Maine Camping Guide 2017 - 86

Cruising Through Maine:
You Can (Really) Get There From Here

merica begins its day in Maine. It's a statement
denoting that ours is the first state to see the sun -
the state motto Dirigo translates as "I Lead." Spend a
little time here though, and you might just spy the myriad
small ways that put us ahead of other places, ways that have
kept generations past - and will keep generations to come -
enthralled with the almost indescribable beauty and broad
diversity of experiences to be had in our magnificent state.
So no matter where you choose to watch the sun's rays peak
over the horizon: from a rocky Down East outcropping up
near West Quoddy (yes Down East is "up"), atop Mount Katahdin at the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, or
marveling its quiet spectacle while collecting shells along
the tide line at York Beach, your days spent in Maine will
leave you yearning to return for many, many more.
The Maine Beaches
Our Maine Beaches are a most welcome way to enter the
state known as Vacationland since 1935. Miles and miles of
sugary sand punctuated by small cities and towns that balloon with visitors looking to capture a few days or maybe a
week or two of perfect summertime bliss. From Kittery to
Old Orchard Beach, the beaches have long been mainstays
of the ideal Maine vacation. Just follow US-1 from the state
line up through some of the nation's oldest communities,
visit cultural enclaves like Ogunquit and the "Kennebunks"
rife with the trappings of any major American city: museums, cafés, brewpubs and boutiques. Spend a little time at
Old Orchard Beach under the dazzling lights of our oceanfront amusement park. Each step you take here, whether
through the history of York, the natural beauty of the Rachel
Carson Wildlife Refuge, the cool wooded splendor of San-

ford, shopping at Kittery or spending a little time along the
main streets of Saco and Biddeford, will have you curious
about what more there is to see here in Maine.
Cities & Towns: Kittery, York, Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunk,
Kennebunkport, Old Orchard Beach, Biddeford, Saco and
Sanford
Roads & Highways: I-95, US1 & 1A, Rt. 9, Rt. 202, Rt. 11, Rt.
4, Rt. 103
Notable Features: The Nubble Light, Ogunquit Playhouse,
Funtown/Splashtown,Palace Playland, York Wild Kingdom,
Saco Drive-in, sunset cruises and whale watching
Greater Portland & Casco Bay
Wandering north along US1, I-295 or on Rt. 202 from interior parts of the state will bring you into the "big city scene"
of Portland. Set high upon a peninsula overlooking the
southern corner of Casco Bay, Portland's urbane but friendly inhabitants may sometimes seem a little too relaxed, but
they are just a part of the scene. It's these touches that add
character and make this welcoming city worthy of deeper
exploration. Morning, noon or night, there is something
happening along its cobbled side streets, broad avenues and
salty old wharves. Shoppers, foodies and people watchers
alike should start in the Old Port or up along Congress Street
to find the keys to the delights of this fun and funky town.
Looking for the offbeat? Visit Munjoy Hill or the Arts District
and make sure to set aside time to savor the collection at
the Portland Museum of Art or any of the city's many galleries. When night falls, you can just as easily catch any of
a dozen performances as you would a fly ball at the game
- from chamber music at Merrill Auditorium to a touring act
at The State Theater or Seadogs baseball at Hadlock Field.
Got a little time on your hands? Explore the islands of Casco
continued on page 87

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maine Camping Guide 2017