Maine, the northeasternmost state in the U.S., is an awesome spot to live or visit if you’re an outdoor enthusiast, history buffs, if you’re into lighthouses (like me) or if you’re looking for that picturesque New England charm. Divided into five regions (and they’re pretty different) Maine offers a diverse range of landscapes, historic landmarks, and recreational opportunities: Southern Maine, Midcoast Maine, Downeast Maine, Northern Maine, and the Maine Highlands. Let’s take a closer look at each region and what makes it unique, including just what you may want to put onto your Maine itinerary.
If this is all new to you, don’t worry, we’ll help you understand the state of Maine and how to plan your visit. Read on and see what sort of experiences and towns sound like the sort of places you want to visit. If you have any questions about a place or making a plan, please leave a comment or send us a note so we can help. We’re always happy to help others put together an adventure to explore Maine!
Southern Maine
Southern Maine is considered the gateway to the state as you’ll cross over from New Hampshire on I-95. If you’re planning a trip to Maine but Boston is your closest direct flight, you’ll probably consider this region for an easy way to get your quintessential coastal experience with sandy beaches, historic towns, and some pretty cool arts communities. Known for its proximity to Boston and its accessibility via major highways, this Southern Maine is perfect for day trips or longer stays.
If you’re visiting a few different regions during your Maine trip you’ll easily be able to see what is different about Southern Maine when you compare it to MidCoast or Northern Maine. It’s cute here, but also you can feel how busy and popular it is. There are some quiet spots, but since it’s so easy for people to fly into Boston (BOS) or Portland (PWM) it’s consistently more hoppin’ with tourists down here.
Towns to Visit in Southern Maine
So where could you plan a visit to in Southern Maine? You’ve got some pretty cute and iconic places to consider, and of course there are more cool places to consider than we’ve got listed here, but these picks are great for first-visits.
- Portland: Maine’s largest city and cultural hub. There are lots of boat tours that leave from Portland, there are breweries, lots of whoopie pies and the primary downtown area is very walkable. South Portland and Cape Elizabeth aren’t far, so you’ve got lots to do and see.
- Kennebunk and Kennebunkport: Picturesque seaside towns with upscale dining and charming architecture. I like how Kennebunkport is laid out, and think it’s great for walking around. It’s literally the snapshot of what you expect a charming Maine town on the water to be like..
- Ogunquit: I love Ogunquit! It’s got a beach, a small lighthouse, awesome restaurants, actual nightlife, a wonderful museum and it’s the LGBTQ hub of Maine. Yes, rainbow crosswalks and nightclubs make Ogunquit very different from much of Maine.
A few other towns you’ll roll through or maybe want to visit include York, Saco and the towns around Sebago Lake. You’ve got so many options, and with Southern Maine being a little warmer than the Highlands and MidCoast, things stay open a little later into fall than up north.
Highlights of Southern Maine
As you’re plotting out your visit, here are some great sites to add to your itinerary. Remember that as you go, you’ll see signs pointing to all kinds of distractions, so maybe give yourself the time and grace to go off your plan a little. Visiting the Nubble Lighthouse or walking through a tiny town or two is always a good idea.
- Portland Head Light: Located in Southern Portland on Cape Elizabeth, the Portland Head Lighthouse is iconic and one of the most photographed in the country. Built in 1791 (commissioned by George Washington), it offers great views of Casco Bay and several other lighthouses all from this one point.
- Old Orchard Beach: A classic Maine beach town with a seven-mile stretch of sand, a historic pier, and a fun boardwalk, it’s kind of like the Coney Island of Maine (a little bit). It is the best sandy beach in the state.
- Funtown / Splashtown: This is a classic Maine attraction in Saco with a carnival style side and a waterpark side. It’s not the fanciest, but Funtown / Splashtown is fun and a great addition to a summer visit to Southern Maine.
- Kennebunkport town: As I said, it’s just this perfectly quintessential Maine town. It looks like the set of a Hallmark movie and it is LOADED with great restaurants.
I would actually consider Southern Maine a foodie destination, perhaps thanks to the influence of Boston, offering everything from fresh seafood to award-winning restaurants. Kennebunkport and Portland both have some nice food tours, so if that’s your thing, try to get one into your plans.
MidCoast Maine
MidCoast Maine is all about maritime history, charming fishing villages, and rugged coastlines. The region is known for its deep harbors, rocky shores, and lobstering communities. We spend most of our time here in MidCoast Maine because our fam is here, and that means we get to visit ALL the little towns and beautiful spots. I think that if we were just regular tourists visiting, MidCoast Maine would be our favorite destination still.
