HotelTonight – Last-Minute Hotels in Waterville, Maine
If you want to wander through the picturesque streets of a quintessential Maine town, you might want to consider visiting Waterville. This pretty little town is surrounded by fertile farmland, and the lovely Kennebec River flows through the heart of the city. While it is a relatively small town, there is still much to do in Waterville, and there's a certain charm in Waterville that you won't find in neighboring cities, such as Augusta, the state capital. I fell in love with the beauty and the character of Waterville almost immediately, so I was glad I chose to extend my stay by an extra day. To book a hotel in Waterville, Maine, I simply checked out my HotelTonight app. Minutes after opening the app, I had booked a charming little hotel in downtown Waterville, and I was ready to experience life in the quaint town of Waterville for myself.
Art
I was surprised to discover that such a small town boasted such an impressive art scene, but the culture of Waterville seems to revolve around the arts. The city is home to the Colby College Museum of Art, the largest art museum in Maine, and also boasts the Sundance Art House and the Waterville Opera House. These historic performing arts venues have instilled in Waterville locals a love for the arts, and you can see this creative, artistic culture throughout the town. It's this vibrant art scene that separates Waterville from other small towns in Maine.
Colleges
Waterville is home to two colleges, Colby College and Thomas College, both of which feature gorgeous, traditional New England style campuses. I love exploring college campuses when I travel, as I feel like it gives me a good sense for the community's youthful energy and excitement, so I decided to pay a visit to both Colby and Thomas while in Waterville. I loved the old-fashioned style of Colby just as much as I loved the progressive feel on Thomas' campus, and I got the sense that the student population of Waterville is one of the main reasons why there's so much life and energy in the town.
Downtown
The heart of Waterville is its pretty little downtown, and the heart of downtown is the historic Main Street. Along this picture-perfect street, there are many popular eateries and boutiques, and Main boasts a warm, welcoming atmosphere that will make you want to call this town your home. Waterville's Main Street looks like it belongs on a postcard or in a film, so it's a fun district to wander even if you aren't looking to shop or eat – but I'd recommend you eat downtown, because the fresh food (particularly seafood) in Waterville is exceptional.
Quarry Road
Maine locals love to get outside and enjoy outdoor recreation, no matter what time of the year. One of the most popular outdoor recreation areas in Waterville is Quarry Road, a public trails system that is open year-round. During the winter months, locals hit the trails at Quarry Road for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing. During the warmer months, people visit Quarry Road for hiking, mountain biking and running. This is a beautiful outdoor recreation space, and I was glad I took advantage of it during my stay in Waterville. Quarry Road is just two miles out of downtown, so it's easy to get to, but it feels like a world away.
The Kennebec River
Waterville sits on the banks of the Kennebec River, a picturesque waterway that offers plenty of recreational activities for locals. I decided to hop on a boat and head out on the Kennebec River for a morning of fishing. This fish is a hotspot for salmon, striped bass and brown trout. If you don't want to actually go out on the Kennebec, you can still admire its beauty from one of the many waterfront viewing areas and trails in Waterville. There's nothing like starting out your day with a nice walk along a river as pretty as the Kennebec.
HotelTonight – Waterville, Maine Hotels You'll Love
In my mind, Waterville is the quintessential Maine town. It's nestled into a spectacular natural setting and it boasts infectious charm and character that you'll only find in a small town. I loved getting to know the town of Waterville, as well as the people who lived there. Waterville locals love their town – and rightfully so. There's so much to do and see in and around Waterville that I could easily understand why it's such a desirable place to live. I was just glad I had the opportunity to visit Waterville during my recent trip to Maine. Fortunately for me – and every other traveler out there – HotelTonight makes it easy to find hotels at a moment's notice, so keeping your travel plans flexible is a cinch. Through HotelTonight, it only took me a few minutes to book my Waterville hotel, and it was the simplest part of planning my little Waterville getaway.
