7:00 AM

You start your day at Forage Market, a popular bakery and café in Lewiston known for its fresh-baked breads, pastries, and excellent coffee. The line moves fast, and you grab a scone and a drip coffee before heading to work.

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8:00 AM

You head to work at Central Maine Medical Center, one of the largest employers in the Lewiston-Auburn area. As a medical lab technician, your work is precise and important — running diagnostic tests that help doctors make treatment decisions. The hospital serves communities across Androscoggin County.

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12:00 PM

For lunch, you take a walk through downtown Lewiston. The city’s Franco-American heritage is visible everywhere — from the stunning Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul (one of the largest churches in New England) to the brick mill buildings that are being converted into apartments, studios, and businesses. You grab a bite from one of the growing number of restaurants on Lisbon Street.

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1:00 PM

After lunch, you visit the Bates College Museum of Art, which is free and open to the public. The museum has a strong collection of contemporary and modern art, and the Bates campus is beautiful for a quick walk.

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5:00 PM

After work, you head to Thorncrag Bird Sanctuary, a 357-acre preserve right within Lewiston city limits. It’s the largest bird sanctuary in New England, with over 5 miles of trails through forests, ledges, and wetlands. You hike the main loop and enjoy the quiet.

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7:00 PM

For dinner, you cross the bridge to Auburn and visit Baxter Brewing Company for craft beer and pizza in their taproom. Baxter was one of the first craft breweries in central Maine and has become a gathering spot for the L-A community.

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8:30 PM

After dinner, you head back to Lewiston for an event at the Franco Center, a beautifully restored performance venue in the old St. Mary’s Church. Tonight it’s a live music show, and the acoustics in the old church are extraordinary.

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10:30 PM

Back at home, you feel the energy that’s building in Lewiston-Auburn. The twin cities are in the middle of a real renaissance — new restaurants, mill conversions, cultural events, and a growing sense of possibility. The cost of living is among the lowest in southern/central Maine, and the community is diverse and welcoming.