Recently I have been talking with folks planning their summer vacations; some of them first time visitors to Maine or even the United States. The question is always similar “you know the state and spend a lot of time in the outdoors where would you visit on a five day holiday?” Fair question and I have given it some thought; please understand that I have left out some excellent places because even with five days there is just not enough time to see or visit it all.

So let’s map out our five day whirlwind.

Assuming that you would be coming from far away and will rent a vehicle when you arrive. I would fly in to Portland arriving in time for lunch the first day. I would head to the Old Port for lunch at any one of a number of excellent restaurants allowing some time to walk around and simply get a flavor of what the city is like. In the afternoon I would head up to the mid-coast and plan to stay somewhere between Boothbay and Camden (tons of great options) and eat dinner at one of these places.

Day two I would plan to get out on the salt water on one of our scenic boat rides, striper fishing or perhaps mackerel fishing with the family. In the afternoon I would make it a point to visit a lighthouse there are several easy to see in the area. If time allowed a little time at the Farnsworth Art Museum (looking at Andrew Wyeth’s paintings of the area I had seen that morning) or perhaps a short hike. Dinner in the area perhaps staying in the same hotel or Bed and Breakfast as the night before.

Day three I would head to the Schoodic peninsula, part of Acadia National Park but not as well known with smaller crowds. Because I fish I might spend the afternoon pursuing  smallmouth bass in Graham Lake outside of Ellsworth. Dinner in Ellsworth and plan to stay there or in Bangor an hour up the road.

Day four I would drive to Libby Camps in the North Woods going in through Millinocket to catch the great views of Mount Katahdin and the West Branch of the Penobscot River. Stopping for a time to cast a fly to a landlocked salmon or two in the West Branch, but keep an eye on the time so as not to be late for supper at Libby’s.

Day five I would spend on one of the small ponds fishing for brook trout, hoping to see a moose and enjoying the remote experience. Driving back to Bangor in the evening for a late flight out or an early flight the next morning, this trip is way too busy  to call it relaxing. It does provide a great cross section of what Maine has to offer.

Over the years I have provided all of these opportunities to clients except the Portland part of the trip either as trips I offer regularly or custom trips. Hopefully this will give all of you some ideas about how to experience the great variety that Maine has to offer. I think that you will agree with one of my clients that " Your countryside delivers all that it promises".