Farmington (zip 04938) is nestled at the foothills of the mountains in western Maine — a safe, laid-back place where skiers and riders hang with artists and writers. This spectacular lakes & mountains region of Maine combines the perfect mix of the active outdoor lifestyle with the arts and smarts of a small college town.

The town of Farmington (pop. 7,500) is world famous as the birthplace of Chester Greenwood, inventor of the earmuff. The campus is located in downtown Farmington, just a short walk away from a good number of coffee shops, funky stores, restaurants, banks, bookstores, a movie theater and a whole lot more.

Want to take a quiet walk downtown at night for dinner and a movie? Go out for some Italian? A pizza? A veggie wrap? Hot fudge sundae? A large mochaccino and a big breakfast bagel? It's all right downtown.

And yes, Farmington also has a Wal-Mart, Hannaford supermarket, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell/KFC, McDonald's, BK, Subway, Dunkin Donuts, Olympia Sports, and other big names you recognize.

If you're into the active outdoor lifestyle, this is the perfect place to be. Clip on your student discount lift ticket, toss your snowboard on the roof rack and plow up to Sugarloaf for the day or drive a few minutes from campus and ski Farmington's Titcomb Mt. Go hike Bigelow Mountain or nearby Mount Blue State Park. Mountain bike miles of nearby trails. Paddle our nearby lakes and rivers.

And when your folks come to visit, take them fishing. UMF was named by Fly Rod & Reel magazine as one of the Top Ten colleges for fishing — the only school in Maine to make the list.

The Farmington area is also considered the cultural center of the region. With an active community of poets, writers, artists, dancers and musicians, there’s usually something cool going on in the area. Plus, the area is really big into the arts, presenting plays, concerts, book-signings, art exhibits, and more … and they’re always well-attended.

There's so much to do around here!