Maine – The Pine Tree State

Maine is our 23rd state. It is famous for its beautiful woodlands, rocky coastline and seafood cuisine – particularly lobster. I’ve been fortunate to have lobster right out of the water a couple of times there, and it’s worth every compliment it receives!

Maine is a border state with Canada and is tucked up as our most northeastern state. In fact, it only borders one other state – New Hampshire. As a tidbit of interesting history: it was originally part of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It was later admitted to the Union as part of the Missouri Compromise on March 15, 1820. Maine was allowed in as a free state, balancing the admission of Missouri as a slave state.

Today, Maine’s industries include tourism and seafood. Families hike and ski in the White Mountains and tourists enjoy visiting – and possibly cruising to - their iconic coastal lighthouses. Its governor, the 75th, is Democrat Janet Mills, and its capital is Augusta.

There are also the famous moose – so they say. I, for one, did not see a single moose the entire time I was there! But that was a small disappointment in such a beautiful landscape, and I instead contented myself with great lobster dinners and some outstanding cake from Food Network's Guy Fieri-approved Becky’s Diner in Portland. I discovered that food that good has the ability to minimize any disappointment, no matter how great!