PRESQUE ISLE

Presque Isle is the commercial center of Aroostook County in Maine's far north, sitting roughly 40 miles from the Canadian border. The city of about 9,000 serves as the hub for a vast, largely rural region known locally as "The County," home to the University of Maine at Presque Isle and Northern Maine Community College.

The city's only multiplex, Hoyts Aroostook Centre Cinemas 8, closed in 2005 and was demolished to make way for a retail development. No dedicated cinema or performance venue currently operates in Presque Isle, leaving the Caribou Performing Arts Center as the nearest option for live entertainment in the region.

You'll find a small-city downtown along Main Street with a mix of shops, restaurants, and services scaled to serve the surrounding county. Aroostook State Park, Maine's first state park, and the Nordic Heritage Center offer year-round outdoor recreation, and the annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fest draws visitors each August.

Tip: If you are visiting, check what is happening at the Caribou Performing Arts Center, 25 minutes north. Main Street has dining options including the Irish Setter Pub and the Northeastland Hotel.

Neighborhoods: Main Street • Downtown • University Area