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Welcome to Maine

Any state that can lay claim to 5,500 miles of coastline, 2,000 islands, 17 million acres of forest, 33 state parks, heaps of historic towns, and even a mountain that’s a mile high, is sure to make any getaway worthwhile. So it is with the state of Maine, at once the largest state in New England (the five other states combined would fit into its borders) and the most intimate of them all (the population is smaller than that of Rhode Island).

As famous for its seafood as its scenery, the Maine experience includes activities as diverse as wilderness canoe trips along the 92-mile (147 Km) Allagash Wilderness Waterway, exploring Henry Longfellow’s childhood home in Portland, shopping the outlets in Freeport, or even taking a whale watching tour off the rugged Atlantic coast.

Bordered by the Canadian province of Quebec to the northwest, the state of New Hampshire to the southwest, the province of New Brunswick to the east and the vast Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, Maine offers up a cornucopia of sensory experiences — the quiet, deep woods of the north, pretty seaside villages, wave-washed granite outcroppings, historic towns and vibrant cities — all accessible via a network of well-constructed roads that criss-cross the state.

The most enjoyable route to follow scenically as your group tours the state is U.S. Route 1, Maine’s coastal highway that runs within a few miles of the coast all the way to Canada. Designated one of the most scenic byways in the United States by Rand McNally, Route 1 offers many turnings to hidden seaside villages and other coastal gems.

Meanwhile, the I-95 (the Maine Turnpike) is the best route to take if you’re in a hurry. Running from north to south, the I-95 offers speedy access to Bangor, Augusta, and Portland, linking up with major routes into Vermont, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. “The Cat” car ferry also operates between Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and Bar Harbor and Portland, Maine, providing convenient and time-saving access to the Canadian Maritimes.