The harbor town of Rockland, Maine, is a jumping-off point for ferries bound for the midcoast islands, but it also rocks the mainland. From its mid-summer lobster fest to the Farnsworth Art Museum, crustaceans and culture are as appealing to visitors as the great outdoors. The Maine Lighthouse Museum, located in Rockland, has a collection of artifacts from various New England lighthouses, including an impressive number of Fresnel lenses. The Maine Discovery Center, which is adjacent to this museum, has additional exhibits and information about the area. The Coastal Children's Museum is an excellent destination for families.

Rockland's historic downtown has a great Main Street with shops, restaurants, and galleries featuring local artists and artisans. Visitors should make time to see the Maine Windjammer Fleet, a collection of historic sailing ships that call Rockland home. The fleet gathers each July for a grand parade as the fleet sails along the Rockland Breakwater, in addition to sightseeing cruises and multi-day sailing trips.

Old Granite Inn is ideal for families and couples seeking a historic but relaxed experience in one of Maine's historic coastal inns. It's centrally located near the ferry terminal, with great views of the harbor, and is just a short walk from plenty of downtown dining and shopping. Those looking for a modern Rockland hotel will appreciate the 250 Main Hotel, a boutique luxury experience. There are family rooms and suites available, as well as rooms with private balconies and ocean views.

Maine is a fantastic place to go leaf peeping. There's nowhere else in New England you'd rather be with trees bursting into fall colors all around you. And the charming backdrop of Camden adds to the season's charm. Every summer, the population of this small town of about 5,000 people nearly triples. The charming streets and beautiful buildings entice visitors to spend time in one of Maine's most beautiful areas. The town becomes cozier in the autumn. The infamous Camden Yacht Club is also located in Camden. The harbor is a popular stop for visitors exploring the area, and you can see the changing colors of autumn right along the water's edge.

Camden's upscale downtown area is packed with restaurants, galleries, and shops, making it an ideal spot for an afternoon of exploring and shopping. There are also frequent cultural events and performances during the summer months. Camden has a beautiful beach, but Camden Hills State Park is its most well-known natural attraction. The park has over 30 miles of hiking trails, including the Maiden's Cliff trail, which offers breathtaking views of Megunticook Lake below. There is also an auto road that goes to the top of Mount Battie, with views of Penobscot Bay and the surrounding mountains, if you don't want to hike. Barrett's Cove on Megunticook Lake also has a family-friendly campground, picnic areas, and a nice freshwater beach.

Take in the best of Maine by visiting the seaside town of Boothbay Harbor. Natural beauty, outstanding seafood, and classic Maine charm can all be found here. Boothbay Harbor is a small town in Maine. It has a population of about 2,000 people, which is roughly the same as it did a century ago. But that's part of the appeal of Boothbay Harbor: it's a place where the tallest structure is an old wooden footbridge and lobster boats still chug back into the harbor with the catch of the day. But it's not a sleepy town; there's plenty to do in Boothbay Harbor, including interesting attractions, quirky shops, and delicious seafood restaurants. It's an excellent day trip destination.

It's impossible to visit Boothbay Harbor without seeing its famous footbridge. It was built in 1901 to connect the town's eastern and western sides. It's America's longest wooden footbridge, and it offers some of the best views of the harbor. When you're in Boothbay Harbor, you might hear the call of the sea. Answer it with the assistance of the Eastwind. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing two-hour sailing cruise on this classic schooner. The boat is as lovely as the Maine coast.

Boothbay Harbor's allure has long been known, and the town is bustling with visitors. It is filled with adorable shops, art galleries, and restaurants. Sweet Bay is the place to go for Maine-made gifts like hats, bags, and totes. This one-of-a-kind shop is located at 9 Townsend Ave. in Boothbay Harbor. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is another must-see. The gardens are 300 acres in size and feature cultivated plots, woodland trails, and stunning native plants.

Bar Harbor, located on Mount Desert Island off the coast of Maine, is known for its vibrant arts scene, excellent shopping, and particularly good dining options. This, like most coastal towns, is an excellent location for sightseeing cruises, and there are numerous tour companies in town that also offer land-based activities such as ghost tours and foodie tours. Bar Harbor is most closely associated with the nearby Acadia National Park for nature lovers, and there are numerous guides available for those who want to learn more about the area.

