12 Unique Attractions That Prove That Maine Is The Most Underrated State In America

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There's No Place Quite Like Maine

Summary

Flights and hotels in Maine are cheaper than in other states, making it a great value for travelers looking to save money.
Maine offers unique attractions like Perry's Nut House, Battery Steele, and The Shoe Tree that provide a fun and memorable experience for visitors.
From the International Cryptozoology Museum to the Paul Bunyan Statue, Maine has a wide range of quirky and interesting sights that are worth exploring.

Maine does not get as much love as some other states in the United States of America, but it has quite a few fun attractions to visit. The average person will view places like New York, California, and Illinois as the states with the most hot spots worth exploring. It leads to states like Maine flying under the radar as a nice place to visit and have a great time. From small and underrated towns in Maine to those we all know and love, there's something to see nearly every place one goes.

Flights and hotels in Maine are often cheaper than in other states, which makes it a good value. The smaller crowds at the attractions will provide more fun as well as opposed to the trendy states. We will look at some of the fun yet unlikely places that are located in Maine. These spots will give you a great trip without the usual annoyances of traveling in a bigger state. From the gorgeous city of Portland, where everyone wants to retire, to a tiny fishing town in Maine, this state is filled to the brim with uniqueness.

UPDATE: 2023/11/17 14:22 EST BY NOAH STAATS

There's No Place Quite Like Maine

This article has been refreshed with two additional places that make Maine shine and recommendations for hotels in the area. Whether you come here for the holidays, summer break, or a fun long weekend, Maine is one of the hidden gems in this wonderful nation. Have fun!

12 Perry's Nut House

Green of Steamboat Landing Park in Belfast, Maine, along the Passagassawakeag River in Waldo County, USA

Something worth exploring while driving through Maine is the ever-favorited Perry's Nut House. Here lies the tourist attraction and store on Route One in Belfast, offering large painted animal statues outside and a selection of homemade fudge, fresh nuts, candy, curiosities, t-shirts, children's toys, and other trinkets. Perry's Nut House has long been a staple of the city, making it to 'weirdest places' lists and articles regularly. If traveling with kids or teenagers, this might be a perfect break between cities on the road trip, and it should even be fun for the adults.

There's a lot to see and purchase here!

Address: 45 Searsport Ave, Belfast, ME 04915

11 Battery Steele

Battery Steele military structure outside of Portland, Maine

One of the more interesting places that make Maine a must-visit is the Battery Steele military fortification on Peaks Island, Portland, Maine, in Casco Bay. This location brings guests from across the region, hoping to snap pictures of the unique monument. Notably, Battery Steele sits as a military structure (abandoned) within a 14-acre preserve. It almost appears out of a sci-fi movie and gives off an eerie vibe. Battery Steele was completed in 1942 as part of World War II, dating back many decades. The preserve is also open 24 hours a day.

Address: Peaks Island, ME 04108

10 The Shoe Tree

Littleton_depot_2011 — Pi.1415926535, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Littleton Depot in Maine

The Shoe Tree lives up to the name of a tree with many shoes in the branches. Maine has this unique attraction in the Houlton area that stands out visually when spotting it. CBS reported that a local man began placing shoes on the tree as a fun idea with his grandchildren, which turned into a phenomenon.

Countless shoes are strategically placed on the tree to make it an unofficial landmark for anyone in the Maine area. Not everyone will want to see an attraction like this, but it is unique enough to be worth checking out for the average person.

Address: 1046 US-1, Littleton, ME 04730

9 The World Traveler Sign

World Traveler Signpost, Maine

A confusing sign in Maine is comical enough to snap a picture for your Instagram feed if you want to make your friends scratch their heads. This sign shows the distance to what appears to be many other countries that are much further away than indicated.

The places on the sign are actually just towns with those names in the Maine area. It is located in the Lynchville area and often gets people stopping for photo ops. Anyone going to Maine wanting to have unique memories should check this sign-out.

Address: 1439-1435, ME-35, Bethel, ME 04217

8 International Cryptozoology Museum

Docks Portland, Maine — Photo by Matt McNulty on Unsplash

Docks in Portland, Maine during the day

The Portland area of Maine is home to the International Cryptozoology Museum. Cryptozoology is a subculture that attempts to prove that creatures of folklore exist. This museum attempts to sway you over to that side of thinking with its exhibits.

