Maine, USA

Among Maine’s many boasts--striking scenery, historic maritime towns, colorful lobster shacks--perhaps none is greater than having the distinction of being the first state to see the sun rise each morning.

At Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, sunrise is an event. People gather at the peak, the highest point on the Eastern Seaboard, with thermos of coffee and warm blankets to herald the sun’s arrival. It is as popular as any tourist attraction.

Maine is a land of skies and seas. Its 3,500-mile coastline has produced a string of pretty coastal towns that share a rich, nautical history. Even its classic commercial sailing vessels, the oldest fleet in all of North America, have been designated as National Historic Landmarks.

York, on the southern Maine coast just over an hour north of Boston, is one of America’s oldest European settlements, dating back to 1624. The Cape Neddick Lighthouse, one of 65 along the state’s coast and islands, is among the most photographed anywhere. Further north is Greater Portland, the state’s most densely populated region with nearly 20 percent of the population. Portland offers up a lively arts scene and cobblestone charm. Maine’s National Register of Historic Districts lists more than a dozen in this city alone.

The jagged coastline of the Midcoast region is marked by fishing communities with quintessential Yankee roots. Camden has been called the “jewel of the coast.” This harbor town on Penobscot Bay has golf club and yacht club estates, which makes it easy to see how and why it has evolved as a summer residence of the wealthy. Yankee Magazine named it one of the 10 prettiest coastal towns in the state. Camden has, however, much competition for the title. They include Brunswick, a college town with its pedestrian-friendly downtown, Boothbay Harbor and Damariscotta.

Downeast Maine is a stretch of coastline bordering the Canadian border. The state’s largest island is here, Mount Desert Island. At one time, its town of Bar Harbor was one of New England’s most exclusive resorts, attracting the likes of the Rockefellers, Astors and Vanderbilts. Bar Harbor remains much loved and much visited. It is also the gateway to Acadia National Park, where Cadillac Mountain awaits the rising sun.