5 Epic Reasons You Should Want to Visit Maine

If you are looking for breathtaking stretches of coastline and delicious seafood, look no further than the northeasternmost state in the U.S. – Maine! Referred to locally as the Pine Tree State, predominantly for the abundance of parks and other areas of forestry, Maine is a haven for gorgeous natural scenery. If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit Maine, you don’t know what you are missing!

We have been fortunate to visit the small town of Ogunquit along with the larger city of Portland, both of which offer a unique experience in Maine. We will share more of our personal thoughts later but first, we are delighted to collaborate with Anna Parker from Travel With Penelope and Parker, who has had the opportunity to explore Maine and shares her opinions on this beautiful state.

Let’s take a look at what Anna has to say about Maine.

The Lighthouses

Lighthouses are dotted along the coast – not only beautiful but on exposed bits of coast where the scenery and views are unbeatable.

Whilst there are plenty of beaches in the south, go north and lighthouses mark the danger at night and day for sailors and fishermen along the craggy coast.

Visit a few – Owls Head and Bass Harbour Head are stunning come rain or shine – but better still, stay in one! Living in a luxury lighthouse (the ‘Inn at Cuckolds’) for a couple of days was the ultimate retreat, surrounded entirely by the water with unbeatable views and more seals than people.

The Lobster

I ate 5 in a week, and why not? Lobster is a delicacy in Maine, but also an affordable one and a food that one just cannot get enough of. Whether you eat your lobster fresh off a steamer dipped in butter accompanied by corn and potatoes or if you choose to enjoy it in a roll doused in mayonnaise. Whichever way you prefer, it is delicious.

All seaside towns have shacks serving the lobster roll – you can tell by the length of the queue if you’ve chosen somewhere good, it’ll be worth the wait!

The Scenery

Sat in a wooden Adirondack chair with a glass of chilled wine (or a lobster roll) in hand is the perfect way to enjoy the view, whether looking across to Acadia or just out to sea, it is quintessentially Maine.

blessed with gorgeous scenery and a rugged coastline which is rocky and beautiful and the colors are quite gorgeous whether inland in the forests or looking out to sea.

Take some time to travel inland and enjoy touring the wineries, with a breathtaking array of alpine scenery. The views across Penobscot Bay were relaxing with many a classic sailing yacht providing the ultimate relaxing scene. The Adirondacks just add to the natural beauty in front of you.

The Quaint Towns

Maine has so many charming and small towns. Camden is set around a historic working port with many lovely shops for gifts and local produce.

Ogunquit is blessed with lovely beach areas as well as an easy-going coastal walk near to the town.

Kennebunkport is a bustling place with plenty of shops and all manner of options for food and drink.

Portland is the cool big sister of the area, sprawling along the coast with a real local feel to it despite a large number of tourists that flock here. Boothbay Harbour is off the main tourist route yet has one of the best lobster shacks around.

The National Parks

There is no shortage of outstanding natural beauty in Maine. Camden Hills is an interesting place – either take a hike or (if short of time) drive to the top of Mount Battie and take in the stunning panorama of views inland and also down to Camden and across to Acadia.

If you have more time, Mount Megunticook is well worth climbing! Acadia National Park draws crowds and it’s easy to see much of it in a day on the recommended driving scenic route. However, we recommend heading off the beaten path to avoid the crowds and exploring more of what this national park has to offer.

The distinctive change from a coastal to an alpine scenery in such a short distance is incredible and something that you have to experience when you visit Maine.

Visit Maine – Our Thoughts

We immediately fell in love with Maine…it’s as simple as that! Spending some time exploring the quirky yet beautiful town of Ogunquit sampling the finest home-made hot chocolate before heading to the city of Portland to experience the gorgeous lighthouses.

Maine may be a popular location for food connoisseurs due to the delicious lobster here, but for anyone in the slight bit interested in lighthouses, this state is certainly the best place to visit.

The iconic Portland Head Light once played an integral role in the maritime industry around the Gulf of Maine. The history of this lighthouse dates back to the late 18th century and despite some renovations, today it is still proudly standing at the head of the primary shipping channel into Portland Harbor.

Our journey through Maine continued to some lesser known spots and in fact, we really felt like we were in a beautiful wilderness as we experienced a variety of wildlife (moose and deer among others) and breathtaking overlooks.

Approaching the Canadian border in Jackman, we experienced the gorgeous Attean View Overlook which if you have the opportunity is definitely a memory you will cherish.

If you love waterfalls as much as I do, well you are in for a real treat because Maine has an abundance of them waiting for you to discover. We pulled over on the side of the road as we approached the Canadian border and found this gem of a waterfall. It’s no surprise to hear that this is known as ‘The Falls’ and is located just off US 201, north of Jackman.

Summary

Maine is one of America’s hidden gems with a variety of reasons that will continue to attract visitors from all corners of the globe. Whether you are a food critic, avid historian or keen landscape photographer, Maine has a plethora of attractive towns and landmarks that will keep you intrigued.

Road tripping through Maine en route from Boston to Quebec City was one of the highlights of our trip and as you can see from Anna’s suggestions, pretty much everywhere you go there will be something to inspire you to explore further.

Have you experienced Maine? If so, what do you consider to be the highlights here and if not, what is it about Maine that attracts you?

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