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This Sugary Road Trip Will Take You To 7 Candy Shops In Maine With Treats You Won’t Believe Exist


Grab your elastic-waist pants and prepare for a confectionery journey that’ll make Willy Wonka jealous.

We’re about to embark on a sugar-coated road trip across the Pine Tree State, visiting seven candy shops that’ll have your taste buds doing the happy dance.

From chocolate moose to popcorn that thinks it’s candy, these treats are so uniquely Maine, you’ll swear the lobsters helped make them.

1. Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections (Freeport)

Navigate your way to nirvana! This yellow beacon of chocolatey goodness is a must-visit mile marker.Navigate your way to nirvana! This yellow beacon of chocolatey goodness is a must-visit mile marker.
Navigate your way to nirvana! This yellow beacon of chocolatey goodness is a must-visit mile marker. Photo credit: Billy Welch

Our first stop is a chocolate lover’s paradise nestled in a charming orange building that looks like it could be made of candy itself.

Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections in Freeport is the kind of place where chocolate dreams come true.

As you approach, you’ll notice a quirky red lighthouse-shaped structure near the entrance.

It’s not there to warn you about the impending sugar rush – it’s just part of the whimsical charm that makes Wilbur’s so special.

Step inside, and you’ll be greeted by the intoxicating aroma of cocoa that’ll make you want to do a happy dance right there in the doorway.

But resist the urge – you’ll need all your energy to explore the treasure trove of treats awaiting you.

Freeport's not just for outlet shopping anymore. This sweet stop is worth shifting gears for.Freeport's not just for outlet shopping anymore. This sweet stop is worth shifting gears for.
Freeport’s not just for outlet shopping anymore. This sweet stop is worth shifting gears for. Photo credit: Yahaira Martinez

Wilbur’s is known for their handcrafted chocolates, made with love and a dash of Maine magic.

From classic truffles to more adventurous flavors, there’s something here to satisfy every sweet tooth.

And if you’re feeling particularly daring, ask about their seasonal specialties – rumor has it they once made a chocolate-covered lobster tail.

(Okay, I made that up, but in Maine, you never know!)

2. Island Candy Company (Orr’s Island)

Detour alert! This charming candy oasis is the perfect pit stop on your coastal Maine adventure.Detour alert! This charming candy oasis is the perfect pit stop on your coastal Maine adventure.
Detour alert! This charming candy oasis is the perfect pit stop on your coastal Maine adventure. Photo credit: Lynn Jorgenson

Next, we’re island-hopping to Orr’s Island, where the Island Candy Company awaits.

This quaint shop, with its weathered shingle exterior and cheery blue trim, looks like it was plucked straight out of a New England postcard.

As you approach, you might notice the sign proudly proclaiming their operating hours: 12-6.

It’s not because they’re lazy – it’s because they spend the rest of the day wrestling saltwater taffy into submission.

(Okay, that’s not true either, but it’s fun to imagine!)

Inside, you’ll find a cozy space filled with jars of colorful candies and the sweet scent of homemade treats.

The Island Candy Company specializes in old-fashioned favorites that’ll transport you back to simpler times when candy was the ultimate currency on the playground.

Sugar rush meets sea breeze. Park the car and prepare for a delicious deviation from your itinerary.Sugar rush meets sea breeze. Park the car and prepare for a delicious deviation from your itinerary.
Sugar rush meets sea breeze. Park the car and prepare for a delicious deviation from your itinerary. Photo credit: Patrick Lien

Don’t leave without trying their famous sea glass candy – it’s like edible beach treasure, minus the sand in your shoes.

And if you’re feeling adventurous, ask about their locally inspired flavors.

Who knows, you might discover your new favorite: Lobster Roll Licorice!

(Just kidding, please don’t ask for that.)

3. Len Libby Chocolates (Scarborough)

Roadside attraction alert! This chocolate moose is giving Paul Bunyan a run for his money.Roadside attraction alert! This chocolate moose is giving Paul Bunyan a run for his money.
Roadside attraction alert! This chocolate moose is giving Paul Bunyan a run for his money. Photo credit: Cynthia Corwin

Hold onto your sweet tooth, folks, because our next stop is about to blow your mind.

