10 Winter Attractions For The Family In Maine That Don’t Involve Long Lines At The Mall

The holiday season is here, which might make going to the mall tempting. Shopping, visits to Santa and perhaps even just escaping the cold can mean hours spent inside. And, with that comes long lines, time wasted and money spent. This year, try something new and experience more of what Maine has to offer. Skip the mall and enjoy Vacationland for all it has to offer...outside the mall. You might want to share this list with a friend who keeps asking you to go shopping!

1. Take a winter trip on a Christmas train.

Believe it or not, there are multiple trains offering Christmas-themed trips this December. While they're all great, we especially love the one at the Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway Museum. You can learn more about it here .

2. Enjoy a winter sleigh ride.

There are lots of horse drawn carriage rides on offer in Maine, but we love the idea of an actual sleigh ride. Rockin' Horse Stables in Kennebunkport offers an opportunity to do it. They're located at 245 Arundel Rd., Kennebunkport. Learn more by calling them on 207-967-4288.

3. Have a special cup of hot cocoa.

You can do it anywhere as long as you're in Maine, but we especially love a local Maine diner OR simply sitting next to your own fireplace.

4. Stroll one of Maine's small town centers.

This is the time to truly take in the beauty of Maine's small towns. Many have trees lit up for all to enjoy. Even better is the fact that you can get a lot of your holiday shopping done while supporting local businesses!

5. Participate in the Lobster Dip polar plunge in Old Orchard Beach.

This is, perhaps, the only polar plunge that involves dressing as a lobster. And, it benefits charity! Find your claws, train yourself for cold water and jump in on January 1st!

6. Spend a night at a cozy Maine inn.

The state is covered in bed and breakfasts, hotels and inns that get absolutely decked out for the holidays. Many have restaurants and bars that will allow you to enjoy the decor for a few hours. Or you can go all-out and spend the night. Either way, you'll feel warm and cozy.

7. Take a winter hike.

A little snow on the ground doesn't mean you can't get outside. In fact, many of the trails around Maine are best in the winter. Grab a good pair of boots or your snowshoes and get out there. We recently wrote about one of our favorites leading to Seawall Beach. You can learn more about that one here.

8. Enjoy Gardens Aglow in Boothbay Harbor.

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens come (even more) alive this winter when 650,000 energy efficient LED lights bring all the colors of the rainbow to the entire property. They fun takes place Thursdays through Sundays from November 15th through December 31st with the exception of Thanksgiving and Christmas. They’re open from 4 to 9 p.m. You can learn more about it here.

9. Go ice skating at Thompson's Point.

There are actually lots of places to lace up your skates and hit the ice, but this one happens to be located right in Portland. It's convenient if you live in southern Maine and it's lots of fun! They're located at 10 Thompsons Pt., Portland.

10. Simply look outside and remember how thankful you are.

Maine is a great place to be in the winter. Just one look around you and it's easy to remember why you're here.

Now that you're giving Maine a little more appreciation, let us give you 10 more reasons to love it. Check out these 10 things Vacationland doesn't have - you might be surprised how thankful you are to be missing them.