13 things you must do in Maine

Maine is a brilliant vacation spot.

In the summer, the coastal towns are filled with people chowing down on lobster rolls, gulping local beer, and enjoying the gorgeous weather. For adventurers, the state features tons of small towns and national and state parks for kayaking, hiking, biking, and exploring. 

Even in the winter months, when it might seem unbearably cold in the north, Maine is home to some great ski resorts and activities.

Here are 13 things you need to do in Maine.

Go white water rafting in class 2-4 rapids

While the Kennebec River is slightly tamer as a class 2-4 (out of a 1-6 rating) river, rafting on the Penobscot River is a personal favorite. The class 4 river (with some 5 sections) flows under the shadow of Mount Katahdin and is a 12-mile adventure. You can also head out on the Dead River, with 16 miles of continuous rapids, though the class level depends on scheduled dam releases.

See the earliest sunrise in America at Acadia National Park

You can catch the earliest sunrise in America (between October and March) from the top of Cadillac Mountain, which is accessible via hiking and driving. You can also ride your bike through the carriage trails, do some rock climbing, see the Thunder Hole, and drive along the Park Loop road. And don't forget to stop and explore the adorable towns, such as Bar Harborand Southwest Harbor. 

Tour local breweries for some fresh local beer

Portland is chock-full of amazing breweries, like Allagash, and you take a spin on the Maine Brew Bus to tour local craft breweries, including Rising Tide. But Portland's not the the only place to visit. Among others are the Sea Dog Brewing Co. in Bangor and the Baxter Brewing Co. in Lewiston/Auburn. And since the wild blueberry is the official fruit of Maine, I recommend trying some of the blueberry beers offered at the breweries.