When you’re planning your visit, keep in mind that MidCoast Maine is a summer destination for the most part. Around mid-October the region rather shuts down most tourist operations. Shops and restaurants get funky hours and days of the week where the close, sightseeing tours stop mostly. Yes, fall is beautiful and when there’s fresh snow in the winter it’s really pretty, but you just shouldn’t expect the same services or options for visitors as the summertime.
Towns to Visit in MidCoast Maine
Remember that MidCoast is the hub of the Maine lobstering industry. That means a lot of towns have marinas full of rough looking boats ready to head out to sea to pull in their haul. That also means that there is a lot of good food and lobster all around. The towns of MidCoast Maine really are picturesque to me, whether it’s because they’ve got the vintage nautical vibe or they’re peppered with cool architecture.
- Rockland: Known for its lobster festival, lighthouses and art scene (the Farnsworth Museum is lovely) it’s our favorite town and where we spend most of our time. Rockland has a great downtown area and is also the hub for Maine State Ferries heading to places like Vinalhaven and Matinicus. We group Rockport, St George and Owl’s Head with Rockland when we’re talking about the area.
- Camden: A picturesque town with hills rising right up from downtown, it’s one of the pretties communities in MidCoast Maine. Lit fans will recognize it as the hometown of Sarah Wheaton from Sarah, Plain and Tall, per the movie even if the book doesn’t actually say that. This is a great place for having a Maine schooner experience and there are some really cool places to stay in Camden.
- Boothbay Harbor: I love it here. Yes, it’s touristy, but who cares. The town is cute, the boats and tours are awesome. There is good food, lots of flowers, and this is where you’ll find the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
You can pick any town in MidCoast Maine to be your homebase and then plan that most other sights you want to see will be around an hour’s drive from you. MidCoast is absolutely loaded with peninsulas, so while you may plan on staying at the Samoset Resort in Rockport and want to visit the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, the crow has a much more direct flight path than your drive.
Highlights of MidCoast Maine
I think just the vibe of MidCoast Maine is the biggest highlight, but until you’re here and immersed in it that might not do it for you. So with that, here are some beautiful places to check out and plan to visit when you come to MidCoast Maine.
- Camden Hills State Park: Enjoy a hike for views of Penobscot Bay and wild blueberry picking. The hike up Mount Battie is a must for outdoor enthusiasts, and if you’re visiting in the winter, you can enjoy snowshoeing up the hill and down.
- Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse: A historic lighthouse located at the end of a mile-long granite breakwater, I think this is one of the coolest lighthouses in Maine. It really is a trek out to the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse but it’s well worth it.
- Puffins and Quaint Coastal Sights from Port Clyde: Monhegan Boat Lines does the coolest tour to see puffins and whales from Port Clyde. You’ll get to experience a trip on a lobster boat (even pulling lobsters as a part of the tour) and then head out to sea to find puffins and other marine life.
MidCoast Maine is known for its lobster industry, so be sure to make time for a lobster boat tour or indulge in a fresh lobster roll. Yes, they’re expensive and no cheaper than because there is so much lobster, but if you love the taste and texture, you’ll be in lobster roll heaven.
DownEast Maine
Stretching along the coast toward the Canadian border, DownEast Maine is where rugged wilderness meets the Atlantic Ocean… and of course Acadia National Park. Except for Mount Desert Island where you’ll find Bar Harbor and Acadia NP, the region is much less developed than Southern or MidCoast Maine, offering a more remote and disconnected experience. DownEast is wonderful though and it’s a great place to enjoy the quiet wild of Maine.
If spending time DownEast is your main goal for your visit, you can fly into Bangor (BGR) and be much closer than if you fly into Portland (PWM). I would say that Bangor is just barely into the slice of DownEast, but others may disagree since it’s also basically the start of the Highlands. Mainers are solid when it comes to disagreeing, or at least sticking to their guns on something (including opinions).
Cool Towns in DownEast Maine
Besides Portland there really aren’t any cities in Maine, but there are some big towns. DownEast is an interesting area because it’s such a tourism hub in summer and fall and then it’s so very quiet during winter and spring. That means that the towns are a bit sleepy for a good part of the year, but then when they wake up are full of things to do and great food.
- Bangor: I forget how big Bangor is until each time I roll in. Downtown is really cool and meant for walking about and enjoying what strikes me as the hipster capitol of Maine. I mean that in the best way in that I will never be as cool as the cool kids that call Bangor home. PS: it’s said “Bang-gor” not “Banger” like a great song.
- Ellsworth: This is the gateway to Acadia National Park and actually has a cute downtown to walk around. There is a broad range of cuisines here, lots of Pride flags, and cute shops all through town. Ellsworth is a wonderful surprise.
- Bar Harbor: A bustling tourist town in the summer, Bar Harbor is located on Mount Desert Island, most of which is the National Park. It’s cute, the landscapes surrounding Bar Harbor are beautiful, and some of the coolest accommodations in Maine are located here. You can also catch the ferry to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia from Bar Harbor.