The Abbe Museum, Maine's only Smithsonian affiliate museum, is Bar Harbor's most important cultural attraction. The Abbe began as a trailside museum within Acadia National Park, which is still open, and expanded to include the downtown Bar Harbor space. Visitors can learn about the Wabanaki peoples, who occupied the land long before European settlers arrived, at the People of the First Light. Exhibits use artifacts and multimedia presentations to explore culture. Visit the Bar Harbor Historical Society, which is housed in a former convent and is a historic structure in its own right, to learn about more recent local history. The small museum houses an eclectic collection of local artifacts ranging from relics of long-gone grand hotels to a comprehensive collection of local milk bottles.

Ogunquit is located on the southern coast of Maine and is well-known for having one of the state's best beaches, which offers calm, warm water due to a gradual slope. It's located on Maine's southern tip, on a sliver of dramatic coastline that alternates between craggy cliffs, sandy coves, and one glorious three-mile beach that's consistently voted one of the best in the country. Ogunquit, once a sleepy shipbuilding hamlet, has risen to become one of New England's premier summer resorts, with a daily throng of up to 80,000 lobster-craving revelers from May to September. Most visitors come for the perfectly fine-sand beach, which is uncommon along the state's mostly rocky coastline.

Even if clouds roll in to ruin the fun, there's plenty to keep you occupied on a weekend visit. For a small town, Ogunquit has an impressive and diverse collection of independent businesses, including art galleries, wine bars, pottery shops, antique stores, theaters, and bakeries. And the vast majority are owned by LGBTQ+ people. This low-key seaside haven, famous for its beauty, has another distinguishing feature: an inclusive, judgment-free atmosphere that has made LGBTQ+ out-of-towners feel welcome for decades. So much so that many people decide to stay.

Boutiques, galleries, and gift shops, as well as restaurants, creameries, and sweet shops, can be found in both village centers. Marginal Way, a scenic seaside pedestrian-only walking path that connects Ogunquit and Perkins Cove, is paved for easy access. Those traveling by bicycle or motorized vehicle can use Shore Road instead, and the town open-air Trolley connects the two, which is especially convenient after an afternoon of shopping. Ogunquit is also known for its arts scene, which includes everything from galleries and local artisans to live entertainment and the well-known Ogunquit Playhouse. It also houses the Ogunquit Museum of American Art, which features both changing exhibits and a permanent collection of works by prominent artists such as Marsden Hartley, Peggy Bacon, and Carl Walters.

Maine is full of charming towns, each with its own distinct personality. Visitors and residents alike agree that if you're looking for the quintessential New England escape, Kennebunkport is the place to be. This corner of Maine appears tailor-made for a day trip, with breathtaking coastal views, charming architecture, and friendly residents. A town full of charm, beauty, and history awaits along Maine's craggy shoreline. Kennebunkport is consistently ranked as one of Maine's most vibrant small towns.

The town has fewer than 5,000 year-round residents, and its proximity to major cities such as New York makes it an ideal weekend getaway. This small town has a long history, beginning with Native Americans and eventually including settlers in the late 1600s. Kennebunkport was not given its official name until Maine became a state in 1820, which translates to "long cut back" in the language of the original residents. A trip to Kennebunkport nowadays entails spending a lot of time admiring the coastline, beaches, stunning architecture, and foodie-approved restaurants. Other notable attractions include the Seashore Trolley Museum and Dock Square, which serves as the town's social hub.

So, if you want to get away for the day and enjoy the stunning scenery and coastal atmosphere, Kennebunkport has it all. Dock Square and the surrounding area are the hub of activity in Kennebunkport, with restaurants, boutiques, local artisans' shops, and numerous art galleries. During the summer, there is also a sightseeing trolley tour that provides a 45-minute tour of the town's highlights. The Seashore Trolley Museum is where visitors can learn more about this trolley and others.

Despite its popularity as a summer destination for families, Old Orchard Beach is a small-town at heart. This is evidenced by the constant nostalgia that seems to pervade every aspect of the town's attractions, from the traditional ocean-view Ferris wheel to the old-fashioned carousel. While there is no traditional wooden boardwalk at Old Orchard Beach, there is an Old Orchard Beach Pier. With its restaurants and shops, the pier, which was built in 1898, resembles a boardwalk on stilts.

