9 Exciting and Unique Things To Do In Maine (2024)
A Popular holiday destination, Maine is a gem of the United States. One cannot get any more Northeastern in the United States than Maine, and that’s what makes visiting here more interesting. Being the Vacationland of North America, Maine has uncountable tourist attractions, popular events, and places that the world knows about and wants to visit. However, Do You Know that there’s a side of Maine that’s above and beyond the usual one? Yes, we are talking about the Unique and Exciting Maine, which isn’t particularly hidden but still often overlooked.
From being home to the world’s biggest Globe to housing a museum of mythical animals, Maine has no shortage of unique entities. Maine is home to some of the strangest attractions in New England, the dose of strangeness that you still don’t know about. This U.S. State can surprise you with every next unfold and still have a lot more exciting things preserved. Ready to know about them? Well then, join us to find out the Most Exciting, Unique, and Quirky Things to do in Maine, USA. Have a look:
9 Exciting and Unique Things to do in Maine
1. Visit the World’s Biggest Rotating Globe’ Earth Inside Earth’
Popularly known as ‘Eartha,’ the Biggest Rotating Globe in the World (obviously after Earth) is located in Yarmouth, a small town near Portland, Maine. This roadside attraction is proudly a part of the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest rotating and revolving Globe. Eartha has a diameter of over 41 feet, and it weighs somewhere around 5,600 pounds. It is mounted at the same axial tilt as Earth, at a 23.5-degree angle, and therefore its equator is diagonal to the floor. Eartha is motorized, and the every combined rotation and revolution takes 18 minutes sharp. This great and unique tourist attraction in Maine is open to the public, and being here is undoubtedly one of its kind experience. The building has two balconies that allow visitors to take a closer look at the Globe. They even have a gift shop right adjacent.
2. Explore the International Cryptozoology Museum
Popularly known as the only International Cryptozoology Museum in the world, the International Cryptozoology Museum is a must-visit in Maine. The museum is home to an unrivaled collection of mysterious objects relating to the world of animals. Its collection consists of specimens, replicas, and artifacts relating to known, unknown, rare, and unique animals. They have information (not sure whether true to fake) about Bigfoot, Yeti, and the Loch Ness Monster. The museum is also home to a primitive fish that’s gone extinct (if believed). The eight-and-a-half-foot tall, 300-pound “Crookston Bigfoot” sculpture is quite a centerpiece of the museum. One can also find fecal material, photographs, footprints, cryptid hair samples, and other unusual things inside the museum. Individuals who are wondering what else the world has more than the ‘Usual’ must visit this museum when in Maine.
3. Visit Thuya Garden and Asticou Azalea Garden on Mount Desert Island
Gardens aren’t unique, but they are exciting. The Thuya Garden and Asticou Azalea Garden in Mount Desert Island are must-visits for every nature enthusiast. Thuya is a semi-formal herbaceous garden that operates seasonally from May through October. Being winterized, it also opens shortly for another season. This gorgeous flowering garden on a granite hillside overlooking Northeast Harbor has a very tranquil feel to it. Spending a few hours here is a rejuvenating experience. Next is the elegant, inspiring and priceless Asticou Azalea Garden. This natural fantasy world, though, is smaller, but its size hasn’t ever played with its popularity and inspiring visitors. The garden has different features from nature, color, water, birds, butterflies, and more. It operates daily during daylight hours from May through October.
4. Cool Down Your Curiosity At The Desert Of Maine
People often get confused with the mention of the ‘Desert of Maine.’ Can there be a desert right in the middle of a greenery-rich state? Well, if you are talking about Maine, it can be possible. A tourist attraction and topic of natural curiosity, the Desert of Maine is weird and wonderful both at the same time. It isn’t dedicatedly a desert but a 40 acres barren glacial dunes patch in Freeport. The Desert of Maine is a living example of what happens to green farmland when it is not well cared for. The sand you see here today was deposited by receding glaciers and later uncovered by years of poor farming practices. Presently people visit here to learn about the unique history, geology, and ecology and enjoy the tourism side of the attraction. From hiking the dune trails to fossil digging experience, story walking, mini golfing, shopping, and dining, there’s a lot to do at Desert of Maine.
