Location: Brunswick
Top Things to do in Brunswick
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Brunswick, United States
Brunswick is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 20,278 at the 2010 United States Census. Part of the Portland-South Portland-Biddeford metropolitan area, Brunswick is home to Bowdoin College, the Bowdoin College Museum of Art, the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum, The Theater Project, and the Maine State Music Theatre. It is also home to Mid Coast Hospital, one of Maine's newest full-service hospitals. It was formerly home to the U.S. Naval Air Station Brunswick, which was permanently closed on May 31, 2011.
Restaurants in Brunswick
1. Maine Maritime Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 532 reviews
Maine Maritime Museum is located on a beautiful 20-acre campus on the banks of the Kennebec River in historic Bath, Maine. Indoors, visitors enjoy air-conditioned galleries with exhibits and hands-on activities for all ages. Outdoors, visitors can join a guided tour or stroll through the historic Percy & Small shipyard and see how many of the world's largest wooden sailing ships were built, learn about lobstering in the Maine, enjoy lunch under the towering sculpture of the schooner Wyoming (the largest wooden sailing vessel built in North America), watch wooden boats being built in the Boatshop, or play on a pirate ship. May through October, visitors can get an up-close view of the area's lighthouses and spectacular scenery on daily cruises, learn the story of Bath Iron Works from shipyard insiders, and tour the Victorian-era home of the Donnell shipbuilding family. Open year round.
Reviewed By Maurene_K - Dover, New Hampshire
The Maine Maritime Museum was about a 10-minute drive from the Days Inn in Brunswick where I stayed.
On my Saturday morning visit, the museum had several visitors but was not crowded.
This museum had grown considerably since my last visit in the early 2000’s. Even the cruise boat used in the boating seasons is bigger. The quality of the exhibits was excellent.
I watched the two videos first. Both were tied into two main parts of the museum. The first was “Percy & Small Shipyard” which told the story of the huge six-masted schooners built there. The second was “Keeper” which related to the “Into the Lantern: A Lighthouse Experience” exhibit. I thought that both were very well done.
Then, I went through all the indoor exhibits. The outdoor exhibits and buildings were closed due to weather conditions.
A Maritime History of Maine
This permanent exhibit was the center of the museum. It summarized Maine’s maritime history with respect to all aspects of life along Maine’s coast ~ from wooden and steel shipbuilding, trade, and war to commercial and recreational fishing as well as travel. Maine’s maritime history spans 400 years.
A Shipyard in Maine: Percy & Small and the Great Schooners
This permanent outdoor exhibit was closed due to winter weather conditions, but a lot could be seen from inside the museum and from the parking lot. The video refreshed my memory on that exhibit.
The Percy & Small Shipyard is the only intact shipyard in the country which built large wooden sailing vessels with four, five, and six masts. Giant six-masted schooners were built here. Its largest ship, the Wyoming, is represented in frame form on the grounds. It was the largest wooden vessel built in the United States. The exhibit covers the period from 1894 to 1920.
Distant Lands of Palm and Spice: Maine Ships and Mariners in Deepwater Commerce
This permanent exhibit showed Bath’s participation in trade to and from distant lands as well as Bath’s influence on domestic and international commerce in the 19th and early 20th centuries. I particularly liked this exhibit for the many models and oil paintings of commercial ships from that era.
Into the Lantern: A Lighthouse Experience
This new permanent exhibit is what brought me to revisit the museum. The exhibit had been viewed and favorably reviewed by two members of the American Lighthouse Foundation ~ historian Jeremy D’Entremont and Director Bob Trapani. Quotes from their reviews were posted on the museum’s website on the page for the exhibit.
Here, the museum duplicated the tower and lantern room of the Cape Elizabeth Two Lights lighthouse. It was a great experience to see the original second-order Fresnel lens from the east tower at Two Lights. Also, through projected video, I experienced the panoramic views of the Gulf of Maine as seen from the lantern room.
This was a unique exhibit. I thought that it alone was worth the price of admission.
Pull Together: Maritime Maine in the 1914-1918 Great War
This current exhibit chronicled the shipbuilding in the City of Bath that contributed to the national effort during WW I. There were several sections in the exhibit. The museum was fortunate enough to have a painting of the USS Allen (DD-65), one of the US Navy ships built in Bath. It was a Sampson class destroyer.
Shipshape: Decoration and Advertising in the Merchant Fleet
This current exhibit illustrated the importance of a commercial merchant ship’s appearance was to differentiate one shipping company’s ships from another’s by using flags, distinctive carvings, and paint color combinations.
The gift shop had a wide variety of merchandise from magnets with six-masted ships to clothing and collectibles.
I spent almost 3 hours here.
I rate Maritime Maine Museum at 5.0. I highly recommend a visit.
