You can make an interesting summer vacation out of a trip to the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Maine.
Midcoast Maine’s lighthouses will interest historians and art lovers. Some are actually museums that will help you understand and appreciate the history behind lighthouses and their keepers.
Maine continues to contribute masterpieces to the American art scene. Andrew Wyeth, the popular American artist, spent a lot of time at his summer home in Maine, and you can find many of those memories recorded in his paintings at Farnsworth Art Museum.
While known for its rugged coastline, there are still several lovely beaches to explore in Southern Maine. Beaches such as Old Orchard, Ogunquit, and Kennebunk Beach are known for their soft white sands, stunning views and warm waters. These beaches are great for families because they offer lifeguards in the summer months and easy access to nearby games, amusement parks and playgrounds.
July and August are a great time to whale watch. Travelers can enjoy a boat tour, which might be just a day trip, evening dinner cruise, or perhaps extended into overnight stays with some boating companies. A historic train ride on Maine Eastern Railroad in a fully restored railcar is also a fun family activity. Park your car for a while and relax, as you ride from Rockland to Brunswick and enjoy the scenery through Maine’s midcoast region.
For outdoor enthusiasts, Acadia National Park is one of the only parks in the world that offers its visitors an ocean shoreline, as well as mountains and woodlands all in one stop. Those who are a bit more hardcore may want to travel inland and take in Mount Katahdin, where today’s explorers can still experience the untamed and remote places where Henry David Thoreau spent a great deal of time. Because the state of Maine protects its undeveloped forests, visitors can still follow in Thoreau’s footsteps as he explored the wilds and wrote his book, “The Maine Woods.”
The Maine Lobster Festival is another great reason to visit Maine that takes place each summer at the end of July. Activities you can expect to find at the festival are the popular lobster crate races, as well as some adult and child fun runs. You won’t want to miss the annual coronation of the Maine Sea Goddess, as well as a chance to take in local artwork. Of course, the main event, which is sampling fresh lobster never disappoints. In 2014, the festival served more than 17,000 pounds of fresh lobster to attendees.
Be sure to mark July 29to Aug. 2 on your calendar for the Maine Lobster Festival. If you’re an outdoorsman, art lover or just looking for a place to relax, a trip to Maine will meet your needs.
