If you're looking for a vacation at the beach, the Southern Maine Coast is the destination for you.

© 2002 Brian Smith provoicetracks.com/galleries

There are many miles-long beaches along the coast for you to enjoy, but when you're ready for something else, just inland there is a full palette of activities and attractions at your disposal. Comprising the towns of Kittery, York Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunk/Kennebunkport, Saco and Biddeford along U.S. Route 1 from the New Hampshire/Maine stateline up to Portland, this area literally offers you whatever you're looking for all within a single twenty-five mile stretch.

Starting in Kittery, you'll enjoy one of the country's first and largest Outlet Shopping centers for unparalleled bargains.

Through the farm community of York, you'll be stopping at all the antique shops and specialty stores.

Once you get to Ogunquit, it will be time explore a historic Maine coastal village. The town has many art galleries, arts and crafts shops, the quaint, and still active fishing village of Perkins Cove, all accessible from the world famous and historic Marginal Way, one of the most spectacular coastal walks in the country. In the evening, choose from the theatre, a first-run movie or one of the many jazz and folk venues in the area.

On to Wells for a world-class public beach, more antiquing, bookshops, cruises and fishing.

Just north is the wonderful Kennebunk/Kennebunkport area, summer home to the Bush family and many other notable people. This is a spectacular oceanside community, reminiscent of Newport, Rhode Island, but where everyone is welcome. The shopping is world-class and the beach is perfect.

Heading still further north, you reach the towns of Saco and Biddeford which offer many activities from major antique outlets, to a train and trolley museum, to shopping, waterslides, miniature golf, and many other tourist attractions for the whole family.

And let's not forget the food! From Kittery to South Portland, it seems like there's a restaurant every few yards! There are many clam shacks and drive-ins, family-style restaurants, lobster pounds, diners, elegant dining rooms, farmhouse restaurants, buffets - you name it. And we're not just talking seafood here. In addition to its world famous fresh lobster and seafood, the area is represented by every international cuisine from Asian to German, Italian to French. But of course, it is the abundance of fresh seafood that attracts one to the area, at least at first.

If you've never been to Maine, the Southern Coast is the place to start. You'll be so enchanted by sampling the best of Maine that you'll want to see more and more and you'll keep coming back again and again.