What in some areas looks like Michigan, feels similar to Michigan but isn’t Michigan?
Maine.
From the minute that I crossed the bridge from New Hampshire into Maine I knew that I was headed to a very special destination.
Since beginning my traveling journey I knew that visiting New England, specifically the state of Maine, was on my must see places, especially during my favorite season, fall.
Much like my town of choice in Massachusetts I kept up with the coastal theme and chose a place of residence in Rockport, Maine.
Nestled within a stretch of coast that locals refer to as Midcoast Maine, Rockport is a sleepy town that has a population of under 4,000 residents. This was my first true small town stay on my travels. Which honestly, I feel like was both needed and provided a nice change of pace.
The month of October was the ideal month to travel to this state. The weather during my stay was what I deem to be perfect for this time of year. The first half of the month brought mid to low 60s and by the time I was packing up my car, the evening temperatures were dipping below freezing and the day time temperatures brought mid to low 40s.
I was able to see and experience some of the most beautiful fall foliage colors that I ever have. Seeing the leaves change and fall to the ground is not a new concept to me, but watching it happen with the ocean as the backdrop? It was unreal.
Arguably some of the best colors that I was able to see while visiting was in Acadia National Park. With 4 million visitors a year, it is one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States. This park is home to Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the eastern shore and the first place to see the sunrise in the continuous US from October 7th through March 6th. The visitors that come to this national park can enjoy 27 miles of historic motor roads, 158 miles of hiking trails and 45 miles of carriage roads.
With this being one of the more popular national parks in the country, you can only imagine the crowds that it draws. Especially during the coveted New England fall. Arrive early, plan ahead and pack your patience! Some not to miss spots are Thunder Hole, the Beehive Trail, Jordan Pond and Schoodic Point.
The national park is a not to miss stop when visiting Maine and if you can make it there during the fall? That is a double win in my opinion.
The coastline of Maine is very unique and so incredibly beautiful. It was vastly different from the other coastlines that I have been able to experience. While there are sandy beaches, the majority of the coast is composed of rugged cliffs, large rocks and beautiful lighthouses. 65 to be exact!
Another unique feature that I was able to see on the coastline was a ski resort. The neighboring coastal community of Camden is home to the Camden Snow Bowl. A small town owned ski area that is located only 4.5 miles away from Penobscot Bay. While I wasn’t able to ski down the slopes I was able to enjoy the area by spending an afternoon taking their fall foliage chair lift. I can say, this is the first time I have been to a ski resort that overlooks the ocean. Pretty cool if you ask me.
Public transit was non-existent in this part of the state. Portland, Maine's largest city offers public bus transit, however there is not much outside of the city limits. I would highly suggest if you are visiting the area to have your own vehicle so you are able to take day and weekend trips allowing you to see everything that Maine has to offer.
Traffic in Maine was also non-existent, outside of the national park on a Saturday at noon, but that is to be expected. Route 1, a two lane highway serves as the major road for access to all of the towns on the coast. With that being said, yes, the speed limit is 55 mph so it might take you a little longer getting where you need to go, but that is all a part of being in this area.
Slowing down in all aspects of life.
I am sure that as the summer temperatures rise and the towns fill up with tourists and seasonal residents, the traffic follows suit. Again, as to be expected and should be nothing that comes to a surprise for people that are used to the fluctuations of living in a tourist destination.
Rockport was my city of choice for a few reasons outside of it being a coastal town. In looking at a map of the state, Rockport is pretty centrally located on the coast allowing for ease of access to a plethora of day trips. Some of my favorites were Damariscotta, Portland, Kennebunk Port, Boothbay Harbor, Belfast and Bangor to name a few.
Much like the Cape, the majority of menus in this area offered a variety of seafood. Lobster rolls were another common food item as well as oysters. I feel like I say this after every coastal destination, but believe me when I tell you the oysters in Maine were the best that I have ever had. According to the University of Maine, the oysters in this area taste best in the fall as they are storing fat and sugar in preparation for winter. Over three million oysters are harvested yearly here! Don’t worry, I ensured my fair share in this year's harvest.
Maine is also known for their lowbush wild blueberries. From ice cream to sodas and salt water taffy, blueberry is a very popular local flavor. In Maine, this crop inhabits large fields on mountaintops and in glacial outwash plains which formed 10,000 years ago. So when visiting the state be sure to get some wild Maine blueberry treats!
If you aren’t a fan of seafood, unlike the Cape, there are a lot of other food options in the area! A few of my favorite local midcoast restaurants include Primo, Camden Deli and the Oak Bar in the Rockport Harbor Hotel. Portland is also a well known foodie city and it certainly lived up to the hype. There were a plethora of restaurants and bars that were exceptional. A few of my favorites were High Roller, Eventide, Duck Fat, Blyth and Burrows, Portland Hunt and Alpine Club and The Holy Donut.
Lots of choices for everyone!
Mainers were by far the kindest locals that I have encountered yet! From the comments that I received on social media posts asking for recommendations, to the people I talked to while I was out and about, everyone was so incredibly friendly.
Vastly different from some of the locals that I encountered in Massachusetts.
Anyways, I think that’s what made Maine feel most familiar to Michigan for me. One common theme I often hear when I’m out and about is that I carry a bit of 'Midwestern nice' with me, and the people in Maine certainly reciprocated that.
I felt right at home.
During my stay I was fortunate enough to meet a few local women in the area that joined me for dinners or coffee that provided me with a warm welcome and treated me as if we had been lifelong friends. With the days growing colder and daylight hours dwindling, it was a much needed pick me up to make some friends in the area that I was staying.
I was also incredibly fortunate to have friendly landlords that were interested in getting to know me and my story. We shared laughs and stories over happy hour. Should I be lucky enough to travel back to the Midcoast area, I would love the opportunity to reconnect with them.
I’ve said it at least ten times, but I really want to emphasize that the people can really make or break your experience. It is truly the people and connections that I have made along the way that have had the most impact on me during this traveling journey.
If I were to settle down, or spend a longer period of time in Maine I know that I would fit in with the people and Midwest adjacent vibe that the state provides.
Much like the Ludington and the surrounding tourist cities in Western Michigan, the coastal towns in Maine tend to slow down after Labor Day and some shut down altogether mid-October. Again, this was nothing new for me. Was it difficult to find a restaurant that was open on a Monday evening? Sure, however this wasn’t a deal breaker for me.
I am once again happy that I chose to visit this destination during the beginning of their slow season. While I was able to catch up with some of the like minded tourists chasing the fall foliage, I was also able to enjoy an empty beach and cafes during the early morning hours.
Maine might just be one of my favorite destinations that I have been on my nomadic journey.
One of only two places that I tearfully said goodbye to.
I’m Maine-ly sorry that I didn’t get to spend more time exploring this special state, but I do promise to the local friends I made and to myself that I will be back.
