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Winter on the Conway Scenic Railroad
FEATURED: History, Holiday Magic, and a Season Full of Special Excursions
Discover
There’s something about Maine in December that feels different from the rest of New England. The coastline, rugged and cold for most of the year, softens under a layer of winter light. Fishing boats drift quietly in their slips, their masts wrapped in holiday garlands. Town greens glow with white lights, wreaths, candles, and a steady drift of snowflakes that seem perfectly timed. And the ocean, always present, always powerful, becomes a reflective, steel-blue backdrop to some of the most atmospheric holiday scenes you’ll find anywhere.
If you’re looking for a Christmas getaway that blends old-fashioned New England charm with postcard-worthy coastal beauty, three towns stand above the rest: Kennebunkport, Portland, and Camden. These places capture the Maine holiday spirit in three completely different ways, and each one is overflowing with iStock-friendly scenery.
Let’s wander the Maine coast at Christmastime.
Kennebunkport is, without question, one of the most iconic Christmas destinations in New England. In December, it feels like a holiday movie set: docks wrapped in string lights, fishing shacks decorated with buoys and wreaths, shop windows glowing after dark, and streets lined with garlands and bows. But what truly sets this coastal village apart is Christmas Prelude, a festival so beloved it has been ranked among the best Christmas celebrations in America.
Christmas Prelude - The Heart of the Season
Christmas Prelude transforms Kennebunkport into a living holiday postcard. The town puts its entire spirit on display: a giant tree lighting in Dock Square, carolers dressed warmly against the cold, performances on the street, art galleries and shops offering holiday specials, warm cider and hot chocolate stands, horse-drawn carriage rides and Santa arriving by… lobster boat!
Yes - a lobster boat. It doesn’t get more Maine than that.
Dock Square at Night
Dock Square is the Christmas centerpiece of Kennebunkport. In daylight it’s charming, but at dusk it becomes unforgettable: windows glowing gold, snow falling softly through strings of lights, wreaths hung neatly on old cedar shingles, and the big tree standing tall in the center of it all.
Goose Rocks Beach in December
On quiet mornings, Goose Rocks Beach delivers a winter calm unlike anywhere else in New England. Long, curved, and open to the Atlantic, this beach becomes a place to clear your head while the cold ocean breeze wakes you up instantly.
The Iconic Cape Porpoise Lobster Trap Christmas Tree
Cape Porpoise has embraced the coastal holiday theme with enthusiasm, building its own lobster trap Christmas tree decorated entirely with buoys. It’s quirky, joyful, and extremely photogenic as a perfect backdrop for your family Christmas card photo...a Maine classic.
Why Kennebunkport Defines a Maine Christmas
Because it leans into its identity, seaside heritage, local pride, tradition, and community and wraps all of it in a warm, nostalgic glow. It’s spirited without being overwhelming, festive without being forced, and beautiful from every angle.
Where Kennebunkport brings small-town charm, Portland delivers a coastal Christmas with energy, history, and incredible scenery. It’s one of the most photogenic winter cities in America, the brick buildings, cobblestone streets, waterfront piers, and historic lighthouses give it an atmosphere that’s impossible to replicate.
Old Port: A Christmas Village for Adults
The Old Port district becomes magical in December. The old brick buildings take on a warm glow under garlands and white lights, the cobblestone streets reflect soft holiday colors after rain or snow, and crowds move at an easy pace between: bakeries, small shops, coffeehouses, breweries, restaurants and many unique local boutiques.
Every block offers a unique holiday photo op: wreaths hanging on warehouse doors, string lights running overhead, decorated windows in Federal-style buildings, and people carrying shopping bags through the crisp air.
It feels like a New England Christmas city should feel - lively, warm, charming, and easy to love.
Monument Square Holiday Tree
Portland hosts one of the best Christmas tree lightings in the region, and the tree in Monument Square remains lit all season. Towering over the square with thousands of sparkling lights, it becomes the centerpiece for holiday strolls and evening gatherings with cups of steaming hot cocoa.
Portland Head Light - The Most Iconic Lighthouse in America
Cape Elizabeth’s Portland Head Light is stunning year-round, but in December, under winter skies and soft coastal light, it becomes something else entirely.
The combination of: the lighthouse, Fort Williams Park, waves crashing into the rocky cliffs, snow (if you’re lucky), and garlands and wreaths wrapped around the lighthouse house…creates a scene that looks like the cover of a New England holiday magazine.
Harbor Lights and Waterfront Atmosphere
Commercial Street and the piers glow at night with holiday lights reflecting off the water. Wooden pilings, lobster boats, and the working waterfront form a perfect blend of authenticity and holiday charm.
Grab a warm drink and walk along the wharf, it’s simple, atmospheric, and uniquely Portland.
Why Portland Belongs on This List
Because it gives you everything, city energy, coastal scenery, holiday lights, incredible dining, and iconic landmarks, and packages it into one of the most atmospheric winter destinations in New England.
Camden may be the most perfect “winter painting” town in Maine. You get two things you don’t usually get together: ocean views + mountain views.
In December, that combination becomes downright cinematic.
Camden Harbor: The Best Winter Harbor View in New England
Camden Harbor is classic: sailboats, fishing vessels, wooden docks, and old boathouses, all sitting beneath a hillside village glowing with holiday lights. Add a dusting of snow and you have one of the most photographed harbors in the Northeast.
Downtown Camden: Old-Fashioned Christmas Charm
The downtown area feels intimate and warm with its brick and shingle-style buildings, holiday garlands strung between lampposts, classic New England storefronts, hot chocolate stands, decorated inn porches and the soft golden light shining out of windows.
Everything feels authentic here. Nothing is overdone and nothing is ever flashy.
This is a walking town, meant to be explored at a slow December pace.
Mount Battie Overlook is a Winter View You’ll Never Forget
Drive up to Mount Battie on a clear December day and you’ll see one of the best winter views in all of New England:
Camden village nestled below, the harbor wrapped in white, Penobscot Bay stretching toward the horizon, islands dusted in snow and soft winter light illuminating it all.
It’s quiet, peaceful and stunning.
Holiday Events and Seasonal Atmosphere
Camden also hosts festive December events:
Christmas by the Sea
Holiday concerts
Tree lighting ceremonies
Downtown shopping nights
...and Santa arriving by boat
(The boat arrival is a recurring theme along the Maine coast, and it never gets old.)
Why Camden Captures the Heart of Christmas in Main
Because it offers something almost no other New England town can deliver:
a mountain Christmas and a harbor Christmas at the exact same time.
Why Christmas in Maine Feels Different
Three things set Maine apart from the rest of New England during December:
1. The Light
Winter light in Maine is softer, lower, more pastel - perfect for photography and outdoor strolls.
2. The Coastline
Lighthouses, harbors, boats, islands, and snowy docks create emotional, timeless scenery.
3. The Quiet
Maine’s December calm has a way of settling into you. It’s peaceful, reflective, grounding, the perfect antidote to holiday chaos.