5. See the Stephen King’s House From Outside
Visiting Stephen King’s House is an exciting thing to do in Maine, especially if you are curious about oddities. It is a 19th-century Victorian Mansion on Bangor’s nicest historic block and is home to Stephen King, the great American horror and super fiction author. Stephen is a Maine native, and despite his name and fame, he still chooses to continue living in his former house in Bangor. The mansion is all red and white, trim, towering, and old enough to appear quite historic. Though it is private property, since the views are clear from the street, one can easily check its external look. The Stephen King Mansion is not open to the public, but people stop there and take pictures. You must check out this place if you are a Stephen King fan.
6. Get Surprised By Observing The Old Sow Whirlpool, Eastport Area
The largest tidal Whirlpool in the Western Hemisphere, Old Sow Whirpool, is located on the principal island of Eastport, Maine. It is basically on the international water boundary between two states, the coasts of Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. What causes the Whirlpool is the enormous tides and bathymetry of the ocean floor in that particular region. It has a diameter of around 250 feet though its speed still isn’t the fastest in the world. The water turbulence here can prove dangerous to man-powered craft; however, it poses no danger to larger boats. When the Whirlpool is gurgling, one can take a large boat at a little distance and watch out for driftwood and debris that gets caught in the swirling current. Though remaining at a safer distance is extremely necessary, or it can prove hazardous.
7. Spend Some Time At The Enchanting Fairy Houses Of Mackworth Island
If you happen to visit Mackworth Island in Maine, make sure you check out the Fairy Houses. Located in Falmouth is a small Fairy Village, nearly ten minutes from the parking lot in a wooded setting. As per rumors, the local community who lives here gives access to fairies in the tiny houses that are built using natural elements. Even the general public is welcome to visit and construct their own houses using leaves, sticks, and rocks. On your way, you will also find some enchanting fairy houses built by others, and some of them may even blow your mind with their creativity. The only rule is to use only natural material, be it anything from wood, leaves, fruit, vegetables, feathers, seashells, bark to, pine, and more. To some, the experience may appear out as weird and useless but being here with kids and enjoying something so basic is worth it.
8. Go Check Out The Shoe Tree In Hodgdon, Maine.
Northern Maine is quite full of some unusual sights, and the Shoe Tree in Hodgdon is one fine example of the same. Nearly 7 miles south of Houlton stands a tree strung up with hundreds of shoes all across its branches. From where the shoes came? What are they doing here? Are some questions, answers to which are unknown to all. However, as per a few stories, Virgil Farrar, a local, used to hang shoes on the tree while playing with his grandchildren. He once used to say that ‘I’d like to fill the whole tree with shoes, and that’s what has turned into a reality today. However, the authenticity behind this story isn’t well verified. During the peak summer season, the tree is full of green leaves, and therefore one can often overlook what’s special about its presence. However, when leaves decide to fall down in autumn and winter, the Shoe Tree becomes quite evident in its literal sense.
9. Try Out Some Mouthwatering Indian Food In Maine
Well, given the flavor and spice intensity of Indian cuisine, trying it can be one exciting and unique thing to do in Maine. The Pine Tree State has quite a few good Indian Restaurants, so if you are willing to get a little adventurous with your dining choices, visit one. The options are quite a few, from the Taj Indian Cuisine in South Portland to Mother India in Lewiston and Jewel of Indian in Biddeford and Waterville. Everything from tandoori chicken to lamb curry, the soft naan, and the large vegetarian and vegan menu, these restaurants have everything to taste. However, the only trick is to ask the chef about the spice level of the particular dish before you try it. Mind it, Indian food can be too flavourful for western tastebuds sometimes.
