With Labor Day last weekend, it was a good time to get away for a few days. So my husband and I took a trip with my parents and little sister to one of our favorite destinations in the world: Maine.
I’ve been going up to Maine since before I could walk or talk. My family has a house in the downeast region that was built by my great great aunt and has since been passed down through generations. Needless to say, it’s a very special place.
With a beautiful front porch that overlooks a river, I could spend hours on end sitting out there, gazing into what we like to call “the original television.”
With it’s rocky coastline, abundance of lobster boats and quaint villages, Maine is truly a destination all its own.
I typically visit ‘vacationland’ in the summer, but it is equally as stunning in the fall and winter months. So whether you’re planning a trip to the New England region or are looking for a new place to visit, here are five reasons to add Maine to your travel list.
1. IT’S A BREATH OF FRESH AIR…
…literally. I feel like when I cross the The Piscataqua River Bridge and enter into Maine, the air just gets crisper and fresher. I even feel like I sleep better in the northern state. In the summer months, I rarely feel like the air is humid and sticky. Rather, it’s typically comfortable during the day (not too hot, not too cold) and cozy at night (kind of like Goldie Locks sleeping in the baby bear’s bed).
When I’m in Maine, I try to be outside as much as possible.
2. THE SCENERY
To me, walking around Maine often feels like walking inside of a painting, which is probably why so many famous artists have used the landscape as a muse for their works of art.
From the breathless coastline, to historic homes, to the small towns, everywhere you turn is an opportunity for a perfect picture.
There is also nothing better than waking up early in the morning to the sounds of lobster boats, and seeing lobstermen (and women) haul in a fresh catch, or spotting a seal swimming in the river or sunning themselves on rocks.
This last time we were up there, we actually saw a harbor porpoise surface as well as a bald eagle land in the tree in front of our house (hello real life National Geographic!)
Maine’s many meadows and woods also offer a window into some of the most beautiful birds and wildlife.
And in the fall, Maine is the ideal place for leaf peepers. Take a look at this stunning drone video my friend Eric Sturgeon took of the gorgeous fall foliage.
3. YOU CAN GET LOST IN THE RICH HISTORY
Something I’ve grown to appreciate as I’ve gotten older is the history that surrounds me when I visit Maine. I love visiting old homes, like Castle Tucker in the town of Wiscasset, and seeing how people of yesteryears lived.
There are countless historic homes in Maine with a story hidden behind their exterior walls. For example, did you know Marie Antoinette, the beheaded Queen of France, was planning an escape to Maine before her demise? Needless to say, she didn’t quite make it, but you can drive by the home she formerly owned in Edgecomb.
My mom’s side of the family also has strong roots in Maine. As I mentioned earlier, when I go up there, I stay at my great, great Aunt Sunie’s house. Walking in her home is like stepping back in time. Thus, for me history also entails looking into my family’s past, doing genealogy research, finding old photos and gravestones, and exploring new nooks and crannies inside the house.
Castle Tucker in Wiscasset, Maine.
4. THE FRESH SEAFOOD
While I do try to eat a mostly plant-based diet, I haven’t quite been able to give up seafood … and Maine is why.
I think most would agree, there is no better place in the world to eat lobster than in Maine (and steamers and clams, etc., etc.). Talk about fresh seafood right off the boat, Maine is famous for the red crustacean and for good reason. My favorite spot to grab a lobster roll is hands down Red’s Eats in Wiscasset (are you seeing a theme yet about my love of Wiscasset?)
Some other great spots for a seafood meal is Kaler’s in Boothbay Harbor and Robinson’s Wharf in Southport.
A delicious meal from Robinson’s Wharf in Boothbay Harbor.
5. IT’S A PLACE YOU CAN TRULY UNPLUG
My husband always says it: Maine is one of the only places he can truly unplug, and I have to agree (and it’s not just because of the spotty cell service).
I feel like Maine is one of the only places I can sit for hours on end and just stare out at the river in front of me. It’s not television: It’s better.
And whenever I leave Maine, I feel refreshed and less stressed, and what’s better than that?
My husband had to take a business call the last time we were in Maine … But there’s no stress with a view like this!
Do you love Maine? Where’s your favorite spot to visit there? Or is there another special place you’ve been visiting for most of your life? Let me know in the comments below!
1 comment
[…] our three-and-a-half month old daughter Grace on her first big adventure. Our destination? Downeast Maine, which is about a four hour drive from our home in […]