Top 5 Places to See Maine Foliage This Fall
One of the best parts of visiting southern Maine at the tail end of summer is the overwhelming number of great things to do during the fall in Maine. One of the most popular, and the most beautiful, is touring to see Maine’s amazing foliage. Fall’s colors come out in force Down East, and now is the best time of all to come and see them for yourself. To help you plan your trip, here are five of the best places to view Maine foliage this autumn.
Mount Agamenticus
Throughout the year, Mount Agamenticus is one of the most fun and beautiful attractions in the state of Maine. Fall is no exception; in fact, it might be the best time of all to visit Mount Agamenticus. The mountain’s 40+ miles of hiking and biking trails give you plenty of space to explore. Its varied landscape offers a home to a huge number of plants and animals species year-round, and during the fall, you can witness the annual hawk migration. Red-tails, Northern Goshawks, Peregrine falcons and even eagles pass over Mount A on their way south, using the coast as a guide. On a clear day, your own eagle eyes can take in Maine foliage views that stretch from the ocean all the way into New Hampshire!
Acadia National Park
Located on several islands off the coast of Maine, Acadia National Park is one of Maine’s most famous and stunning nature preserves. Stretching across more than 47,000 acres, Acadia is huge, and it presents huge foliage opportunity, too. With a unique mix of coastal and mountain terrain, Acadia National Park has some of the most stunning Maine foliage you’ll ever see. Explore the many trails and wooded paths, or take a boat out in the sheltered coves to see the changing leaves from the water. The park’s museums and nature centers are a good stop before making the drive up the winding road up Cadillac Mountain, the tallest peak on the Atlantic Coastline.
Ogunquit Museum of American Art
You might think it’s strange to visit an art museum to see Maine foliage, but when you get to the Ogunquit Museum of American Art you’ll understand why. The museum’s grounds contain a carefully-curated selection of outdoor sculptures alongside a wide range of garden plants and trees from around the world. A walk through the museum’s grounds, then, is both a trip to the museum and a nature walk at once.
Fall Foliage Cruises
While there are many ways to watch the leaves change, one of the most enjoyable and Maine-like is taking a coastal or river cruise. A number of cruises leave Maine’s coastal towns to take visitors on trips around coastal islands or up quiet rivers. One favorite is the Inland River Cruise from Portsmouth Harbor Cruises, which (though it’s technically on the border with New Hampshire) offers stunning views of Maine foliage from the water’s edge. Make sure you book in advance; these cruises are popular and space is limited.
The Maine Shoreline
Maine’s coast is indeed most famous for its sandy beaches and rocky coves, but during the fall, it also provides some of the most unique views of Maine’s foliage. Take a walk up the Marginal Way to see the fiery fall colors combine with the steely grey of the Atlantic, or rest on Ogunquit beach and enjoy amazing scenery in 360 degrees. You can even plan a stay in Ogunquit in one of our Maine beach cottages to experience the beauty of the coast all around you for your entire stay — and have a cozy fireplace to warm up with at the end of your day of sightseeing.
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