Len Libby Chocolates in Scarborough is home to a chocolate moose.

No, not mousse – moose!

As you enter, you’ll be greeted by Lenny, the life-sized chocolate moose that’s become a local legend.

Standing at 8 feet tall and weighing in at a whopping 1,700 pounds, Lenny is the kind of moose you’d actually want to encounter in the wild.

(Though I wouldn’t recommend trying to take a bite – that might be frowned upon.)

Who needs postcards when you can snap a selfie with a life-sized chocolate moose? Road trip gold!Who needs postcards when you can snap a selfie with a life-sized chocolate moose? Road trip gold!
Who needs postcards when you can snap a selfie with a life-sized chocolate moose? Road trip gold! Photo credit: Leslie Law

But Lenny isn’t the only attraction here.

Len Libby Chocolates has been crafting delectable treats since 1926, and they’ve got the art of chocolate-making down to a science.

From hand-dipped truffles to their famous Maine potato candy (don’t worry, it doesn’t actually taste like potatoes), every treat is a little piece of cocoa heaven.

The shop itself is a feast for the eyes, with its rustic log cabin decor and picturesque mural of the Maine wilderness.

It’s like stepping into a chocolate-scented time machine that transports you to a simpler time when the biggest worry was whether to choose milk or dark chocolate.

4. Monica’s Chocolates (Lubec)

The road less traveled leads to sweet surprises. This easternmost candy shop is worth the extra miles.The road less traveled leads to sweet surprises. This easternmost candy shop is worth the extra miles.
The road less traveled leads to sweet surprises. This easternmost candy shop is worth the extra miles. Photo credit: Kurt Johnson

Our sweet journey now takes us to the easternmost point of the United States, where Monica’s Chocolates in Lubec awaits.

This charming white house with its welcoming porch might look unassuming, but don’t be fooled – inside lies a world of chocolate wonders.

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Related: This 100-Year-Old General Store in Maine Bakes Goods so Delicious You’ll Think You’ve Died and Gone to Heaven

Monica’s story is as rich as her chocolates.

Originally from Peru, she brought her chocolate-making skills to Maine, creating a unique fusion of South American flavors and Down East charm.

It’s like a delicious cultural exchange program, only with less paperwork and more cocoa butter.

Last stop before Canada, first stop for chocolate lovers. Plot your course for this sweet frontier.Last stop before Canada, first stop for chocolate lovers. Plot your course for this sweet frontier.
Last stop before Canada, first stop for chocolate lovers. Plot your course for this sweet frontier. Photo credit: Cathy Mushero

The shop’s interior is warm and inviting, much like Monica herself.

Here, you’ll find chocolates infused with unexpected flavors like chipotle and passion fruit.

It’s like a flavor adventure for your taste buds, without the need for a passport or uncomfortable airplane seats.

Don’t leave without trying the sea salt caramels – they’re so good, you might be tempted to swim across the Bay of Fundy for more.

(Please don’t actually do this. The currents are strong, and chocolate and water don’t mix well.)

5. The Candy Shoppe (Boothbay Harbor)

Harbor views and sugar hues. Drop anchor at this colorful candy cove for a taste of nostalgia.Harbor views and sugar hues. Drop anchor at this colorful candy cove for a taste of nostalgia.
Harbor views and sugar hues. Drop anchor at this colorful candy cove for a taste of nostalgia. Photo credit: Chris Mc

Next stop: The Candy Shoppe in Boothbay Harbor, where nostalgia comes wrapped in colorful wrappers.

This charming store, with its classic striped awning and inviting storefront, is like stepping into a time machine set to “childhood joy.”

As you enter, the sweet aroma of sugar and happiness envelops you like a warm hug from your favorite aunt – the one who always snuck you candy when your parents weren’t looking.

The shelves are lined with glass jars filled with every type of candy imaginable, from old-fashioned favorites to modern twists.

The Candy Shoppe specializes in handmade fudge that’s so creamy, you’ll swear they milked a chocolate cow out back.

(Note: Chocolate cows do not exist. Yet.)

