If you’ve always wanted to visit The Pine Tree State of Maine, whose slogan is “The Way Life Should Be,” I am going to try and convince you to make your dream come true in the very near future.
Of course I am biased since it’s home, but I don’t know where else you can see sprawling ocean waters, visit unique lighthouses, stuff your face with lobster, and enjoy all the outdoor year-round activities such as skiing, boating, camping, hiking, hunting, ice fishing, and my favorite part: the exquisite fall foliage.
Peppered with several quaint little towns that will make you feel as though you are in a Hallmark movie, there is so much to see and explore, I can’t possibly fit it all in one article, so I’ve narrowed it down to my family’s favorite spots- Oh, and did you know Martha Stewart has a house here? There is a reason: Maine is a good thing.
Camden
Camden is one of our favorite places to go for a short weekend getaway. You can literally see where the mountains touch the ocean in some places. In the Spring, Summer and Fall, hiking Mt. Battie, then going to lunch at Cuzzy’s, where we fill up on delicious homemade brick oven pizza, is always a treat. Every day from 3-6 p.m., they offer $5 food specials. In the winter, Camden Snowball is the perfect mountain for a family day of skiing and the only one on the East Coast where you can ski and see the ocean.
York
York Beach is a little village in the town of York, Maine, where you can find tourists and Mainers alike walking along the ocean searching for sand dollars and other treasures late into September. Other hot spots you must hit are York’s Wild Kingdom and The Goldenrod, where you can watch the Saltwater taffy-making process through their large windows. Their candy counter will leave you salivating- they can ship your candy order home so you won’t devour it on your trip and have a taste of Maine waiting for you when you return.
Portland
If you want a taste of the (small) city life, Portland’s Old Port is peppered with edgy shops and galleries. As you stroll down the cobblestone streets you are sure to smell the deliciousness coming one- of- a- kind restaurants like Fore Street, which serves American, International and Contemporary fare. The vibe is casual and the food is superior. Be sure to take a stroll through Portland’s Museum of Art or a walk around the Eastern Promenade which runs along the water.
Boothbay Harbor
If you have always wanted to go on a whale or dolphin watch, Boothbay Harbor will deliver. Cap’n Fishes Whale Watch promises you the “Best whale watch experience in Maine” and was founded over 80 years ago. The Maine State Aquarium is a must if you have kiddos; their touch tank allows you to touch sea urchins, scallops, and sea cucumbers.
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is a town nestled on Mount Desert Island with close proximity to Acadia National Park where you can climb the trails of beautiful Cadillac Mountain, visit Sand Beach and watch epic waves crash at Thunder Hole. If you want to hear the thunder, make sure you go at high tide. Bar Harbor also offers fantastic campgrounds and the downtown is always buzzing with people enjoying ice cream, the fun shops, or mini golf.
So don’t put off your trip to Maine any longer- the lobster and ocean views are waiting for you.
