Maine’s
Great Outdoors In recent years Maine has marketed itself as the Outdoor Adventure Capital of the East. It’s a bold claim, but one that is easily justified. After all, Maine stretches from the mountains to the sea and offers everything from mountain climbing to sea kayaking, from whitewater rafting to wilderness canoeing adventures. And anything and everything in between.
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he truth is everything about Maine invites participation in the great outdoors. There are more than 5,000 miles of coastline to explore, Acadia National Park has a mountain to climb that is higher than any point on the east coast north of Rio de Janeiro, and Baxter State Park offers more than 204,000 acres and is brimming over with a 5,267-foot-high mountain just waiting to challenge hikers.
Wildlife watching? Where would you like to start? Whale- watching, puffin watching and bird watching are at all time highs in popularity and Maine offers everything from wildlife parks to aquariums, from inland wetlands to forests teeming with moose, bear and white-tailed deer. Naturally, these are all wild animals and care must always be exercised when approaching, filming or watching these wonders of nature.
But that’s merely the beginning. Simply put, for anyone looking for an outdoor adventure, Maine has it all.
Golf? Easy. Maine has 130 courses that will test the mettle of any golfer while offering varied terrains, well-maintained fairways and greens and, best of all, shorter waits for tee times. Add plenty of natural beauty and wildlife and you’ll be anxious to tell your friends back home all about your golf experience in Maine.
Freshwater fishing? Where do you want to start? Maine has more than 6,000 lakes and ponds just waiting for you to drop a line, and knowledgeable guides ready to show you the best spots for perch, salmon, lake trout, pickerel, largemouth bass and brook trout. Licenses are available at most town offices and sporting camps. Saltwater fishing? Opportunities abound. Jig for mackerel close to shore or troll and cast for stripped bass, bluefish or bluefin tuna on a charter boat off shore. Want to try your hand at fly-fishing? No problem. Maine has hundreds, maybe thousands of spots in which you can try your luck. Truth to tell, sporting camps and fly-fishing camps have been around Maine since the Civil War and fly-fishermen and women come from all over the world to cast their lines in Maine’s waters.
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Hiking? Pick a spot — any spot. There are literally thousands of quiet mountain or island trails that offer solitude and a wilderness experience that will get you away from the crowds and give you a chance to think and reflect what’s really important in life. Biking? From the western mountains and the rolling hills of north and central Maine to the coastal plains and sandy beaches of the south and Down East, Maine has all types of terrain suited for biking. Experienced Maine cyclists have even identified 21 scenic bike tours designed for bikers of all levels. The tours range from 20 miles to just over 100 miles and all begin and end at the same location. What more could you ask? continued on page 16
Maine Campground Owners Association • CampMaine.com