Various replicas and artifacts relating to this world can be found at the International Cryptozoology Museum in Maine. This is one of the few places you’ll be able to see replicas of Bigfoot and P. T. Barnum’s Feejee Mermaid in the same place.

Address: 32 Resurgam Pl, Portland, ME 04102

These are some of the best Maine resorts for a family-friendly vacation to the state.

7 Paul Bunyan Statue

Paul Bunyan statue in Bangor, Maine, USA

Another folklore-related attraction in Maine pays tribute to the giant lumberjack figure known as Paul Bunyan. The story of his superhuman actions makes him a beloved character that children will often read stories about growing up.

Bass Park in the Bangor area of Maine is home to this 31-foot-tall statue of Bunyan. It is the tallest statue of Paul Bunyan in the world, and Bangor is referred to as his home. This is a statue you won’t be able to find anywhere outside of Maine.

Address: 519 Main St, Bangor, ME 04401

For those staying in Bangor, these hotels are worth booking.

6 Wiggly Bridge

Short Sands Beach in York, Maine, USA

The name of Wiggly Bridge may strike fear into you based on what it sounds like. The idea of a wiggly bridge does not provide much confidence, but it has become another unique attraction for anyone taking a trip to Maine.

York is the home of one of the world’s smallest suspension bridges. The bridge is only about 75 feet between two green towers and has become a fun attraction for Maine residents. It was named Wiggly Bridge after a group of Girl Scouts walking on it came up with the description.

Address: 57 Barrell Ln Ext, York, ME 03909

5 Fawcett's Antique Toy and Art Museum

A barn in Waldoboro, Maine, USA

The Waldoboro area of Maine is home to the unique attraction of Fawcett's Antique Toy and Art Museum. Any fans of toys, antiques, and antique toys will get joy out of making this part of their Maine trip.

The museum features countless toys from a resident in his 70s who has collected antiques for decades. This is the kind of place where adults, children, and everyone in between can have a good time checking out.

Address: 3468 Atlantic Hwy, Waldoboro, ME 04572

4 The Desert of Maine

Desert of Maine, Freeport, Maine, USA.

Maine decided to go all in with creating a tourist destination by coming up with The Desert of Maine, located in the Freeport area. A 40-acre plot makes up the small desert-like environment for those checking it out for photo-ops and/or curiosity.

There are even fiberglass camels for visitors to take pictures on top of. The gift shop and sand museum add more fun to The Desert of Maine to make it among the top tourist attractions in the entire state.

Address: 95 Desert Rd, Freeport, ME 04032

3 Wild Blueberry Land

Wild Blueberry Land, Columbia Falls, Maine

The name of Wild Blueberry Land likely already catches your attention before you know what it is, which is why it has found such success in the Columbia Falls area of Maine. Anyone who loves blueberries must-visit Maine to check out all the fun here.

There is a bakery that sells everything blueberry-related, from pies to breads. A blueberry-themed mini-golf course adds another fun dynamic outside the bakery and gift shop. Food, games, and many photo opportunities come at Maine’s Wild Blueberry Land.

Address: 1067 US-1, Columbia Falls, ME 04623

2 The Reversing Falls

Canoes on a lake dock in Maine

The Reversing Falls is also known as Cobscook Falls in the Pembroke area of Maine. A large rock ledge makes it impossible for the water to move as smoothly as we are associated with most other bodies of water.

The visuals of a wild waterfall, high swells, and whirlpools all make the Reversing Falls a great place to visit. The tide heading in the opposite direction will shift the direction of the water into the opposite direction for the movement of the water to create a reversing waterfall effect. Anyone who loves water will love the Reversing Falls.

Address: Reversing Falls Rd, Pembroke, ME 04666

1 Umbrella Cover Museum

Casco Bay Bridge spans Fore River connecting South Portland and Portland in Maine

Museums exist worldwide, which leads to states like Maine having to find unique ones that stand out. The Umbrella Cover Museum certainly does that for the visitors to give it a chance when in the Peaks Island area of the state.

Maine resident Nancy Hoffman realized she kept many umbrella covers and set them aside, not thinking much about them. It led to the creation of the Umbrella Cover Museum, described as "dedicated to the appreciation of the mundane in everyday life.” Guided tours take place with Hoffman playing her accordion, which adds to the charm.

Address: 62 Island Ave, Portland, ME 04108