Posted: 9/8/2020 | September 8th, 2020
Tucked away up in the northeast corner of the United States, Maine evokes images of endless shorelines, wild forests, Stephen King, iconic lighthouses, and lots and lots of lobster dinners.
Despite growing up only 90 minutes from the state, I only visited once in my life. I was in college and my friend George was from there, so one weekend, we drove up to his hometown of Gorham.
Maine was always one of those places that I felt I could visit anytime so was never a rush to do so. There was always a flight to some distant land to get on instead. Maine could wait.
People tend to put off traveling their “backyard” until the end and I was no different.
But then COVID struck and there were no more flights to distant lands.
There was just my backyard to see.
So, while I was back in Boston longing for nature, I decided to finally visit Maine. My original plan was to spend a roughly ten days there before heading to Vermont then Upstate New York and then back to Boston.
But as the days ticked by, 10 turned to 12, which turned to 14, which turned to 21.
I just couldn’t quit Maine.
I loved the quiet, slow pace of the state.
I loved the small-town feel to the cities, and the fact you were never far from nature. Every city had access to it, and there was always someplace to go hike. Even tiny Bangor had parks and greenways galore.
I loved the food. Besides traditional lobsters and oysters and other seafood we all know about, there was excellent Thai food, upscale American, and creative gastronomy. There was a lot of good food in Maine and, as someone who plans their travels mostly around food, Maine was perfect.
I loved all the microbreweries. Maine is one of the best states for beer and I found myself bouncing from microbrew to microbrew in search of the best IPA. (The winner was Rising Tide in Portland.)
And, of course, there were the people. There’s something about the state that makes everyone smiley, talkative, and welcoming. They’d ask you where you were from, shoot the shit with you, and always have suggestions on where to go next. From the diner owner in Bangor to the staff at the hotel I ended up extending to my stay at to the attendant at the park — who, when I asked directions, decided that was his chance to go into a long soliloquy on his state — to countless others, people in Maine were really nice.
My time there took me to Portland, Bangor, Camden, Acadia National Park, Moosehead Lake, and tiny coastal towns for lunch stops. I learned to shuck oysters. I went on a hike every day. I read lots of books. I ate a lot of delicious food. Since COVID-19 closed most museums and indoor attractions, there was no much else to do. (But, really, who needs more than that?)
In small-town Maine, the rest of the country and its troubles seemed far away. A friend described it as the place for those who want to get away from society but feel like Alaska is too far. In a state where the population density is 41 per square mile (38th in the country), it seems like a perfect analogy.
Maine seems to enchant people, casting a magical spell that lasts forever. It’s no wonder so many people I know from Boston go to Maine every summer. And it’s no wonder why I suddenly found myself calculating how much a summer home there would really cost and, if I too, want to spend the rest of summers here.
In a word, Maine is magical.
If you’re looking for a place to get away from it all with beautiful forests to hike, long coastlines to explore, delicious food to eat, and friendly people to chat with, you need to visit Maine.
Thank me later.
And send me a postcard.
Logistical Information
Eat: Duckfat (Portland), Eventide (Portland), Bite into Maine (Portland), Gidden Point Oyster Farm (Damariscotta), Long Grain (Camden), The Traveling Lobster (Bar Harbor), Havana (Bar Harbor), Rosalie’s (Bar Harbor), Beal’s Lobster (Southwest Harbor), The Fiddlehead (Bangor), Judy’s (Bangor), Stress Free Moose Pub (Greenville)
Drink: Rising Tide (Portland), Stress Free Moose Pub (Greenville), Atlantic Brewing Company (Bar Harbor), Bissell Brothers (Portland), Urban Farm (Portland), Mason’s Brewing (Bangor)
Stay: Black Elephant Hostel (Portland), Leisure Life (Moosehead Lake), Bar Harbor Manor (Bar Harbor)
Note: Don’t visit Maine right now if you can’t meet their COVID restrictions.
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Pollyalida
Wonderful! So glad you finally discovered the joys of Maine. I’ve been visiting since I was a kid, spent 7 summers working in an island hotel as a student and have visited at all times of year since then. The tourist, food and culture scene has certainly changed drastically (for the better!) in my 50+ years of visiting. One of my favorite places on earth. ??
Angela McLeod
I live in Maine, so this is awesome…except that you don’t mention quarantining and folks from MA are supposed to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. I went to Bar Harbor this summer thinking that maybe this was THE SUMMER to visit Acadia since there would be fewer tourists, but in fact the place was swimming with out-of-staters who seemed to think being outdoors meant “mask optional” even when experiencing a crush of people. C’mon…you seem like a reasonable and responsible tourist so abide by the rules, thanks!
Ray
The other option for Maine travel is to provide a negative Covid-19 test result 72 hours prior to Maine travel.
Nomadic Matt
Hi! I took a COVID test before I went! And that was even after quarantining with my parents and a covid test before then. I follow the rules. As you say, I’m reasonable!
Çarole
Thank you for introducing me to Maine. I don’t know it at all and wouldn’t have put it on my US bucket list until now. Finding those special ‘get away from it all’ places is such a boon. ?
Julianna
How are you okay with promoting people to visit a state (that you don’t even live in) during a pandemic? That seems to shed ignorance on the health crisis, doesn’t it? People actually live in these communities with their families, and aren’t from out of state. They want to protect their general well being as a community and preserve their quality of life. Tell me, is that what you’re trying to do also? Seems unlikely.
