Come for the lobster and lighthouses, keep for the granite peaks and tranquil woodlands. With the slogan, “the way in which life ought to be,” Maine is a spot that can seize your coronary heart.
From its northern waterways and mountain peaks to its southern sandy seashores and lobster rolls, Maine ought to be on everybody’s bucket listing. Right here’s our information to the ten finest locations to go to within the Pine Tree State.
1. Baxter State Park
A spotlight of Maine’s central highlands, Baxter State Park contains 210,000 acres of wilderness. Most individuals go to the park to hike Mt Katahdin, Maine’s highest peak and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Path.
A strenuous and day-long hike up the 5267ft granite peak yields unbelievable views of Maine’s huge wilderness and bragging rights. Baxter State Park can be residence to miles of simpler climbing trails, ponds good for canoeing and moose recognizing, and a number of other campgrounds with cabins, lean-tos, and tent spots.
2. Acadia Nationwide Park
The primary nationwide park east of the Mississippi River, Acadia Nationwide Park is among the hottest nationwide parks in New England due to its hovering granite peaks, dramatic rocky shoreline and inside woodlands. Situated on Mount Desert Island alongside Maine’s rocky shoreline, Acadia Nationwide Park options 26 mountain peaks, together with Cadillac Mountain, the tallest peak on the North Atlantic seaboard. Drive or hike Cadillac Mountain to observe the epic dawn because it wakes the nation up.
Go to Sand Seashore or Echo Lake for swimming and select from an abundance of climbing trails of assorted difficulties. Zip alongside the historic carriage trails by foot, bicycle or horseback.
Planning Tip: When you’re achieved working up a sweat, get pleasure from scrumptious world-famous popovers on the Jordan Pond Home. In fact, you’ll discover lobster on each menu by means of the charming city of Bar Harbor and throughout the island.
3. Portland
Portland, Maine’s largest metropolis, is residence to award-winning eating places and breweries and is thought for its lobster and seafood. For a novel twist on lobster, cease by Highroller Lobster Co. and check out their Lobster Cheese Crisp Taco or Foyer Pop.
Begin your morning with a espresso and donuts from Hifi Donuts earlier than strolling and buying your manner by means of the historic cobblestone streets of the Previous Port. Get energetic by hopping on certainly one of Summer time Ft Biking’s bike excursions out to the scenic Portland Head Gentle. Portland has extra breweries per capita than every other metropolis within the US. Get pleasure from a pint with the locals at Bissell Brothers, Allagash Brewing Firm and Rising Tide Brewing Firm.
No matter you select to do and eat in Portland, ensure you convey your stretchy pants!
4. Camden and Rockland
The small coastal cities of Camden and Rockland in midcoast Maine are quintessential seaside cities the place the lobster is freshly caught that day, the outdated houses as soon as belonged to outdated sea captains and everybody is aware of everybody’s title.
For the picture-perfect view of Camden Harbor, hike to the highest of 780ft Mt Battie in Camden Hills State Park.
In Rockland, go to the Farnsworth Artwork Museum to find the gorgeous work of the American painter Andrew Wyeth. Seize your morning espresso and benefit from the ocean air whilst you stroll the practically 1-mile stone breakwater to the historic Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse that welcomes ships into Rockland Harbor.
5. Carrabassett Valley
Maine’s northwestern mountains are a ski bum’s paradise. Sugarloaf Mountain is among the largest ski areas east of the Rocky Mountains, providing 2820ft of vertical drop and greater than 1240 skiable acres. It is the East Coast winter playground of champions, together with Olympic gold medalist Seth Wescott. Throughout the hotter months, you’ll see tons of mountain bikes zipping across the miles of downhill and cross-country trails all through the area.
Planning Tip: When you desire a barely slower tempo, the 80-mile community of trails with Maine Huts and Trails is a good way to expertise the pure great thing about Maine’s woodlands with the comforts of residence.
6. Kennebunkport
Don your finest polo shirt once you go to the preppy seaside city of Kennebunkport in southern Maine. The picturesque city nestled alongside the banks of the Kennebunk River and the rocky cliffs overlooking the Atlantic Ocean gives a plethora of water-based actions from whale-watching to kayaking to lobster excursions.
To catch a glimpse of yesteryear, go to the family-friendly Seashore Trolley Museum. Close by Kennebunk and Ogunquit (named by the Abenaki and means “the gorgeous place by the ocean”) are residence to miles of sandy seashores good for a scorching summer time day.
7. Freeport
No go to to Maine is full with no selfie with the well-known LL Bean Boot in Freeport. A 20-minute drive north of Portland, Freeport is residence to a few of Maine’s finest outlet buying and is the headquarters of LL Bean.
When you’ve bought your duck boots and flannel, it’s time to go to Freeport’s surrounding state parks. Spot nesting ospreys, scent the salty marsh and stroll by means of the woodlands within the many various ecosystems in Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park.
Planning Tip: Freeport can be residence to certainly one of Maine’s most shocking sights, the Desert of Maine. Due to poor agricultural practices, a hidden glacial desert was uncovered within the 1800s.
8. Quoddy Head State Park
America’ easternmost lighthouse is certainly one of Maine’s most iconic. In-built 1808, the pink candy-striped West Quoddy Head Lighthouse overlooks the rocky shoreline in Lubec. Quoddy Head State Park encompasses 532 acres on the easternmost level of land within the US and is fashionable with Mainers for its unbelievable oceanside climbing and whale watching.
Planning Tip: Convey your passport and jump over to Campobello Island, a brief drive over the border in Canada, to be taught extra about Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt and their historic summer time residence.
9. Moosehead Lake
Whereas Maine’s shoreline could be its principal attraction, its highlands and wilderness actually steal the present. Moosehead Lake is Maine’s largest lake, and it gives actions in addition to rustic rest. Hire a cabin or pitch a tent and luxuriate in a quiet time by the water exploring the miles of climbing trails, streams for fly fishing and plenty of watersports.
Planning Tip: Cease in Greenville to select up elements for s’mores since you’ll wish to construct a campfire and stargaze in the dead of night sky. When you’re fortunate, chances are you’ll even spot the Milky Approach.
10. Allagash Wilderness Waterway
For a real off-the-grid wilderness expertise, set off in a canoe on the 92-mile Allagash Wilderness Waterway in northern Maine. Within the coronary heart of Aroostook County, or as native Mainers name it “The County,” the Allagash Wilderness Waterway begins in Telos and ends within the tiny city of Allagash. Unplug out of your telephone and society and take within the unbelievable great thing about northern Maine whilst you’re on one of many nation’s premier canoe journeys.
Planning Tip: The canoe journey takes per week to 10 days relying on the season and is finest for skilled paddlers.
