7 Best Attractions To Visit In Maine
Maine, the largest of the New England states, is roughly the same size as the other five combined. One can spend a lifetime in the state and only see a portion. Bordering two Canadian provinces to the north and northeast and New Hampshire to the west, the Pine Tree State reveals itself along the iconically rugged coastline.
Being the least densely populated in the region (along with the American Northeast and eastern seaboard) leaves room and unobscured views to roam for the sole enjoyment of relentless venturers. In addition to Portland's Old Port, several charming towns boast attractions, you guessed it, along the coast. These seven complete a large piece of the puzzle to comprehend the expanse of the drama.
Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is encased within almost 64 miles of coastline and peaks at 1,530-foot Cadillac Mountain. Whether you settle at Bar Harbor and follow the Park Loop Road south or set up camp amidst it, there's no one way to experience the 50,000-acre greatness, which is mainly located on Mount Desert Island. Accessible via car, bus, or bike on Maine's largest offshore island, now you're tangled amid over 200 miles of hiking trails and scenic motor and carriage roads. The peak is an absolutely stunning drive at sunrise, with cool trails looping the summit and views of other islands on the horizon.
In addition to hiking, biking, birdwatching, and stargazing, the Beehive Trail is a steep 1.4-mile ascent with iron rungs and granite stairs to a lofty cliff-top ocean panorama. Blackwood Campground offers the best access to the beaches, coves, and coastal overlooks like Thunder Hole, a cliff-top approach to a natural rock inlet where thunderous waves send high-flying sea foam up. After thrills, the cove-style Sand Beach beckons for a refreshing swim or wading in a peaceful, relaxed setting with beautiful views. To the west, Bubble Rock is a clifftop monolith with views of Jordan Pond.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Encompassing over 300 waterfront acres, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens (CMBG) is a true midcoast gem 12 miles south of Highway 1 or minutes northwest of Boothbay Harbor. Admission tops out at $29 for adults and is slightly cheaper online. The gardens offer self-navigation guides, a gift shop, and a cafe. Explore over a dozen cultivated gardens and beautiful nature areas, or relax in a space that speaks to you; choose from the Native Butterfly House or the woodland Fairy House Village.
Other highlights include the Giles Rhododendron and Perennial Garden, one of the first to bloom in early spring. “Rhody,” CMBG’s first planned garden, grew from an original 100-plant nucleus into a hillside arrangement of over a thousand rhododendrons, or over 175 varieties of rhododendron and azaleas. The pond, a waterfall, and shade plants enhance visual appeal and textural context. Meanwhile, the Lerner Garden of the Five Senses is geared to universal accessibility, with winding paths around five "nodes" representing the five senses. From fragrant herbs and flowers to fruits and veggies, take in the panoramic "sight" of the garden, then descend into a large area and unwind to the "sound" of birds, rushing water, and frogs.
Maine Maritime Museum
Maine's forged and unending relationship with the sea is preserved and celebrated through several museums in the state, each with an impressive angle on this human and natural connection to the past. At the Maine Maritime Museum, you can learn about the people of all related professions and wildlife, some of which you know as "seafood. " The expansive campus presides along 20 acres of the state's intricate coastline in the charming town of Bath, with fees of $22 for adults and free for children 17 and under.
From art to life-sized exhibits, there is something immersive for everyone, including off-site lighthouse tours and nature cruises. Permanent exhibits like the Historic Watercraft Collection, the Watercraft Restoration Center, and Lobstering & The Maine Coast tell distinct stories. In addition to a fantastic gift shop, new and fascinating exhibitions on rotation provide supplemental intrigue. At the same time, the Bath Iron Works Story tour comprises a trolley leg on land and a boat leg to naval destroyers in the water.
Marginal Way
The Marginal Way in Ogunquit wraps around for under 1.5 miles from the entrance near the Sparhawk Oceanfront Resort on Shore Road to Perkins Cove. There are 39 ideally placed benches to relax and contemplate the gorgeous Atlantic view. It usually takes under an hour to complete the oceanside cliff walk, without immersive stops and intriguing pull-offs like the small Lobster Point Lighthouse or a refreshing swim in the midday heat at the rocky Little Beach.
