• Maine's coastal towns offer charm and nautical history.maine harbor image by Earl Robbins from Fotolia.com
  
  In upper New England, Maine guards the northeast corner of the U.S. with its 3,500 miles of coastline, and more than 33,000 square miles of land. All 16 counties offer fun and interesting things to do year round, but the bright summers invite locals to get outdoors more or take in a music festival as tourists flock to visit quaint coastal towns and dine on lobster, or stock up for winter at the L.L. Bean flagship store.
  
  

Lobster

• Travelers can dine on the famous Maine lobster or learn about how they are caught.the lobster pots image by Louise McGilviray from Fotolia.com
  
  Don't visit Maine without experiencing lobster. The annual Lobster Festival is held in Rockland near Penobscot Bay in August. Take a lobster boat tour out of Boothbay, Kennebunk, Camden, Addison and other seashore towns.
  
  

Festivals and Events

• Three areas of Maine celebrate blueberry harvests.Blueberries image by Lucas & Jenn from Fotolia.com
  
  Wilton has a Blueberry Festival each August, and the Blues Festival is held in June in Naples. Annual Heritage Days take place every June to July in Bath. The Native American Festival and Maine Basketmakers Market can be enjoyed in Bar Harbor each July. Clams are honored in Yarmouth in July; and potatoes in Fort Fairfield in July. Many more festivals can be found on the Maine Tourism site.
  
  

L.L. Bean

• Freeport is home to the L.L. Bean flagship store, founded in 1912. The company offers outdoor discovery trips to enjoy fishing, kayaking, wingshooting, cycling, and other sports. Or take in the Summer in the Park events, held Saturdays all summer long at the L.L. Bean Discovery Park in Freeport. And if you just want to shop, Freeport is also home to an outlet store and locations dedicated to hunting and fishing; biking, boating and skiing; and home furnishings.
  
  

Lighthouses

• Lighthouses protect boats and mariners and many in Maine have unique histories.portland headlight lighthouse - vertical image by Scott Philbrook from Fotolia.com
  
  More than 70 lighthouses dot the craggy shores and deep rivers of Maine. Although Lighthouse Day isn't celebrated until mid-September, in summer many of the lights offer tours, and the surrounding areas yield beautiful vistas.
  
  

Parks

• The moose is the state animal for Maine.elk image by Dave from Fotolia.com
  
  Maine has about 33 state parks from small to extensive. Baxter State Park, home to Mount Katahdin, is the largest. Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island is filled with scenic wonders, hiking trails, rugged coastline, and Cadillac Mountain. Great ideas on things to do can be found at the visitor's center.
  
  The Maine Wildlife Park has a Summer Wildlife Days program. While there, be sure to look for white-tailed deer, black bear, lynx, turtles, woodchuck, and of course: moose. Cycle, hike, camp, fish, golf, at the many mountains and lakes of western Maine where you'll find Sebago, Flagstaff and Rangeley lakes, and White Mountain National Forest.
  
  

Abbe Museum

• American Indians have a rich history in Maine. The Abbe Museum has locations in Bar Harbor and Sieur de Monts Spring near Acadia National Park. Learn about the culture, arts and daily life of the Penobscot, or the Maliseets ("people of the Saint John River") and the Micmac ("people of the red earth").
  
  

Henry David Thoreau

• Want to follow in Thoreau's footsteps? Well, take a hike. Thoreau spent time in Maine, and the documented travels will take you on the Thoreau/Wabanaki Trail. Start in Bangor and loop either east or west to Chamberlain Lake. The website has a detailed map with notes of Thoreau's travels.
  
  

Shaker Village

• Take in arts and crafts of early America at Maine's museums and small towns.spinning wheel image by BONNIE C. MARQUETTE from Fotolia.com
  
  Take a class in woodworking, spinning,or caning at the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village in New Gloucester. You can tour the community if you leave your dog at home, unless it's a guide dog.
  
  If you're in New Gloucester in June, you can also enjoy the Maine Festival of American Music: Roots and Traditions.
  
  

Cities

• Bar Harbor is one of Maine's most popular tourist spots.lobster boats at bar harbor maine image by Jorge Moro from Fotolia.com
  
  All the cities in this state have great museums, restaurants, galleries and shops. Bangor, Portland, Augusta, Camden and Westbrook are just a few which also have interesting historic sites. Each has its unique flair that contributes to Maine's welcoming spirit and endless array of activities and events.