The great state of Maine is truly the place to be in the summer. With the lakes, oceans, shopping, and food, there’s something here for everybody. Some of the places I have listed I have been to, some I have not. Take a look through some great towns to visit before the summer is over!

State Parks

Maine has plenty of state parks to visit, and there is bound to be one near you! A few of my favorites include

Popham Beach- Phippsburg

Rangeley Lake State Park- Franklin County

Two Lights- Cape Elizabeth

And if you have kids, Range Pond in Poland is a great place! The lake is shallow, and there is a giant playground for the kids to play on while taking a break from the sun.

These places are a must visit before school starts!

Farmer's Markets

I try to go to my local farmer's market in Lewiston as much as possible. It’s great to see the local businesses working together as a community.

I recommend going to the ones in Lewiston, Brunswick, Gardiner, and Portland.

Hiking

Now, I am not much of a hiker myself, but I still appreciate the various mountains in Maine.

I have heard great things about:

Bradbury Mountain- Pownal

Tumbledown- Franklin County

Mount Kineo- Piscataquas County

Saddleback- Sandy River Plantation

Mt. Katahdin- Baxter State Park

Shopping Towns

When you’re visiting Maine or even if you live here, it’s important to shop in the Maine gift shops or even browse through cute clothing stores. My favorites are Boothbay, Freeport, Ogunquit, and the Old Port.

Seafood

If you are ever in Maine, it’s important to get seafood. Even if you don’t like it, at least try shrimp, haddock, or if you’re daring, lobstah.

If you’re going out to eat:

The Chickadee- Lewiston. Although the majority of the seafood is fried, it is so delicious.

DiMillo’s- Portland

Five Islands Lobster Co. - Georgetown

The Lobster Dock- Boothbay Harbor

If you’re eating in, order from:

Mr. Seas- Lewiston

Harbor Fish Market- Portland

Maine Lobster Outlet- York

Gendron’s Seafood- Lewiston

Gurnet Trading Co- Brunswick

The Islands

I recently went to Peaks Island with my sister-in-law for my birthday. We took a ferry from the Old Port, and within ten minutes, we were already there. We rode bikes around the entire island, which was pretty great in itself, considering we saw the locals, tourists, and the beautiful homes. After coasting around Peaks, we went for lunch and enjoyed our time together while we people watched.

There’s plenty to do on Peaks, whether you just want to go for lunch, get an ice cream, or enjoy the environment that Peaks is. The most memorable part of the trip for me was watching teenagers jump off the dock. They were so carefree while jumping off. Hopefully I will find time to go to Peaks again so I can jump off that famous dock as well!

Another great island is Bailey’s. Full of walking trails and art exhibits, you are bound to find something to do while at Bailey’s Island!

With all of the shopping, food, and small hikes, there's always something fun to do while being in Maine. Although the winters are long and dreadful, the warm, endless summer days make up for it.