Best Maine Attraction (2017)

Maine is home to one of the nation's largest fleets of historic schooners, and during the summer months, visitors can embark on a range of themed cruises from both Rockland and Camden. Each vessel is unique, making this one of the state's most singular experiences.
Photo courtesy of Maine Windjammer Association

John Quincy Adams commissioned the Pemaquid Point Light in 1827. Today, the historic property houses the Fisherman's Museum on its first floor and a rentable apartment on the second. The museum collection includes items from the lighthouse itself and artifacts of Maine's maritime history. 
Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

Located on 20 acres along the Kennebec River, The Maine Maritime Museum celebrates the state's maritime history and heritage through galleries, exhibits and narrated excursions along the area's waterways. The museum's collection includes more than 20,000 items, including the world's largest collection of shipbuilding tools, 550 model ships, 140 historic watercraft and 475 maritime paintings.
Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

The Coastal Mine Botanical Gardens opened in 2007 to celebrate and display the natural landscape of the region. On these 270 acres of tidal shoreline in mid-coast Maine, visitors follow granite pathways snaking through rustic woodland, manicured and themed gardens, including the interactive Lerner Garden of the Five Senses.
Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

Moosehead Lake covers some 120-square-miles of Maine's North Woods wilderness. Shaped somewhat like a moose when viewed from above, the lake is dotted with island and attracts anglers with its brook trout, togue and landlocked salmon. 
Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

Highlighting the rugged coast of Maine, Acadia National Park spans 49,600 acres and diverse habitats – granite mountains, sandy beaches, lakes, ponds and woodlands – much of it on Mount Desert Island. Some 125 miles of scenic trails wind throughout the park, with an additional 57 miles of carriage roads for biking. The 20-mile Park Loop Road leads to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, so visitors need not leave the car to enjoy the views. 
Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

The history of transportation comes alive at the Owls Head Transportation Museum, where visitors are treated to a collection of pre-1940s aircraft, engines and ground vehicles. Highlights include a replica of the 1903 Wright Flyer and an 1886 Benz, the first ground vehicle designed to be powered by an internal combustion gasoline engine.
Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

Outdoor enthusiasts in Maine have access to four off-the-grid eco lodges spaced out along an 80-mile trail network. Each European-inspired hut features shared bunkroom accommodation, as well as hot showers and drying rooms. 
Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

Commissioned by George Washington in 1790, Portland Head Light is perhaps one of Maine's most recognizable landmarks. The keeper's quarters of the white stone structure, located within Fort Williams Park, now houses a museum dedicated to the history of the lighthouse and surrounding area.
Photo courtesy of Maine Office of Tourism

The Marginal Way, a mile-long footpath hugging the Ogunquit coast, is one of New England's most beloved coastal walks. The paved path edges the Atlantic, passing rocky coves, quiet beaches and stellar sea views. The path's 39 strategically placed benches offer plenty of opportunities to stop and take in the views.
Photo courtesy of iStock / pictus photography