Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

Groomsmen don’t get a whole lot of glory in the wedding scene. While everyone’s fawning over the bride, congratulating the groom and marveling at the bridesmaids’ chic ensembles, the groomsmen stand loyally by, wearing their matching suits without complaint and discreetly handling that tipsy uncle who’s threatening to make a scene.

So show those fellas a good time beyond just the wedding day. Here’s just a few of the activities Maine has to offer for the men in your life:

• Maine Beer Trail You may have heard that Maine has more moose than people. That tidbit happens to be false, but this fun fact is true: The state boasts one brewery per 42,000 residents, ranking it fourth in the nation for breweries per capita. The easiest way to get a taste of them? The Maine Beer Trail, a collection of 25 breweries stretching from Eliot at the state’s southern tip all the way to Bar Harbor and looping back to the ski mountains of western Maine. Hit 5 for a free baseball cap, 10 for a T-shirt and all 25 for a prize pack of Maine beer gear.
• Paintballing Round up your pals — and prepare to watch your back — for an adventure at the popular Birch Hill Paintball in York. With wooded, urban and airfield playing arenas, you’ll find something for everyone. Groups of up to 10 can play for four hours, with equipment rentals and pizza, for a nice $315. Groomzillas: Beware, your groomsmen might take this as an opportunity for a little friendly revenge.
• Go karting Hit the track rain or shine at Maine Indoor Karting off Route 1 in Scarborough. Adrenaline junkies can choose from a variety of racing packages, from a bachelor party deal including food and trophies to super endurance racing, which “separates the men from the boys” with a three-race series complete with qualifying laps.
• Ziplining Sugarloaf and Sunday River may be better known as Maine’s premier downhill skiing mountains, but now adventure lovers can enjoy them during the offseason with thrilling new zipline tours.  Fly through the woods of western Maine at top speeds of 25 miles per hour, traversing ravines and laughing at the sight of your buddies wearing helmets and harnesses.
• Whitewater rafting If you’re heading to northern Maine, Three Rivers Whitewater is your one-stop destination for outdoor adventure. Raft Maine’s Kennebec, Penobscot or Dead River aboard an inflatable raft for a heart-stopping tour through Maine’s backcountry. Real daredevils can hit the Kennebec during one of four times annually when dam releases have it rushing at its wildest, and enjoy and BBQ and lobster bake to boot. Three Rivers also offers skydiving and wildlife safari tours (Ok, sometimes moose really do outnumber the people).
• Sailing For guys who prefer less choppy waters, check out Maine Sailing Adventures in Portland.  Hop aboard the windjammer Frances for a two-hour public day sail, or reserve a private charter and sit back to enjoy a lobster bake, refreshments and unparalleled views of the Maine coast. Or, request an educational sail with expert instruction if your fellas want to try pulling lines and hoisting the topsail themselves.