Maine conjures up images of lobster, fall foliage, and wild coastal lighthouse scenes, topped off with all things maple-flavored. The state belongs on bucket lists for all of that, and more. So we dug a little deeper to uncover the unexpected in this sizable state, and we can’t wait to share what we found along the coast, beyond the lighthouses, inland, amongst the riverways, from potato farms, and beneath starry highland skies! Read on for more of the Maine you seek and the Maine you didn’t know you’ve been waiting for.
This story was created in partnership with VisitMaine.com.
Expected: Lighthouses & Coasts
Unexpected: Starry Skies & Riverways
You can’t very well make a trip to Maine without admiring a few lighthouses. Maine’s oldest lighthouse, Portland Head Light, is located mere minutes from the heart of Portland. Take in the iconic view of the white and black lighthouse and red-roofed keepers’ quarters as you approach. Once you arrive in Fort Williams Park, you’ll find the first example of Maine’s deeper stories. The park houses the lighthouse, as well as historic fort structures, a mansion of architectural note, a beach and ecological preserve, and a children’s garden.
Even more lighthouses line Maine’s storied coast, from the Nubble Lighthouse at Cape Neddick to the Marshall Point Light Station with its photogenic wooden bridge, all the way north to the West Quoddy Head Light in Lubec. This is the easternmost lighthouse in the United States and boasts bold red and white candy stripes. Its name comes from the Indigenous Passamaquoddy word meaning “fertile and beautiful place,” which you will find is an accurate description of Maine, no matter the season.
While you’re on the coast, you’ll find all kinds of gems tucked in the craggy coastline, ready to make your flannel beach-blanket dreams come true. These are just a few examples:
- Crescent Beach State Park has a mile-long curved shore beckoning beachgoers to paddleboard, hike, fly a kite, relax in a chair, take in the views, or explore the trails behind the beach.
- The coastal community of Ogunquit lines its dunes with roses and its cliffed coast with a paved path to an art-lovers dream village.
- Further north, Boothbay Harbor’s authenticity meets 360-degree beauty; walk amongst sculptures, watch for puffins, stop to smell the tulips, and spot another lighthouse with a story.
If you can pull your gaze from the lighthouses and stunning Atlantic Ocean views, there’s much to be discovered in inland Maine. Make your camp in the Mahoosuc Public Lands or Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument and experience the waterways and starry skies of Maine. The Mahoosuc Range of southern Maine has something for every kind of hiker, from the rugged backcountry stretches of the Appalachian Trail to the milder Grafton Notch waterfall hike. In the Maine Highlands, you’ll find the truly wild in Katahdin. Make the Tekαkαpimək Contact Station your first stop in Katahdin. Arrive prepared for independent adventure or hire a Registered Maine Guide, and spend your days paddling the riverways, fishing the lakes, hiking in solitude, and spotting birds and constellations.
You may even consider an extended backcountry trip by waterway, such as the ancient Northern Forest Canoe Trail that reaches into New York, the 92-mile Allagash Wilderness Waterway in northern Maine, the lake-and-river Penobscot River Corridor featuring fishing and whitewater, or America’s first water trail—the Maine Island Trail spanning the coast and more than 200 trails.
Expected: Lobster & Maple Syrup
Unexpected: Potatoes & Fiber Arts
When in Maine, you have to immerse yourself in the lobster tradition, of course! Dig into seafood specialties at authentic seaside lobster shacks in towns like Georgetown, Kennebunkport, and Wiscasset. Though summer is peak lobster season, fresh lobster is a Maine staple year-round, and you’ll get the opportunity to try it in everything from a sandwich to ice cream.
And what’s March in the Northeast if you don’t participate in Maine Maple Sunday? Maple-syrup-centered events stretch across the entire state in March, but you can enjoy a great meal with local maple syrup any time of year.
In addition to savoring the flavors you expected, branch out! Cold ocean waters don’t only yield delicious lobster, they also produce meaty, flavorful oysters. Sample, savor, learn, and tour all things oyster on the Maine Oyster Trail!
As much as the Atlantic provides, so, too, do the lands of Maine. Many don’t know that Fort Fairfield in the north was once the Potato Capital of the World. The Aroostook River flows through the town, and potato fields stretch across the landscape adventurers can explore on foot, horseback, ATV, or snowmobile.
You’ll find even more resources to enjoy in your Maine travels. Make a few stops along the Fiber Art Mini Tour or slow down and spend some time immersing yourself at the Medomak Fiber Arts Retreat or Pleasant Mountain Fiber Arts Workshop.
Whether you’re motoring your way along the Oyster Trail or doing deep work with baskets and buttons, you’ll discover a whole new world to pair with your lobster and maple!
Expected: Fall Foliage
Unexpected: Spring & Winter Delights
Just as flavors are complementary, so are the seasons. Summer is the peak time to visit Maine, but we like beating the crowds as much as the next traveler, so we dug into the other seasons.
Fall favorites
What’s fall if not leaf peeping season? And what is leaf peeping without a scenic drive? While you can’t miss Acadia National Park’s roads and trails for a tour of colorful Maine, you’ll find a wide variety of scenic routes best suited to your road trip goals. Of course, you don’t have to visit in the fall to experience unbelievable views from the road. And when you put the car in park and embark on a trail by boot, bike, or kayak, you’ll find a slower pace immersed in the colors and crisp air refreshing.
Spring secrets
Spring is particularly special because parts of the state are still getting the most out of winter fun while others are able to spring into summery experiences. Whether it’s spring skiing (read: great snow with warmer temps) or hours of artistic and heritage experiences while decked out in a scarf and cute hat, you can eke out a little extra winter in Maine. On the other hand, if you can’t wait to rev up the summer fun, find your way to the ATV trails of Aroostook Valley. Beat the crowds to the best fishing holes, paddling lines, and whitewater rapids, and to the best spot on Maine’s favorite beaches. Enjoy the green shoots and earliest blossoms on peaceful hiking trails across the state.
Winter Joys
Fall may be for scenic highways, but winter is for snowmobiling. Over 14,000 miles of groomed trails stretch from one end of the state to the other! Add to that more than 300 snowmobiling clubs and numerous communities that embrace their role as “trail towns”, and you’ll find a whole new way to plan a “road trip” in Maine. When you’re ready to step off the snowmobile, give ice fishing and the pronunciation of Cobbosseecontee Lake a shot, find out if you prefer tobogganing over downhill skiing at Camden Snow Bowl, or test your gliding and striding skills in ice skating and snowshoeing.
