Maine’s Most Magical Places: How Many Have You Visited?

Drive through even some of the most beautiful states, and the highways will tell you exactly where to go. Outlet mall, next exit. Need a lawyer? There's a big, loud billboard telling you who to call.

Not in Maine. Maine has banned billboards since the late 1970s, making it one of only four states to do so. When people say, "It feels different in Maine..." this is one of the reasons why. Even the highways exude a sense of quiet, calm, and even magic.

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So if there are no big signs telling you where to find the state's best-kept secrets, how do you find them? That's the best part. It's the people. You ask a local. They'll tell you to take the smaller, quieter road. They do the same thing. Word of mouth isn't just a charming aspect of Maine — it's basically the state's version of GPS.

The Secret to Finding Maine's Best Kept Secrets? Locals.

An everyday garden shed in Maine has a sense of whimsy. (Getty Images)

This is the kind of magic we are talking about. Not Disney-style fireworks and pyrotechnics and special effects. No big fanfare. It's the quiet, stubborn kind of magic that Maine has plenty of, if you know where to look, or know someone who does.

An emerald-green swimming hole found at the end of a trail that looks like every other trail in the state. A garden shop that looks like it was staged for a sequel to Practical Magic. A boardwalk that might as well be the Yellow Brick Road. None of these destinations are secret. They just aren't being screamed about from the mountaintops.

Welcome to magical, mysterious Maine. Consider this your very un-billboard map.