Maine is a natural treasure that attracts thousands of visitors every year. Famous for its seafood and breathtaking scenery, Maine is a favorite amongst vacationers. Individuals looking for an exciting vacation destination need look no farther than Maine. You can fulfill all of your vacation needs here, from the fast-paced excitement of your favorite outdoor activity, to the exceptional performances of our theatre companies and symphony orchestras. Tour a living history museum in the morning and dine in an elegant restaurant in the evening. Ski the slopes of a world-class resort by day, and relax in an historic bed & breakfast at night. Browse countless antique shops or search for a bargain in our outlet stores. Stretch out on a white-sand beach or on the deck of a windjammer. Maine is also famous for its artisans and craftsmen. There are a multitude of fairs and festivals that feature music, theater, fine arts and crafts. The Lobster Festival, the Maine Festival, and Common Ground Fair are just a few of the many events that take place every year.

Arts
With two symphony orchestras, opera companies, and a plethora of theatre companies, Maine offers an exquisite menu of performing arts and cultural entertainment. The grandfather of performing arts in Maine is the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, which has been in continuous service since 1896, making it the oldest community orchestra in the country. From Winslow Homer to Andrew Wyeth, painters and artisans have gravitated to Maine for inspiration. You can see the result by following the Maine Art Museum Trail, which comprises seven museums housing more than 53,000 works of art.

Biking
Bicycling opportunities abound in Maine from mountain biking down a ski trail, to leisurely pedaling along a country lane. Take a weeklong-guided bicycle tour of rural Maine or rent a bike and explore Acadia National Park with its 57 miles of carriage trails and the less-traveled roads of the Schoodic Peninsula. Pedal along the rocky coastline and enjoy a picnic lunch in the shadow of an historic lighthouse. Get off the beaten path on a secluded logging trail or a quiet coastal village lane. Board a ferry and spend the day riding around one of Maine¹s many islands in Casco or Penobscot Bays.

Bird Watching
Maine’s wide diversity of coastal and inland habitats offers birders a variety of unique bird watching opportunities. Home of the only Atlantic Puffin nesting colonies on the East Coast, Maine is the nesting and breeding ground for numerous migrant species of coastal and inland birds. The state is also fortunate to still have loons on many of its lakes and ponds. Particularly during the spring and summer months, birders find Maine a fascinating spot to view the many breeding species.

Canoeing
The canoe is the perfect craft for exploring Maine. Canoeists can paddle lakes, ponds, and bogs throughout the state, or venture into the protected bays, marshes, and estuaries along the coast. Forests, mountains and lowlands are laced with a vast network of watersheds, offering paddlers a wide range of choices, from gentle current to raging whitewater. Canoe trippers can spend several days paddling and camping on the Allagash, Penobscot, St. John, Moose, St. Croix and Machias rivers without encountering towns and public roads. All these routes travel through pristine woodland rich in wildlife and history, with beautiful primitive campsites along the way. Our rugged coastline and 3,000 islands serve up endless exploration opportunities and unmatched coastal scenery.

Charter Boats
Maine’s 5,500-mile coastline offers endless boating opportunities. Embark on a family whale watching adventure. Board a mail boat to outlying islands. Charter a yacht and head for a hidden cove, or relax aboard a sightseeing boat as you soak up the sights and sounds of the Maine coast. Take an overnight cruise from Portland aboard the Scotia Prince, or climb aboard a high-speed catamaran known as The Cat for a three-hour trip from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia. Relive the golden years of sailing aboard a Maine Windjammer. Most of these ships were built at the turn of the century when America relied on sailing ships to transport heavy cargoes from port to port. Today, whether it¹s a two-hour excursion or multiple day tour, windjammer cruises offer an experience of a lifetime. You can even help the crew sail the ship if you choose.

Covered Bridges
Between the mid 1800s and early 1900s, covered bridges began to appear over Maine’s mighty rivers allowing travelers in horse drawn carriages to forge rivers without getting swept downstream. These wooden structures had roofs added to protect them from the elements and had it not been for the "covers" over these bridges, the wood would have rotted and slowly disintegrated. Once there were a hundred and twenty covered bridges in the state of Maine, but fire, flood, ice, progress and the great freshet of 1896 have removed all but nine.

Dining
There is no question that lobsters highlight the menus in many Maine restaurants and these tasty crustaceans are a delicacy that should not be missed, but Maine offers fine dining options throughout the state. Seafood restaurants dot the coastline and provide food so fresh it probably came from the ocean just a few hours earlier. Fine dining restaurants, country inns and resorts serve up elegant culinary delights for the sophisticated palate, while small town restaurants and sporting camps pile your plate high with delicious home-cooked meals.

Fishing
With 6,000 lakes and ponds and 32,000 miles of rivers and streams, Maine is a must-visit destination for those passionate about angling. The Pine Tree State is noted for its large, scenic lakes, but what many anglers don¹t realize is that these scenic waters are home to some of the best small-mouth and large-mouth fishing in New England. Clear, cool waters flowing through the Northern Appalachians create memorable fishing for brilliantly colored brook trout. Our landlocked salmon will thrill you with their willingness to strike a line and their spectacular acrobatic display. In winter, ice fishing is a tradition in Maine that provides even more opportunities for catching trout, salmon, togue, pickerel, pike and perch throughout the state.

