Maine is known as "Vacationland" because of the wide variety of attractions available for visitors. Its dense woods, wildlife and rugged coastline are all favorites of photographers. Acadia National Park, with its signature puffins, borders the Atlantic Ocean; the interior features Baxter State Park and Mount Katahdin. Amusement parks and beaches draw the young at heart as well
Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor is a city in Maine that has many attractions for visitors to enjoy. It is located on the east side of Mount Desert Island and is surrounded by Acadia National Park, which has over 50 square miles of terrain and hiking trails along the coast. Visitors can enjoy music festivals and museums. Those who love golf can play the United States' eighth oldest golf course, watch whales or go camping or bicycling.
Baxter State Park
Baxter State Park is north of Millinocket. The park has over 200 miles of hiking trails. There are easy hikes to Niagara Falls, and more difficult hikes to Mount Katahdin's Baxter Peak that last all day. In addition visitors can enjoy hunting, swimming, or camping at the Katahdin Lake Wilderness Campground. Many ponds are available in the park for those who like to fish.
The Desert of Maine
The Desert of Maine is in Freeport. Originally, the "desert" was farmland, but the topsoil eroded. This revealed the sand that had always been beneath. Visitors can enjoy walking tours, nature trails, and huge sand dunes. The Desert of Maine offers fun in the sand with its sand paintings, sand designing, and sand bottling. Visitors can also experience the GGM Mining Company and mine for gemstones and fossils.
Maine Eastern Railroad
The Maine Eastern Railroad is in Rockland. It is a full-size passenger train that offers service between Rockland and Brunswick, and provides a way to see Maine's coast. Travelers ride in Art Deco railroad coaches and view Maine's woods, water, and scenery. The trip is 57 miles one-way. It begins at Rockland, stops at Wiscasset and Bath, and ends at Brunswick.
Amusement and Water Parks
Families can enjoy Maine's many amusement and water parks. Palace Playland, in Old Orchard Beach, offers water slides, roller coasters, a midway, an arcade, and various carnival games. Funtown Splashtown USA in Saco boasts the tallest and longest flume ride in northern New England.. It also has the largest wooden roller coaster in the region. Aquaboggan Water Park, also in Saco, has various water slides as well as a 750,000-gallon wave pool.
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Photo Credits
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