Maine

The Wild Edge of New England

Maine is where America runs out of road and the Atlantic takes over. Rocky headlands, dense boreal forest and a coastline stitched with fishing villages make this the most gloriously unhurried corner of New England. From the moment you cross the state line, the pace slows, the air smells of pine and salt, and the only agenda is deciding which view to stare at first.

Acadia and the Great Outdoors

Acadia National Park draws hikers, cyclists and sunrise seekers to Cadillac Mountain, one of the first places in the continental United States to catch the morning light. Paddle a sea kayak through Frenchman Bay, mountain bike the historic carriage roads or simply find a granite ledge and let the Atlantic do all the talking. Beyond Acadia, Baxter State Park shelters the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail and a wilderness that feels genuinely boundless.

Lobster, Blueberries and the Maine Table

Few states have a food identity as proudly worn as Maine. Lobster rolls served at roadside shacks with nothing but butter and a paper napkin are a rite of passage. Wild blueberries, clam chowder, whoopie pies and fresh Atlantic fish round out a food culture rooted in what the land and sea provide. Portland has quietly become one of the most exciting small food cities in North America, with a restaurant scene that punches well above the city's size.

Lighthouses, Towns and the Slow Shore

Maine has more lighthouses than any other state, and exploring them by car or boat is one of the great coastal road trips in the country. The Kennebunks, Camden, Rockland and Castine each offer a different flavour of Maine life, from art galleries and sailing regattas to working wharves where the lobster boats come in before dawn. In winter, snowmobile trails lace the interior, and the state transforms into a quiet, frost glittering world entirely its own.