The sister-communities of Gray and New Gloucester offer fun activities for the whole family. Tied together by a shared school district, the communities boast excellent camping and golf opportunities as well as one of the last Shaker villages in America.

1. The Garden at Pineland Farms

15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester, 688-4539. The garden at Pineland Farms is open dawn to dusk and was recently named one of the top 10 favorite public gardens in People, Places & Plants magazine. The garden includes 130 varieties of perennials, 6,000 flowering annuals, vegetables, herbs and fruit trees.

2. The Hop Shop

Route 100 in Gray, 657-5550. The Hop Shop is a full service home brewery supply store owned by Ed McDowell. You can get anything you want, including bags of hops, yeasts, cracked corn, flaked barley and crystal malt. There are also home brewery kits, replacement hoses, bottles and filters.

3. Outlet Beach

106 Outlet Rd. in New Gloucester, 926-3388. Outlet Beach is

is a relaxing spot on tree-lined Sabbathday lake in New Gloucester. The beach provides a beautiful place to swim and boat. There is also a snack bar, and paddleboats, kayaks and tubes for rent. Hours are 9 a.m. to dusk.

4. The Source

543 Maine St., Poland Spring, (800)581-5171. The Source is located on the grounds of Poland Spring Resort and is well worth a visit for fans of Poland Spring bottled water. Visit the adjoining museum, which details the history of Poland Spring water and see the original porcelain-tiled spring house that befits the famous moniker of “The Source.”

5. The Village Kitchen

Route 26 in Poland, 998-3069. The Village Kitchen

restaurant is the place to go for doughnuts the size of boulders. You’ve never seen bigger – or more tasty and indulgent – doughnuts than these, which are served fresh everyday.

6. Range Pond State Park

State Park Road in Poland, 998-4104. Range Pond State Park is

operated by the Maine Department of Consevation, and is open 9 a.m. to sunset. The park boasts 750 acres, a picnic area with grills, a playground, ballfields and a swimming area with lifeguard.

7. Cole Farms Restaurant

64 Lewiston Rd. in Gray (Route 4), 657-4714. The Cole Farms has been a Gray landmark and destination eatery for more than 50 years. First opened in 1952, Cole Farms offers reasonably priced food, a picnic area, gift shop, and playground for the kids.

8. Marden’s Surplus and Salvage

Route 202 in Gray, 657-2626. Marden’s is a destination discount store that many Mainers use to buy decent quality everyday items. Join the throngs who check out the ever-changing product line and the latest deals. The Gray store is located about a mile west of the turnpike exit. The company’s slogan is, “I should have bought it when I saw it at Marden’s.”

9. The Ice Cream Dugout

Route 26 in Gray, 657-7769. The Ice Cream Dugout is a unique ice cream store with a Boston Red Sox theme. The shop is open noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. on the weekend. Ice cream cones are named after famous players.

10. Tee Em Up Golfland

Route 100 in Gray, 657-4653. Tee Em Up is the place to go to do as the name suggests – tee up a bucket of golf balls and take your best whack. Boasting a wide landing zone with a few trees and yardage markers set out as targets, the range can be a fun activity for the whole family.

The sister-communities of Gray and New Gloucester offer fun activities for the whole family. Tied together by a shared school district, the communities boast excellent camping and golf opportunities as well as one of the last Shaker villages in America.

1. The Garden at Pineland Farms

15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester, 688-4539. The garden at Pineland Farms is open dawn to dusk and was recently named one of the top 10 favorite public gardens in People, Places & Plants magazine. The garden includes 130 varieties of perennials, 6,000 flowering annuals, vegetables, herbs and fruit trees.

2. The Hop Shop

Route 100 in Gray, 657-5550. The Hop Shop is a full service home brewery supply store owned by Ed McDowell. You can get anything you want, including bags of hops, yeasts, cracked corn, flaked barley and crystal malt. There are also home brewery kits, replacement hoses, bottles and filters.

3. Outlet Beach

106 Outlet Rd. in New Gloucester, 926-3388. Outlet Beach is

is a relaxing spot on tree-lined Sabbathday lake in New Gloucester. The beach provides a beautiful place to swim and boat. There is also a snack bar, and paddleboats, kayaks and tubes for rent. Hours are 9 a.m. to dusk.

4. The Source

543 Maine St., Poland Spring, (800)581-5171. The Source is located on the grounds of Poland Spring Resort and is well worth a visit for fans of Poland Spring bottled water. Visit the adjoining museum, which details the history of Poland Spring water and see the original porcelain-tiled spring house that befits the famous moniker of “The Source.”

5. The Village Kitchen

Route 26 in Poland, 998-3069. The Village Kitchen

restaurant is the place to go for doughnuts the size of boulders. You’ve never seen bigger – or more tasty and indulgent – doughnuts than these, which are served fresh everyday.

6. Range Pond State Park

State Park Road in Poland, 998-4104. Range Pond State Park is

operated by the Maine Department of Consevation, and is open 9 a.m. to sunset. The park boasts 750 acres, a picnic area with grills, a playground, ballfields and a swimming area with lifeguard.

7. Cole Farms Restaurant

64 Lewiston Rd. in Gray (Route 4), 657-4714. The Cole Farms has been a Gray landmark and destination eatery for more than 50 years. First opened in 1952, Cole Farms offers reasonably priced food, a picnic area, gift shop, and playground for the kids.

8. Marden’s Surplus and Salvage

Route 202 in Gray, 657-2626. Marden’s is a destination discount store that many Mainers use to buy decent quality everyday items. Join the throngs who check out the ever-changing product line and the latest deals. The Gray store is located about a mile west of the turnpike exit. The company’s slogan is, “I should have bought it when I saw it at Marden’s.”

9. The Ice Cream Dugout

Route 26 in Gray, 657-7769. The Ice Cream Dugout is a unique ice cream store with a Boston Red Sox theme. The shop is open noon to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 10 p.m. on the weekend. Ice cream cones are named after famous players.

10. Tee Em Up Golfland

Route 100 in Gray, 657-4653. Tee Em Up is the place to go to do as the name suggests – tee up a bucket of golf balls and take your best whack. Boasting a wide landing zone with a few trees and yardage markers set out as targets, the range can be a fun activity for the whole family.