|
 Maine
Travelers
who enjoy the outdoors will love Maine. This
state is especially known for its fall foliage, dramatic coastal scenery and
beaches, hiking, river rafting, canoeing, and camping.
The best place for viewing scenery from a setting is from the deck at the
Bay Harbor Restaurant. The city of
Portland has the highest number of restaurants per capita in the United States
and seafood is what they do best which is one of the reasons Maine is well known
for it's fabulous lobster.
We are convinced that when you visit this state you must see the Acadia
National Park. This is the oldest
national park east of the Mississippi River and the second most popular in the
United States. This spellbinding
preserve combines spruce forests, rocky coasts, and placid bays with little
islands. The northern portion is
located primarily on Mount Desert Island and contains Cadillac Mountain, the
Abbe Museum, and Bar Harbor Head Lighthouse.
A great way to see the park is to follow the scenic Ocean Drive all the
way up the eastern coast.
The
cluster of villages known as the Kennebunks (Kennebunk, Kennebunkport, Kennebunk
Beach and the two small towns of Wells and Ogunquit) have been Maine’s more
attractive and popular resort areas with perfect beaches, fine sand, and
excellent restaurants that attract thousands of visitors from around the globe
yearly. Former President Bush
spends a lot of time at his home, which is located in Kennebunkport.
Dock Square is known for its galleries in restored buildings and for the
popular fishing excursions that leave daily from the pier.
There
are several different routes for seeing the famous fall foliage. The Coastal
Outing Fall Foliage Itinerary, developed by the state tourism board, is an
excellent mid-Maine route. Other
recommended areas to view the trees in their autumnal glory are around Presque
Isle, Skowhegan, Boothbay and Augusta. Skiers
often enjoy the beauty and splendor of the ski resorts found in this state.
Sugarloaf USA has the third tallest peak in all of New England,
measuring 4,237 feet. This mountain
has four different ski areas. Sunday
River Ski Resort, located at the White Mountains of Maine, has five different
peaks, 56 different trails, and eleven ski lifts.
The Saddleback Ski Area and Summer Lake Preserve is located about twelve
miles southwest of Sugarloaf. It is
a smaller ski area with only five lifts and 40 runs, geared for both novice and
expert skiers. Also available
are snowmobiling, ice-skating, cross-country skiing, racquetball, and swimming.
Bar Harbor is where most people stay when visiting Acadia National Park.
Be sure to visit the Seal Cove Automobile Museum which has a collection
of more than 100 antique cars. You
may want to take a ferry to one of the islands or to Nova Scotia, Canada.
If
you enjoy architecture, visit the Old Port
Exchange in Portland. There you
will find 19th-century buildings that house restaurants, craft shops,
and art galleries. Also located
along the western promenade are elegant Victorian, Queen Anne, and
Romanesque-revival style homes. The
Victoria Mansion (also known as Morse-Libby House) is a gorgeous Italianate
villa built in the 1860’s. Also
check out the 18th-century Wadsworth Longfellow House (the poet’s
boyhood home) and the 17th-century Eastern Cemetery.
You can catch a breath of fresh air by visiting Portland’s largest
public park, Deering Oaks. Visit
Cape Elizabeth, which houses Two Lights (a historic cast-iron lighthouse high
atop a rocky shoreline) and the Portland Head Light (commissioned by George
Washington and thought to be the most photographed lighthouse in the country).

If you see a moose,
it's best to leave it alone. Although it is a magnificent animal, it can
become annoyed with the simple honking of a horn.
No one should leave
Maine without his or her fill of lobster!
Try taking a cruise
on "Kate" (short for Katahdin), a restored 1914 lake steamer.
|