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Maine travel tips and trip ideas

Portland Head Light on the granite headland at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, above the Atlantic Ocean at dusk
Travel Tips

Best Lighthouses to Visit in Maine

Maine has more than 60 standing lighthouses spread across a coastline that runs from the New Hampshire border north to Lubec, the easternmost point in the

Red and orange maple canopy reflected in a still lake in the Maine Highlands in early October
Seasonal

When Does Maine Fall Foliage Peak? A Week-by-Week Guide

Maine fall color runs from late September in the northern highlands down to mid-October on the coast, giving you a four-to-five-week window if you follow t

Cars parked along a coastal Maine town street near a working harbor on a summer afternoon
Travel Tips

Do You Need a Car in Maine?

For most Maine trips, yes, a car is the most practical thing you can have. Here is where that holds true, where it does not, and what to know before you r

View of a rocky Maine coastline with spruce trees and a distant lighthouse on a clear summer afternoon
Itineraries

How Many Days Do You Need in Maine?

Five days is the real sweet spot for a first Maine trip, enough time to see Portland, one stretch of coast, and get two nights near Acadia. Three days work

A lobster pound on the Maine coast with picnic tables and boats in the harbor
Travel Tips

Is Maine Expensive to Visit?

The honest answer is yes, especially if you're traveling in July or August, sleeping on the coast, and eating out every night. But the range is wide, and a

Sugar maple and birch canopy above a rocky shoreline on Penobscot Bay in mid-October in Maine
Travel Tips

Maine in the Fall: What to Expect, Where to Go, and Why October Is Worth It

September and October in Maine run cooler and quieter than the peak summer weeks, but the lobster is still coming off the boats, the hiking is good, and th

Two children exploring tide pools on a rocky Maine coastline with a lighthouse visible in the background on a clear summer day
Travel Tips

Maine with Kids: Where to Go, What to Do, and What to Book First

Maine works well for families as long as you match the destination to the ages you're traveling with. The sand beaches of the southern coast handle toddler

Bar Harbor village waterfront with wooden pier, lobster boats in Frenchman Bay, and the forested slopes of Mount Desert Island in the background
Travel Tips

Portland or Bar Harbor: Which Should You Visit?

Both are worth a trip to Maine, but they deliver completely different experiences. Portland is a working city with a nationally recognized food scene and e

The cobblestone streets of Portland Maine's Old Port district with historic brick buildings along Exchange Street
Travel Tips

Things to Do in Portland, Maine

Portland is Maine's largest city and the state's most practical base for a coastal trip: the Old Port's cobblestone streets connect a serious food scene, C

A free Island Explorer shuttle bus stopped along the Park Loop Road inside Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island Maine
Travel Tips

Visiting Acadia National Park Without a Car

You can see most of Acadia National Park without renting a car, as long as you base yourself in Bar Harbor and work with the Island Explorer shuttle system

Pink granite summit of Cadillac Mountain at dawn with Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands visible below, Acadia National Park, Maine
Travel Tips

Cadillac Mountain Sunrise: How to Get There, When to Go, and What to Expect

From early October through early March, Cadillac Mountain is the first place in the lower 48 states to catch the sunrise. Getting there takes some planning

A red lobster roll on a toasted split-top bun at a Maine waterfront lobster shack with harbor in the background
Travel Tips

Where to Eat Lobster in Maine

Maine lobster is easy to find on the coast, but format, freshness, and price range vary enough that knowing what to look for helps. This guide covers the b