Start from 24 curated places around Bethel, ME, then choose the recommendations that fit your guests.
Restaurants & cafés
Cho Sun Sushi Bar & Grill
A Korean and Japanese restaurant on Main Street that has developed a loyal following far beyond what you'd expect in a small Maine ski town. The hot stone bibimbap and fresh sushi draw regulars who plan their Bethel trips around a meal here.
Watershed Wood-Fired Kitchen
A small, warmly lit pasta and pizza spot tucked down Philbrook Street in the village center. House-made pasta, beautifully charred pies from the wood-fired oven, and desserts served in vintage Italian espresso cups give it a character well beyond its size.
Trails & outdoors
Old Speck Mountain Trail
Maine's third-highest peak at 4,170 feet, Old Speck is the summit anchor of Grafton Notch State Park and carries the Appalachian Trail to its top. The 7.6-mile round trip gains nearly 2,800 feet, passing through dense boreal forest before opening onto an observation tower with views stretching to the White Mountains.
Table Rock Trail
A 2.4-mile round trip in Grafton Notch that punches well above its weight in scenery. The exposed granite slab at the top commands a sweeping view down into the notch, and the descent via a slot canyon and boulder caves adds an adventurous return route.
Things to do
Sunday River Ski Resort
Eight interconnected mountain peaks with 135 trails and some of the best snowmaking infrastructure in New England — Sunday River maintains reliable conditions from November through April when other resorts struggle. The resort village is self-contained with lodging, restaurants, and a ski school handling all ability levels.
Carter's XC Ski Center
Fifty-five kilometers of groomed trails along the Androscoggin River and up Farwell Mountain, with vistas spanning Sunday River, the Carter-Moriah Range, and the Presidentials on clear days. The terrain covers everything from flat river-bottom skating lanes to genuine backcountry routes, and the ski shop rents classic, skate, and fat bike gear.
Landmarks & sights
Grafton Notch State Park
One of Maine's finest state parks, Grafton Notch stretches over 3,100 acres of glacially carved mountain terrain about 20 miles north of Bethel on Route 26. The scenic drive alone through the notch rewards a visit, with trailheads for everything from short waterfall walks to summit climbs.
Sunday River (Artist's) Covered Bridge
Built in 1872 and spanning 87 feet across the Sunday River, this Paddleford-truss covered bridge is the most photographed and painted in Maine. It sits at the end of a short dirt road off Route 2, surrounded by river birches and open fields that turn brilliant in autumn.