Maine's coast is one of the most spectacular in America. The state's 3,500 miles of rocky shoreline — more coastline than California — encompasses fishing villages, lobster shacks, lighthouses, and the extraordinary natural beauty of Acadia National Park. It's a coast that rewards slow exploration: the kind of place where you pull off the road to watch lobster boats hauling traps in the morning fog, where you eat lobster rolls at a picnic table overlooking the harbor, and where the smell of salt air and pine trees is the defining sensory experience.

Here's your guide to Maine's coast, from the southern beaches to the remote Down East shore.

Portland is the largest city in Maine and one of the finest food cities in New England — a compact, walkable city with a remarkable concentration of excellent restaurants, craft breweries, and artisan food producers.

The Old Port: Portland's historic waterfront district — the Old Port — is the heart of the city's food and nightlife scene. The cobblestone streets are lined with excellent restaurants, bars, and shops in beautifully preserved 19th-century buildings.

The Food Scene: Portland has been named one of the best food cities in America by multiple publications, and the designation is deserved. The city's proximity to the Gulf of Maine — one of the most productive fishing grounds in the world — means that the seafood is extraordinary.

Must-Eat:

• Eventide Oyster Co. — the finest oyster bar in New England, with exceptional Maine oysters and creative seafood dishes
• Fore Street — a landmark Portland restaurant with exceptional wood-fired cuisine
• Duckfat — famous for its Belgian-style fries cooked in duck fat, with excellent sandwiches and milkshakes
• The Honey Paw — creative Asian-influenced cuisine with Maine ingredients

The Lobster Roll: Portland has dozens of excellent lobster roll options. The classic Maine lobster roll — cold lobster meat with mayonnaise on a toasted hot dog bun — is the benchmark. Bite into Maine and Red's Eats (in Wiscasset) are both legendary.

Acadia National Park — on Mount Desert Island — is the only national park in New England and one of the most spectacular parks in the country. The park's combination of dramatic coastal scenery, excellent hiking, and the charming gateway town of Bar Harbor makes it one of the most rewarding destinations on the East Coast.

Cadillac Mountain — the highest point on the East Coast north of Brazil (1,530 feet) — is famous for being the first place in the continental United States to see the sunrise. The summit is accessible by car or by hiking trail, and the views are extraordinary.

Jordan Pond — a beautiful glacial lake in the heart of the park, with excellent hiking trails and the famous Jordan Pond House, where the tradition of afternoon tea and popovers has been maintained since the 19th century.

The Carriage Roads — 45 miles of car-free carriage roads built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in the early 20th century — offer excellent cycling and hiking through the park's most beautiful landscapes.

Thunder Hole — a dramatic sea cave where the waves create a thunderous boom as they compress the air inside. Best visited at mid-tide when the waves are most active.

Bar Harbor: The gateway town to Acadia is a charming coastal village with excellent restaurants, shops, and accommodations. The town's position on Frenchman Bay, with views of the Porcupine Islands, is one of the most beautiful settings in Maine.

Camden is widely considered the most beautiful harbor town in Maine — a combination of a perfect natural harbor, beautiful Victorian architecture, and the Camden Hills State Park rising directly behind the town.

The Harbor: Camden's harbor is one of the most beautiful in New England, with a fleet of windjammers (traditional sailing schooners) that offer multi-day sailing trips along the Maine coast.

Camden Hills State Park — a beautiful state park rising directly behind the town, with excellent hiking trails to the summit of Mount Battie (800 feet), which offers panoramic views of Penobscot Bay and the surrounding islands.

The Windjammer Fleet: Camden is the home port of several historic windjammers that offer multi-day sailing trips along the Maine coast. A windjammer cruise — sleeping aboard a historic schooner, eating meals prepared in the galley, and exploring the islands and harbors of the Maine coast — is one of the great travel experiences in New England.

No visit to Maine is complete without eating lobster — and Maine's lobster is genuinely the finest in the world. The cold, clean waters of the Gulf of Maine produce lobsters with sweet, tender meat that is far superior to lobster from warmer waters.

The Lobster Shack: The quintessential Maine lobster experience is eating at a lobster shack — a casual, outdoor restaurant where you crack your own lobster at a picnic table overlooking the water. The best lobster shacks are simple, unpretentious places where the focus is entirely on the quality of the seafood.

Top Lobster Shacks:

• Red's Eats (Wiscasset) — famous for its lobster rolls, which are piled so high with lobster meat that they're almost impossible to eat
• The Lobster Shack at Two Lights (Cape Elizabeth) — a beautiful setting at the base of Two Lights State Park, with excellent lobster and stunning views
• Thurston's Lobster Pound (Bernard) — a beloved lobster pound on the water near Acadia, with excellent lobster and beautiful views of Bass Harbor

The Lobster Roll: The Maine lobster roll — cold lobster meat with mayonnaise on a toasted hot dog bun — is one of the great American sandwiches. The Connecticut-style lobster roll (warm lobster meat with drawn butter) is also excellent.

Maine has more lighthouses than any other state in the country — more than 60 historic lighthouses dot the coast, each with its own history and character.

Portland Head Light — the most photographed lighthouse in Maine, built in 1791 and still in operation. The lighthouse is located in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, with beautiful views of Casco Bay.

Bass Harbor Head Light — a beautiful lighthouse on the southwestern tip of Mount Desert Island, with dramatic views of the rocky coast. One of the most photographed lighthouses in New England.

Pemaquid Point Light — a beautiful lighthouse on a dramatic rocky point in Bristol, with excellent views of the surrounding coast.

Best Time: July and August for the full coastal experience — warm weather, all attractions open, and the lobster season at its peak. September for smaller crowds and excellent weather. Fall foliage (October) is spectacular.

Getting There: Portland is accessible by air (Portland International Jetport), by Amtrak (the Downeaster from Boston), and by car (I-95 from Boston, about 2 hours).

For more Maine adventures, see our Acadia National Park Guide, Maine Lobster & Seafood Guide, Maine Outdoor Adventures, Maine Weekend Itinerary, Portland Maine Food Guide, and Best Time to Visit Maine. Also see our Best National Parks for First-Time Visitors.