Ever wondered where you could find a chocolate moose, a desert, and the world’s largest rotating globe all in one state?
Welcome to Maine, where the weird and wonderful collide in the most delightful ways!
1. World’s Largest Telephone (Bryant Pond)
In Bryant Pond, Maine, there’s a monument that would make Alexander Graham Bell do a double-take.
It’s the World’s Largest Telephone, standing proud like a giant relic from a time when “mobile” meant you could stretch the cord to the next room.
This colossal communication device isn’t just for show – it’s a tribute to the town’s claim to fame as the last place in the U.S. to give up hand-crank telephones in 1983.
Yes, you read that right.
While the rest of us were bopping to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” Bryant Pond was still saying, “Hello, operator?”
The phone itself is a massive black sculpture, perched atop a concrete base like some sort of telecom totem pole.
It’s got all the classic features – a rotary dial, a handset, and even a coin slot.
Though, I wouldn’t recommend trying to make a call on it unless you’ve got quarters the size of dinner plates.
This oversized ode to obsolescence is a perfect photo op for your road trip.
Just imagine the confused looks on your friends’ faces when you post a selfie captioned, “Just making a quick call in Maine!”
Trust me, it’s way more fun than your average roadside attraction.
It’s not every day you can say you’ve seen a phone bigger than your car!
2. Wild Blueberry Land (Columbia Falls)
If you’ve ever dreamed of stepping into a real-life version of Willy Wonka’s factory, but with blueberries instead of chocolate, then buckle up, buttercup!
Wild Blueberry Land in Columbia Falls is about to make your fruity fantasies come true.
This place is so blue, it makes the sky look pale in comparison.
The centerpiece is a massive dome-shaped building painted to look like the world’s largest blueberry.
It’s as if Paul Bunyan decided to take up farming and accidentally dropped a giant blueberry in the middle of Maine.
Inside this berry big attraction, you’ll find all things blueberry.
We’re talking blueberry pies, jams, syrups, and even blueberry pizza.
Yes, you heard that right – blueberry pizza.
It’s like someone took a dare way too seriously, and the result is deliciously bizarre.
The owners of this fruity wonderland are passionate about educating visitors on the history and importance of wild blueberries to Maine’s economy.
So, while you’re stuffing your face with blueberry goodies, you might accidentally learn something.
It’s like sneaking vegetables into a kid’s meal, but with fruit… and fun!
Don’t forget to snap a picture with the giant blueberry mascot outside.
It’s the perfect way to make your friends back home blue with envy.
Just remember, if you start turning violet after your visit, don’t panic – it’s probably just a food coloring overload, not a Violet Beauregarde situation.
3. Eartha, The World’s Largest Rotating Globe (Yarmouth)
Ever felt like you had the weight of the world on your shoulders?
Well, in Yarmouth, Maine, they’ve got the whole world spinning right before your eyes.
Meet Eartha, the world’s largest rotating globe.
She’s like Atlas’s disco ball, only more educational and less likely to cause vertigo.
Eartha is housed in the DeLorme headquarters, which is fitting because if anyone knows about mapping the world, it’s these folks.
At 41 feet in diameter, this globe is so massive that if you stood on top of it (which you can’t, please don’t try), you’d probably be able to see your house from there.
Well, if your house was the size of Texas, that is.
The globe rotates and tilts just like our actual planet, completing one revolution every minute.
It’s like watching the Earth spin in fast-forward, without the risk of flying off into space.
The level of detail is mind-boggling – you can see mountains, rivers, and even major cities.
It’s Google Earth before Google was even a twinkle in Silicon Valley’s eye.
Visiting Eartha is a humbling experience.
It’s one thing to know intellectually how big the world is, but it’s another to see it all laid out before you, spinning majestically in a building in Maine.
Just don’t get any ideas about becoming a supervillain and trying to steal it.
I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t fit in your getaway car.
4. The Desert of Maine (Freeport)
Imagine this: You’re driving through the lush, green forests of Maine, surrounded by pine trees and the promise of lobster rolls, when suddenly… you hit the Sahara?
No, you haven’t accidentally teleported to North Africa.
You’ve just stumbled upon the Desert of Maine in Freeport.
This 40-acre patch of sand is like Mother Nature’s version of a practical joke.
“Oh, you were expecting more trees? Surprise! Have some dunes instead!”
It’s the result of poor farming practices in the 1800s that exposed glacial silt, creating this bizarre sandy oasis in the middle of New England.
The Desert of Maine is complete with rolling dunes, desert vegetation, and even a camel statue.
Because nothing says “authentic desert experience” like a fiberglass dromedary, right?
It’s like someone took a handful of sand from a Maine beach, put it under a magnifying glass, and it just kept growing.
Visitors can take guided tours, go gem-stone hunting, or just frolic in the sand.
It’s all the fun of a beach day without the risk of shark attacks or the need for sunscreen (okay, you still need sunscreen, this is Maine, not the moon).
The best part?
After your desert adventure, you can hop back in your car and be surrounded by pine trees again in minutes.
It’s like geological whiplash, but in the best possible way.
Just don’t forget to shake the sand out of your shoes before you leave – bringing the desert home with you is not as fun as it sounds.
5. Lenny the Chocolate Moose (Scarborough)
In Scarborough, Maine, there’s a moose that’s been standing in the same spot since 1997, and nobody’s called animal control.
Why?
Because this moose is made of 1,700 pounds of milk chocolate.
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Meet Lenny, the sweetest attraction in the Pine Tree State.
