Drive 183.9 miles • 3 hours, 40 minutes

Maine is synonymous with succulent lobsters served with lots of oozing butter. But a look beyond the crustacean reveals a state with a remarkable colonial history, endless wilderness areas and one very interesting local (hint: the guy who wrote “The Shining”).

1. Wells

Starting Point • Food, Nature

Wells’ world-famous beaches stretch for four miles. Each of them—Moody Beach, Crescent Beach, Wells Beach and Drakes Island Beach—are carpeted in smooth sand ideal for beachcombing. Wells Harbor Park is home to lobster boats, and the fresh harvest graces the plates of local eateries. Walking trails in the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge allows for exploration of the salt marshes and estuaries for migrating birds.

2. Old Orchard Beach

22.1 miles, 31 minutes • Food, History, Quirky

Amazingly, Old Orchard Beach first earned its reputation as a tourist destination in 1631, when founder Thomas Rogers described it as a “Garden by the Sea.” The town continues drawing visitors to its pier for games, special events and those famous Pier Fries—best eaten with vinegar. The historic Whitehall Building is where you’ll find this treat, made from the same century-old recipe.

3. Augusta

80.5 miles, 1 hour, 39 minutes • History, Nature

Maine’s capital city is home to Viles Arboretum, a 224-acre reserve protecting trees, shrubs and plants grown for educational, recreational and scientific discovery. The Maine State Museum houses a major Civil War collection and research records dating back to the 1600s, and Old Fort Western, built in 1754, was once a base of operation for Benedict Arnold. Nearby is the State House, an architectural wonder constructed of genuine Maine granite and capped by an 180-foot dome.

4. Bangor

81.3 miles, 1 hour, 30 minutes • History, Nature, Quirky

In Bangor, stroll the scenic banks of the Penobscot River. Two sanctuaries, Hirundo Wildlife Refuge and Sunkhaze Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, are home to over 200 bird species and 45 species of mammals. It will be hard to miss the huge statue of Paul Bunyan as well as the wrought-iron bats and spider webs adorning the gates to author Stephen King’s Victorian mansion.