Very disappointing.
Nomadic Matt
I took a COVID test before I saw my parents in Boston and another before I went to Maine to align with their rules. I’m always advocating following the rules. This post is just saying that Maine is great and you should visit. Frankly, your comment is disappointing. I followed the rules and you shouldn’t be so quick to judge.
Leanne
As someone from Maine, I love this! I used to live near Augusta (don’t worry, you didn’t really miss anything by not going there, it’s the crappiest town in the state next to Lewiston). I’m glad you had a great time! Acadia is the best!
Kathryn Sullivan
Lovely write up, you captured Maine perfectly. And so glad you stayed with Hostel Heather at the Black Elephant – I interviewed her for an article earlier this year and look forward to visiting myself. Maybe next summer!
Christopher Wilson
I’m from CT, I own a second house in Machiasport, Maine. Would’ve been our been our 20th consecutive year vacationing if weren’t for the virus. Decided to keep the family home this summer, seemed unethical to travel. Looking forward to a lobster roll in 2021!
RuggedMaine
Come visit again in the February when its -15 and you’re getting a foot of snow every other day. That’s truly when Maine is at its best, most beautiful, and most peaceful. Not sure if its the season or the dearth of people from away though that makes it that way. 🙂
Sadly, your comments kind of bring up a dark side of things here. This state will have to do something soon to ensure the people that have called Maine home for generations can continue to live here. Its more like the big island in Hawaii in that sense than Alaska, and people are getting more and more surly to visitors like the native Hawaiians. We have the oldest population in the country and a generation of youth that won’t be able to afford to out-bid cash offers from MA/CT/NY on homes. What’s 150k-200k in play money to you is an out of reach home for rural Mainers making wages near or below the poverty line.
Juliana
Unfortunately that’s not the question I asked. I didn’t question your testing, or your place on the honor roll.
I simply asked, “How are you okay with promoting people to visit a state, that you don’t live in, during a pandemic?” And you responded with “Maine is great, you should visit.”
I just wonder if you’ve considered the actions of readers that view this article, where they travel from and whether or not they too will be on the honor roll when they arrive.
NomadicMatt
Because Maine IS great and people should visit it if they can comply with the rules and regulations of the state! I met lots of people there who were happy to see visitors. If you don’t feel comfortable going or don’t meet the requirements, you shouldn’t go. Maine has done an excellent job of keeping their rates down and have rules in place to keep it that way. I believe there’s a middle road between “COVID is a hoax” and “don’t leave your house until there’s a vaccine.” If the locals are welcoming and you’ve taken a test before you get there, then I have no problem doing that. It’s about flattening the curve, not staying inside forever. I just people to make the right decisions and travel responsibly.
Juliana
Absolutely, Maine has done an excellent job with keeping their rates low. Also yes I’m plenty comfortable, I’ve lived in Maine my entire life. However encouraging people to travel to areas during a health crisis that have low risk rates of infection doesn’t help ‘flatten’ anything in the long run. Quite the contrary, especially when assuming people will do the right thing. I’m sure if we can agree on one thing it’s that doesn’t always happen.
You have a platform and you promote travel, and yet your entire post lacked any information pertaining to prevention of the virus and the regulations of the state to your readers. Are you assuming everybody just knows the restrictions? Or are you assuming people will just do the right thing? Regardless. This isn’t meant to damper your point of view but to challenge it Normadic Matt.
All the best to you, be well and travel responsibly.
NomadicMatt
This post isn’t a “how to travel to Maine during COVID” post. This is a story. It only covers my love for Maine. That’s all. Travel stories don’t need to include everything. If you’re inspired to go visit Maine because of this article, Google the rules. I’m not here to add a thousand caveats to a story. I just wanted to share my love of Maine. You’re admonishing me for not including practical information on a post that is not about the practical.
Elisa Thompson
I never been to Maine but it sounds like somewhere I would love to go to visit.
Laurie
He also isn’t saying “Visit Maine right now”. His article is saying, Maine is a great place to visit. Move it up on your “List of Great Places to Visit”.
Jackie
During the pandemic, a lot of us are at home planning for the next couple years’ vacations. I appreciate his suggestions for my trip there late 2021.
Sam
https://www.boston.com/news/coronavirus/2020/09/09/maine-massachusetts-covid-19-travel-rules/amp
14 day quarantine or negative COVID test still if traveling from Massachusetts. Regardless of the intent of your post it’s irresponsible not to include this information when talking about traveling to another state during the time of a pandemic!
NomadicMatt
I did take a negative COVID test before I went. There’s a note at the bottom of the post too.
Roberta
Wow! What a lovely tribute to Maine.
I love how you focused on the cities to the harbor towns and places in between.
I left Maine 6 years ago for the sunny west coast of Florida. Grew up in Portland with a winter home at Mt Abram for skiing. This is the 1st summer I didn’t go back. I have met a lot of people here in Florida and most of them have Maine on their “bucket list”. I love to share stories and places for them to go.
My daughter has followed you for years (did not know this) and I stumbled upon this article this am and sent it to her. I’m a bit late in finding you but will search for you on Instagram! Thanks again ?