Ah, Maine "Vacationland," as it were. A land of stark grey cliffs and roiling blue seas. A place of rugged beauty, renowned worldwide for its wonderful seafood. For many, a trip to Maine can be a once in a lifetime deal. How, then, does one know what to do on that special trip? Luckily, my family is from Maine and I summer there, so I'm a bit of an expert at this point. Allow me to make six suggestions for your (hopefully probable) Maine trip.
1. Go to a beach.
I mean, duh. You can't even begin to picture Maine without its main selling point: rustically memorable beaches and coastlines. There are many beaches in the state, but I've narrowed the list down to three that you must visit: Pine Point Beach, Old Orchard Beach, and Scarborough Beach. Pine Point is the walker's beach. Holy cow, that one is long. A single trek down those soft sands can clock in at over two hours! Trust me, though - it's worth it. With companions or without, you're still getting a great view of the sea. Scarborough Beach is the "beachy beach," for lack of a better term. Nothing really sticks out about it, and that's what makes it so great! Not many people visit the beach often, it's decently sized, and it's a great spot to walk or sunbathe. Finally, we come to Old Orchard Beach. This one is the fun beach. On top of being an attractive beach, it also has an amusement park, a pier, and a bustling area filled with some of Maine's best non-seafood eats! Pier fries and Bill's Pizza are necessities. The only downside is the high level of traffic. Here's a bonus: all three are close to one another, so they shouldn't be hard to visit in one trip!
2. Experience Acadia National Park.
Acadia National Park is another one of those "duh" activities. There's no single area more chock-full of beauty than Acadia National Park. Mountains, lakes, the sea, cliffs- it's all there. Bike rides, hiking, and gazing at gorgeous natural attractions- what's not to like? Besides the bugs, of course...those are a Mainestay. (Ouch. I just made a Maine pun.) I don't really have to write about this one, to be honest. The picture below will do a better job of explaining Acadia than I could ever hope to do.
3. Get yourself some seafood!
Make sure you eat lots of different seafood when you're up here! Shrimp, clams, and the famous lobster are all to die for in Maine. Here's an insider tip: ask if the shrimp are from Maine. Sometimes the shrimp have been overfished and Canadian shrimp are used. They're similar, but they aren't the same. Good places include Gilbert's Chowder House, Red's Eats (the line IS an hour wait, folks. It isn't EXACTLY worth it, but the lobster there has been the best I've had on the mainland) and Ken's.
4. Get yourself some regular food!
Yeah, Maine is known for seafood, but that isn't all we have up here. Try out Gritty's for some good pub food and the Great Lost Bear for extreme food (a double cheeseburger served between two grilled cheese sandwiches, anyone?). Pizza by Alex holds the best mini pizzas you'll ever eat. Miyake is an excellent Japanese place and Veranda Thai serves the best Thai food I've ever eaten. It's totally worth the tears and pain that come from the spice, trust me. (Manly tears of joy and triumph, mind you.)
5. Go to the Ogunquit Playhouse!
Check out their schedule, make the trek, and watch one of their productions! They're high quality affairs, and everything I've seen I've enjoyed. There's nothing quite like a good, old-fashioned play, is there?
6. Walk around Portland!
Portland is Maine's best city. Not going to Portland would be like visiting New York without seeing New York City. Charming brick buildings abound, and small specialty shops peek out of every corner. It's a city that doesn't feel like a city, and that's a good thing. There's no hustle and bustle; everything is lax. It's situated next to a scenic harbor, and tons of trendy restaurants make for a great night life. Vibrant and old yet new, Portland is a must-visit city.
Those are six must-do's up here in Maine. Did I leave anything out? What do you think of my suggestions? Tell me below in the comments!
