19 Things You Can *Only* Do in Maine
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Maine’s iconic seafood and coastal landmarks draw millions of visitors each year. But tucked between picture-perfect postcard views are unparalleled adventures: the things you can only do in Maine span from the off-shore island legends to the depths of the North Woods.
These remarkable experiences can be hiding in plain sight or tucked beneath a bushy bramble. I’m not just talking about the “unique” sights of Canadians in Speedos at Old Orchard Beach or the hallmark Massachusetts driver riding the brakes on the Turnpike’s passing lane.
Join us as we peel back the many layers of all the unique things you can only do in Maine.
Discover Baxter State Park
Home to the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and Maine’s tallest mountain, Baxter State Park offers a true litmus test of how “outdoorsy” you really are. The strict requirements to keep Baxter State Park “Forever Wild” means preserving the wildness is prioritized over your comfort level.
Visitors face an inquisition by rangers at the entrance, all in the name of safety. Access to Mount Katahdin’s 5,270-foot summit is limited for those who don’t plan ahead and formidable for those who do. You can’t find another wilderness that is so fiercely protected anywhere in the United States.
See Old Sow
Three hours before the highest tide in the volatile Bay of Fundy, the largest natural whirlpool on this side of the Earth starts to churn. The best views are by ferry between Eastport and Deer Island, New Brunswick.
When the churn is at its most dramatic, sightings have been reported from Eastport’s shore or Dog Island. It’s not just the 250-foot vortex or bubbling waters that intimidate; the suction sound is likened to grunting pigs, hence the name.
While you’re there, why not consider a journey on the Quoddy Loop? It’s another unique Maine activity that includes an international trip.
Shop L.L. Bean’s Flagship Store
Three million people make it to the L.L. Bean campus in Freeport each year, making it the second most visited place in Maine. With just 58 stores nationwide, the L.L. Bean flagship store is also the motherlode, with retail stores surrounding Discovery Park.
Freeport and L.L. Bean are teaming up to reimagine this popular town. When completed, the charming town will be more pedestrian-friendly and include even more unique activities to enjoy in an idyllic New England town.
Plan for Puffin Season
A select few isolated islands of Maine are the only places to see Atlantic Puffins in the United States. Even then, you need to carefully plan your adventure.
Not only do these birds of colorful feathers stick together, but they also don’t like being around people. They return from a life at sea to the same nesting sites each year, usually in April. Tours run from May through August, with several departure points on the Mid-Coast and Downeast.
Most tours take guests out to sea and circle the island, like Eastern Egg Rock, but the boats don’t land.
Learn About Lighthouses
Lighthouses aren’t unique to Maine, but Maine’s lighthouses certainly are among the most photographed in America. As a veritable wiki-human when it comes to lighthouses, I could easily convince you why each one is worth going a little farther up the coast to see.
- The Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth is the oldest in Maine and the first lighthouse completed under federal government ownership.
- The Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick in York looks so stunning with holiday lights that they put them up twice a year.
- West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec is the easternmost in the U.S. and is the only one with candy cane stripes in Maine.
- Boon Island is the tallest in Maine and perhaps the most haunted.
The list goes on!
Visit Maine in September for Open Lighthouse Day, take a lighthouse boat tour, or choose one (like Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse) that is open to the public!
Schedule a Moose Safari
We know–You want to see a moose in Maine. It’s a good thing Maine has the second-largest population of moose, only behind Alaska.
Forget the guy who told you, “You can’t get there from here,” when you asked where to see a moose and head to the Highlands or Aroostook County. In some parts, moose outnumber people 10 to one.
Book a moose safari to get a guided tour of moose hot spots, take a drive on (one of many) Moose Alley scenic drives, or be anywhere around Moosehead Lake (especially the Shirley Salt Shed) at dawn or dusk.
Sail on a Windjammer Cruise
The phrase “not all who wander are lost” was made for windjammers. Guided only by sails on up to five masts, the sailing options can take you out to sea for a few hours or a few weeks. Along the way, help the crew “Heave! Ho!” with the sails or kick back and enjoy the view.
Longer journeys offer multiple stops with delicious homemade meals prepared by the crew. Some stately ships can fit up to several dozen people, while others provide a more intimate experience.
Camden and Boothbay Harbor are prime windjamming spots, with the latter hosting Windjammer Days for a week in June to kick off the sailing season.
Play at Old Orchard Beach
Just 70 miles of coastline in Maine is considered beachfront, and the longest stretch is at Old Orchard Beach (OOB, if you want to sound like a local). As if seven miles of sandy beach wasn’t enough, there’s Palace Playland, the only beachfront amusement park in New England.
Plus, the lively pier dates back to the late 1800s, with plenty of deep-fried snickers and frozen drinks. Just be sure to save room for the famous Pier Fries.
As noted earlier, we weren’t kidding about the Canadians. OOB has long been the closest beach getaway for French Canadians.
Ski & Sea at Camden Snow Bowl
High above Camden Harbor is something you can’t do anywhere else on the East Coast – ski with ocean views! What started as a winter carnival in 1936 on the slopes of Ragged Mountain became so popular that locals started expanding the activities.
Today, traditional skiing and tubing are popular, but the real eye-catcher is the wooden toboggan chute. At 400 feet long and 70 feet high, the wooden toboggan run is another thing you can only do in Maine. The annual Toboggan Championships bring creative competition in winter.
The ski lift stays open for scenic views in the summer and a chance to peak bag Ragged Mountain’s 1,300-foot peak.
Discover the Desert of Maine
It’s hard to decide if the geologic history or the things to do in the Desert of Maine are more interesting, but either way, you’re in for a surprise. The sand dunes in the middle of a forest come from a mix of ancient glacier activity, exuberant farming, and wind.
