Discover Coastal Maine With This One-Day Route Packed with Views

Of all the lighthouses in Maine, Portland Headlight in Cape Elizabeth is perhaps the highlight. The most photographed lighthouse in Maine, this darling of Instagram offers historical significance and the kind of rugged beauty for which the state is known.

No store is more synonymous with Maine than L. L. Bean, and a visit to the flagship store in Freeport, Maine, is a must. Known for the larger-than-life Bean Boot standing strong at its entrance, the L.L. Bean store in Freeport is an homage to the cultural-shaping phenomenon of this Maine icon. Come for the 16-foot boot, stay for an only-in-Maine shopping experience.

The Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse dates back to 1902 and is one of the most quintessential scenes in midcoast Maine. A postcard-perfect spot, the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is perched at the end of the breakwater and includes a keeper's house and a fog signal building. Marie H. Reed Breakwater Park affords the best views of the lighthouse; the park’s Rockland Breakwater Trail is a 1.9-mile trek that immerses hikers in the beauty of craggy, coastal Maine.

While the jury’s out on whether or not Paul Bunyan actually hailed from Maine, there’s a 31-foot monolith in Bangor that certainly stakes his claim. Gifted to Mainers by a group of builders from NYC on the occasion of their 125th anniversary, the Paul Bunyan Statue has been a prominent feature of Bass Park in Bangor since 1959 and has been a beloved roadside attraction in Maine for just as long.

The “Crown Jewel of the Atlantic Coast” is a showstopper and an appropriate grand finale for this one-day road trip up coastal Maine. Beaches and caves and mountains and lighthouses paint a scene that’s wholly unique and quintessentially Maine.

Have your America the Beautiful Pass ready for easy entry into the park; and, in the spirit of this trip, I suggest hitting the trail in a Bronco Sport^® via Park Loop Road. This 27-mile jaunt around the east side of Mount Desert Island connects Acadia's lakes, mountains, and shoreline and provides access to the park’s most acclaimed natural wonders: Sieur de Monts, Sand Beach, Otter Point, Jordan Pond, and Cadillac Mountain. Keep your hiking shoes handy and plan to get out and explore when inspiration strikes.

After a day on the road, a night at a premier resort on Maine’s dazzling Mount Desert Island is most certainly in order. Harborside Hotel, Spa & Marina offers luxurious accommodations for even the weariest of travelers – two and four legged, in fact! (Well-behaved dogs under 30 pounds are welcome with a pet fee.) Harborside’s on-site restaurants and bars showcase Maine cuisine at its finest; the homemade lobster bisque from Stewman’s Downtown is the Pine Tree State in a bowl.

Acadia National Park is an entire world unto itself, with places like Sand Beach, Jordan Pond, and Thunder Hole all must visits if you want to extend your trip, if time allows. If not, our final destination is one that will have you up and back on the road early – really early: the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain.

Accessible with the Bronco Sport’s^® capability, it's the highest point on the east coast of the United States. During parts of the year, it's also the first place in the U.S. to see the sunrise. Plan to arrive at least an hour before sunrise, and between May and October, you’ll need a reservation for timed parking lot entry.