Maine Best Attractions 2010

Best Views Inside and Out
OGUNQUIT MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART, Ogunquit
A wall of glass framing waves crashing on offshore ledges often distracts visitors from the distinguished 1,600-piece collection of American art displayed in five galleries. 543 Shore Road. 207-646-4909; ogunquitmuseum.org

Best African Experience
THE MUSEUM OF AFRICAN CULTURE, Portland
More than 1,500 treasures, including Nigerian tribal masks and bronzes from Benin, are displayed in this downtown museum. 13 Brown St. 207-871-7188; museumafricanculture.org

Best Quirky Museum
THE INTERNATIONAL CRYPTOZOOLOGY MUSEUM, Portland
An 8-foot-tall Bigfoot greets visitors at Loren Coleman’s museum. He’s a renowned expert in cryptozoology, the story of hidden animals, such as the Loch Ness Monster and the Abominable Snowman. Open by appointment. 207-772-0245; lorencoleman.com/museum.html

Best Place to Spin a Yarn
MAINE FIBER ARTS CENTER, Topsham
A one-stop resource and gallery for knitters, spinners, weavers, felters, rug hookers, heck, anyone having anything to do with fiber arts. Don’t leave without a copy of the handy Maine Fiber Arts Tour Map. 13 Main St. 207-721-0678; mainefiberarts.org

Best Musical Interlude
MUSICAL WONDER HOUSE, Wiscasset
You’ll find more than 5,000 restored music boxes, player pianos and organs, and, well, just about anything else that emanates a melody at the heart of this amazing museum collection. On-site gift shop, too. 18 High St. 207-882-7163; musicalwonderhouse.com

Best Old-Time Toy Palace
FAWCETT’S ANTIQUE TOY MUSEUM, Waldoboro
Remember Popeye, Felix the Cat, Betty Boop, the Lone Ranger, Pogo, Yoda? All of them and plenty more reside not only in your memories but also in this combination gallery, store, and museum. 3506 Route 1. 207-832-7398; home.gwi.net/~fawcetoy

Best Everything Place
NERVOUS NELLIE’S, Deer Isle
It’s a tearoom, jam and jelly kitchen, and sculpture garden where Peter Beerits’ folksy critters pepper woods and fields and enliven a juke joint, medieval castle, and county store. 600 Sunshine Road. 800-777-6845; nervousnellies.com

Best Place to Get Canned
MAINE COAST SARDINE HISTORY MUSEUM, Jonesport
Ronnie Peabody says he has sardine processing in his blood, and his passion for the industry that was once big business along the coast is evident as he guides visitors through the artifacts and memorabilia–including actual equipment–on display here. A sample of the finds: a special exhibit on Rita Willey, including a pair of scissors used by this five-time “world’s fastest” champion processor, dubbed “the Muhammad Ali of Sardine Packers” by the Bangor Daily News in 1983. 34 Mason Bay Road (Route 187). 207-497-2961; mainesardinemuseum.tripod.com

Best Tour of Stephen King-dom
TOMMYKNOCKERS AND MORE, Bangor
Get the skinny on everyone’s favorite horror maven on this motorcoach tour highlighting sites that have either played a role in his books or were featured in his movies. The lineup includes fan favorite Mount Hope Cemetery, where King himself presided over the funeral of Missy Dandridge in Pet Sematary. Tickets: $20 per person. Go ahead, we double-dare you … 800-916-6673; bangorcvb.org

Best Maine Paddle
NORTHERN FOREST CANOE TRAIL, Lake Umbagog to St. John River
The Maine section of this waterway flows a whopping 347 miles, through remote ponds, placid lakes, lively streams, and whitewater. 802-496-2285; northernforestcanoetrail.org

Best Circus without a Tent
BRYANT STOVE & MUSIC, Thorndike
Lights! Music! Action! This antique-stove store-cum-museum features an unusual sidelight: Flip a switch, and the doll circus comes to life. Airplanes fly, a Ferris wheel turns, stuffed animals swing, and Barbie dolls dance, parade, and even (finally) marry Ken. 27 Stovepipe Alley. 207- 568-3665; bryantstove.com

Best Summer Skiing
10TH MOUNTAIN CENTER, Fort Kent
Although constructed for world-class biathlete training (you know, the racers who ski and shoot), the paved 1.5-km loop trail here is open to anyone for roller-skiing and rollerblading; other trails are open for mountain biking. 33 Paradis Circle Road. 207-834-6203; 10thmtskiclub.org