Maine
When all the bays and coves along Maine’s ocean front are included in measurement, its coastline stretches to 3,500 miles (6,500 kilometers). Drive, bike or hike along this craggy shore and find spectacular ocean vistas around every corner. Visit the red-and-white-striped West Quoddy Head Light in Lubec to watch the dawn from the easternmost point of the United States.
Explore Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, a large granite boulder rising out of the Atlantic Ocean. Drive or climb up Cadillac Mountain to hear a park ranger share stories under the stars. Hike around the rocky coastline or put on your wetsuit and snorkel or scuba dive in the Atlantic waters. Visit the mainland in Bar Harbor for good food and fun shopping.
Visit Portland for cultural activities. Attend a play or concert at Merrill Auditorium. Tour the Portland Museum of Art for local and international art.
Shoppers flock to Freeport, one of the original outlet centers in the U.S. Here famous brands sell factory seconds at discount prices. Go to L.L. Bean, not just to shop for adventure gear, but for its Outdoor Discovery School, where you can learn to kayak, canoe or fly fish.
Mt. Katahdin is the start or end point of the 2,180-mile (3,508-kilometer) Appalachian Trail stretching from central Maine to Georgia. Climb to the 5,258-foot (1,603-meter) peak in June or July after the trail is clear of snow to start the 3-month hike or cheer on other hardy trekkers. Explore the peaceful forests in the more than 200,000 acres (81,000 hectares) of the surrounding Baxter State Park.
Maine is known for its lobster boils, neighborly events that bring out the whole community; many towns have one or more each summer. Enjoy local clams, corn and freshly caught lobster steamed in giant pots and served with melted butter. Have lobsters packed on ice to take with you or be shipped to your home so you can savor the flavor while you remember your Maine visit.