- Eastport and Lubec: The easternmost cities in the USA, there aren’t a ton of things to do here, but they’re quiet destinations to visit for foggy mornings and art galleries.
Besides these towns, there are a few more beautiful ones on Mount Desert Island that are nice to visit including Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor. Maine is absolutely peppered with cute town centers and random pretty streets to walk down. There are lots of great places to stay around Acadia NP.
Highlights of DownEast Maine
For us, Acadia National Park is our reason for visiting DownEast most of the time. There’s just something about the beautiful granite mountain tops and quiet lakes, especially when the fall colors are coming in and the whole of Mount Desert Island is yellow and orange. But then there’s always more to it than just what we share, so go off exploring on your own too!
- Acadia National Park: A crown jewel of the U.S. National Park System, Acadia offers hiking, biking, and scenic drives with awesome views from Cadillac Mountain and all along the rugged coastline. Of all the National Parks we’ve been to, Acadia NP strikes me as the most for-the-people park as it has amazing infrastructure, a shuttle system, nice facilities and endless biking and hiking routes. Check out our 3 day Acadia NP itinerary, our biking Acadia guide, and our e-biking Acadia guide.
- West Quoddy Head Light: Located in Lubec, this lighthouse marks the easternmost point in the United States, hence it’s the easternmost lighthouse. It’s striped, it’s cute, it’s an icon.
- Schoodic Peninsula: A quieter section of Acadia National Park, offering stunning coastal views and less crowded trails, the Schoodic Peninsula has such lower visitation that it may become your favorite part of Acadia.
When you’re planning your trip to Acadia National Park set aside an extra day or two for exploring more of DownEast Maine. As noted, fall colors here are amazing, so if you can plan your time to fall during peak colors (mid October) you’ll love it!
Maine Highlands
The Maine Highlands region is a land of forests, mountains, and lakes, offering a much different wilderness experience than the other parts of Maine we’ve been talking about. It is home to the state’s highest peak, Mount Katahdin (Cat-ah-din) and its largest lake, Moosehead Lake, making it an awesome destination for nature lovers and adventurers. There is some wonderful kayaking here, as well as river rafting during the summer.
If you’re coming to the Highlands in the winter, this is where you’ll find the Carrabassett Valley, Sunday River and Saddleback, which all offer either downhill or cross country skiing and some very nice resorts. I actually like visiting the Highlands in summertime when you can play in the waterfalls and enjoy the covered bridges and small towns. And you can’t forget about the moose everyone is always hoping to see.
Largest Towns in the Maine Highlands
The Maine Highlands are so lowkey. You’ll encounter a lot of outdoorsy folks and students, and of course with the Appalachian Trail ending here, you’ll meet a lot of hikers. It’s a beautiful region with lots of winding roads and blink-of-an-eye towns, but there are some bigger ones you can plan to enjoy for a few days.
- Millinocket: The gateway to Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin and the Appalachian Trail and Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument… basically the town is cute and has a lovely historical society keeping things looking sharp and vintage while just beyond the downtown area is wilderness and fun.
- Greenville: A picturesque town on the shores of Moosehead Lake, this is where you can ride the small steamboat (basically a boat tour) across the lake. There are some cute shops and galleries, wonderful lakefront dining, and one of my favorites, Lily Bay State Park.
- Waterville: talk about a town that has evolved and become really cool. Waterville has a great downtown strip, some cool historic sites and lots of nature all around. Also, this is where Colby College is located so you’ve got lots of students and great museums to visit.
- Rangely: Okay, Rangely isn’t a big town but I really like it and think it’s a wonderful place to visit. The Rangely Lakes region within the Highlands is beautiful and this town is a great stop for lunch or dinner and getting out on the lake.
As you’re looking at where to stay throughout the Highlands of Maine, you’ll find lots of small inns and vacation rentals, but not a lot of national travel brand hotels. This is a great opportunity to support local hospitality!
Highlights from the Highlands
Depending on the time of year you’re planning to visit the Highlands of Maine, you’ll be picking completely different areas to visit, and the highlights are completely different. In the summer think about hiking and cute towns, being on the water and maybe fishing. In the winter it’s all about the skiing and snowshoeing, and moose watching. Let’s assume that you’re thinking about a summertime visit…
- Baxter State Park: Home to Mount Katahdin (highest peak in Maine), the northern end of the Appalachian Trail and some wonderful day hiking trails.. The park also offers wildlife watching, including moose and black bears, and of course lots of birds.
- Moosehead Lake: Maine’s largest lake, perfect for boating, fishing, and exploring small islands, it’s got lots of access points and state parks around it. You can even head to the northern end to Kokadjo to get into the boggy wilderness to look for moose.
