Story: Inside Maine

Did you know that Maine is the most sparsely populated state east of the Mississippi River? It’s no wonder they call it “Vacationland.”
It is truly a place to get away from it all, but with a wealth of diversity built by Yankee thrift and independence.
With 17 million acres of forestland and 3,500 miles of coastline; 2,993 square miles of inland water area; more than 2,000 coastal islands; 542,629 acres of state and national park lands: chances are we’ve got your vacation.
The thought of summer in Maine often conjures up images of the rockbound coast, fresh-boiled lobster and picturesque lighthouses. But that’s only part of our image. The Maine Department of Tourism has conveniently divided the state into eight distinct tourism regions each with its own unique attractions and landscape, and suggested six touring loops for seeing it all. The loops include the South Coast to the Lakes and Mountains; from Portland to Rangeley in the Western Mountains; the Midcoast area to Moosehead Lake, our largest lake; from Acadia National Park to the Saint John River Valley on our northern border; from Downeast in the sunrise county to Aroostook County and our vast potato lands and the Spirit of Maine Tour. Details and attractions of each trip can be found at http://www.visitmaine.com/seasonal.
Four of our most picturesque routes are designated National Scenic Byways including the well-known Acadia National Park Loop Road, providing sweeping views along Maine’s signature rockbound coast. The park includes 47,633 acres of granite-domed mountains, forests, lakes and ocean shoreline accessible by road, hiking trails and miles of carriage trails where no motorized vehicles are allowed. The park name suggests one of Maine’s many French connections. French explorer Samuel Champlain first discovered the island, Mount Desert, in 1604, and named it after the barren granite mountains at its center.
The Old Canada Road Scenic Byway begins in Somerset County. The historic and picturesque route links Maine’s manufacturing centers to Quebec and marks the traditional route used by many French-speaking citizens who came in search of work in Maine’s textile and shoe industries. For most of its 78 miles, the Old Canada Road follows the Kennebec River, one of Maine’s largest rivers and the route used by Benedict Arnold and 1,100 troops in an attempt to invade Canada in 1775.
The Rangeley Lakes Byway region is an area where mountains, lakes, rivers and forests offer a sampling of Maine’s abundant wildlife including moose and eagles to trout and salmon and a touch of our logging and timber heritage.
The Schoodic Scenic Byway is another coastal route with a sampling of farming and fishing villages east of Acadia and Maine’s true Downeast region. The area offers still more ocean views, but also the beginning of Maine’s blueberry barrens that stretch to the Canadian border and the easternmost point in the United States.
You can learn more about Maine’s Scenic Byways at http://www.scenic-america.com/maine/canadaroad.htm.
Whether you take state or nationally designated routes to tour Maine, you are certain to sample diversity in lifestyle, history, landscape, art and agriculture. On the water, you can tour the islands, search for whales, deep sea fish, go lobstering or sailing. Inland you can take to canoes, kayaks, try para-sailing or whitewater rafting or tour Moosehead Lake on a restored logging steamer. You can sample the last leg of the 2,168 mile Appalachian Trail that begins at Springer Mountain, Ga., meet thru-hikers at their last rest stop in Monson or visit their destination at the northern terminus on Maine’s highest peak, Mt. Katahdin.
Along the many routes you will experience the largest segment of Maine’s business community _ entrepreneurs _ engaged in antiquing, dairy and produce farming, organic farming; wood, fiber and fabric crafts, individual and unique restaurants and diners and most of all Yankee hospitality.