Maine

Maine is truly a four-season state, with each one offering new treasures and surprises. In summer, enjoy the coastline at Popham Beach, Higgins Beach, and Morse Mountain. The leaves put on a show in the fall around the Bigelow Mountains and Acadia National Park. Winter offers snow-covered ski trails at Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Shawnee Peak. And spring brings new life blooming along the Appalachian Trail. From Portland’s culinary sophistication to the rustic beauty of the Appalachian Trail’s “100 Mile Wilderness,” you can find what you’re looking for in Maine, at any time of year.

Travel-Guides-Maine-Michelle-Heimerman.jpg

Photo by Michelle Heimerman

Overview

Best of Summer

With its cool, clean lakes, untouched beaches, and beautiful weather, summer in Maine is paradise—whether you enjoy freshly caught lobster or whitewater rafting. The state boasts some of the east coast’s best beaches for surfing, and summer is a great time to get in the water and learn. Golfers will find beautiful courses across the state, many of which take advantage of Maine’s natural beauty by sending golfers up and down mountainsides, along the coast, and far enough into the woods that the only sound is your own swing. The lakes region in central Maine is the perfect spot for a week-long family vacation: Rent a private cabin and motorboat to fully enjoy what the lakes have to offer.

Best of Winter

Don’t let the winter bite keep you inside: Maine offers some of the Northeast’s premier ski slopes, including Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Shawnee Peak. There are trails for skiers at all levels, and even non-skiers can find activities like ice-skating, snowshoeing, and hiking to keep them busy. For those who prefer to move by motor, the Pine Tree State has hundreds of miles of snowmobile trails—try the majestic networks of Rangeley and Jackman. If more leisurely activities are the goal, ice-fishing is growing in popularity and offers visitors a unique experience.

Food and drink to try in Maine

With such an emphasis on outdoor fun, tourists sometimes assume Maine will lack a certain level of sophistication, but this is very far from the truth; visitors are often surprised at the quality and diversity of the state’s cuisine. Microbreweries like Gritty’s, Allagash Brewing Company, and Sebago Brewing call Maine home, and Portland boasts a wonderful pub scene. But beer isn’t the only thing on Maine’s menu. Lobsters, mussels, bass, clams—if it comes from the sea you’ll find it in Maine. Portland is a great place to go for a variety of local cuisine, including some more unusual menu items like seaweed-fed lamb, fresh venison, peanut butter and pretzel milkshakes, or mashed potato and bacon pizza.

Culture in Maine

Known for their rugged individualism and independent thinking, Mainers tend to be proud of their state and to love sharing it with anyone who has a genuine interest. From the small cottages and “island only” vehicles of Peaks Island, to the Down East neighborhood look of retail shops in Freeport, to the beach community at Higgins Beach—each of these locations exudes its own local flavor and makes you feel as though you are somewhere different and special. Wherever you go in Maine, you’ll likely find a Mainer who is proud of that place and happy to help you get comfortable there as well.

Practical Information

July and August are Maine’s warmest months, and February and March have the most snow. Public transportation is virtually nonexistent, so you’ll need to rent a car and make sure you have a good map—especially if you head up north where things get pretty rural. Most people will be more than happy to give you directions, although Mainers are notorious for giving inaccurate directions. And, the further north you go, the thicker the Mainer accent gets. The biggest commercial airport in the state is in Portland but private airstrips do exist elsewhere for charter planes.

Guide Editor

Sam Barns Maine Local Expert

Read Before You Go
Consider these 51 beautiful places found across the country—including Puerto Rico—for your next trip
Resources to help plan your trip
Sure, you’ll eat some tasty lobster rolls in this harbor town on Casco Bay, but you’ll also find James Beard award-winning kitchens, exciting food trucks, and world-class comfort food, like pies made with locally sourced berries topped with just-made ice cream. Whether you’re in a white-cloth dining room or slurping oysters on the waterfront, the tastes of Maine are easy to love.
With its rugged coastline, charming New England fishing villages, and pristine forests, it’s no wonder Maine has long been America’s summer playground—though the state’s charm extend to all four seasons of the year. Here are our picks of top sights.
So lucky to live in beautiful, charming Portland Maine...nestled on Casco Bay...home to amazing restaurants, city amenities, yet outdoor activities mere steps away via water or on land.
Sign up for our newsletter
Join more than a million of the world’s best travelers. Subscribe to the Daily Wander newsletter.