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2. Bowdoin College
Overall Ratings
5 based on 103 reviews
This small, elite college is located in Brunswick.
Reviewed By RocMom4 - Rochester, New York
Beautiful campus to walk around! There is an art gallery and various events open to the public. Check their schedule online before your visit. A map can also be found online.
3. Androscoggin Swinging Bridge
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 53 reviews
Reviewed By terrifurniss - Dunnellon, Florida
there is free parking, but it can be a hassle. must be patient. if you are looking for a fantastic view, this is not the place. if you are in to something historical, then i suggest you see this. originally built in 1892 and later restored, it does swing when people walk on it. not scary though. small beach to walk & explore.
4. Bowdoin College Museum of Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 168 reviews
Bowdoin College's art museum houses some of the oldest works of art in America.
Reviewed By TravelerNorfolk - Brunswick, Maine
We've only been here once since moving to the area late last year/ We're so sorry we didn't visit sooner. What a gem! Rotating exhibits. Top floor has Gilbert Stuart portraits of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Very impressive. Great place to take out-of-town guests. And there's no charge!
5. Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 98 reviews
The home of the former governor of Maine and president of Bowdoin College.
Reviewed By Roycethevoice - Connecticut
Interesting to those of us who know a little about this man of significant historical importance, who was also a man of character. The tour spends more time on his back ground outside of the Civi. War, which is quite interesting.
6. Smitty's Cinema
Overall Ratings
4 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By Michael Wagner A
My husband and I had been to Smitty's numerous times. We had mostly positive experiences: the only issue had ever been timing of the wait staff and food delivery. Small issue, because of the dinner and a movie model, seems to have been fixed. The staff are always smiling and friendly, and I highly recommend the burgers. Besides your own home, where else can you see a movie, have a great burger, and have a cocktail all at once?
We decided to have my graduation party at a movie theater and show my favorite movie ("Beyond Rangoon, 1995, starring Academy Award winner Patricia Arquette), and looked into Smitty's. Shayna and Tucker made the process incredibly smooth, fun, collaborative, and without any headaches. We were able to bring any decorations we wanted, brought the film in to test it, and both Shayna and Tucker were 100% responsive, accommodating, and personable.
The actual event went off without a hitch. Our waitress, Savannah, was sweet and professional, and because there were about 20 guests with different needs, was given a real workout. She did an incredible job and was always smiling.
Guests enjoyed popcorn, candy, soda, ordered meals and cocktails, had incredible gluten free strawberries and cream cake, and we all relaxed to the movie. Not having seen the movie in theaters since 1995, it really took me back, the movie looked and sounded great (from a DVD no less!), and it was all in all a wonderful experience.
Thank you to all involved at Smitty's for a truly wonderful graduation party experience, and I highly encourage anyone who reads this to check out Smitty's and consider having a party there. I promise you it will be much easier than planning a dinner out with friends or planning a wedding! =P
7. Maine State Music Theatre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 101 reviews
Reviewed By Robb L - Winthrop, Maine
We have subscribed to the MSMT for several years now. Lately the productions they have chosen have been top notch. Just saw Guys and Dolls, which was excellent! Some of the other great productions have been Les Miserable, South Pacific, My Fair Lady, etc. I love the older classics. Sets, costumes, and the small intimate setting makes these 4 summer productions one of the highlights of our summer.
8. Maine Street
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 101 reviews
This downtown main street has restaurants, cafes, boutiques and galleries.
Reviewed By Maurice L - Brunswick, Maine
An exceptionally wide thoroughfare, bordered by a central park where the horses and carriages used to be parked (reputed to have been quite nasty during mud season). Now predominantly small, ethnic restaurants, and an occasional lingering retailer, survivors of the urban rape and pillage by Wal Mart and Amazon. Don't miss the great natural food store close to the river, Morning Glory, or the antique mart in Fort Andross, on the river.
9. Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 77 reviews
Museum dedicated to two Bowdoin College alumni who explored the Artic.
Reviewed By Keydet72 - Brunswick, Maine
In a few small rooms, you encounter extensive information about Arctic exploration. You observe genuine artifacts, read authentic publications, and ponder the difficulties of the process. The staff are helpful and courteous. The campus is scenic.
10. Skolfield-Whittier House
Overall Ratings
5 based on 18 reviews
A time-capsule museum that is located in a 17-room sea captain's house.
Reviewed By Elizabeth10024 - New York City, New York
Everyone associated with this project is serious about protecting the integrity of its authenticity, consequently when we arrived for our visit and tour we were warmly greeted & invited to cover our shoes with thin booties (provided) in order to protect the house. The house is an interesting glimpse into this American family & their home & its evolution, as well as the evolution of the American Home generally and the constancy of the idiosyncratic nature of humankind. Interesting place to spend an hour or so. We caught the last tour at 3 (or 4) pm, so check their hours.
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