Lenny resides in Len Libby Chocolates, where he’s the star of the show.
He’s accompanied by his chocolate animal friends: a black bear and two cubs.
It’s like a woodland scene straight out of a fairy tale, if that fairy tale was written by Willy Wonka on a sugar high.
Standing at 8 feet tall and 9 feet long, Lenny is the kind of moose you’d want to run into in the woods.
No need to play dead or climb a tree – just bring a giant glass of milk and you’re all set.
Though, fair warning, licking Lenny is strictly prohibited.
It’s look, don’t taste, folks.
The creation of Lenny was a labor of love that took 54 days to complete.
That’s almost two months of tempering, molding, and sculpting chocolate.
It’s the kind of dedication that makes you wonder if the sculptors ever looked at each other and said, “Are we nuts? Or just really, really into moose?”
Visiting Lenny is a uniquely Maine experience.
Where else can you see a life-sized chocolate moose and then buy some saltwater taffy in the same store?
It’s the perfect blend of whimsy and diabetes risk that makes for an unforgettable road trip stop.
6. International Cryptozoology Museum (Portland)
Ever wondered where Bigfoot goes to check out his own press clippings?
Wonder no more!
The International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland is the go-to spot for all things mysterious, mythical, and just plain weird in the animal kingdom.
Cryptozoology, for those who skipped that day in make-believe science class, is the study of animals whose existence is unproven.
Think Loch Ness Monster, Yeti, and that one sock that always disappears in the dryer.
This museum is dedicated to these elusive creatures, displaying “evidence” and artifacts related to these legendary beasts.
As you walk in, you’re greeted by a life-sized Bigfoot statue.
It’s like being welcomed to a party by the host, if the host was eight feet tall, covered in fur, and possibly imaginary.
The museum houses everything from alleged Yeti hair samples to footprint casts of the Jersey Devil.
It’s like a greatest hits album of things that go bump in the night.
One of the highlights is the jackalope exhibit.
For those unfamiliar, a jackalope is a mythical creature that’s part jackrabbit, part antelope.
It’s nature’s way of saying, “Hold my beer and watch this.”
The museum has an impressive collection of jackalope memorabilia, proving that even made-up animals can have merchandising deals.
Whether you’re a true believer or a skeptic, the International Cryptozoology Museum is a hoot.
It’s educational, entertaining, and just the right amount of bonkers.
Plus, it’s the perfect place to pick up a souvenir for that friend who swears they saw Mothman at their cousin’s wedding.
7. Umbrella Cover Museum (Peaks Island)
In a world where museums are dedicated to art, history, and science, one brave soul asked, “But what about umbrella covers?”
Thus, the Umbrella Cover Museum on Peaks Island was born, proving that one person’s trash is another person’s weirdly specific collection.
This quirky museum houses over 2,000 umbrella covers from over 70 countries.
It’s like a United Nations assembly, but for those little sleeves that you lose approximately 2.5 seconds after buying an umbrella.
The museum’s motto is “Celebrate the Mundane,” which is great news for all of us who’ve felt underappreciated for our ability to fold fitted sheets.
The collection includes everything from plain Jane covers to ones with elaborate designs.
There’s even a cover signed by actress Julie Andrews.
Apparently, even Mary Poppins needs something to keep her magical umbrella dry when it’s not in use.
The museum’s founder and curator, Nancy 3. Hoffman (yes, that’s her real name, and yes, the “3” is supposed to be there), gives guided tours that are part stand-up comedy, part TED Talk on the cultural significance of umbrella covers.
It’s the kind of niche knowledge that’ll make you the hit of your next rainy day party.
Visiting the Umbrella Cover Museum is like stepping into a parallel universe where the most overlooked object in your closet is given center stage.
It’s weird, it’s wonderful, and it’ll make you think twice before tossing out that little sleeve next time you buy an umbrella.
8. Paul Bunyan Statue (Bangor)
In Bangor, Maine, there stands a man.
A very, very large man.
With an axe.
No, it’s not a horror movie come to life – it’s the Paul Bunyan statue, standing proud at 31 feet tall and weighing in at a svelte 3,700 pounds.
This larger-than-life lumberjack has been a Bangor landmark since 1959, and he hasn’t aged a day.
Must be all that fresh Maine air.
Or, you know, the fact that he’s made of fiberglass and metal.
Paul stands with his axe at the ready, as if he’s about to chop down the nearest skyscraper or swat away a particularly annoying giant mosquito.
The statue is a nod to Bangor’s logging history and the legend of Paul Bunyan, the giant lumberjack who could fell entire forests with a single swing of his axe.
Because nothing says “we respect nature” quite like a folk hero known for excessive deforestation, right?
Visitors can snap photos with Paul, though getting him to smile for the camera might be a challenge.
He’s got that stoic, “I’ve been standing here for over 60 years and my feet are killing me” look down pat.
But don’t let his stern expression fool you – Paul’s a softie at heart.
Legend has it that if you rub his boot for good luck, you’ll be blessed with the ability to eat 50 pancakes in one sitting.
The Paul Bunyan statue is more than just a roadside attraction – it’s a testament to Maine’s ability to take a folk tale and supersize it.
It’s like they looked at the story of Paul Bunyan and said, “You know what this needs? More fiberglass!”
From giant telephones to chocolate moose, Maine proves that sometimes the best road trips are the ones that embrace the weird and wonderful.
So pack your bags, grab your sense of humor, and hit the road.
Just remember: in Maine, the attractions might be odd, but the memories are always larger than life!