Are you searching for the Best Places to Visit in Maine? Are you thinking of a trip to the South and wondering what to explore in Maine? We’ve got you covered.
Maine is one of the most iconic states. Maine is a northern New England state. When you think of it, images that spring to mind immediately are full-rigged Windjammers and waves breaking against the coast, fishing harbors filled with colorful boats and lighthouses, tall pine trees, and fishing harbors full of colorful boats. There are miles upon miles of backwoods that are home to moose. They evoke images of a single canoe barely rifling the mirror-like lake surface or rainbow trout leaping from crystal clear waters.
Maine’s beauty is its ability to delight tourists who come with romantic ideas in mind. From York to Quoddy head, lighthouses are the crown points. There are dozens of fishing harbors and miles of rocky shoreline. Windjammers weave among the fir-clad offshore islands while brightly-painted lobster buoys bobbing on the water. Lobster boats are scuttling in between them to haul traps.
Maine’s attractions don’t just look great in pictures.
Maine has many things to do, including museums, stunning gardens, historical attractions, and outdoor activities. Use our guide to find the best places in Maine by using this list of top attractions.
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Portland Head Lighthouse
Portland Head Lighthouse is the one of the best place to visit in Maine. Portland is the largest city in Maine. Tourists arrive in Portland and head straight to its Old Port district. Tourists coming to Portland will find fishing boats, bustling docks, and seafood restaurants. They may also see a cruise ship or the tall masts on a sailing vessel. Portland is still an active port. From the dockside Commercial Street, the narrow streets are lined with brick and stone buildings that have supported one of the East Coast’s busiest ports from colonial times to the 19 century.
You can shop for maritime souvenirs at a ship’s chandlery or eat seafood at the harbor. If you arrive early enough, you can watch the fishing boats unload, and the local chefs were choosing the menus in the city’s restaurants. These souvenirs can be found on Fore Street, parallel to Commercial. You can either board a cruise in Casco Bay or a ferry that takes you to its islands.
Portland Head Lighthouse is a landmark in Casco Bay and the Portsmouth harbor. It marks the entrance of the sanctuary. It is one of the most stunning along the coast. You can see Old Port and the passing boats and ships from its peninsula.
The former Keeper’s Quarters museum displays the history of lighthouses and the people who keep them. It also shows how technology has changed the way these beacons of maritime safety function. Fresnel lenses and exhibits about their operation are some of the artifacts that will be on display.
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Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park, which boasts stunning views and abundant wildlife, is the only national park in New England. Visitors can enjoy countless opportunities to rock climb, hike, kayak, bike, and enjoy scenic views.
John D. Rockefeller Jr. originally designed the carriage road that runs through Acadia National Park. It offers many great points of interest. The park is accessible by an Island Explorer bus, which makes it easy to take in the many beautiful views. Park Loop Road is one of the most visited drives in Acadia. It boasts numerous scenic overlooks.
The Kennebunks, Maine
The Kennebunk’s include Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. This area is also home to Goose Rocks Beach, Cape Porpoise, and Goose Rocks Beach. Although the Kennebunks is most well-known for being the location of President George W. Bush’s summer compound (Walker’s Point), this coastal area has become a popular destination for cozy bed-and-breakfasts, boutiques, and boats, as well as biking, fishing, and other activities.
It’s not unusual to see tourists walking along the sidewalk in search of glimpses of the 41st President or his family, even though there is no public access to the estate. Kennebunkport and Kennebunkport are at their peak tourist season in summer. The Kennebunks, like many other Maine coastal towns, turn to sleepy cities during winter.
The First Families Kennebunkport Museum and Seashore Trolley Museum. Dock Square, Brick Store Museum, and St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery. The Capt. Lord Mansion hotel can be found eight minutes from Kennebunkport’s town center. Although it lacks the standard amenities of a hotel, such as a pool and fitness center, or room service, each room is equipped with a fireplace that will keep you warm in winter and fall.
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Bar Harbor
The bustling community of Bar Harbor, which is located on the northeast coast of Frenchman Bay and the highest point on Mount Desert Island, is found on the northeast shores. Bar Harbor offers a wide range of activities, including the opportunity to shop at many boutiques and galleries and various other activities. There are many excellent restaurants available.
Other popular attractions are Bar Harbor Historical Society, Abbe Museum, and Asticou Azalea Gardens. Bar Harbor is conveniently located near Acadia National Park, making it an ideal location for visitors to the park. Bar Harbor is most prevalent in summer and autumn.
Old Orchard Beach
Old Orchard Beach is the one of the best place to visit in Maine. Old Orchard Beach is an unabashedly old-fashioned beach resort. It revels in the slightly tacky, honky-tonk vibe of its pier and thrill rides on New England’s last remaining full-scale amusement parks on a beach. You can kick off your shoes and enjoy nostalgia as you step back in mid-century summer fun.