The main amusement park, Palace Playland, is right next to the pier. There is a variety of family fun here, such as bumper cars, a roller coaster, kiddie rides, and carnival games. All of this, of course, is in addition to the seven miles of sand and surf that, due to its cleanliness and accessibility, is considered one of New England's best beaches. Visitors seeking a slower pace can take one of the local whales watching tours or play a round of golf at the nearby Dunegrass Club. Restaurants on Old Orchard Beach range from small places serving great pizza by the slice to sit-down establishments with spectacular sea views. Hotels and accommodations in Old Orchard range from seaside resorts to campgrounds to classic, family-owned motels.

Eastport is the easternmost point in the United States, making it one of Maine's smallest towns and certainly one of its most remote coastal towns. This small town may not appear to be much at first glance, but its beauty lies in its simplicity. This is a great spot for a sightseeing cruise or deep-sea fishing boat, and even landlubbers can catch supper from the dock. Although there isn't much shopping in downtown Eastport, visitors can indulge in ice cream and other treats at Sweeties Downeast and browse the fine art at Eastport Breakwater Gallery.

Despite its small size, Eastport is home to the state's largest Fourth of July celebration. Visitors to the area at the end of summer, on the other hand, will not want to miss the Eastport Pirate Festival, a multi-day annual event. The festival kicks off with a pirate "invasion" by sea and continues with shopping at the Theives' Market, performances, kids' games, pirate king and queen awards, themed boat tours, treasure hunts for kids, and the pirate parade, which includes cutlass demonstrations and prizes for the best floats.

While in the area, make time to visit the nearby town of Lubec, which is home to the small but fascinating Smokehouse Museum. This significant landmark, once the site of a herring processing plant, is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its historical significance in the area. Quoddy Head State Park is also nearby, and visitors to the area frequently cross the border into New Brunswick via ferry across Passamaquoddy Bay.

Bethel is in western Maine, about an hour from North Conway, New Hampshire, and 1.5 hours from Portland. The Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, which houses specimens from all over the state as well as meteorite fragments, is Bethel's crowning achievement. The museum also houses the Arthur M. Hussey Memorial Rock Garden, a collection of 22 large specimens depicting Maine's geological history. The museum shop sells rock and stone specimens, as well as jewelry made from Maine gemstones.

The Bethel Historical Society operates two museum buildings as well as an education center, with the O'Neil Robinson House housing the main exhibits and research library. Exhibits change on a regular basis and cover topics such as important local historical figures, local artwork, and natural history. The Mason House is also open for tours; it has been fully restored to its early and mid-nineteenth-century appearance, with notable murals in the front hall. Bethel also has a variety of outdoor activities, including access to the Appalachian Trail through Grafton Notch State Park. Popular activities include moose tours and scenic drives, especially during the fall foliage season. The Bethel Inn Resort has a par 72 golf course, tennis courts, a pool, and children's activities for those who want to hit the links.

Kingfield is located in the western Maine mountains, about a half hour north of Farmington, and offers both natural and cultural attractions. Skiers visiting Sugarloaf Mountain in neighboring Carrabassett Valley should pay a visit to the Ski Museum of Maine in Kingfield. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Maine's contributions to the sport and features exhibits on early ski equipment, memorabilia, past and present ski areas, and more. The Stanley Museum, which explores the lives and work of the inventors of the "Stanley Steamer", the first steam-powered automobile, is also located in Kingsfield. Sugarloaf Mountain was developed as a ski resort in the early 1950s by local residents. Today, Kingfield is best known as a gateway to Sugarloaf. Nestlé established a Poland Spring bottling plant in Kingfield in 2007. Kingfield is an Appalachian Trail Trail Town located near Mount Abraham and the Bigelow Range.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to do in Kingfield all year. The six-mile Narrow Gauge Pathway trail runs along the Carrabassett River, providing easy access to the river for cross-country skiing in the winter and scenic walks and bike rides in the summer. The first trailhead of the Maine Huts and Trails, a welcoming network with 80 miles of paths open all year, is also located in Kingfield; the "huts" along the trail are actually European-style lodges where adventurers can stop for a rest and a meal or stay for the night.