a town’s community life as well as its historic buildings, the theater is another aspect to consider as you explore.

Old Hallowell Day is a community festival held every year on the third Saturday in July. It begins with a parade and ends with fireworks. If you would like to include this festival in your travel plans, its recurring date provides a clear guide when choosing your travel dates. The day’s schedule gives the festival its own arc, with the parade at the start followed by fireworks at the end.

On the Kennebec River and in Town

The Kennebec River Rail Trail leads into the town of Hallowell, where you’ll find a variety of shops and eateries. This adds another way to explore the town alongside its historic and cultural attractions. If you enjoy combining a walk with time in town afterward, you can take this into account when planning your day.

The Hallowell Farmers’ Market is also part of the local scene: it is a community farmers’ market for residents and visitors in Hallowell, Maine. Together with the shops and eateries, it offers a glimpse of different aspects of life in town. The market is described as a community gathering place, not merely an activity for visitors.

When looking for a vacation rental, it may therefore be helpful to first decide what you want to focus on during your trip: the historic district, Vaughan Woods, the theater, and Old Hallowell Day each appeal to different interests. If the community festival is part of your plans, in particular, be sure to consider the third Saturday in July when planning your trip.

Discover More Places

More places at the same level of navigation: Gardiner, Waterville, Manchester, Augusta.

Go to the parent travel overview: Kennebec.