Located in the central part of Maine, the casual observer might be inclined to think that Waterville could be no more than a port of call in the wilderness. Most of the area in Maine is virgin and wild, and even the most populous cities in Maine are small compared to most other states – so how could a town in what is presumably the middle of nowhere have much to offer?

If you stop in Waterville during your time in Maine, you’ll be astonished at how much culture and excitement can be packed into a town as small as it is. The city itself is the home to Colby College, which is an extremely highly ranked liberal arts college. This gives the town a younger vibe, and the city is well connected with the academic world due to the high rank of the college. No matter what time of year you’re in Colby, professors from the world over will be giving lectures and events are common. Be sure to check with the college when you come to Waterville – you might be surprised at the amount of things to do.

If you’re in to film at all, be sure to check out Waterville during the ten-day Maine International Film Festival. Generally the festival takes place during the third week of July and the town comes alive for it. Tourists from all around come to Waterville to enjoy some of the best independent and international films on offer. Not to mention, Waterville is beautiful during the summer, so this makes it an even better reason to visit during the film festival!

Waterville is a great place to come and take a break from the wilds for a bit. Most people who come to Maine do so with enjoying nature in mind, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t have a little bit of city fun while you’re at it. Even better, Waterville has a small enough population so that you won’t feel like country come to city when you stop by. To check out one of New England’s best-kept secrets, makes sure to stop here on your next trip to New England!