Road trip rule: Always brake for striped awnings and promises of penny candy. You won't regret it.Road trip rule: Always brake for striped awnings and promises of penny candy. You won't regret it.
Road trip rule: Always brake for striped awnings and promises of penny candy. You won’t regret it. Photo credit: Amy Doucette

They also offer a wide selection of saltwater taffy in flavors that range from classic vanilla to “Is that lobster?!”

(It’s probably not lobster, but in Maine, you never can tell.)

Don’t forget to check out their selection of retro candies.

It’s like a sugary history lesson, minus the boring textbooks and with 100% more deliciousness.

6. Coastal Maine Popcorn Co. (Boothbay Harbor)

Cruise control can wait. This popcorn paradise is the perfect excuse to pull over and refuel.Cruise control can wait. This popcorn paradise is the perfect excuse to pull over and refuel.
Cruise control can wait. This popcorn paradise is the perfect excuse to pull over and refuel. Photo credit: Liz Davenport

Just a stone’s throw away (please don’t actually throw stones, especially not at candy shops) is our next sweet spot: Coastal Maine Popcorn Co.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Popcorn? On a candy tour?”

Trust me, this isn’t your average movie theater snack.

Coastal Maine Popcorn Co. has taken the humble kernel and transformed it into a gourmet treat that’ll make you question everything you thought you knew about popcorn.

With over 30 flavors ranging from sweet to savory, it’s like a flavor explosion in your mouth.

The shop itself is a popcorn lover’s dream, with its cheery green awning and windows showcasing a rainbow of popcorn flavors.

Inside, the air is filled with the mouthwatering aroma of freshly popped corn and a hint of sea salt (we are on the coast, after all).

Who needs trail mix when you can snack on gourmet popcorn? Your road trip just got an upgrade.Who needs trail mix when you can snack on gourmet popcorn? Your road trip just got an upgrade.
Who needs trail mix when you can snack on gourmet popcorn? Your road trip just got an upgrade. Photo credit: Liz Davenport

Be brave and try some of their more unusual flavors.

The Maple Bacon popcorn is like breakfast in a bag, minus the dishes.

And if you’re feeling particularly daring, give the Lobster popcorn a try.

It’s the closest you’ll get to eating lobster at the movies without sneaking a whole lobster into the theater.

(Please don’t try to sneak a whole lobster into a theater. It’s messy, and the lobster deserves better.)

7. Dean’s Sweets (Portland)

Urban exploration meets cocoa indulgence. Park the car and treat yourself to a chocolate walking tour.Urban exploration meets cocoa indulgence. Park the car and treat yourself to a chocolate walking tour.
Urban exploration meets cocoa indulgence. Park the car and treat yourself to a chocolate walking tour. Photo credit: Nils Hünerfürst

Our final stop brings us to the bustling city of Portland, where Dean’s Sweets awaits to cap off our sugary adventure.

Nestled in a historic brick building with a classy green awning, Dean’s Sweets is the sophisticated older sibling of the candy world – think less “sugar rush” and more “refined indulgence.”

Dean’s specializes in handcrafted truffles that are so pretty, you almost feel bad eating them.

Almost.

Their flavors range from classic dark chocolate to more adventurous options like Needham (a traditional Maine potato candy) and even Scotch.

The shop’s interior is sleek and modern, with a hint of old-world charm.

It’s like the James Bond of candy shops – smooth, sophisticated, and likely to leave you shaken (with excitement) and stirred (by the flavors).

The perfect final destination on your sweet escape. These truffles are worth burning a little extra gas.The perfect final destination on your sweet escape. These truffles are worth burning a little extra gas.
The perfect final destination on your sweet escape. These truffles are worth burning a little extra gas. Photo credit: Dean’s Sweets

Don’t leave without trying their famous Maine Sea Salt Caramels.

They’re the perfect blend of sweet and salty, much like a day at the Maine coast – only you won’t find sand in uncomfortable places afterward.

As we wrap up our sweet tour of Maine, remember: calories consumed on vacation don’t count, and a balanced diet is chocolate in both hands.

Chart your course to flavor!

This map is your key to smooth travels and tasty discoveries.

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Now go forth and conquer that sugar mountain!





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