Maine has earned its Vacationland nickname from the rocky shoreline to the quite a few lovely lighthouses. It is a good looking state with many locations to go to on trip – together with a number of attractive coastal cities.

I typically advocate visiting Maine in July and August for the warmest climate—it is one of the best time to expertise out of doors actions. Now we have additionally loved journeys to Kittery, Portland, and Freeport within the winter once they had been much less crowded. Nonetheless, in case you do this, you will not have the ability to do any water actions.

Disclosure: This submit accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by considered one of these hyperlinks could end in a fee paid to us. I’ve obtained complimentary/discounted admission, resorts, and transportation (on the Amtrak Downeaster) to a few of these areas (and have paid for others), however all opinions are my very own.

These locations will also be nice highway journeys from Boston in case you go to Massachusetts for summer time trip. Whereas we would advocate staying in a single day, you could possibly all the time go to among the extra southern areas for only a day journey or a number of areas on a highway journey.

The Finest Locations to Go to in Maine

Attending to Maine

Usually, most individuals visiting Maine drive there, both as a separate journey or a part of a New England highway journey. There are a number of airports, the most important being Portland Worldwide Jetport. As well as, Amtrak provides the Downeaster practice, which stops at a number of fashionable Maine cities.

It is a conventional practice, not an auto practice, so you will not have entry to your automobile on trip. Some locations in Maine are very walkable, nevertheless, so it’s possible you’ll not want it relying on the place you go.

Portland, Maine

Portland Maine is considered one of my favourite highway journeys from our residence in Massachusetts. This waterfront metropolis (the most important metropolis in Maine) is an enormous foodie vacation spot, with many scrumptious eating places, nice breweries, and distinctive cafes. Go hungry, as there are such a lot of stuff you’ll need to strive.

The town provides a number of well-known districts, together with Previous Port alongside Casco Bay. This picturesque space of the town is residence to many eating places and provides boat excursions in season. Are you seeking to strive a few of that well-known Maine lobster? We advocate the Highroller Lobster Co., a enjoyable, informal restaurant within the metropolis’s middle the place you may get lobster rolls and different lobster dishes.

A number of great museums are additionally within the metropolis, together with the Portland Museum of Artwork, the Kids’s Museum and Theatre of Maine (which just lately moved from the Arts District to Thompson’s Level), and the Tate Home Museum.

Like buying? There are a lot of small reward, guide, meals clothes, and memento outlets round city. Portland is a good place to buy items. Visiting in the summertime? Do not miss seeing a Portland Sea Canines recreation at Hadlock Discipline.

If you happen to select a downtown lodge, you possibly can park at your lodge and go away your automobile there more often than not. Portland may be very walkable and has an airport and an Amtrak practice station in case you’d desire to journey that method. It is rather less than a 2-hour drive from downtown Boston.

Listed here are among the finest locations to remain in Portland.

Driving to Portland? Do not miss a cease on the lovely Portland Head Lighthouse, which is a good picture alternative. It is a fashionable place, and you may usually see images of the lighthouse on guidebooks and postcards.

Kittery, Maine

Situated proper over the New Hampshire border is Kittery, Maine, a coastal city finest identified for its nice outlet malls. These are spaced out throughout a number of totally different complexes alongside Route 1. Shops embody New Stability, Lululemon, Crate and Barrel, and Adidas.

Along with the shops, there are some enjoyable outlets like Yummies (a retailer crammed with sweet) and the Kittery Buying and selling Put up.

Kittery additionally provides a number of eating places, Fort McClary State Park, Take Flight Adventures, Badger’s Island, and the Isles of Shoals.

Previous Orchard Seashore, Maine

Love the seashore? Journey to Previous Orchard Seashore, positioned on the Maine shoreline. It’s a conventional seashore city providing mini-golf, paddleboarding, boat excursions, and extra actions.

It is also residence to Palace Playland, New England’s solely amusement park on the beachfront. This fashionable vacationer attraction provides an arcade, kiddie rides, and conventional halfway rides.

The realm options a number of motels, household resorts, inns, and close by campgrounds. These are largely unbiased motels somewhat than chain resorts.

Freeport, Maine

Freeport, Maine, is hottest because the lodge of L.L. Bean. Along with the flagship retailer, there may be additionally the L.L. Bean Outlet, the L.L. Bean Residence Retailer, the L.L. Bean Bike, Boat, and Ski Retailer, and the L.L. Bean Looking and Fishing Retailer.

However there are additionally numerous different shops past L.L. Bean in Freeport. These embody Sperry, Winery Vines, and Coach. You will additionally discover unbiased outlets and small chains providing toys, bathtub and physique merchandise, artwork, and items. Do not miss a cease at Depraved Whoppies, the place you should purchase Maine’s signature Whoppie Pies.

