It took moving away from Maine for me to become hyper-obsessed with my home state. From the bottom of my heart, it is my firm belief that everyone should visit Maine once in their life. My vote would be for fall, specifically October, but Maine is stunning all year long.

If you were to ask my dad why he moved here in the 70s, he would tell you it was “to avoid lines.” Now obviously, Maine has changed a bit since then, and despite over 50 years having passed, I still find places where it feels like life moves with the tides and not by a clock. Maine is charming, rugged, crisp, and peaceful. Maine is home.

My favorite season in Maine will always be fall. I love the change in the air and the change in temperature. The leaves are beautiful, and the vibes are on point. Summer is a close second as I love a day at the beach (did you know we have 135 public beaches?), followed by a lobster roll (cold, with a hint of mayo). Spring is almost always just an extension of winter before the temps warm up and summer arrives. And then there’s winter. I will say this is a hard season. Again, it can be stunning, but it is the definition of long. Now, if I can hunker down during a storm with the fire going, a blanket and a good book, I’m golden. I even love shoveling. But layers of grey snow that fall in January and melt in April? Not my favorite. But you know, I wouldn’t change it. I love how much it makes me appreciate our other seasons.

My favorite activity is to take a ferry ride. It is such a great way to see the coast of Maine. The mail boat, specifically, is one that I have ridden many times and I always recommend it to visitors. The mail boat departs from Portland and delivers mail and passengers to five islands off the coast of Maine. Weather permitting, it is the perfect activity if you have a few hours to kill. You can even bring food and alcohol!

Now, while I don’t think I can pick a single favorite town, I’ll give you my top 5.

1. Yarmouth - My hometown. Every summer, Yarmouth hosts the Clam Festival, where the town organizes a weekend of carnival rides, road races, games, fried food, music, and a craft fair. Proceeds from the food booths and paid parking lots all go to the local high school athletic teams. I just love it.

2. Portland - Oceanfront, cobblestone streets, historic buildings, GREAT food and coffee, and it’s incredibly walkable and so vibrant.

3. Camden - Just an hour and a half from Portland, Camden is a seaport town, and it is picturesque. It’s busy with visitors in the summer, but just so nice to visit in the off-season.

4. York - I spent my summers at the beaches here as a kid, which makes York super nostalgic for me. There’s an arcade on the beach where I spent many hours at candlepin bowling after a day in the sun.

5. Biddeford - Biddeford is a former mill town, which is just so cool to me. So while it’s not as charming or as quaint as the other towns on my list, I love it for the food/coffee/beer.

Put Maine on your list.. The beauty, the charm, the lobster rolls... it’s worth it.

P.S. Did I convince you to come visit Maine? Maybe you’ll vacation here and be just as obsessed as I am! If you're not, don’t tell me. I don’t want to hear it

P.S.S.

Here are some other fun facts:

Did you know Maine has over 4,600 islands?

Did you know Maine has over 6,000 lakes and ponds?

Did you know Maine has 67 lighthouses?

Did you know the state dessert is blueberry pie and the state treat is the whoopie pie?

Meet my Hyperfixation: Moira & The Pine Tree State