Things to Do in Maine
Ten stops running from a national park that claims the first US sunrise to a lighthouse that's appeared on more postcards than most entire states manage.
Maine runs cold, rocky, and considerably more rewarding than its reputation as simply 'lobster and lighthouses' suggests, real wilderness, working harbours, and a coastline that changes character every few miles. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Acadia National Park
Maine's only national park, granite peaks meeting the Atlantic directly, over 150 miles of hiking trails and a properly dramatic coastline that draws hikers and photographers in roughly equal measure. Cadillac Mountain's summit, reachable by car or a proper hike, offers sweeping views and, for part of the year, ranks among the first places in the continental US to see the sunrise each morning.
Vehicle reservations are required for the Cadillac Mountain summit road during peak season, book ahead specifically if sunrise there is the priority.
Best time Early October for foliage; check summit road reservations if visiting for sunrise
Address Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME
Portland Head Light
Commissioned by George Washington in 1791, the oldest lighthouse in Maine and one of the most photographed anywhere in the country, still an active aid to navigation today despite its age. The surrounding Fort Williams Park runs walking trails and picnic areas along the rocky shoreline, a good, easy stop beyond just photographing the lighthouse itself.
Storm season, particularly late autumn through winter, brings dramatic waves crashing against the rocks below the lighthouse, worth a visit specifically then if you don't mind the cold for a properly striking view.
Best time Any time; storm season for dramatic waves
Address 1000 Shore Rd, Cape Elizabeth, ME
A Proper Maine Lobster Shack
Maine's lobster industry runs deep into the state's identity and economy, roadside lobster shacks along the coast serve it the traditional way, steamed and served whole with drawn butter, considerably less fussy than a mainland restaurant's plated version. The Lobster Shack at Two Lights, perched directly on the rocks near Portland Head Light, remains one of the more established, well-regarded spots for the classic experience.
Expect to get properly messy, this is a hands-on meal involving a cracker and a bib, not a tidy affair, part of the appeal is embracing the mess rather than avoiding it.
Best time Summer, when many shacks run seasonal hours
Address The Lobster Shack at Two Lights, Cape Elizabeth, ME
Bar Harbor
The main gateway town to Acadia National Park, a proper working harbour alongside a properly walkable downtown of shops and restaurants, considerably livelier in summer when the park draws its peak crowds. The Shore Path, a mile-long walk along the water's edge right from downtown, gives sweeping harbour views without needing a car at all.
Whale watching tours depart regularly from the harbour during summer, humpback and finback whales both turn up reliably enough that most operators guarantee a sighting or offer a return trip.
Best time June-October for whale watching season
Address Bar Harbor, ME
Schoodic Peninsula
The only section of Acadia National Park located on the mainland rather than Mount Desert Island, considerably less crowded than the main park despite offering comparably dramatic coastal scenery. Schoodic Point, where waves crash directly against pink granite outcrops, ranks among the more photogenic, properly wild-feeling stops on this entire list.
A one-way scenic loop road covers most of the peninsula, allow a couple of hours to properly stop at each overlook rather than driving straight through.
Best time Any time; considerably quieter than the main park year-round
Address Schoodic Peninsula, ME
Monhegan Island
A small island roughly ten miles off the mainland, reachable only by ferry, home to a properly tiny year-round population and no cars at all, hiking trails cover most of the island's rugged, undeveloped coastline instead. Artists have been drawn here for well over a century, a small gallery scene persists alongside the lighthouse and the island's working lobster fleet.
Ferries run limited daily crossings, check the schedule carefully and plan for either a long day trip or an overnight stay given how infrequent the return trips run.
Best time June-September for the fullest ferry schedule
Address Monhegan Island, ME
Bath & Maine Maritime Museum
Bath Iron Works has built naval ships continuously since 1884 and remains a working shipyard today, the adjacent Maine Maritime Museum covers this history alongside the wider story of Maine's shipbuilding industry, including a full-scale sculptural representation of a six-masted schooner built on the original launch site.
Boat tours run seasonally along the Kennebec River, passing directly by the active shipyard, a good way to see current naval construction alongside the museum's historical exhibits.
Hours Daily, roughly 9.30am-5pm
Address 243 Washington St, Bath, ME
Maine Discovery Museum, Bangor
A properly hands-on children's museum spread across three floors, exhibits covering Maine-specific themes, a lobster boat kids can climb aboard and a logging exhibit reflecting the state's forestry history, alongside more general science and art activities. This works well as a rainy-day option if the coastal weather doesn't cooperate during a wider Maine trip.
The museum sits in downtown Bangor, a reasonable stop if you're travelling further north toward Acadia or the more remote parts of the state and want a break partway through the drive.
Hours Tue-Sun, roughly 10am-5pm
Address 74 Main St, Bangor, ME
Maine's Wild Blueberry Barrens
Maine grows the vast majority of the country's wild blueberries, considerably smaller and more intensely flavoured than cultivated varieties, harvested from low-growing barrens that stretch across much of the state's interior and Down East coast. Pick-your-own farms open through the short August harvest window, a good, easy family activity if the timing lines up with your visit.
Wild Blueberry Land, a small, properly eccentric roadside attraction in Columbia Falls shaped like an actual giant blueberry, sells pies, jams, and ice cream made from the local harvest, a good stop for the novelty alone.
Best time Early-mid August for peak harvest
Address Wild Blueberry Land, Columbia Falls, ME
Quoddy Head State Park
Home to West Quoddy Head Light, marking the easternmost point of the contiguous United States, this candy-striped lighthouse sits at properly the first spot on the mainland to see the sunrise each day. Bog trails within the park cross a rare coastal peat bog ecosystem, considerably different terrain from the granite coastline found elsewhere on this list.
This runs as one of the more remote stops on this whole trip, plan fuel and timing carefully given how far it sits from anywhere else, though the sense of properly reaching the edge of the country makes the drive worthwhile.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-sunset
Address 973 South Lubec Rd, Lubec, ME
Best time to visit Maine
June through October covers the most comfortable window for the majority of this list, mild enough for the coastal and island stops without winter's real cold.
Early October specifically suits Acadia's foliage, time a visit around then if autumn colour is a priority alongside the coastal scenery.
Getting around Maine
A car is essential, the distances along Maine's coastline run considerably further than the map suggests given how much the shoreline winds. Ferries are required for Monhegan Island specifically, no road access exists.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Maine worth visiting beyond the lighthouses?
- Yes, easily, Acadia National Park, the Schoodic Peninsula, and Monhegan Island all offer landscapes and a pace that feel completely distinct from the busier southern coast.
- How many days do you need in Maine?
- Seven days gives a comfortable pace to cover the southern coast, Acadia, and either Schoodic or Monhegan Island.
- Is Maine expensive to visit?
- Moderate, coastal accommodation runs higher in peak summer season, though food and inland stops remain reasonably affordable.
- What's the best Maine trip for kids?
- The Maine Discovery Museum and whale watching from Bar Harbor both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a coastline that changes character every few miles.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
