Tucked away up within the northeast corner of the us , Maine evokes images of endless shorelines, wild forests, Stephen King, iconic lighthouses, and much and much of lobster dinners.
Despite growing up only 90 minutes from the state, I only visited once in my life. i used to be in college and my friend George was from there, so one weekend, we drove up to his hometown of Gorham.
Maine was always one among those places that I felt I could visit anytime so was never a rush to try to to so. There was always a flight to some distant land to urge on instead. Maine could wait.
People tend to place off traveling their “backyard” until the top and that i was no different.
But then COVID struck and there have been no more flights to distant lands.
A busy harbour on the coast of Maine, USA
There was just my backyard to ascertain .
So, while i used to be back in Boston looking for nature, i made a decision to finally visit Maine. My original plan was to spend a roughly ten days there before heading to Vermont then Upstate ny then back to Boston.
But because the days ticked by, 10 turned to 12, which turned to 14, which turned to 21.
I just couldn’t quit Maine.
I loved the quiet, slow pace of the state.
I loved the small-town feel to the cities, and therefore the fact you were never faraway from nature. Every city had access thereto , and there was always someplace to travel hike. Even tiny Bangor had parks and greenways galore.
Nomadic Matt asking for a photograph in Acadia park , Maine
I loved the food. Besides traditional lobsters and oysters and other seafood we all realize , there was excellent Thai food, upscale American, and artistic gastronomy. There was tons of excellent food in Maine and, as someone who plans their travels mostly around food, Maine was perfect.
I loved all the microbreweries. Maine is one among the simplest states for beer and that i found myself bouncing from microbrew to microbrew in search of the simplest IPA. (The winner was flood tide in Portland.)
And, of course, there have been the people. There’s something about the state that creates everyone smiley, talkative, and welcoming. They’d ask you where you were from, shoot the shit with you, and always have suggestions on where to travel next. From the diner owner in Bangor to the staff at the hotel I ended up extending to my occupy to the attendant at the park — who, once I asked directions, decided that was his chance to travel into an extended soliloquy on his state — to countless others, people in Maine were very nice .
Stephen King's house in Maine, USA
My time there took me to Portland, Bangor, Camden, Acadia park , Moosehead Lake, and tiny coastal towns for lunch stops. I learned to shuck oysters. I went on a hike a day . I read many books. I ate tons of delicious food. Since COVID-19 closed most museums and indoor attractions, there was no much else to try to to . (But, really, who needs quite that?)
In small-town Maine, the remainder of the country and its troubles seemed distant . a lover described it because the place for those that want to urge faraway from society but desire Alaska is just too far. during a state where the population density is 41 per area unit (38th within the country), it looks like an ideal analogy.
A peaceful river surrounded by trees in Maine, USA
Maine seems to enchant people, casting a magical spell that lasts forever. It’s no wonder numerous people i do know from Boston attend Maine every summer. And it’s no wonder why I suddenly found myself calculating what proportion a summer home there would really cost and, if I too, want to spend the remainder of summers here.
In a word, Maine is magical.
If you’re trying to find an area to urge faraway from it all with beautiful forests to hike, long coastlines to explore, delicious food to eat, and friendly people to talk with, you would like to go to Maine.
Thank me later.
And send me a postcard.
Logistical Information
Eat: Duckfat (Portland), Eventide (Portland), Bite into Maine (Portland), Gidden Point Oyster Farm (Damariscotta), Long Grain (Camden), The Traveling Lobster (Bar Harbor), Havana (Bar Harbor), Rosalie’s (Bar Harbor), Beal’s Lobster (Southwest Harbor), The Fiddlehead (Bangor), Judy’s (Bangor), Stress Free Moose Pub (Greenville)
Drink: flood tide (Portland), Stress Free Moose Pub (Greenville), Atlantic Brewing Company (Bar Harbor), Bissell Brothers (Portland), Urban Farm (Portland), Mason’s Brewing (Bangor)
Stay: Black Elephant Hostel (Portland), Leisure Life (Moosehead Lake), Bar Harbor Manor (Bar Harbor)
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