Vacationland Is America's Breathe-Easy Luxury Escape

Maine, often thought of for its vast forests, rocky oceanfront real estate, fresh lobster and low per-captia population is today one of America's quintessential quiet luxury destinations.

For two centuries the state has served as a quiet respite from busy New England life, first as a rustic retreat in the early 1800s then earning its more mature "Vacationland" nickname by the 1900s.

The state's approach to leisure stands in stark contrast to Newport, Rhode Island, the formal Gilded Age escape equidistant to Boston as the Maine-New Hampshire border. In Maine, luxury is not about frills or finery but rather a slower pace of life and stunning surrounds. It’s a sense of luxury that gives you your time back, like when a meeting ends early, but so, so much better.

Hidden Pond, a resort just inland and north of Kennebunkport proper, is the anthesis of this. The resort has the vibe of a relaxed adult summer camp, complete with farm-to-table dining and a spa, that welcomes honeymooners, babymooners and big city escapees alike.

"Hidden Pond offers an elevated way to experience Kennebunkport. Set within a 60-acre birch forest, the property features private hideaways designed to help guests unplug, immerse themselves in nature and truly relax-ideal for travelers seeking privacy and anonymity away from the hustle and bustle of daily life," Emily Nelson, area general manager for Kennebunkport Resort Collection, told Newsweek.

Beyond the property and a short drive down quaint rural roads dotted with fruit stands in the summer, Kennebunkport proper is a feast for the senses.

"Alongside some of Southern Maine's most beautiful sandy beaches and sweeping ocean and coastal views, the area features a vibrant collection of boutiques and art galleries. What sets Kennebunkport apart for me, however, is its culinary scene. The town's culinary talent has evolved well beyond the iconic lobster roll (though the debate over the best one remains lively), spanning everything from casual picnic tables to refined white-tablecloth dining," said Nelson.

Further north, the city of Portland offers a blend of quaint city life that is quintessentially Maine. The walkable but hilly peninsula of the city is home to some of the best doughnuts in America (made from locally grown potatoes, natch), waterfront dining and The Press, a Mariott Autograph Collection hotel housed inside a former home of the Portland Press newspaper. In and outside of the city proper are a host of local breweries, unpretentious coffee shops and lobster roll purveyors well worth your hard-earned cash (or card).

North of Portland and off the coast is Sebago Lake. The second-largest lake in Maine is 100 feet deeper than Lake Erie, and home to Migis Lodge, a secluded resort of 35 cottages deep in the forest. A stay there is a pause that refreshes the entire family with luxury experiences paired with traditional camp life.

Far north, near the Canada-U.S. border, Attean Lake Lodge welcomes generations of visitors for Maine-style serenity in an area of the country often not in the consideration set a prime vacation destination. The all-inclusive private island escape offers cabins fit for couples or families and an invitation to do "as much-or as little-as you want."

Acadia National Park is an often part of that consideration set. The popular destination for Vacationland visitors, a 49,000-acre federally protected area primarily on Mount Desert Island, is renowned for its rocky coastline, granite hills and forests. It's home to the tallest peak on the U.S. Atlantic coast, Cadillac Mountain, and has 26 lakes and ponds and 155 miles of hiking trails. Moose, black bears and peregrine falcons call the park home.

Bar Harbor, near Acadia National Park, feels truly a world away from the fast-paced city life, but earns its reputation as Maine's version of Newport, playing home to the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Astors over the years as well as Martha Stewart.

Mount Desert Island's Bar Harbor Inn is an iconic destination at the locale and provides more traditional oceanfront hotel vibes while the Balance Rock Inn would be as at-home in Newport as it would be in Bar Harbor, having been built in 1903 as the summer home of Scottish railroad tycoon Alexander Maitland.

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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 6:03 AM.