In Bangor, contemporary art, local stories, and a variety of paths through urban landscapes sit side by side. The places and activities offer different reasons to get to know Bangor, without requiring a fixed itinerary.
Art, Stories, and Bangor’s History
The Zillman Art Museum moved to downtown Bangor in December 2002. Its annual exhibition program is devoted to contemporary artists and themes. This combination of the museum’s history and its recurring focus on contemporary art makes it a distinct cultural point of reference for a stay in the city. If you want to plan around a particular exhibition, you can check the current program before your trip.
Another kind of local history comes through the story of Paul Bunyan: the legendary lumberjack is said to have been born in Bangor. A massive fiberglass statue welcomes visitors to the city, giving the legend a visible form. Here, two different approaches sit side by side—a program of art exhibitions and a figure from local folklore. Both can serve as starting points for exploring Bangor’s cultural themes, without treating them as the same thing.
Mount Hope Cemetery is also among Bangor’s historic sites. It opened in 1836 and is described as the second-largest garden cemetery in the country. The Bangor Historical Society also runs the Best of Bangor Walking Tour. For those interested in the city’s history, this provides another thematic option alongside the museum and folklore. To find specific dates for the guided tour, it’s worth checking the organizing society’s information before your visit.
Based in Bangor, the Penobscot Theatre Company produces five youth productions each year. This adds a recurring theater offering focused on youth productions to the themes of art and history. If a particular performance is important to your stay, checking the schedule can help with planning.
Forest Trails and Routes Along the Water
The trails described here vary in landscape and activities, offering different ways to spend time outdoors. At Essex Woods, trails pass through wetlands and reforested areas. Hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing are possible there. The Rolland F. Perry City Forest offers a different scale: it encompasses more than 680 acres of wildlife habitat and managed forest, with more than nine miles of trails. These are intended for running, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing. Details about the landscapes and trail options can help you choose the focus of an outing, rather than treating all forest areas as alike.
A separate waterfront option is the Bangor Waterfront Trail: the paved trail is about one mile long and runs along the Penobscot River through Waterfront Park. It connects with the East Coast Greenway, the Kenduskeag Stream Trail, and the River City Trail. The trail’s features include river views, sculptures, a public boat launch for small boats, and food trucks. This gives the trail different points of interest from those found on paths through wetlands and forests.
Planning a Stay in Bangor
Which accommodation in Bangor suits your trip depends first on which of these themes you want to prioritize. A culturally focused trip can center on the museum, folklore, cemetery history, and theater; if you’d rather spend time outdoors, you can choose between the forests, their different trail options, and the Waterfront Trail. When searching, compare an accommodation’s location with the places that matter for your stay.
The Community Connector provides scheduled transportation within Bangor. If you plan to use it to get around, check the schedule in relation to your planned destinations and the location of your accommodation. Bangor thus offers a mix of art and urban history, as well as nature and waterfront trails; the focus you choose will determine which of these options shape your stay.
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Return to the main travel guide: Penobscot.
