The jagged, wooded coastline of New England’s largest and northernmost state is dotted with old lighthouses and picturesque fishing villages; its lobsters and autumn foliage are legendary. The state comprises 17 million acres of forestland and 6,000 lakes, and is also one of the most sparsely populated in the Lower 48.
Maine divides itself into eight tourism regions. The Greater Portland area, on the southwest coast, is named after the largest city, where the Old Port district’s cobblestone streets wind among boutiques, restaurants and cafés. Farther south, the popular tourist town of Kennebunkport draws summer visitors (including the Bush family) to its charming beach colonies. The western Lakes & Mountains region is home to Maine’s two largest ski mountains, and Aroostook County, in the north, is a heavily agricultural area that attracts more die-hard outdoorsmen than day-tripping tourists. The Downeast & Acadia region is where you’ll find the well-known vacation spot of Bar Harbor, sprinkled with inns and cottages. Winters in Maine are for the hardy only.