Maine is the Northernmost state in the United States, and a prominent part of New England that often tends to fall away from public recognition and becomes more of a hidden gem state than most others. With a massive size but only around one million residents in population, Maine is a quaint yet diverse location that has something for most visitors and locals alike. It has its fair share of city life, but the majority of the state has untouched wilderness and small towns or homes dotted along it. But what are the best things to do in this wooded and idyllic state in New England? Here are our suggestions for the top five bucket list ideas to think of whether you’re a Maine local or a total Maine newbie.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Boothbay Maine is where our first recommended stop for your top five bucket list ideas in Maine will be; the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Giant trolls are hidden along the natural trails with tons of sights, gorgeous wildlife and nature, educational classes, and so much else exists here to see and experience. It truly could be a whole day of entertainment and wonder for just you or for the whole family.
Tickets are best purchased online if you’re planning your trip ahead, as the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens often takes $2 off ticket pricing for online purchases compared to in person ticket purchases. You can find tickets and visit planning information through their website. It’s also worth a look if you’re interested in any of the ever changing exhibits and events hosted here each year for visitors to enjoy.
Maine Lobster Festival
Once a year, Rockland Maine hosts the Maine Lobster Festival, something you want to see and experience for yourself if you’re a fan of New England culture and cuisine. This takes place each year from Wednesday through Sunday in the first week of August. With tons of food vendors and offerings, a seafood cooking contest, events, races, its own parade, and so much more for entertainment you wouldn’t want to miss this, you’d probably even come back for another day!
Parking is free near the Maine Lobster Festival in the South Elementary School parking lot where you can then get bused from the parking lot to the festival, or walk on your own if you’re up for it. The festival attracts locals and visitors from all around the globe with its popularity, so be ready for a busy day! If you’re wanting more information about attendance, what this year has to offer, and what to expect at the Maine Lobster Festival check out their information here.
Northeast Whitewater Rafting
Shirley Maine is home to the Northeast Whitewater Rafting and Moose Tours company that brings in many visitors for good reason throughout the year. Oriented towards family or solo travelers alike, Northeast Whitewater Rafting offers everything from eco-tours to nature watching for wildlife and moose to whitewater rafting trips and more. It’s a great location to spend time outdoors having fun and seeing what Maine has to offer.
Pricing can be pretty complex for this location since there are so many different options for what to do, what packages you want to buy, where you’re staying if you stay longer than a day, and so on. You can look more in depth for yourself on the Northeast Whitewater Rafting and Mooste Tours website, since we want you to be able to price out and book what works best for you and your travel companions rather than blurt out numbers that don’t particularly help.
Acadia National Park
If you’ve heard anything about the state of Maine, chances are you’ve heard about Acadia National Park at least once in your life. It is a bit famous and overly discussed in the state, but there’s a very good reason for that. Located across such a large span of Maine it’s hard to pinpoint, this 40 thousand plus acre national park is truly full to the brim with experiences and sights that are more than worth the trip even from across the globe.
Ranger programs, hiking, biking, water fun, campgrounds, and so much more are scattered across Acadia National Park in Maine. It can offer something for any age and ability level for hiking and beautiful nature views. You might even get lucky and spot some of the stunning wildlife that calls this place home! To plan a visit, find out the current situations as well as rules and regulations, and check costs; visit the Acadia National Park site.
Perkins Cove
As your final top five bucket list idea for the state of Maine, we recommend Perkins Cove in Ogunquit Maine. This historic little town became such a popular tourist destination for its quiet beauty that it now has dozens of little shops, eateries, and activities as well as events and tours aplenty. Perkins Cove really drives home the small town New England vibe without being so rural and remote that you wonder why you visited in the first place.
To visit Perkins Cove or learn more about what to do here, you can visit the Perkins Cove website that explains some of the town’s unique atmosphere as well as what to expect for shopping, dining, sights, events, and so on. One of many interesting tidbits about Perkins Cove is its historic wooden drawbridge visitors and locals still walk over regularly and its bustling fishing community provides lovely interactions and views on New England life.
Now that you have some great ideas, you can get started on some future plans or ideas for a trip to Maine. And if you already live here, why not check some of these ideas out! You may not have been there before or didn’t appreciate it in its entirety when you last went, and either way, adventuring your home state can be an excellent pastime. There are so many more things you could find to do or see while out in Maine, but these were just some of the handpicked favorites we had to offer for you today to get you started on great ideas and get a super bucket list on its way. What do you think of these destinations and Maine’s offerings? Have you ever been to any of our ideas or Maine in general?