Acadia National Park
#5 in Best Maine Beaches
No trip to Maine would be complete without visiting Acadia National Park. Spanning 47,000 acres, Acadia offers more than 150 miles of hiking trails and several stunning beaches. Although the water rarely rises above a frigid 55 degrees, Sand Beach is one of the park’s most-visited attractions – and for good reason. Nestled between mountains and granite rock cliffs, this unique pocket beach is one of the only cold-water, shell-based sand beaches in the world. If you’d rather swim in warmer waters while in the park, check out the beaches at Lake Wood and Echo Lake.
York, ME
#6 in Best Maine Beaches
The idyllic coastline of York is the perfect escape for travelers seeking a classic beach vacation. Long Sands Beach features a wide shore ideal for playing volleyball and sunbathing, though you’ll want to arrive during low tide for access to more sand. Meanwhile, Short Sands Beach draws families keen on searching for sea glass and bodyboarding in the waves. But you can’t leave this beach town without enjoying some of its out-of-water activities. Watch candymakers pull saltwater taffy at The Goldenrod, or race go-karts at York’s Wild Kingdom, New England’s only zoo and amusement park.
