Maine has earned its Vacationland nickname from the rocky shoreline to the quite a few stunning 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 the very best time to expertise outside actions. We’ve got additionally loved journeys to Kittery, Portland, and Freeport within the winter after 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 publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by means of one among these hyperlinks might end in a fee paid to us. I’ve obtained complimentary/discounted admission, motels, 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 street journeys from Boston in case you go to Massachusetts for summer time trip. Whereas we might advocate staying in a single day, you may at all times go to a number of the extra southern areas for only a day journey or a number of areas on a street journey.
The Greatest 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 street journey. There are a number of airports, the most important being Portland Worldwide Jetport. As well as, Amtrak affords the Downeaster practice, which stops at a number of standard Maine cities.
This can be 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, nonetheless, so you might not want it relying on the place you go.
Portland, Maine
Portland Maine is one among my favourite street journeys from our house 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 belongings you’ll need to strive.
The town affords a number of well-known districts, together with Outdated Port alongside Casco Bay. This picturesque space of town is house to many eating places and affords boat excursions in season. Are you trying 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 fantastic museums are additionally within the metropolis, together with the Portland Museum of Artwork, the Kids’s Museum and Theatre of Maine (which not too long ago moved from the Arts District to Thompson’s Level), and the Tate Home Museum.
Like procuring? There are a lot of small reward, e book, meals clothes, and memento retailers round city. Portland is a good place to buy items. Visiting in the summertime? Do not miss seeing a Portland Sea Canine recreation at Hadlock Subject.
In case you select a downtown lodge, you may park at your lodge and go away your automotive 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 approach. It is rather less than a 2-hour drive from downtown Boston.
Listed here are a number of the greatest locations to remain in Portland.
Driving to Portland? Do not miss a cease on the stunning Portland Head Lighthouse, which is a good photograph alternative. It is a standard place, and you may typically see photographs of the lighthouse on guidebooks and postcards.
Kittery, Maine
Situated proper over the New Hampshire border is Kittery, Maine, a coastal city greatest identified for its nice outlet malls. These are spaced out throughout a number of completely different complexes alongside Route 1. Shops embody New Stability, Lululemon, Crate and Barrel, and Adidas.
Along with the shops, there are some enjoyable retailers like Yummies (a retailer crammed with sweet) and the Kittery Buying and selling Publish.
Kittery additionally affords a number of eating places, Fort McClary State Park, Take Flight Adventures, Badger’s Island, and the Isles of Shoals.
Outdated Orchard Seaside, Maine
Love the seashore? Journey to Outdated Orchard Seaside, situated on the Maine shoreline. It’s a conventional seashore city providing mini-golf, paddleboarding, boat excursions, and extra actions.
It is also house to Palace Playland, New England’s solely amusement park on the beachfront. This standard vacationer attraction affords an arcade, kiddie rides, and conventional halfway rides.
The realm options a number of motels, household motels, inns, and close by campgrounds. These are principally unbiased motels relatively than chain motels.
Freeport, Maine
Freeport, Maine, is hottest because the lodge of L.L. Bean. Along with the flagship retailer, there’s additionally the L.L. Bean Outlet, the L.L. Bean Dwelling Retailer, the L.L. Bean Bike, Boat, and Ski Retailer, and the L.L. Bean Searching and Fishing Retailer.
However there are additionally numerous different shops past L.L. Bean in Freeport. These embody Sperry, Winery Vines, and Coach. You may additionally discover unbiased retailers and small chains providing toys, tub and physique merchandise, artwork, and items. Do not miss a cease at Depraved Whoppies, the place you should buy Maine’s signature Whoppie Pies.
Different actions within the space embody boat cruises alongside Casco Bay and Wolfe’s Neck Middle. This farm affords animals, workshops, bike and kayak leases, and extra.
Free parking is out there 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 affords retailers 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 large 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 supplied 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 Mission. In the course of the cruise, you will see wildlife, lighthouses, and extra – it is an amazing tour for nature lovers.
The Maine State Aquarium is one other standard attraction. The state runs it, nevertheless it was closed for renovations this previous yr.
Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunk and Kennebunkport, Maine, have lengthy been standard summer time trip locations. Right here, you may go to seashores and take a ship tour. Dock Sq. additionally affords retailers and eating places, and the Seashore Trolley Museum.
In case you are visiting with out children, we advocate staying on the White Barn Inn. This stunning inn is quaint and comfortable, however the superb restaurant is the actual draw.
Ogunquit, Maine
Ogunquit, Maine, a classy and artsy seashore city, is one among 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 that you could go away your automotive and stroll. A trolley additionally visits the favored points of interest through the summer time months.
Along with visiting Ogunquit Seaside, you will need to stroll alongside Marginal Approach to Perkins Cove, a small waterfront space with reward retailers, ice cream retailers, and eating places. Do not forget to cease and examine the gorgeous scenes as you stroll. I really like taking photographs as I stroll on Marginal Means.
The nonprofit Ogunquit Playhouse affords reveals all through the season in case you take pleasure in theater. Their upcoming schedule is on their web site.
Throughout our go to to Ogunquit, we loved staying on the Meadowmere Resort. It is situated in an amazing spot, and you may stroll to Ogunquit Seaside, 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 as a consequence of its proximity to Acadia Nationwide Park (the primary attraction within the space). Like different locations to go to in Maine, we advocate visiting within the hotter summer time months so that you could benefit from the entire actions.
There are numerous methods to discover the realm. Oli’s Trolley affords 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 may also see close by lighthouses and puffins. There are many enjoyable issues to do close to Acadia.
Sebago Lake, Maine
We beloved our go to to Migis Lodge situated proper on Sebago Lake. This household wilderness resort affords conventional lake actions, a children’ membership, scrumptious meals, and exquisite lodging.
Migis is open in the summertime and may be very standard. Typically, company e book for a similar week and cabin yr after yr, so if you’re thinking about attending, you will need to make a reservation as quickly as doable. It is an American plan all-inclusive resort (aside from alcohol), and you will not have to go away as soon as you’re 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 will have to drive. There may be the Amtrak Downeaster practice as nicely. It travels from Boston, MA’s North Station to the next station stops:
- Brunswick, ME
- Freeport, ME
- Portland, ME
- Outdated Orchard, ME
- Saco, ME
- Wells, ME
- Dover, NH
- Durham, NH
- Exeter, NH
- Haverhill, MA
- Woburn, MA