Different actions within the space embody boat cruises alongside Casco Bay and Wolfe’s Neck Heart. This farm provides animals, workshops, bike and kayak leases, and extra.

Free parking is accessible all through Freeport. There’s additionally an Amtrak practice station.

Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Boothbay Harbor is a well-liked summer time trip vacation spot in Maine. This small city provides outlets with artwork, pottery, clothes, and extra. There are additionally waterfront native eating places the place you may get Maine lobster and different seafood.

One in all Boothbay Harbor’s hottest points of interest is the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. It is open seasonally, and children will love the massive troll statues all through the gardens.

These 5 trolls, known as the Guardians of the Seeds, are made from recycled supplies. They’re scattered all through the gardens, and a few require strolling to see. You should use the maps offered by the gardens to seek out them – they’re marked on the map with giant footprints.

You might also need to take a ship journey within the space. Cap’N’Fish’s Cruises works with the Nationwide Audubon to showcase the Audubon’s Puffin Venture. Throughout the cruise, you may see wildlife, lighthouses, and extra – it is an important tour for nature lovers.

The Maine State Aquarium is one other fashionable attraction. The state runs it, but it surely was closed for renovations this previous 12 months.

Kennebunkport, Maine

Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, Maine, have lengthy been fashionable summer time trip locations. Right here, you possibly can go to seashores and take a ship tour. Dock Sq. additionally provides outlets and eating places, and the Seashore Trolley Museum.

If you’re visiting with out youngsters, we advocate staying on the White Barn Inn. This lovely inn is quaint and comfortable, however the superb restaurant is the true draw.

Ogunquit, Maine

Ogunquit, Maine, a classy and artsy seashore city, is considered one of my favourite locations in Maine. I like to recommend visiting in July and August, when the climate is ideal for a day on the sandy seashore.

Ogunquit may be very walkable, with restricted parking. So, I like to recommend staying at a lodge or resort within the downtown space so to go away your automobile and stroll. A trolley additionally visits the favored points of interest in the course of the summer time months.

Along with visiting Ogunquit Seashore, you may need to stroll alongside Marginal Solution to Perkins Cove, a small waterfront space with reward outlets, ice cream outlets, and eating places. Do not forget to cease and look at the gorgeous scenes as you stroll. I really like taking images as I stroll on Marginal Means.

The nonprofit Ogunquit Playhouse provides reveals all through the season in case you get pleasure from theater. Their upcoming schedule is on their web site.

Throughout our go to to Ogunquit, we loved staying on the Meadowmere Resort. It is positioned in an important spot, and you’ll stroll to Ogunquit Seashore, Perkins Cove, and Marginal Means.

Bar Harbor, Maine

Bar Harbor, Maine, on Mount Desert Island, is likely one of the hottest summer time trip locations in New England resulting from its proximity to Acadia Nationwide Park (the principle attraction within the space). Like different locations to go to in Maine, we advocate visiting within the hotter summer time months so to make the most of the entire actions.

There are numerous methods to discover the world. Oli’s Trolley provides excursions of Cadillac Mountain, Acadia Nationwide Park, and downtown Bar Harbor. This guided tour is top-rated, and we advocate reserving your tickets upfront.

There are additionally Acadian Boat Excursions, providing fishing excursions, guided excursions, sundown cruises, and extra. Relying on the tour booked, you too can see close by lighthouses and puffins. There are many enjoyable issues to do close to Acadia.

Sebago Lake, Maine

We cherished our go to to Migis Lodge positioned proper on Sebago Lake. This household wilderness resort provides conventional lake actions, a youngsters’ membership, scrumptious meals, and exquisite lodging.

Migis is open in the summertime and may be very fashionable. Typically, company guide for a similar week and cabin 12 months after 12 months, so if you’re excited about attending, you may need to make a reservation as quickly as attainable. It is an American plan all-inclusive resort (aside from alcohol), and you will not have to go away as soon as you might be there.

Different Locations to Go to in Maine

Along with the locations we have highlighted right here, there are different factors of curiosity to go to in Maine. These embody:

• Camden Hills State Park (Camden, Maine)
• Moosehead Lake and the Kennebec River
• Cape Neddick Lighthouse in York
• Mount Katahdin and Baxter State Park

For many locations to go to in Maine, you may must drive. There’s the Amtrak Downeaster practice as effectively. It travels from Boston, MA’s North Station to the next station stops:

• Brunswick, ME
• Freeport, ME
• Portland, ME
• Previous Orchard, ME
• Saco, ME
• Wells, ME
• Dover, NH
• Durham, NH
• Exeter, NH
• Haverhill, MA
• Woburn, MA