Bridgton's main draws are its lakes and mountains. Long Lake is the natural centerpiece — good for paddling, fishing, and swimming throughout summer. To the west, Pleasant Mountain (formerly Shawnee Peak) offers the best skiing in the area in winter and hiking trails with White Mountains views in the warmer months. In town, the Rufus Porter Museum is a genuine surprise: a small institution celebrating a man who founded Scientific American, painted murals across New England, and sold the revolving rifle patent to Samuel Colt for $100.