Media Contact: Charlene Williams
Publicist for the Maine Office of Tourism
207-623-4177; cwilliams@marshallpr.com
Top Things to See and Do in Maine
Acadia National Park - Acadia National Park abounds with an endless variety of sights,
attractions and activities. Outdoor enthusiasts can try biking, hiking, rock climbing, kayaking and
sailing. While glaciers created the upside-down claw-like shape of the island that is known as
Mt. Desert, its shape is hardly the only thing that makes it unique. The third-largest island on the
east coast of the United States, Mt. Desert is home to Cadillac Mountain, the highest mountain
on the east coast north of Rio de Janeiro. From atop Cadillac Mountain’s 1,532-foot summit
visitors are the first to watch the sun rise each day in the United States.
Lobster - When the words “Maine” and “food” happen to come up in the same sentence, the
first thing most people think of is lobster. After all, nearly 90 percent of the lobster that
eventually ends up on our nation’s dinner plates is trapped in Maine, and lobster pounds in
Maine are as easily found at the shellfish itself. There may be nothing more satisfying than
cracking into a freshly steamed lobster pulled from Maine’s waters earlier that day. But Maine’s
lobster culture does not stop there. Ride aboard a lobster boat as the captain pulls traps on one
of the many tours offered along the coast and learn more about Maine’s iconic crustacean. In
addition to telling the story of our beloved lobster there are several other options when it comes
to eating Maine-style. Homegrown produce and fresh seafood are staples on many menus
throughout the state. Classic, all-American diners, where home cooking and plates piled high
please hearty appetites are found in many Maine cities and towns. In addition, Maine has many
award-winning chefs preparing gourmet meals in world-class restaurants, charming mountain
inns and even rustic sporting camps throughout the state.
National Scenic Byways for Fall Foliage - For visitors in search of spectacular scenery,
Maine’s three National Scenic Byways and its All-American Road encircling Mount Desert Island
offer stunning vistas with a good measure of history and local culture mixed in. All four
roadways provide visitors with a unique touring experience and an opportunity to visit some of
Maine’s most scenic locations. There may be no better time to experience these byways than in
autumn when Maine really shows off its true colors. Visitors come from around the world for
leaf-peeping as a combination of warm sunshine during the day and cool, crisp
nights provide ideal conditions for leaves to display spectacular hues.
Lighthouses - More than 60 lighthouses dot the scenic coast of Maine and nearly half of them
are open to the public during summer months. By taking a trip along Maine’s coastal Route 1
and exploring the rocky shores and peninsulas along the way, visitors can experience a true
sense of Maine’s maritime heritage by discovering its lighthouses. Perhaps there is no better
way to view a lighthouse than from the water. The Maine Maritime Museum in Bath and the
Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport offer lighthouse cruises.
Windjammers - A perfect way to see and explore the more than 5,000 miles of Maine’s
beautiful coastline is doing so by water. All along Maine’s coast there are opportunities for tour
boat excursions, sailing trips, and cruises lasting anywhere from one hour to one week. One of
the most unique ways to cruise the coast is aboard one of Maine’s historic windjammers. Maine
is the only place in North America with such a large, historic fleet of traditional sailing vessels.
Windjammer cruises offer an experience of a lifetime as you visit tiny fishing villages, explore
islands and lighthouses, view whales, seals and puffins up close, or relax accompanied by
dramatic scenery and salt air. You can even help the crew sail the ship if you choose.
Festivals - Maine’s best attributes are celebrated year-round at events across the state.
Summer and fall are signified by agricultural fairs cropping up in Maine’s heartland. Maine’s
festivals are an opportunity to mingle with the locals and are also a way to embrace the state’s
rich cultural heritage, such as maritime history and our Acadian, French and Native American
heritage. The state’s love affair with food from the sea is celebrated all summer long, with
events including the Yarmouth Clam Festival and the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland.
Downhill/Nordic Skiing - With gradual trails for beginners, some of the steepest terrain in
New England for experts, world-class super-pipes, exciting terrain parks, glade skiing and stateof-the-art grooming and snowmaking, Maine’s mountains have something for everyone. Maine
offers downhill enthusiasts 18 ski areas with a wide variety of on-mountain lodging. Maine also
has over 600 kilometers of cross-country skiing at dozens of Nordic ski centers offering visitors
a special way to explore winter in Maine. These centers provide safe, well-maintained and
groomed trails. Many also offer snowshoeing and ice-skating, and most offer equipment rentals
and instruction. The state is home to the Maine Winter Sports Center 10th Mountain Center in
Fort Kent, a world-class cross country and biathlon center with trails, lodges with kitchen, locker
rooms, sauna and waxing rooms, all groomed and free to the public. Of special interest: Many
U.S. Olympians have trained at Maine’s Sugarloaf Resort and at the Maine Winter Sports
Center in Fort Kent.
Outdoor Trails - To make the most of Maine’s great outdoors, the adventurous can select a
“trail” and experience the rugged beauty of Maine firsthand:
 The Maine Island Trail is a 375-mile waterway extending from the New Hampshire
border on the west, to Machias Bay on the east. The trail winds its way along the coast,
through protected saltwater rivers and quiet bays, and among islands large and small. It
includes over 180 islands and mainland sites along the route.
 The Northern Forest Canoe Trail is a long-distance paddling trail connecting the major
watersheds across the Adirondacks and Northern New England. Of the 740-mile trail,
347 miles are in Maine offering canoeists and kayakers a plethora of paddling
adventures.
 Maine’s 281 miles of the Appalachian Trail are generally considered the most
challenging of all fourteen states. Lakes, streams, and bogs abound, and moose and
loon sightings are common.
Shopping for Maine products - For more than a century, Maine has been a gathering place
for the creatively minded. Craftspeople of all kinds have set up shop here, and visitors can
easily spend weeks browsing through galleries that specialize in works by Maine artisans.
Nationally recognized designers Jill McGowan, Angela Adams, and furniture maker Thos. Moser
all call Maine home. The Maine Office of Tourism has produced wonderful videos on these
craftspeople and others.
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2012