On a typical driving day in Maine you see license plates from all over the United States. You hear accents that don’t just resonate with the South or Boston, but you hear dialects from all across the globe. Maine attracts people of all ages and people from all origins. With a handful of family-friendly excursions to explore and many opportunities for young adults, Maine has established themselves as a state you do not want to miss out on.

Before my mother moved up to Maine a few summers ago, I vacationed there for a week out of every summer, staying with my grandmother along the coast. I remember getting up early and rolling into the car to just fall back asleep to the sound of my family and I cruising up the highway, settling in for roughly a 13-hour car ride. Those trips were always worth it and they still are today.

Here are eight reasons why you should visit Maine:

1. The views - Crystal clear waters reflecting the sun. A cloudless, light blue sky. Rolling mountains of pines and wildlife. Boats with colorful sails in the harbor. Every view is a picture and every view is a sight you will surely never forget. Every corner you turn there is something beautiful to look at and no, I’m not kidding! I often find myself distracted while driving because I keep looking out the window. I wouldn’t be surprised if people got pulled over for swerving, their reason behind it being the scenery.

2. The food - If you’re a fan of seafood, you’ve come to the right place. Maine is known for all kinds of aquatic animals, especially lobsters and clams. Without a doubt every restaurant you go to, something on the menu will contain lobster. If it’s not a classic lobster dinner it’s most likely a lobster roll or some sort of lobster bisque or seafood chowder. For those of you who aren’t big fans of seafood, Maine prides itself on other delicacies, a big one being anything with blueberries. Blueberry mojitos and blueberry pies. Yes please.

3. The cities - When people think about the state of Maine they often characterize it as, “A bunch of trees and some moose.” First of all, moose are incredibly hard to see in the wild. In all my time spent in Maine, I have only seen a moose once and let me tell you, it was amazing. And Maine isn’t just a state where you have to wear hiking boots. Heels are perfectly acceptable too. If I could classify the city of Portland to you so you could understand me, I would say it’s a bigger version of Richmond, Virginia and a smaller version of Boston, Massachusetts. Really, it’s the perfect size. Portland has history and it’s got food. Old Port, Portland sits along the water with streets filled of shops and life. There’s even a couple clubs. Yes, clubs! Portland has a little bit of everything for everyone.

Cities worth visiting: Augusta, Bangor, Portland

4. The small towns - The population of Maine is only about 1.33 million people. The population of Rhode Island is about 1.05 million people. Now, compare the sizes of those two states and that alone tells you something about the state of Maine. If you’re not in a city you're either in two places; the middle of nowhere or a town. From where my mother is, four miles in any direction puts you in a different town. Luckily for my mother, she has a grocery store in her town. Other Mainers have to travel miles to stock up. And yes, I said “stock up”. Frequent visits to a store 30 miles away is not a trip many like to take. The lack of commercial properties and modernization in some areas of the state show you how things you once viewed as necessities aren’t needed. It centers you and reminds you to appreciate the little things in life. And I shouldn’t forget to add that many of these small towns are absolutely adorable. With one main street going down the middle, flags wave from every lamppost, and everyone you pass by sends you a wave. Now that just makes me happy.

Towns worth visiting: Bar Harbor, Belfast, Blue Hill, Boothbay Harbor, Camden, Castine, Freeport, Kennebunkport, Northeast Harbor

5. The coast and the water - My favorite place to be in Maine is anywhere along the coast. There’s just something about sitting near the water, smelling the ocean, and feeling the breeze on my face. Most of the coast in Maine consists of rocky shores. Not so pleasant to lay on to get some sun, but finding a nice flat rock and watching the tide go in and out is a calming experience everyone should take part in. Some beaches along the coast do have some sand, but if you’re from an area that has plenty of sandy beaches, I would recommend skipping those since you have that at home. The cold waters in Maine don’t fit well for swimming, but the aquatic animals such as whales and seals that live in the hypothermic conditions always find the time to stick out a head or a fin every now and then. The coast is great for catching some fish and soaking up the sun.

6. The weather - The summer season is the best time to visit. While the rest of the states are scorching in 90 degree weather, Maine rarely ever hits the 80’s, keeping it warm in the summer months in the easy, breezy 70’s. The sun shines and the winds keeps you cool. Maine is also lovely in the fall and in the spring, but if you don’t like the cold or the snow, avoid Maine during the winter. People either hate it or they love it. Some winters are harder than others, but if you don’t mind winter weather, Maine could be your favorite place year round. The views are heightened in the winter, snow covering every rooftop and tree. Frozen lakes and ponds. Ski resorts and hot chocolate by the fire. Those who visit in the winter and stay year-round really appreciate Maine in its entirety. Kudos to you and good luck with shoveling snow.

7. The wilderness - Despite the up-and-coming cities of Maine, the real reason why people visit Maine is to spend time outside. Hiking, camping, and fishing have kept visitors coming to Maine for years. Maine offers a wide variety of National Parks to visit and mountains to climb. Trails vary depending on your hiking skill level, ranging from easy to strenuous; how much effort your body needs to put in to get you to the top. Some hiking trails in some locations require a hiking permit, so before you plan your journey, be sure to do your research.

Sites worth visiting: Acadia National Park, Baxter State Park, Bay of Fundy, Moosehead Lake

8. The people - I’m not just highlighting the people of Maine because I have family there. The people of Maine just care about you and want to get to know you. Even if you’re checking out at the grocery store, clerks will ask you if you found everything okay and then go on to ask you how your day is going. People who pass you along the sidewalk greet you with sincere hellos. The people of Maine aren’t consumed by materialistic things and they don’t care about titles. No one is better than any other person. Status doesn’t seem to mean anything to anyone here. You get the feeling as though everyone is your neighbor. The work ethic of people here is incredible. They rise with the sun and go to sleep with the sun. Might I add, there is never any traffic here, so people are never late.