The Lighthouse State
There are more than 60 lighthouses strung along Maine’s 5,000 miles of coastline. Some of these are centuries old and each of them comes with its own collection of sea tales, from ghosts of keepers past to fateful star-crossed wrecks. You can find them by driving along coastal Route 1 or even take a lighthouse cruise from the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath.
Lobster
Nothing sums up Maine more eloquently than a freshly-steamed lobster with melted butter, eaten with your fingers. From road side rolls from a lobster shack to gourmet dishes prepared by award winning chefs, lobster is the order of the day here. It's even celebrated at an annual summer festival in Rockland. Why not find out how the catch of the day is caught with a lobster boat tour?
Windjamming
Windjammer is the New England word for a schooner and Maine is the only state to have a large, historic fleet of these magnificent ships. Take a cruise from Rockland or Camden and enjoy sea air, epic sunsets, beach picnics and up close glimpses of whales, puffins and seals. With their solid hulls, masts and billowing sails, windjammers are part of the region’s maritime heritage.
Maritime Museums
The first sea-bound ship out of North America was built in Maine and ‘Mainers’ have been sailing the world ever since. Learn about lobstering, shipbuilding and trading at one of the state’s fascinating museums. Hear tales of perilous voyages to distant lands at the Penobscot Marine Museum or find out more about lighthouse keepers and lenses at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.
Acadia National Park
One of the oldest and most popular national parks in the USA, Acadia covers 40,000 acres of island and coast, just 3.5 hours northeast of Portland. The area is a mecca for hikers and mountain bikers. You can also sail around the islands, drive along the spectacular Schoodic National Scenic Byway or be the first person in America to see the sun rise if you climb to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.