Maine

The plan was to visit New England (North East of the USA) in late September when the foliage was turning a different colour. We planned to hire a car & travel via Maine, New Hampshire & eventually our ultimate destination, Vermont. This review is concentrates on the state of Maine & includes reviews of guest houses, tourist attractions & restaurants in the Southern part of the state. INFORMATION ON MAINE Some historians reckon that the Vikings visited Maine in the 11th century but didn't stay, but European settlement started about 500 years later. Maine is the most sparsely populated state in the USA & consists of a ...  Read the complete review

Moosehead Lake region of Maine has got to be one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited. Aside from the cute antique and quaint gift shops and restaurants, it is so natural. Unlike a good portion of the United States, trees are predominant. Wildlife is still seen roaming around. And I am not just talking about birds and squirrels. Ever see a moose standing less than 10 feet away from your car? He is just staring at you, munching away at his swamp grass, thinking to himself "Darn Tourists". It is even better when you catch a glimpse of moose in the Spring, and see a mother and calf together. They aren't the only wildlife ...  Read the complete review

To follow on from the last opinion, here are some recommendations of places to visit in Maine. My advice would be to stay away from tourist trap towns like York, Old Orchard Beach, Freeport - even those which are much more quaint and are farther up the coast, such as Camden and Bar Harbor. These places aren't the REAL Maine. Portland, as the description barely mentions, is a lovely city, with a world class art museum (designed by I M Pei), fantastic theatres, a nice waterfront district (The Old Port) and a symphony orchestra. Some fantastic restaurants can be found in among the cobbled streets and piers. Portland is also home to the Sea Dogs, a ...  Read the complete review

Maine is an extraordinary state. Like anything in the States seen through European eyes it seems vast. I visited it in the summer, and it is magnificent at that time of year. Imagine a vast, vast pine forest, with a rocky coast, with small towns. There is not the oppressive, urban, over-inhabited feel of New York. Instead there is space, fresh air and beautiful scenery. No-one swimming in Maine would think that he was in the Seychelles, but at the height at the summer it is nevertheless a very respectable temperature. But if you don't fancy the non-tropical heat of the sea, I recommend sailing in one of the hundreds of pine clad estuaries, or just ...  Read the complete review

Maine is the largest of the New England states, but is much more rural and has a much smaller population than the others. It has lots of dramatic scenery especially its coast line which can range from craggy rocky shorelines to smooth golden beaches. I stayed in the resort village of Ogunquit for a week. It is a very small village but very pretty none the less. I stayed a week which left lots of time to visit the surrounding area including Wells, Kittery, York and Kennebunkport. Kennebunkport is the home of George Bush, and when we were there we actually saw him!! Apparantly he jogs around the area quite often but we saw him pull up in his boat under a ...  Read the complete review