The Highlands
Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park
The highlands of Maine are the backcountry home of Baxter State Park, which boasts 200,000 acres of forest, the 4,292-foot Mount Katahdin, and the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. It also is where the largest lake in the northeastern United States, Moosehead Lake, is found. The area is rich with wildlife, including black bears, moose and white tail deer. Outdoor activities such as hiking, fishing and camping abound. And if you're really feeling adventurous, try white-water rafting on the upper Penobscot and Kennebec rivers.
Baxter State Park
64 Balsam Drive
Millinocket, Maine 04462
Tel: (207) 723-5140
http://www.baxterstateparkauthority.com/
Downeast and the Mid-Coast
An Acadia National Park beach
Downeast Maine is where Acadia National Park can be found. Located on the same island as the famed Bar Harbor resort community, its more than 30,000 acres combine ocean shoreline with mountains, forests and lakes into a smorgasbord of everything that makes Maine special. The coastal area is home to numerous quaint, historic small towns and villages, such as Bucksport, Bath, Belfast and Camden, and is dotted with lighthouses and lobster boiling-shacks. While the waters are cold and the tides are powerful, there are pleasant beaches and lots of sea kayaking.
Acadia National Park
P.O. Box 177
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
Tel: (207) 288-3338
http://www.nps.gov/acad/
Aroostook County
Aroostook is Maine's largest and most rural county. Its remote backcounty is still home to Acadian French speakers. While its lakes and streams offer many opportunities for canoeing or fishing, the county also is crisscrossed by first-rate biking and hiking trails. Its standout charm is in its simple, quiet virtues. Those looking for a long, quiet getaway should give Aroostook County close attention, because it is about as far as you can go to get away from it all and still be in the United States.
