Maine Holidays

The state of Maine is larger than all the other states in New England combined. Because of Maine's size, there are so many unique regions. Touring the entire state could take a year, so it is smart to plan where you visit. Maine has so much to offer, from classic fishing villages like Boothbay Harbor and quaint seaside towns like Kennebunkport, to historic Castine or a vibrant New England city setting like Portland. If you are looking for some of the best beaches, the Southern Maine Coast is your best bet. If you're looking for an intimate getaway, try a B&B in one of the many charming historic towns further north like Camden. Why not experience both? Plan a journey along the coast and stop in some of our favorite places to visit in Maine.

From parks to beaches, to forests and mountains, the hardest part of exploring Maine’s park and recreation areas is deciding how many can fit in your itinerary.

A good place to start is exploring one of the 32 state parks here, covering half a million acres of public lands, with unique activities in each. Many begin with the 205,000 acre Baxter State Park at the base of Mount Katahdin, or the 92 miles of lakes and rivers known as the Allagash Wilderness Waterway.

Maine national parks and forests are popular with millions of visitors annually, for good reason. The view out over the Atlantic Ocean and Acadia National Park from the top of Cadillac Mountain is one that will stay with you for a lifetime.

To the west, the White Mountains National Forest is beloved by skiers in the winter and by hikers in every season. The 45,000 acres of forest, along with the additional thousands of acres of ski resorts and hiking trails, makes this recreation area a true travel destination.

Some of the best recreation in the world can be found around Maine’s southern beaches. The seven miles of oceanfront sands at Old Orchard Beach invite all sorts of activity, whether you’re on a weekend trip with friends or an annual adventure with the entire family. Go surfing, ride an oceanfront roller coaster, play games at the boardwalk arcade, or just relax in the sun.

Inland, Rangeley Lakes, Millinocket, Greenville and many other areas offer canoeing and fishing in their rivers and lakes. Find Maine hospitality at the state’s many campgrounds, resorts and wilderness lodges.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument is over 87,000 acres of mountains and forestland located on the eastern border of Maine's Baxter State Park. Created in 2016, Katahdin Woods and Waters is one of the country's newest monument experiences.

Start your Maine parks and recreation journey now with our interactive map or the featured articles below highlighting many of the state’s beautiful recreational areas.

Whale watching in Maine is kind of a big deal. Really, is there a bigger thrill than seeing one of earth’s largest creatures majestically break the ocean surface, pause for a moment for wows and camera clicks, then return to the mysteries of the deep? But don’t worry about that last part. They’ll be back up again before you know it. This is family-friendly educational activity at its finest and most massive. And we’re not using the word massive lightly.

The best time for whale watching is mid-April to October. It begins when migrating whales arrive in spring, hungry for action and the all-you-can-eat aqua buffet of sand eels, copepods, plankton, and fish. Having had their fill – while filling camera disks and memory banks – the whales head south in October to warmer water