80 Great Things to Do in Maine

With its inland mountains, rocky coastline, and charming cities, Maine offers the entire palette of New England’s pleasures Maine encompasses nearly all of the outdoor beauty and cultural pleasures that New England offers as a whole. The northern and inner regions welcome whitewater rafters, skiers, snowmobilers, hunters, and fishermen with their mountains, majestic forests, and abundant lakes and streams. The coastline is sprinkled with lighthouses that send out their beacons and mournful hoots for mariners. One highlight of the coastal region is the magnificent Acadia National Park, where early-morning hikers can watch the sun rise in the first place in the United States. In addition to its rocky shores and inlets, Maine’s coast has white sand beaches and the jazzy, cotton-candy summertime beach culture that is pure fun for families and children. Maine’s towns and cities have made an effort to preserve much of their 18th- and 19th-century neighborhoods. These elegant buildings now are often the home of excellent restaurants (don’t miss the fresh-caught lobster), galleries, antique stores, and unique, charming shops. Coastline cities and towns welcome visitors to watch the action at their working harbors, where private and commercial fishing boats move in and out among pleasure boats, ferries to Canada, and whale-watch cruise boats. Cities that should not be missed include Portland, which has preserved its “old port” neighborhood; Bar Harbor in the Down East region; Boothbay Harbor; York, Old Orchard Beach, and Ogunquit in the South Coast region; and Augusta, the capital. People who love to shop will make a beeline for the Kittery outlets as well as L.L. Bean in Freeport. Historic inns and B&Bs, many of which were once sea captains’ homes, let you rest in places where history was made. Resorts and hotels along the coast and inland offer a variety of lodging services. Maine is the place to go for cool summer breezes, biking along the sea, shopping for bargains, or discovering New England’s seafaring past. 80 Great Things to Do in Maine