Meandering the paved path, past stately hotels and inns, some travelers enjoy painting and sketching, while others immersively photograph the scenery. Couples coo in their special someone's ear, watching the sails go by, or step off into an intimate rocky cove. You can start from either side and walk back to Perkins Cove, where lobster boats unload. Pick up a fresh catch or get a bite at one of the restaurants within this tiny harbor and catch the sunset or a staged musical at the 1930s-era Ogunquit Playhouse along Main Street.
Old Port
Portland paints Maine's maritime heritage with an authentic display of the industry through the Old Port historic district on the southeastern side of the city. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the discerning historic feel makes it easy to lose sense of time along the cobblestoned streets. Strolling past 19th-century brick buildings, tourists snap pictures in the salt-infused air and look out wistfully from the fishing piers into the Fore River. This waterfront section is also a hub of businesses like the Portland Schooner Co., which gives tours on historic windjammers.
Hop aboard Lucky Catch Cruises to try on the local Maine fishermen for the day. Sailing into Casco Bay, the crew hauls up lobster traps from the ocean floor and tells tales about this favorite crustacean. Browsing boutiques, you'll surely find souvenirs and gifts, like the beautiful, often handcrafted treasures at Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine along Exchange Street. Drop by Old Port Candy Co. on Fore Street with its dozen fudge flavors and unique chocolates, then the overflowing Harbor Fish Market to sample fresh seafood and rare delicacies.
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park
Among the many reasons to travel to the coastal town of Bristol, a New England prototype, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park is one of the state's most recognized sites, depicted on the state quarter. Completed in 1827 and commissioned by John Quincy Adams, it is fully open to the public, with a gift shop, gallery, and a climbable staircase to the top. The daily docent tours are free, though donations are encouraged. You may even inquire about renting the apartment on the second floor.
Located at the Muscongus Bay and Johns Bay entrance, the surrounding park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day from mid-May until mid-to-late October, with restrooms on site and supplemental attractions. Drop by the Pemaquid Art Gallery with works for viewing and sale by the Pemaquid Group of Artists. Afterwards, gather your thoughts at the nearby Sea Gull Restaurant & Gift, known for the ultimate summertime Maine combo: a full view of the lighthouse and seafood. But seriously, try the lobster pot pie.
Two Lights State Park
Named after the twin circa-1828 lighthouses at the end of Two Lights Road, Two Lights State Park is everything you expect: twin lighthouses (though they are adjacent to the park and not in view of it) and much more. Comprising 41 oceanfront acres, it is an ideal destination to soak up Maine's legendary rocky coast without crowds, with picnic tables on the hills overlooking the ocean to enjoy an afternoon barbecue or clambake. Opened in 1961, the shoreline trails are charged with seafaring vibes and naturally air-conditioned by the refreshing ocean breezes and scenic views amid a rocky coast.
The western lighthouse, which ceased operation in 1924, is a private home to a very lucky owner. The eastern light is active and automated, visible 17 miles from the sea. These, the first twin lighthouses on Maine's coast, are not open to the public. One of them appeared in the painter Edward Hopper’s famous The Lighthouse at Two Lights. Climb the rocky headlands high above the jagged coast and rolling surf, and you can feel one with the ocean in the sweeping views over Casco Bay. Visitors enjoy seeing ships sailing into and out of Portland Harbor.
These seven natural and historical attractions illuminate Maine’s relationship with the sea. Among its 65 lighthouses along 3,500 miles of coastline, inlets, and islands, West Quoddy Head Light, though not listed or open to the public, is the easternmost point in the United States.
Whether you indulge in the wonder of Acadia National Park, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, the Maine Maritime Museum, the Marginal Way, Old Port, Pemaquid Point, or Two Lights, take it all in in the salty ocean mist, with a side of its world-renowned lobster and other seafood.
