Uniquely Maine

From the largest globe to a chocolate moose and the only museum of umbrella covers, Maine is home to attractions and natural features that can’t be found anywhere else in New England, the United States or the world. 

Maine Sporting Camps – Maine's outdoor heritage is well preserved in the traditional Maine sporting camps that still exist today. These camps continue to welcome visitors for a remote outdoor experience.

Maine Huts & Trails - This trail system provides year-round public access to a 180-mile multi-use trail system in Maine’s scenic Western Mountains, running from Bethel, Maine to Moosehead Lake.

Maine Eastern Railroad – Restored vintage railcars take you on a journey along Maine's picturesque coast between Brunswick and Rockland.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens - New England’s largest botanical garden, located in Boothbay, Maine, features 248 acres of spectacular ornamental gardens and stonework, waterfront and woodland trails, and a beautiful visitor center with café and gift shop.

Raye’s Mustard Mill – North America’s only stone-ground mustard mill. The Raye’s have been making award-winning gourmet and specialty mustards in Eastport since 1900.

Portland Observatory – America’s last standing 19th century maritime signal station. The 86-foot tall observatory was built in 1807 overlooking Portland Harbor and Casco Bay.

Umbrella Cover Museum – In the early 1990s Nancy 3. Hoffman began collecting the covers, sheaths and cases of umbrellas from around the world. Her museum on Peaks Island displays the unique collection.

Solar System Model – The world's largest scale model of the solar system extends for 40 miles between Houlton and Presque Isle and is built on a scale of one mile to 93 million miles. The planet replicas are placed at the appropriate distance from the sun, represented by a huge yellow arch at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.

Milk Chocolate Wildlife – Len Libby Candies in Scarborough is home to the world’s only full-size moose made of chocolate: Lenny. He’s 1,700 pounds of solid milk chocolate. Lenny’s new chocolate friends are Libby, a full-size female black bear, and her cubs Cocoa and Chips.

Penobscot Narrows Bridge Observatory – The span carrying Route 1 over the Penobscot River near Bucksport is North America’s only public bridge with an observatory. See mountains, lakes and Penobscot Bay from 437 feet above the river.  

Somes Sound – This body of water on Mount Desert Island is the only glacially-formed fjord-like feature in New England.  

Burnham Tavern – In June of 1775, residents of Machias and surrounding towns gathered at Job Burnham’s to plan the first naval battle of the American Revolution. The locals captured the British ship Margaretta in victory.

The Virginia – In 1607 members of the Popham Colony built a 30-ton pinnace named Virginia, the first English ocean-going ship built in North America. A replica of the ship is being constructed at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath.

Cribstone Bridge – This bridge connecting Orr’s Island and Bailey Island is constructed of granite blocks laid in a latticed “cribwork” formation to allow the movement of the ocean tides through the structure. It’s the only design of its kind in the world.

Aroostook Valley Country Club – A passport is not necessary to play at this golf course with a parking lot and pro shop in Fort Fairfield, Maine, and 18 holes and a clubhouse in Grand Falls, New Brunswick Canada.

Old Sow Whirlpool – This tidal whirlpool, which can be seen from ferries near the harbor of Eastport, is the largest of its kind in the western hemisphere.

100-mile Wilderness – The 100 mile 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 2,175-mile footpath.

Pownalborough Courthouse – This 1761 landmark along the Kennebec River in Dresden is the only remaining pre-Revolutionary War court building in Maine.

The Old Gaol – The original jail at this York site was built in 1656. The 1719 structure open to visitors today is the oldest standing prison in the United States and one of the oldest British-built public buildings in the country. One of 10 historic properties maintained by Old York Historical Society.

Seashore Trolley Museum – This Kennebunkport museum contains the world’s largest collection of trolleys and electric streetcars. Tours, trolley rides, and special events throughout the summer.

Eartha – The world’s largest revolving and rotating globe (41’ 1.5” in diameter) is on display at the headquarters of the DeLorme mapping company in Yarmouth.

Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village – New Gloucester is home to the world’s only active Shaker religious community. Members of the United Society of Believers, known as Shakers, established a community beside Sabbathday Lake in 1783. The village, its museum buildings and the Shaker Store are open to the public.