Maine - The Pine Tree State

Maine Tourism Board

What’s New
• Down East Sunrise Trail: The first section of this multi-purpose trail is now open. Running along a 51-kilometre stretch of former railroad bed between Machias and its eastern terminus at Ayers Junction, the compact gravel trail welcomes pedestrians, bicycles, ATVs, and horses. The full trail will eventually cover 137 kilometres, making it the longest multi-use recreation trail in the state.
• Washburn-Northlands Living History Center: Restarted living history tours led by interpreters in mid-18th century clothing. The tour goes through the mansion house, family kitchen and schoolhouse. The dairy barn is scheduled to be rebuilt this year – a fire destroyed it in 2008. Livermore.

Attractions
Maine Tourism Board• Maine Maritime Museum: Maritime history is told through gallery exhibits, a historic shipyard site, educational programs and narrated excursions along the rivers and coast. A newly added tour of one of the world's largest shipbuilders, Bath Iron Works, is available through the museum. Bath.
• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: New England’s largest botanical garden features an 805-metre-long Shoreland Trail. Boothbay.
• Whitewater Rafting: Exceptional rafting experiences await clients on the Moose, Kennebec and Penobscot rivers.
• Maine Wildlife Park: Home to animals that are injured, orphaned or are too dependent on humans to be returned to the wild. Nature trails, gardens, interactive exhibits and themed weekend events are also offered. Gray.
• Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory: Linking the towns of Prospect and Verona Island, this is the only bridge in North America to have an observation deck.
•Portland Observatory: America’s last standing 19th century maritime signal station. The 26-metre tall observatory, built in 1807, overlooks Portland Harbor and Casco Bay. Portland.
• Maine State Museum: Features Maine’s rich natural and human histories. Augusta.

Events
• Windjammer Days Festival (June), Boothbay Harbor.
• The Acadian Festival (June), Madawaska.
• Maine Lobster Festival (July/August), Rockland.
• American Folk Festival (August), Bangor.
• Harvest on the Harbor (October), Portland.

Places
• Maine’s South Coast: Breathtaking coastal scenery, broad beaches and picturesque New England villages.
• Acadia National Park: Acadia National Park abounds with an endless variety of sights, attractions and activities. Mt. Desert Island.
• 100-mile Wilderness: This 161-kilometre stretch of the Appalachian Trail between the town of Monson and Abol Bridge at the southern entrance to Baxter State Park is the longest section of uninterrupted wilderness on the 3,500-kilometre footpath.

Hidden Gems
• Cutler: Tour Machias Seal Island, its colony of puffins and the recently restored 1876 Little River Lighthouse. On the mainland, the Bold Coast Trail winds through spruce-fir forest to the sheer cliffs overlooking Grand Manan Channel.
• Maine Huts & Trails: This 290-kilometre trail system provides year-round public access to Maine’s scenic Western Mountains.
• Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary: Spanning 144 hectares, the reserve provides some of the best inland bird watching in the southern part of the state. It has six walking trails that traverse wetlands, mixed forest and meadows. Lewiston.

Did You Know?
State Motto: Dirigo (“I Direct” or “I Lead”)
State Bird: Chickadee
State Flower: White Pine Cone & Tassel

Fast Facts
Region: NEW ENGLAND
America’s Byways: Acadia Byway, Old Canada Road Scenic Byway, Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway, Schoodic Scenic Byway.
Connecting Flights Via: Boston
Cruise Lines: American Canadian Caribbean Line, American Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Carnival, Celebrity, CruiseWest, Cunard/Seabourn, Fred Olsen Cruises, Hapag-LLoyd Kreuzfahrten, Holland America Line, Lindblad Expeditions, Norwegian Cruise Line, Orient Lines, P&O Lines, Passat Ship Management, Princess, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, ResidenSea, Royal Caribbean, Saga Shipping Company, Silversea.
Sales Tools: Sample itineraries; dedicated agent website www.travel.visitmaine.com; travel planner, online travel planner; brochures/electronic brochures; promotional DVD; image CD; e-postcard campaign.
Info: Maine Office of Tourism
(207) 287-5711
www.visitmaine.com