Palace Playland offers all the usual rides, including a Ferris wheel that goes over the waves, a rollercoaster, a bumper car, an old-fashioned carousel, and a few other kid-pleasers. Street-side windows and pier stands sell soft ice cream, fries, saltwater taffy, and fried dough.
Seven miles of golden sand beaches are the highlight of this whole experience. Volunteers scrub the sands each night, so there is no better beach. A barrier of grassy dunes separates most of the seven miles of beach from the low-end hotels and shops.
Old Orchard is the only Maine beach you can reach directly by train. The Amtrak station lies opposite the pier.
Farnsworth Art Museum
It is the only museum in the United States with a comprehensive collection of Maine-related works. The Wyeth Center, established in 1995, is the only one dedicated to the creation and legacy of the three Wyeth generations — N.C. Andrew, James, and Andrew.
The museum’s collection represents some of America’s most famous late 19th- and very early 20th-century landscape painters. You can also see Thomas Cole’s earliest work, along with paintings by George Bellows and, Rockwell Kent, John La Farge. George Inness, Childe Hassam, George Inness, George Inness, John La Farge, George Inness, Fitz Henry Lane, and Thomas Cole’s first known work.
An adjacent building house works by James Wyeth, N.C. Wyeth, and a former Union Street church. The Farnsworth arranges tours to the Olson House. Andrew Wyeth’s 1948 painting Christina’s World is the most well-known.
Rockland
Rockland’s historic downtown is surrounded by beautifully maintained brick mercantile buildings from the 19th century. It lies in a protected harbor with Owl’s Head and a long stone breakwater.
The limestone quarried from the hills surrounding this port was a significant export market. The harbor was lined by kilns that processed the stone to be shipped to eastern cities as mortar or plaster.
The old seaport town of Rockland is worth a visit for its many attractions, such as Owl’s Head Light or the Owl’s Head Transport Museum. Rockland is also the home port for the Maine Windjammer fleet, whose historic sailing vessels you can often find moored there.
Artists have drawn to Penobscot Bay and its surrounding islands for centuries. You can view their works in Rockland’s many galleries and museums.
Bangor, Maine
A visit to Stephen King’s home is an excellent option for a budget getaway. After a prolonged slump in tourism, the Queen City of Bangor has started to rebound and attracts tourists to events like the American Folk Festival. Ghost hunters and history buffs alike will love the town’s haunting history.
Walking tours can be taken along Central Street, where FBI agents fought with Al Brady and his gang in the most notorious street fight in Maine history in 1937. The Ghostly Bangor Walking Tours, which highlight some of the most haunting spots in the city and have reported paranormal activity, are not recommended for children.
The Maine Discovery Museum covers over 22,000 square feet and offers a variety of interactive exhibits and activities for families. These include the Dino Dig and Body Journey, Arts cape and Booktown, and Amazing Animals and Booktown.
Bangor Museum and Center for History. Paul Bunyan Statue. Stephen King’s House. Mount Hope Garden Cemetery. Kenduskeag Stream Park.
Baxter State Park, Maine
Baxter State Park, a popular destination for anglers and skiers, is northern Maine’s crown jewel. This 210,000-acre park surrounds Mount Katahdin in Maine, the highest mountain. It also marks the end of the Appalachian Trail.
Warning to hikers: The long, strenuous climb to the hill’s peak is challenging. Amateur hikers can also attempt 47 other peaks within the park. Most of these peaks are easily accessible via multiple trails. Parents may wish to consider the trails around Daisey Pond if they travel with children.
Baxter State Park is an excellent place for nature-lovers who love beautiful scenery like waterfalls, unique rock formations, wildlife (especially moose), and fall foliage. You can only sleep here by camping. Booking a spot in the middle of summer can prove difficult, so plan and reserve a site, lean-to, or bunkhouse on the park’s grounds.
Ogunquit, Maine
Stephen King may have mentioned this peaceful summer spot in his post-apocalyptic horror tale, “The Stand” however, this small town of approximately 900 people is not likely to scare away tourists or locals. Ogunquit’s many boutiques, art galleries, and fine restaurants make it a great place to escape the Hamptons.
There are also many LGBT-owned and –operated businesses in the town, such as Maine Street bar, Moon Over Maine breakfast, and Front Porch Piano Bar. These have helped to promote the town’s LGBT-friendly reputation. There are many restaurants to choose from, including the family-friendly Cove Cafe and Five-O Shore Road, where James Walter is an award-winning chef.
Couples or Families can stay at the charming Dunes On The Waterfront. It is located within walking distance of restaurants and shops on Main Street
Conclusion
All destinations are awesome! According to my opinion, Acadia National Park is the best to start. I hope you have enjoyed our list about Best Places to Visit in Maine.
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