By Eric H.

A Maine vacation will have you returning year after year. The rocky coastline, colorful and wholesome coastal towns,

and Downeast flavor of lobster and blueberry pie have an undeniable charm that just is the beginning of a treasure trove of things to do in New England's seaside playground.

Of course, much of Maine is inland and with superb vacation destinations (Sebago Lake, and the Rangeley and Moosehead Lakes regions, to name a few), but the coast gets much of the press; it's easy to understand once you are there.

There's indeed a 200 mile playground feel to the coastline, starting in charming Kittery Point and extending all the way to stunning Acadia National Park. There are fine beaches, outdoor seaside dining choices, cliff walks dotted with floral gardens (Marginal Way in Ogunquit is a great example), arcades, and places of solitude to bike, hike and forget about everyday stresses unlike any place you've ever visited.

Of course, the Maine coastline goes on a few hundred miles beyond Acadia. This is a different kind of coastal playground for those looking for less commercialism and more solitude.

Our top choice for a great Maine vacation is York, simply because there is something to do for everyone. York, Maine, is also living proof that you don't have to travel far up the Maine coast to get a true feel of the famed Downeast lifestyle.

Lobster dinners, rocky shoreline, expansive ocean beaches, ice cream stands, salt water taffy and refreshing salt air await you just minutes north of the New Hampshire-Maine border. York has something fun for everyone: the quiet, antique-friendly York Harbor and York Village, the beaches, carousel and arcades at York Beach, and the rugged, rocky, more secluded environs of Cape Neddick.

When visiting York, you can see the joy and relaxation in peoples' faces as more smiling and "hellos" take place here than you can initially handle. The key is to adapt. When you do, the health benefits are greater than any wellness doctor could ever recommend.

Portland, Maine's largest city at 64,000, An interesting, revitalized city set on beautiful Casco Bay with old Victorian Homes, tree-lined streets and the great Old Port Exchange, an area with terrific restaurants and stores. Some say it is like a mini San Francisco, with its hills, charm and now a growing eclectism, with an art community, more diversity in its people, lots of culture, all residing by the sea. It is a great city for walking, having a big city feel in some neighborhoods, but ultimately a small-town personality in its people, architecture and retained history.

Then there's Acadia National Park, truly one of the most spectacular parks in the United States, with its beyond scenic rocky coast, and forested valleys, lakes and mountains, carved by glacial force. It cannot be fully described, only joyfully visited.Truly a visual treat, this 40,000 acre wonderland offers endless natural delights. Take, for example, the dramatic sunsets at 1,500 foot Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the U.S. Atlantic Coast. From Cadillac, one can see amazing views of Penobscot, Frenchman and Blue Hill Bays. From the top of Gorham Mountain, you get an incredible view of the glacial blue Atlantic Ocean. Then there is Thunder Hole, with its waves creating a sonic boom. For those in touch with more isolated nature, miles and miles of trails and bicycle paths will bring you in touch with beautiful wildflowers, a wonderful variety of trees and some great fresh and salt water swimming. The 27-mile loop at Mt. Desert Island offers endless ocean and mountain scenery, unlike anything you've seen before.Many choose the commercial center of Bar Harbor to launch their Acadia vacation. Bar Harbor is certainly pleasant enough with its tree-lined streets, fine captain's homes, harbor views, and refreshing breeze, but it can also be capable of traffic jams, unctuous souvenir shops, unkempt flower children and flavor-of-the-week restaurants, changing hands every few years. In a way, Bar Harbor is not compatible with the untouched scenic beauty of the region, and can often come across as a bit too hectic.We prefer Northeast Harbor, a splendid little village boasting the prettiest harbor you will ever see. Sunny even when it's cloudy, Northeast Harbor is quietly confident , as it never panders to the tourist. In the little village, you will find an old-time market, a bakery owned by "The Colonel" (a military-looking man with a crew cut), some antique stores and a few restaurants. One of them, the Docksider could be considered your classic Maine restaurant, with charming "Downeast" waitresses, lobster to die for, unbelievable clam chowder, and in the summer, salt air flavored outdoor dining on the doorstep of the Harbor.

The unexpected treasures are what make Maine so special. Everyone who has been to Maine has their own special discovery. There does, however, seem to be a pattern of people making special discoveries in small, unassuming picturesque seacoast communities like Camden (looks ready made for a postcard), Wiscassett (what people might envision a small Maine town to look like), Rockport (a great walking town) and more popular destinations like Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, Old Orchard Beach and Wells.

We encourage you to "travel Maine" through our Maine vacation and travel ideas library--at Visiting New England.com, native New Englanders bring you the best in New England vacation trip planning planning and travel information with detailed essays, reviews, tips and resources. We hope you enjoy browsing our Maine vacation and travel ideas library and hope to see you travel New England soon. Please feel free to e-mail us with any questions, or sign our guest book.

Maine travel ideas, tips, suggestions and general information

Maine's best travel destinations

Check the New England calendar of events section for key Maine events and news.

Read our New England tourist attractions page for the best things to do in Maine.

Have a question about visiting Maine? Ask the experts for all your Maine trip planning needs!

Bath, Maine, will shower you with old-fashioned character.

Photo essay of a relaxing Acadia National Park, Maine, vacation.

Ogunquit vacation destination summary.

The quaint, 19th century Victorian Katahdin Inn provides the perfect launching pad for your York Beach, Maine, vacation.

Maine Spinning Mill Uses "Mule" Power to Craft Fine Wool Yarns

One hour of shopping at the Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, Maine

Maine offers some of New England's best fall foliage.

Instant vacation memories abound at the southern Maine seacoast.

The Docksider Restaurant, a seafood shack, in Northeast Harbor, Maine, specializes in Maine lobster dinner, clam chowder and instant Downeast Maine dining memories.

Fox's Lobster House in York Beach, Maine, epitomizes Maine seafood dining

What it feels like to be on the Maine rocky coast.

Find Your Way Around Western Maine's Lakes and Mountains with a Registered Maine Guide.

Senator Inn & Spa in Augusta becomes Certified Environmental Leader

Portland, Maine, offers small-town charm within its appealing coastal city limits

The Inn at Tanglewood Hall in York Harbor, Maine, offers a symphony of lodging charm and amenities by the sea

Come experience four-star lodging at the Lodge at Moosehead Lake in Greenville, Maine.

Stonewall Kitchen in York, Maine, is a tour de force of gourmet foods, gifts, kitchen and cookware, home decor and garden accessories.

The Inn at Long Sands offers top-notch lodging and breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Kennebunk Inn evokes old-world charm in a delightful New England setting.

Maine's best ocean beaches

Maine is a great place to live and work.

Ogunquit is a classic Maine vacation destination.

Northeast Harbor is one of the most lovely areas in an already lovely Acadia National Park.

A wonderful perspective on Northeast Harbor

York, Maine: proves you don't have to travel too far northern Maine to get a true taste of the Downeast flavor.

Maine camp specializes in fun for the whole family.

A wonderful moment of truth in Acadia National Park

Fazio's Restaurant in York rivals the best urban Italian restaurants.

From the press room/archives:

Discover Maine in the summer with these great June and July events

Maine Fall Calendar of Events

3rd Annual International Paint Out on Mount Desert Island, Sept. 10, 2005

July 4th, 2005 , Maine calendar of events

Lisbon Falls Maine Moxie Festival, July 8-10,

Maine holiday celebrations are steeped in history and tradition 2005

Autumn In Maine is ablaze with color and character.

Birders Flock to Down East Maine for Spring Festival

Trip planning abound in the Maine 2006 winter calendar of events section.