Bethel

Nearly on the New Hampshire border, Bethel stands at the crossroads of routes 2, 5 and 26. It's closely identified with the nearby Sunday River Ski Resort, though the ski resort actually resides five miles away in the small town of Newry. Bethel is nestled in the folds of hills and mountains, and the myriad river valleys and hillsides provide ideal settings for just about every outdoor activity you can imagine.

"Downtown Bethel" is comprised of a main street, town common and smaller side streets. Main Street weaves together a mix of functional and fun, with funky shops alongside the town's single family-run hardware store, bank and grocery store. The shops really run the gamut and are a great excuse to explore for hours. Rock hounds will find examples of Maine's finest gems and minerals. There are also pottery shops, bookstores and coffee houses, as well as a well-stocked outdoors store and plenty of Maine-made products on show.

Bethel's proximity to nearby Sunday River ensures great dining. From pub fare to sushi to pizza Š just park and walk up Main Street. There is no shortage of places to stay, from B&Bs and inns to the resort accommodations at Sunday River. Be sure to check out vacation rentals, too, a great deal if you plan to stay for an extended time period or have a group looking for accommodations.

Besides downhill skiing, you can cross-country ski or telemark, go skijoring or snowshoeing, try snowmobiling, ice fishing or ice skating, or go for a dog-sled trip or a sleigh ride. There are plenty of ski centers and organized places to do these activities, but you can also set off by yourself if you know where to go. Try the Bethel Inn and Country Club or Carters XC for groomed trails and rentals. If you want to get into the back country, the ranger station can be a great resource for cross-country trails in the White Mountain National Forest.

Bethel really is a year-round destination, so donÕt get trapped into thinking of it as simply a ski destination. There are countless trails to explore on foot, as well as creeks and rivers to take a dip in during the warm summer months. Spring, summer and fall are great times to rent canoes and hit the Androscoggin River. Cyclists, both mountain and road, should bring their rides. For a particularly scenic road bike route, take Intervale Road past Carter's XC, alongside the Androscoggin River into Rumford Corner (return the way you came or take Route 2 west back to Bethel).

Whatever your plans, be sure to stop by the very helpful Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce for maps and brochures.

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