Sometimes the best discoveries happen because your original plan falls apart.

This week was supposed to be our big Route 5 scouting trip. The plan was to drive the entire route from Old Orchard Beach to Andover, verifying town lines, scouting future stops, and making sure we didn’t miss any hidden gems along the way.

Our truck had other plans. Frank decided it was the perfect time to need a new starter. Thankfully, my dad was able to replace it for us (thanks, Dad!), and we were back on the road much quicker than we expected.

Even with the repair finished, I still wasn’t quite ready to trust Frank with a 200+ mile scouting trip through western Maine, especially knowing how spotty cell service can be in some areas. That’s okay. Road trips don’t always go according to plan.

One of the goals of this project is to make sure no town gets left behind.
While flipping through the Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer Maine (which, by the way, is an amazing resource if you love exploring Maine), I realized Route 5 actually clips a small corner of Hollis – a town we had completely overlooked.

Since it was much closer to home, it became the perfect backup plan.
And honestly? I’m glad things worked out the way they did. As an added bonus, Hollis is close to my mom’s house, so we got to spend a little time visiting before heading out to explore.

Sometimes Plan B ends up being pretty great.

Hollis was officially incorporated in 1798, although the area was settled much earlier as Little Falls Plantation. The town was originally named Phillipsburg in honor of Major William Phillips before being renamed Hollis in 1810. Today, agriculture still plays an important role in the community, giving Hollis its quiet rural character.

Unlike many Maine towns that revolve around a single downtown, Hollis is spread out among farms, forests, and country roads. It’s the kind of place where slowing down is part of the experience.

There are no campgrounds or hotels located directly in Hollis, making it an easy day trip from nearby communities like Saco, Biddeford, or Portland.

Big Daddy’s North
We wrapped up our day with ice cream, and I’m already looking forward to coming back.
I decided to try the blueberry ice cream, and it completely exceeded my expectations. It was creamy, full of flavor, and one of the highlights of the day.

Fair warning – the portions are huge! Layla ordered a kiddie cone, and it still came with what looked like two generous scoops.
They also serve wood-fired pizza, which has officially made the list for our next visit.

The River Tap & Grill
Located at Salmon Falls Country Club, The River Tap & Grill has become a local favorite for burgers, comfort food, and views overlooking the Saco River. We’ve heard great things and will definitely have to stop back on a future visit.

California Fields Wildlife Management Area
This ended up being one of my favorite stops of the day. It’s surprisingly easy to miss because there isn’t much signage, and the entrance is tucked down a dirt road. Even with GPS we drove right past it the first time and had to turn around.

I’m so glad we did. The fields were filled with wildflowers, we had the entire area to ourselves, and the birdwatching was fantastic. We spotted several species, including a beautiful indigo bunting. If you enjoy photography, birdwatching, or simply a peaceful walk through nature, this is absolutely worth the stop.

Pete’s Place
My mom suggested we check out what Google Maps lists as Snell Construction, but locals know it simply as Pete’s Place. The best way I can describe it is… organized chaos. Trailers full of treasures, antiques sitting out in the open, old signs, records, tools, rusty collectibles – you never know what you’ll find. We spent quite a while wandering around and spotted everything from vintage records to an old rusty scooter that had a lot of character.

Pete himself was nowhere to be found, and we didn’t see any prices, so I’m not sure whether everything is a bargain or not. Either way, it’s a fun place to browse if you enjoy treasure hunting.

Hollis Center Public Library
You probably weren’t expecting me to recommend a library, were you?
But if you’re lucky enough to visit when the lupines are blooming, don’t skip the field beside the library. Years ago, we brought our cat Beans here for a photo shoot, and somehow he managed to cooperate long enough for us to get some of my favorite pictures of him. Every time I drive by, I think of Beans in a field of purple flowers looking completely unimpressed with our idea.

Saco Don’t rely on GPS alone.

California Fields Wildlife Management Area is easy to drive right past, so keep an eye out once you’re getting close.

And if you’re heading to Big Daddy’s North afterward… maybe skip lunch. Trust me on the ice cream portions.

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

US Route 202
North → Buxton ME
South → Lyman ME

ME Route 4
North → Buxton ME
South → Lyman ME

ME Route 4A
North → Buxton ME

ME Route 5
North → Lyman ME
South → Dayton ME

ME Route 35
North → Buxton ME
South → Dayton ME

ME Route 117
North → Waterboro ME
South → Buxton ME

Hollis wasn’t supposed to be this week’s destination. – It was the backup plan.

But after spending the day exploring, I’m convinced that’s exactly what makes this project so much fun. If the truck hadn’t needed a new starter, we probably would have driven right through this little corner of Route 5 without giving it a second thought.

Instead, we found a beautiful wildlife area, an antique hunter’s dream, incredible blueberry ice cream, and another reminder that some of Maine’s best places aren’t the ones with the biggest signs. Sometimes the detours end up being the destination.

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With Hollis officially added to our Route 5 adventure, we’ll wait until we’re completely confident in Frank before heading into western Maine. In the meantime, we’ll continue north with our next featured town: Cornish. As you might noticed, we added a few more towns thanks to our detailed map that we found.

Progress Report – Approximately 40 of 118 Miles Explored
Old Orchard Beach → Saco → Biddeford → Dayton → Hollis → Lyman → Waterboro → Limerick

Still to Come –
Cornish → Baldwin → Hiram → Brownfield → Fryeburg → Lovell → Stoneham → Albany Township → Bethel → Newry → Hanover → Rumford → Andover