- Penobscot River Corridor: A scenic waterway ideal for kayaking, fishing, and camping, there are lots of tiny towns and so many bakeries…
You can’t forget the Paul Bunyan statues of Maine, which are found in the Highlands. One is in Rumford and the other in Bangor. Who doesn’t love a piece of roadside Americana?
Northern Maine
I save Northern Maine for last because it’s the area I’m the least versed in and where we spend the least amount of time. Northern Maine is defined by its vast wilderness, farmland, and close ties to the Canadian towns just across the border. This region is all about solitude and pristine landscapes. It’s largely undeveloped and that’s a good thing.
Northern Maine Towns to Visit
Like I said, I’m not the expert on this part of Maine, BUT I solemnly swear that I will plan a trip to really dig in and explore Northern Maine. I know there are some cool places and I just need to commit to seeking them out! In the meantime, here are a few towns in Northern Maine that offer lots of outdoors activities, camping, and quiet.
- Presque Isle: A regional hub and home to the University of Maine at Presque Isle, and this is where you can fly in on regional air to PQI via JetBlue from Boston.
- Caribou: A small town surrounded by farmland, it’s very near Presque Isle and there’s not a lot going on. The Aroostook National Wildlife Refuge is nearby though, so that’s a win for bird watching.
- Fort Kent: Located right on the St John River, which is the border between the USA and Canada, this is the start of U.S. Route 1 which goes all the way to Key West, Florida. Outside of Fort Kent in the Frenchville Darksky Observatory, so if you’re a stargazer, this is your spot!
Highlights of Northern Maine
This is where, as a visitor, you would come to be alone, to go camping and to just chill out. It’s great in the summer, and if you’re here in the winter you can expect cold, snowy experiences December through March.
- Aroostook State Park: Maine’s first state park, offering hiking trails, camping, and fishing, it’s really pretty and never very busy. Echo Lake is the main attraction and is a great place for stargazing.
- Allagash Wilderness Waterway: A remote and nearly untouched stretch of rivers and lakes, ideal for kayaking, canoeing and wildlife spotting. This is a moosy area, but not quite as much as the Highlands. It’s just north of Baxter State Park and is a big, beautiful protected area.
- Fort Kent Blockhouse: A historic site dating back to the Aroostook War, offering insight into the region’s past.
Unique Things to Do Around Maine
While each region has its own unique vibe, there are several sorts of attractions that make Maine as a whole stand out. Especially if you haven’t been here before, you might not know just what sort of things to look for as you travel around. Here are, what we think, are the most iconic Maine things to seek out when you come for a visit.
- Lighthouses: Maine has more than 60 lighthouses, some of which are open to visitors. Popular ones include Portland Head Light, Pemaquid Point Light, and Bass Harbor Head Light at Acadia National Park. You can’t swing a dead lobster in Maine without hitting a lighthouse, including on the rivers.
- Covered Bridges: A handful of historic covered bridges dot the state, with the Sunday River Bridge in Newry being particularly picturesque. The Lovejoy and Low’s Covered bridges are cute too. You typically need to seek the features out because they’re not directly off the main highways.
- Natural Attractions: From the gorgeous granite mountains of Acadia National Park to the quiet waters of Moosehead Lake, Maine’s natural landscapes are diverse and really fun to explore. Did you know that there are even sand dunes in Maine (the Desert of Maine in Freeport).
- Lobster Culture: I know that lobster isn’t for everyone, but I think it’s delicious and I love the Mainers who are out there bringing in the bugs for us. From all kinds of dishes to lots of art featuring lobsters, and even Maine Lobsterfesh in Rockland, there are lots of ways to enjoy the lobster culture without actually eating it.
- Wild Blueberries: Yes, this one requires a little hiking, but Maine is loaded with wild blueberries. From coastal Maine to the Highlands, you’ll find wild blueberries everywhere, and that includes lots of blueberry products.
- Whoopie Pies: If you haven’t had a whoopie pie, be sure to change that when you get here. Whoopie pies in Maine are a thing, and you’ll love the cupcake tops filled with frosting, creme or custard. Whoopie pies take many forms and you need to try all of them.
- Museums: There are some great art museums in Maine but also lots of nautical museums and logging exhibits. And if you’re visiting Acadia NP or Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument, there are wonderful discovery centers at each.
- Boat Tours: whether you love being on the water just for the change of pace of if you’re looking for wildlife, there are some awesome boat tours all along the Maine coast. You can go out on a tall ship, a lobstering boat, wildlife watching ship, sunset sailings…
Now that you’re deeply family with visiting Maine and its many regions and beautiful towns, do you feel like you know the type of trip you want to plan? I hope so, and if not, you can let us know and we can share more or help you further. Leave a comment or send us a note and we’ll get you set up with a great plan for an unforgettable visit to Maine.
