Sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you weren’t looking for.

When we pulled into Limerick, I expected a quiet Route 5 community with a few local businesses and maybe a scenic stop or two. What I didn’t expect was to leave with a new hobby.

Our visit included a beautiful overlook, a few places we’ll have to come back and try another time, and our first-ever experience playing disc golf.

As it turns out, throwing a frisbee through the woods is a lot more fun than it sounds.

Limerick was incorporated in 1794 and named after County Limerick, Ireland. Like many communities along Route 5, the town grew through farming, forestry, and small local businesses that served the surrounding area.

Today, Limerick is known for its lakes, outdoor recreation, and small-town charm. While many travelers pass through on their way to somewhere else, it’s worth slowing down long enough to see what the town has to offer.

Sokokis Lake Campground
Located near Sokokis Lake, this campground is one of the most recognizable places to stay in town. However, it primarily caters to seasonal campers and isn’t really geared toward weekend travelers looking for a quick getaway.

There are currently no hotels located in Limerick.

Town Hill Grille
One of the better-known local restaurants in town and a popular gathering place for both locals and visitors.

Peppermill Restaurant
A longtime local favorite. I reached out before our visit but never received a response regarding gluten-free options, so I can’t personally speak to their accommodations. Still, it came highly recommended by several people when I started researching the town.

Wright Chocolate House
Technically more of a sweet stop than a restaurant, but definitely worth mentioning. Unfortunately, they close during the hottest part of summer because Maine heat and chocolate aren’t always the best combination.

Looks like we’ll have to come back another season.

Woodland Valley Disc Golf
The biggest surprise of our visit. Neither of us had ever played disc golf before, but we decided to give it a try and ended up having an absolute blast. We may not have been particularly good at it, but we had fun, and that’s what counts. This was one of those activities that made us wonder why we hadn’t tried it sooner.

Sokokis Trail Overlook
If you’re looking for a scenic view, don’t skip the overlook. It’s a great place to pull over, stretch your legs, and enjoy a different perspective of western York County.

Explore the Back Roads
Some of my favorite moments weren’t destinations at all. They were the quiet roads, old farmhouses, glimpses of ponds through the trees, and the feeling that there was probably something interesting around the next corner.

Don’t be afraid to try something new.

If you’d asked me before this trip if disc golf was something I’d enjoy, I probably would have shrugged and kept driving. Now it’s something we’ll absolutely do again.

Sometimes the best adventures aren’t the ones you planned.

Every town connects to the next by road – not by chance.

ME Route 5
North → Cornish ME
South → Waterboro ME

ME Route 11
North → Limington ME
South → Newfield ME

ME Route 160
North → Cornish ME

Limerick ended up being one of the bigger surprises on our Route 5 journey so far.

Not because it has a famous attraction or a long list of tourist stops, but because it reminded me that sometimes the best discoveries are the ones you weren’t looking for.

We came to see the town.

We left talking about disc golf.

That’s one of the things I’ve enjoyed most about this project. Every town has its own personality, and sometimes that personality shows up in ways you never expected.

I may not remember every throw from our first round, but I know we’ll be playing again.

Before continuing north to Cornish, we’re taking a short break from exploring individual towns and doing something we probably should have done at the beginning of this project.

Next week, we’re driving the entire length of Route 5 from Old Orchard Beach to Andover.

The goal is to verify every town, major intersection, scenic stop, and hidden gem along the route. We’ve already learned that maps don’t always tell the whole story, and we want to make sure we don’t miss anything before continuing north.

Think of it as a Route 5 reconnaissance mission.

After that, we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled town adventures as we continue working our way north.

Progress Report – Approximately 35 of 118 miles explored

Old Orchard → Saco → Biddeford → Dayton → Lyman → Waterboro → Limerick

Still to come → Cornish → Baldwin → Hiram → Brownfield → Fryeburg → Lovell → Albany Township → Bethel → Newry → Rumford → Andover