Foliage
From mile-high Mount Katahdin to Acadia's rocky shores, from classic New England villages to charming harbor side towns, Maine is a sea of brilliance in fall. Tour spectacular landscapes, draped in rich color. Explore a lighthouse-studded coastline, splashed with history. Discover the past in museums and antique shops. In Maine, they’ve blazed a trail for you in brilliant reds and golds. So whether your passion is a mountain top hike or a relaxing drive in the country, you will find a festival of color that stretches from the mountains to the sea.

Hiking
Maine’s diverse landscape offers countless hiking opportunities. From the western mountains to the rugged coast, Maine is crisscrossed with hiking trails that meander through serene forests on your way to beautiful views. Maine has 33 state parks, half of which maintain hiking trails. One of the more popular hiking destinations is Baxter State Park. It encompasses an area of more than 375 square miles and offers 175 miles of hiking trails as well as many scenic waterfalls and unique natural areas. It is also home to Mt. Katahdin. At 5,267 feet it is Maine’s tallest mountain and the northern terminus of the famous Appalachian Trail. Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island surrounds the town of Bar Harbor and boasts 120 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads.

Hunting
Our abundance of game coupled with unspoiled woods and waters make Maine a premier hunting destination. Big game opportunities abound. Maine’s deer herd numbers over 300,000 and the moose population is estimated at 35,000. No other state in the lower 48 surpasses Maine’s bear population of 23,000. Hunters have an excellent chance at a trophy and are sure to enjoy the legendary scenery of the Pine Tree State. If it’s upland birds or waterfowl that you are after, Maine offers uncountable acres of prime woodcock and grouse habitat. Seasoned duck hunters know that Maine has numerous inland waterfowl opportunities and unequaled sea duck hunting along its storied coastline.

Museums/Historic
Maine is full of surprises and little known historical facts. It is a museum-lover’s diamond mine and home to more surviving forts than any other state. Many historic homes, among them Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s and Lucy Farnsworth’s, are preserved as museums. The Maine State Museum, in Augusta, highlights the history of the state and its people. Learn about Acadian culture in the St. John Valley. The Maine Maritime Museum is the quintessential porthole into the state’s nautical heritage. You can cruise Moosehead Lake on the historic "Katahdin," watch a bi-plane soar at Owl’s Head Transportation Museum, ride a trolley at the Seashore Trolley Museum or step back in time at Norlands Living History Center.

Skiing
Maine’s many mountains provide downhill skiers with challenging trails and some of the best conditions in the Northeast. Trails are long; lift lines are short. You get more runs in a day and more value for your ski dollar. The twenty-one downhill ski areas offer a variety of terrain from gentle groomed slopes to rocking and rolling intermediate and advanced terrain. Snowfall in Maine averages around 200 inches annually and many of the areas add to that with man-made snow. Cross-country skiers will find ample opportunity to enjoy their sport on trails throughout the state. There are a dozen commercial cross-country touring centers that offer beautiful, well-groomed trails that total more than 325 kilometers.

Snowmobiling
One of the best ways to enjoy Maine's stunning landscape is to climb aboard a snowmobile and ride to your heart¹s content. It¹s easy to do, because we have over 12,000 miles of trails maintained by more than 280 local snowmobile clubs. Our extensive trail system winds through fragrant pine forests, along crisp mountain streams and across wide-open plains. You can find great sledding throughout the state. Five of the most popular areas are Aroostook County, Katahdin/Moosehead/Penquis region, Kennebec & Moose River Valleys, Western Mountains and Downeast/Acadia. If you¹re looking for the best variety of snowmobile trails this winter, give Maine a try. You’ll be glad you did!

Area: 35387 sq.mi, Land 30865 sq. mi., Water 4523 sq.mi.

Coastline: 228 mi., Shoreline 3,478 mi.

Location: 44.33064 N, 069.72971 W.

Border State: New Hampshire.

State Capital: Augusta.

Population: 1,253,040; 39th, 12/99.

Agriculture: Seafood, poultry and eggs, potatoes, dairy products, cattle, blueberries, apples.

Industry: Paper, lumber, and wood products, electric equipment, food processing, leather products, textiles, tourism.

Flag: The state coat of arms is placed on a blue field. In the center of the shield a moose rests under a tall pine tree. A farmer and seaman represent the work that people did in early times. The North Star represents the state motto.

Largest Cities: Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Auburn, and South Portland.

Geographic Center: Piscataquis, north of Dover.

Highest Point: Katahdin Mtn. - 5268 feet, 22nd.

Lowest Point: Atlantic coast; sea level, 3rd.

State Motto: "Dirigo". "I Direct".

State Bird: Chickadee.

State Flower: White pine cone and tassel - Pinus strobus, linnaeus.

State Nickname: Pine Tree State.

Origin of state's name: Assumed to be a reference to the state region being a mainland, different from its many surrounding islands.

State Song: State Song of Maine.

Statehood: March 15, 1820.

Topography: Appalachian Mountains extend through state; western borders have rugged terrain, long sand beaches on southern coast; northern coast mainly rocky promontories, peninsulas, fjords.

State Tree: White pine - Pinus strobus