For more than a century, this sandy spot outside Freeport has been a must-see stop. Now, camping and glamping allow you to stay overnight while enjoying sandy or wooded walks, train rides, a living history museum, gem mining, and more.
This is one of two “deserts” in Maine. The other is an hour from Freeport in Wayne, but that’s not a tourist attraction.
Ride the Allagash Wilderness Waterway
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway, exclusive to Maine, offers a 92-mile journey through rugged terrain with waterfalls, streams, and lakes. The closest cities are Allagash and Fort Kent, with guided tours being the preferred option for first-time visitors.
Key highlights include Chamberlain Lake, Allagash Falls, and Eagle Lake, known for its historic abandoned locomotives. The area is rich in wildlife like moose, beavers, and bald eagles. As a designated National Scenic and Wild River, this isn’t your average canoe or fishing trip, but it’s one of the most unique you’ll find to be immersed in the outdoors.
To get in the spirit, read Henry David Thoreau’s account in The Maine Woods. To be honest, not much has changed in this region since he famously took the trip.
Adventures in Acadia National Park
The most visited spot in Maine is New England’s only national park. Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island brings in four million visitors a year.
The park’s famous carriage roads designed by John D. Rockefeller, mixed with the rungs and ladder trails like the famous Precipice or Beehive Trails, make this a unique destination with stunning sea views and pristine lakes.
Acadia expands to the Schoodic Peninsula and some outer islands. Stop by the ever-busy Bar Harbor, take a ferry to Winter Harbor, or drive to the quiet side of Southwest Harbor.
Tour the Bold Coast
Beyond Mount Desert Island, take a detour off a Route 1 road trip to explore the Bold Coast Scenic Highway. The coastline is filled with peninsulas like the Mid-Coast but with steeper and more remote sections of rugged rocks slammed by the powerful waters ebbing and flowing from the Bay of Fundy.
The area is perfect for hiking, with trails like the Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land providing options for walking along the shore, standing atop a cliff, or camping perched above the waves. Stop by the “singing” rocks of Jasper Beach or get your toes in the sand at Roque Bluffs State Park.
The Bold Coast’s isolation offers a tranquil, crowd-free experience, showcasing Maine’s wild, untamed charm. Along the way, you’ll get to see Machias and Lubec.
Say “Ayuh” to a Lobster Boat Tour
Taking a ride on a lobster boat at the many ports in Maine is as much a lesson in vocabulary as it is in how to catch lobster. During the ride, you’ll help bait and set the traps. Then, the fun begins as you scour through pistols and culls, looking for the “keepers.”
Most tours run from late spring through fall, with departure points as far south as Portland and up the coast through Harpswell, Mount Desert Island, and Millbridge. Trips are usually less than two hours long, with plenty of lighthouses and landscapes along the way.
Feast on a Lobsterbake or Clambake
Now that I’m craving a lobster roll, we might as well talk about another classic Maine meal generally served seaside at picnic tables. A Maine lobsterbake or clambake is a traditional New England meal where lobsters, clams, and other seafood are cooked together over an open fire.
The ingredients, often including corn and potatoes, are layered with seaweed and placed on hot stones or a grill. The result is a flavorful, smoky, and communal feast that highlights the fresh, local seafood of the Maine coast.
One option is Cabbage Island Clambakes, where a boat takes you to a private island for a lobsterbake or get your own party catered by Maine Lobsterbake Co.
Explore the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Observatory
As Route 1 cuts across two channels of the Penobscot River, the tallest bridge observatory proudly stands on the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. The 42-story ride to the top is a record breaker as the fastest elevator in the state. The behemoth project was referred to as Maine’s version of the Hoover Dam.
Historic Fort Knox is right next door. Constructed between 1844 and 1869, the fort was built to defend against potential British naval threats. The fort features impressive granite walls, underground passages, and large cannon placements. Although it never saw combat, Fort Knox remains remarkably well-preserved.
Tour the Victoria Mansion
To find the apex of Victorian architecture in America, you need not go further than the Morse-Libby House, now called the Victoria Mansion, in Portland. Construction of this exquisite home took two years, with the finest architects, artists, and designers worldwide tapped to bring the dream to life in 1860.
The outside is stunning; the interior is jaw-dropping, if not incredibly extra. While the regular tour season runs from May through October, winter visitors simply must see the splendid holiday decorations in December.
Visit Peaks Island
With a quick ferry ride from Portland, you can explore the islands of Casco Bay, including the commuter town of Peaks Island. This laid-back residential area holds a few secret spots, like a sandy beach and Cairn Beach, with dynamic rock formations perfect for rock stacking.
Walk, cycle, or take a golf cart around the nearly four-mile perimeter and enjoy a quieter side of Portland. Several tours are available to learn the military and resort history of this special place.
Pick Wild Blueberries
The low-brush wild blueberries can’t be found in any other state but Maine — thanks again to that ancient glacial activity that left an acidic and hardy soil. Places like Acadia National Park and the Cutler Coast have random patches of blueberries popping up in late summer, but there are plenty of wild blueberry farms to explore.
Columbia Falls also offers the quirky Wild Blueberry Heritage Center. Machias hosts the Wild Blueberry Festival in August, during peak picking season. What’s more? Those tough, tiny wild blueberries not only offer a unique taste but they’re packed with nutrients needed to grow in the harsh climate.
More Unique Things to Do in Maine
Each city in Maine has a long history, and that means there are plenty of haunted places in Maine to explore. Many towns host haunted tours. While you’re driving, look for our collection of the most quirky roadside attractions in the state.
Maine’s unique charm also includes its name as the only state with one syllable. I’ll leave you to think about that one.