Happy birthday, Maine! The Pine Tree State turns 194 on March 15, so we’re remembering what makes this New England state so special.
Here are five of the many reasons we love Maine…
1. It’s the lobster capital of America! Maine is responsible for just about 90 percent of the country’s lobster supply with an annual harvest of 40 million pounds. And really, who doesn’t love a good lobster roll?
2. It’s prime moose-viewin’ territory. Watch out, Frostbite Falls, Minnesota: Maine is the real home of Rocky and Bullwinkle. The state boasts more moose per mile than any other, offering plenty of photo ops of these fuzzy giants.
3. Maine’s small-town charm is the stuff books are made of. Just ask literary behemoth Stephen King, who writes from his home in Bangor.
4. The coastlines give California a run for its money. There are 3,478 miles of coast in Maine, meaning there are more sandy shores in the Pine Tree State than in California, which clocks in at 3.427 miles of coast. Plus, the shores of Maine are dotted with more than 60 historic lighthouses.
5. It works hard for its nickname of the Vacation State. Just check out these pictures: Who wouldn’t want to unwind in Maine?
(Main image: NoahBKaplan used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license)
