Fort Kent exemplifies the simplicity of country life with beautiful scenery and stunning landscapes in every season. Local residents and visitors alike enjoy the numerous local waterways made up of hundreds of dazzling lakes, ponds, rivers and streams. The thick forests here are rife with wildlife, glorious wooded trails and camping spots. The region features an abundance of natural, cultural and recreational resources that also fuel a strong tourism industry.

The warm seasons attract many visitors to northern Maine for kayaking, canoeing, hiking, backpacking and much more. In the wintertime, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are both extremely popular! The Winter Sports Center, in neighboring Presque Isle, has become an international training ground for competitors in the Biathlon (cross country skiing and target shooting) – and the 2004 World Cup Biathlon was held in Fort Kent. The qualifying trials for the 2006 Olympic Biathlon team were held the last week of December.

Be sure to keep your schedule open during the first week of March so you don’t miss the annual Can-Am Crown Sled Dog Races, held right in Fort Kent. Since the first running back in 1993, this race has grown to 30 dog sled teams competing in a 250-mile race that takes competitors across tough terrain, including forests, lakes, and open, unpopulated stretches of landscape. With such a demanding trail, drivers must use their expertise to pace themselves and their team so they can successfully make it to the finish line!

Take an afternoon to visit the beautiful town of Edmunston, New Brunswick, just 30 minutes northeast of Fort Kent. There is a charming downtown area where you can enjoy shopping, or just sitting and relaxing in City Hall Square. If you’d like to travel farther, you can buy a ticket to fly out of the Edmunston Municipal Airport, offering services to private and commercial aircraft. If you can’t find the flight you need in Edmunston, the nearby city of Presque Isle, an hour southeast of Fort Kent, has a convenient commercial airport offering direct service to Boston and other locations daily.

Another fine place to visit in Canada is Quebec City, the capital of the province Quebec, located at the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. Just two hours by car west of Fort Kent, this bustling city presents you with an excellent opportunity to enjoy a French-European vacation without having to board a plane! Quebec City’s metropolitan area population is 671,000, with 167,000 residents in the city itself. Numerous stores of all sorts can be found with products ranging from fashions and furs, and venues including antique shops and flea markets. If you want to enjoy a weekend escape, you’ll have no problem finding a place to stay at one of the many hotels this big city has to offer. Remember, the exchange rate favors US dollars in Canada!

If you prefer to stay stateside, visit Bangor, the second largest city in Maine. Situated on the shore of the Penobscot River about four hours from Fort Kent. At the Bangor Mall you can shop in an assortment of clothing, sports, and entertainment stores or grab a bite to eat in the food court. Or, venture around town to try sample some of the more high-brow fare! Other items of interest in Bangor include: the annual National Folk (music) Festival, the Bangor Symphony, the Penobscot Theatre Company, and the Maine Center for the Arts. You’ll also enjoy taking your children to visit the Maine Discovery Museum downtown. It’s the largest museum of its kind north of Boston! Let’s not forget, Bangor is also home to famous writer Stephen King.

One of the most exciting things about moving to northern Maine is the abundance of real estate bargains that can be found! Large homes, and parcels of land with many acres, can be purchased for relatively little money here, simply because of the relatively small number of people competing for property. This could enable you to buy that old fashion farm you’ve always wanted, or allow you to purchase a tract of land on which you can construct that spacious, modern home you’ve been dreaming of! You might enjoy living in a historic 19th century home in town, or you could design something uniquely your own, or perhaps with a contemporary look? Land is readily available in most directions.

As you consider moving to Northern Maine, you will want to know that here, your children will receive the best education possible. The local school system works hard to make sure every child receives the education they need to be successful in their future. You’ll have the option of four elementary schools, three middle schools, and one high school. There is even a college located right in town: The University of Maine at Fort Kent.

For the student that wants to leave home, but not the state, you’ll definitely want to inquire at the University of Maine in Orono (located about four hours south of Fort Kent). Join over 10,000 full time students in Baccalaureate and Graduate programs in all sorts of interesting fields. This campus is equipped with recreational facilities and cultural amenities you’d look for in any major university, and you’ll soon find yourself cheering for Black Bears hockey and football and baseball and soccer and…!

Peaceful, friendly and safe, with a true sense of "community," northern Maine is a terrific place to raise a family. You’ll find many fun-filled ways to spend your free time in this part of the state. A nature lover’s paradise, northern Maine offers enough recreational distractions to keep even the most avid nature lovers and active sportspeople happy! If you prefer something a bit more tame, try antiquing, or nature photography, golfing or bird watching or even fly tying. Here, you can truly find something to occupy everyone!