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| Posted: 16 Jul 2012 10:21 AM PDT By Liz Mehr For us transplanted Mainers, there is a feeling of complete relaxation that comes the moment we drive across the Kennebec bridge to enter Maine in the summer. Life is slower here, the scenery is breathtaking, and after a few days you start to romanticize leaving life in the fast lane to become a lobster fisherman (or woman). The weather is warm in the day and cooled by the sea breeze in the evenings. It's no wonder many families have been summering in Maine for generations. And if you've never been to Maine, now is the time of year to hop in the car, or plane, and head northeast. Let's take a quick tour of the Maine coast, starting in Southern Maine and working our way up north. We'll start in Boothbay Harbor, a small town just a hop, skip and a jump up the coast from Portland, Maine's largest city. Boothbay is close enough to the New England metropolitan areas to make it an ideal long-weekend destination. It's nestled into a collage of little coastal inlets and islands. For eats, check out the Lobster Dock, or head to the bar at McSeagull's a little later in the night for a beer. For a place to stay, look at The Way Life Should Be on Barter's Island, or Harbor Sunset Cottage nestled right in the harbor. A few hours further up the coast lies Acadia National Park, where we can find Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard. A hike, drive, or carriage ride around this national park will provide panoramic views of the ocean and coastline, and the rocky beaches and tidal caves are yours to explore. It's hard to explain the awesomeness of sea surf crashing up against mountains that jut right out of the water, or driving to the top of the mountain early enough to see the landscape covered by a blanket of morning fog. Acadia is an amazing place – I'd go back several times a summer if I could – and the little towns around it, particularly Bar Harbor, provide you with enough cute restaurants and gift shops to sustain your visit. The Thirsty Whale has purportedly got the best lobster roll in town, and since it's open all year round, it's a local favorite. Settle down for the week just outside of Bar Harbor in an oceanfront home, or stay right on Mt. Desert Island itself at Spinnaker Cottage, just 20 feet from the shore. For more tips on local sites and sounds, check out Etravel Maine’s Bar Harbor guide. Now on to the last stretch of coastal Maine – an area largely forgotten by tourists – that those who've visited would like to keep secret. Travelers who venture this far up the coast must tough out a few more hours in the car, but they are rewarded for their endurance. The towns of Eastport and Lubec are quaint fishing villages that have yet to undergo the effect of the summer "tourist takeover" like their Southern Maine counterparts, which is a large part of their appeal. The rocky coastline and the smell of the ocean have an almost surreal effect when one is so far away from the hubbub of city life. Remember: this here is the real Downeast Maine, so you won't find too many 5-star resorts or black tie restaurants. You can, however, be the only person in sight on a rocky beach filled with sea glass, and see more stars than you ever knew existed. Head into Eastport for dinner at local favorite, The Pickled Herring. On a weekend night, you can't miss the Rose Garden Café, another local favorite, where you can leisurely dine on a homecooked meal and catch a live show of homegrown musical talent, which never fails to entertain. After the night out, head home and relax in serene privacy. In closing: be you a weekend traveler, a national park lover, or a sucker for the simple life, Maine has a spot for you, and FlipKey has a place for you to stay. Take a break from the city heat and, in the words of the Mountain Goats: "Let's get out of here; let's go to Maine!" |
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