With a virtually unlimited number of hiking trails and outdoor recreational opportunities, picturesque lobster villages, and rocky coastline reminiscent of the Pacific Northwest, Maine is a great year-round destination for all types of travelers. Whether you're visiting the Pine Tree State for the first time or making an annual summer pilgrimage, be sure to cross all of these local attractions and points of interest off your to-do list.
10 Can't-miss Points of Interest in Maine
1. Acadia National Park
The golden cliffs protruding from the Atlantic Ocean contribute to some of the most impressive scenery on the East Coast, and make Acadia a great destination for rock climbers, outdoor enthusiasts, and families seeking a bit of natural recreation. Set up camp at the Schoodic Woods Campground, or snag a lean-to-shelter on Isle au Haut.
2. Baxter State Park
Home to Mount Katahdin, one of the most challenging peaks on the Eastern Seaboard, Baxter State Park boasts more than 200,000 acres of wilderness area for those seeking a remote getaway in Maine's backcountry. For a real mountaineering adventure, you can attempt to summit Katahdin during the winter season.
3. Portland Head Light
Located only a few miles south of Portland and just two hours from Boston, this historic lighthouse is a great destination for photographers and history buffs. After all, George Washington called for this lighthouse to be constructed in 1787. Snap a shot of the waves crashing on the unique rock formations surrounding the lighthouse.
4. Georgetown Island
The island of Georgetown is home to a handful of charming New England fishing and lobstering villages, lobster pounds, and perfect coastal views. This island is one of Maine’s best-kept secrets, and the picturesque coastal drive just to get there is itself a worthwhile adventure.
5. Gulf Hagas
With sheer slate walls that plummet as deep as 400-feet in places, it's easy to see how this gorge earned the nickname the Grand Canyon of the East. This canyon, located in the mountains of central Maine, is a great destination for fishing, whitewater kayaking, and hiking.
6. Maine Island Trail
One of the best ways to see coastal Maine, this 375-mile water trail links islands off of the coast between the New Hampshire and Canadian border, and is great for small boaters of all types.
7. Portland
The Old Port waterfront features working fishing wharves and converted warehouses with restaurants and shops. Nearby, the Western Promenade is a public park atop a bluff, offering river and mountain views. Its surrounding district, the West End, is full of Victorian-era homes, including the Victoria Mansion museum.
8. Maine Solar System Model
Drive through a to-scale model of our solar system in Aroostook County, located in Northern Maine. All of the planets, moons, and the sun can be seen from the road, and offer pullouts for visitors to stop and explore the three-dimensional model.
9. L.L. Bean and The Kittery Outlets
For more than 100 years, the first and largest L.L. Bean flagship, located in Freeport, has been a popular shopping destination. Roam the brick walkways of the small town as you visit other small shops and outlets. Consider a very practical souvenir from this outdoorsy store, like lamb's wool moccasins or a Gore-Tex anorak. Worth noticing is also the The Kittery Outlets, located in the same-named town of Kittery.
10. Desert of Maine
Although not a true desert due to it’s level of annual precipitation, the Desert of Maine consists of incredible glacial-silt dunes, resulting from a serious misuse of the land. Also in Freeport, visitors do not need to travel far to visit the dunes.
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