Best of Coastal Maine: 7 Favorite Moments

Humor columnist Dave Barry once suggested that Maine's state motto should be changed to "Cold, but damp." That's cute, but it's also sort of true. Spring here tends to last just a few weeks and the long winters often bring a mix of blizzards and ice storms. Ah, but summer. Maine summers offer a serious dose of tranquillity; a few days in the right spot can rejuvenate even the most jangled city nerves. The trick is finding that right spot -- if you were to iron out the kinks and peninsulas of the coastline, there's a lot of room to roam. Luckily, we've compiled a list of our favorites.

Photo Caption: Long Sands Beach in York, ME.

There's no food truer to Maine than a steamed lobster with butter -- preferably with a hunk of corn on the cob and a piece of blueberry cake on the side. And there's no more scenic place to eat this archetypal meal than right out on the windswept rocks behind Two Lights Lobster Shack, 225 Two Lights Rd. (off Rte. 77), Cape Elizabeth (tel. 207/799-1677) . Walk off the calories at adjacent Two Lights State Park (tel. 207/799-5871).

Photo Caption: Patrons in line for lunch at Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth, ME.

Sometimes you just want a quick walk to get the blood flowing. The Bubble Mountains are that sort of walk, if a bit too vertical to count as an "easy stroll." After a half-hour of hiking and clambering to the summit, you'll emerge with a view of Jordan Pond, the ocean, and Maine's coastal islands.

Photo Caption: Hikers resting near the Bubbles in Acadia National Park, ME.

What's better than unzipping your tent to make breakfast and walking out to a view of a shiny, empty bay? Nothing, in our book. Along the Maine coast, you'll find campgrounds perched right beside the ocean, which is remarkable given how much of this coastline is privately owned. One of our favorites is Mount Desert Campground, 516 Sound Dr. (Rte. 198), Mount Desert (tel. 207/244-3710; www.mountdesertcampground.com), just outside Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Isle.

Photo Caption: Bass Harborhead Lighthouse at dusk located at Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island, Maine. Photo by Peter Geller/Frommers.com Community

If you're a beer drinker, the go-to Portland evening experience is a pint of locally brewed beer inside one of the city's pubs, followed by a responsible walk or taxi ride back to your hotel.

Photo Caption: Dewey's Bar in the Old Port neighborhood of Portland, ME.

The town of Kennebunkport is far better known for its wealth and First Family summer residents than its history or architecture. But if it's handsome old buildings you crave, this town holds as good a concentration of them as any place in Maine. Three historic districts all lie within easy walking distance of each other and the center of town.

Photo Caption: Walker's Point, the home of the Bush family, in Kennebunkport, ME.

The genteel days when Acadia was a Victorian-type resort, with horse-drawn carriages and steam trains bringing travelers from Boston, New York, and beyond, are gone. Well, nearly gone: You can still get a taste of that era at the Jordan Pond House, a sort of tearoom plunked down in the middle of the park beside a pond. Views are excellent, as are the popovers (the traditional snack).

Photo Caption: Hikers along the shores of Jordan Pond in Acadia National Park, ME.

Maine's full of scenic lighthouses, but the one near York Beach is especially so. The tableau of a bright white lighthouse beside a cute red barn and the big blue ocean never fails to bring the summer crowds. Pack your best camera and lenses (including a polarizing lens), and come early or late in the day when the light is best for shooting.

Photo Caption: Nubble Light near York, ME is a fine example of a New England coast lighthouse. Photo by Rickpawl/Frommers.com Community