A multitude of outdoor recreational activities are available within or in close proximity to Old Town. Whether you're a biker, hiker, skier, hunter, golfer, camper, or all of the above, in Old Town, your next adventure is always right around the corner. If you head about 60 miles south, you'll come across Acadia National Park, home to the tallest Mountain on the U.S. Atlantic Coast. Drive about 80 miles north from Old Town and you'll find Baxter State Park, a 201,000 acre wilderness area that has over 50 inter-connecting trails to ponds and peaks.
Old Town is situated among a rich and diverse arts, cultural, and entertainment environment created by Downtown Bangor, its Riverfront, and the University of Maine. Also located nearby is the newly renovated Cross Insurance Center, which hosts an array of large-scale concerts, circuses, sporting events, trade shows, and more.
Old Town's low crime rates and short commute times to work (19 minutes compared to 22 for the Bangor region and 25 nationally) also contribute to the City's livability.
Bangor and the surrounding region are continuously recognized as great places to live, work, and play. In 2010, the Bangor region made RelocateAmerica.com's list of America's Top 100 Places to Live. In 2009, Bangor was also named one of Money Magazine's 25 best places to retire and Children's Health Magazine's top 25 places to raise a family.
Old Town of course!
The Old Town Canoe Company was organized around the turn of the century and today is now a global leader in canoes as well as kayaks.
In 1798, Richard Winslow build a water-powered sawmill along the riverbank, formally entwining Old Town's economy to the Penobscot River. With its abundant supply of water power, direct access to the North Woods, and a railroad running right through town, Old Town's lumber industry grew rapidly. By 1860 it was the largest supplier of lumber in the U.S. Over time, the City's transportation advantages allowed its economy to diversity with the construction of woolen mills and a growing emphasis on canoe and shoe manufacturing - all made possible by Old Town's strategic location on the Penobscot River.
Today, the river continues to be instrumental to our economy and way of life. The Penobscot River provides some of the finest recreational opportunities available in the Northeast. In particular, paddling, fishing, camping, hiking, sightseeing, and bird watching are some of the most popular activities in and along the river.
Old Towners take every opportunity to celebrate our riverine heritage with events such as the annual Old Town Riverfest and the Canoe Hullabaloo.
