Swan Island

If you find yourself in Maine this summer, and you’re in the mood for some peace and quiet, consider stopping by Swan Island. The island, in Maine’s Kennebec River, is a wildlife management area under Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. It was once home to a small town (population ninety-something) which has since been abandoned. You’ll need to contact the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and arrange to be ferried over (It’s about $8). There aren’t any concession stands or garbage cans on the island, so bring what you need and plan to take it all back to the mainland afterward. Once there, there’s nothing to do but kick back, relax and explore the two beautiful hiking trails with views of meadows, the river, the forest and the occasional eerie surprise of one of the village’s abandoned homes.