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Even with the bugs and the crowds, there isn’t much to complain about as we enjoy another Maine summer. It’s that time of year again here in Vacationland where national media parachute in to enjoy (can you blame them?) and recommend some of the many things that Maine has to offer.
We welcome everyone from out-of-state, including our friends in the media — as long as they keep their judgmental diatribes about people’s appearances to themselves, that is (readers might remember the outlandish travel piece from a New York Post columnist two years ago).
There are plenty of Maine summer adventures for everyone to enjoy, whether they’re spending a weekend here or a lifetime. We have a few tried and true options that we like to recommend on a regular basis, though they certainly don’t represent an exhaustive list of what the Pine Tree State has to offer visitors and locals alike.
The Bigelow Preserve in Franklin County has more than 36,000 acres of public land, seven summits and a host of hiking trails. At the other end of the state, West Quoddy Head Lighthouse in Lubec provides an opportunity to watch the sunrise at the easternmost point in the continental U.S.
The Aroostook Valley Country Club straddles the border between the U.S. and Canada. The pro shop and parking lot are in Fort Fairfield, and the course and clubhouse are in Canada. An errant shot on several holes can cross the international boundary. It’s a unique chance to be bad — or good — at golf in two countries.
Mackworth Island in Falmouth is home to the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, housed on Percival Baxter’s old family estate. The island also features a roughly mile-and-a-half loop trail that has great views of Casco Bay.
Some call Gulf Hagas, near Brownville, “the Grand Canyon of the East.” That may be a slight overstatement, but the winding hike along the river gorge is, well, gorgeous.
We’ve always found that blueberries taste a little bit better when you pick them yourself. You can find a pick-your-own farm (and call ahead to make sure they’re open!). And if you like a good festival, there are plenty coming up where you can celebrate Moxie, lobster and a long list of other Maine specialties.
No matter how you choose to enjoy another Maine summer, don’t forget what our friend and former colleague Julia Bayly cautioned about Maine weather in 2022.
“Yes, it’s a cliche, but it’s true: If you don’t like the weather in Maine, wait 10 minutes,” Bayly wrote. “Summer conditions can go from pleasant to dangerously stormy in a very short time. Depending on where your travels take you, temperatures can fluctuate from shorts and T-shirt weather to needing a jacket and gloves. Similarly, a calm lake can quickly become a wind-whipped body of water capable of capsizing canoes or small boats.”
Planning ahead, like wearing a lifejacket on the water, is always a good idea. And in all types of weather, there is no shortage of summer activities for all types of people here in Vacationland. Perhaps that is why so many people have spent so much time and words explaining the singular beauty of this state.
“What happens to me when I cross the Piscataqua and plunge rapidly into Maine at a cost of seventy-five cents in tolls? I cannot describe it,” writer E.B. White wrote in “Home-Coming,” which is basically a love letter to Maine.
There is so much to do, and so much to love, here in Maine during the summer. You don’t need to rely on one source or one list (not even ours!) to round out your summer plans. As Bayly emphasized, nobody knows Maine like Mainers.
“When in doubt, ask a local. People who have lived here for a time are the experts on how to truly enjoy a Maine summer,” Bayly wrote two years ago. “They know the best spots to grab the perfect lobster roll, to take in the most scenic views, catch the trophy fish, have a picnic, see a moose or simply wander and get lost in your thoughts on a summer day in Maine.”