Best Beaches and Boating in Maine

Maine is vacationland, it says so right on the license plate. The state of Maine is bigger than the other New England states combined so there is so much to explore – in all seasons. While Maine isn’t fancy, you’ll find plenty of lighthouses and lobster, beaches, boating, hiking and biking, and some beautiful luxury resorts on the coast and in the lakes and mountain region – as you explore the Pine Tree state. Fun fact: Maine actually has more shoreline than California with hundreds of beautiful bays, and islands to visit by boat, bike or by car.

See our review of the Top waterfront Maine hotels from Ogunquit to Kennebunkport to Camden, Acadia & Bar Harbor.

Acadia is the crown jewel of Maine, and it is magical where the ocean meets dramatic granite shores, and mountains ascend with majesty. You can spend a week “DownEast” on Mount Desert Island and not see and do everything, from the Acadia National Park Carriage Roads, gardens, The Park Loop, hikes and biking, exploring cute island towns, and boating to outer islands. See our Acadia Top Tips!

We love Kennebunkport – the southern Maine seaside town of poets, painters, presidents and lobster fishermen alike. Kennebunk and Kennebunkport boast beautiful beaches, great boating, a superb culinary scene, and year-round entertainment. You get a luxury vacation, with top Kennebunkport lodging properties, but a cool down-to-earth local vibe, fun happy hours, and four-season events and happenings.

The southern Maine coast has beautiful beaches, the biggest beach is Old Orchard Beach, and classic towns like York and Ogunquit where you will find the beautiful seaside resorts like Cliff House where blueberry facials at the spa are followed by blueberry pie for dessert at the highly scenic oceanfront dining room.

Portland is loaded with big brand hotels, and a busy waterfront with bars, top restaurants in the “Old Port”, a cruise ship terminal, ferries to Casco Bay islands, live music venues, and several lighthouses including the famed Portland Headlight – the oldest Maine light house – 1791.

Further up the coast, Midcoast Maine, we love happy humble Boothbay Harbor Maine, and the beginnings of spectacular Penobscot Bay – where the best sailing and boating passages await from Camden and Rockland. See our Sailing Charter from Rockland to Mount Desert Island– the best way to “sea” Maine. You can rent a kayak, canoe, paddleboard, or hop on a whale watch, a schooner, or a lobster tour boat to see the granite shores, lighthouses, seals and maybe a whale!

We love Maine in winter when skiing and snowmobiling are prime on the pristine snow-covered mountains, extensive trails, frozen lakes and woods. Holidays in Maine are festive and fun, from Ogunquit’s Christmas by the Sea and Kennebunkport’s Prelude on up to Boothbay and Camden. Our favorite ski resorts in Maine all start with an S: Sunday River, Sugarloaf and Saddleback – they all offer over 2,000′ vertical, great lifts and trails plus on mountain lodging and classic Maine après ski.

While most vacationers think summer in Maine, spring and summer is a gem from the beautiful coast sparkling with granite shores to crystal clear inland lakes, rivers and streams.

Come fall, the foliage in Maine is brilliant – one of the best places in the world to see the changing of the leaves from mid-September to mid-October. Ziplining at a Maine ski resort, riding a chairlift or mountain biking is a fun autumn activity, and the festivals in the fall are bursting with color, music, local food and crafts.

Maine is home to spectacular seaside drives, beautiful boating, bold lighthouses and of course Maine’s delicious fresh lobster, and happy humble mostly-friendly locals.

Acadia l Boothbay Harbor l Belfast Searsport l Camden l Kennebunkport l Lubec l Port Clyde l Rockland l Sailing Maine Rockland to Acadia l Top Maine Waterfront Hotels l Sunday River l Sugarloaf