This Small Town in Maine is a Top Summer Destination

As you plot out your summer vacation plans, keep this small town in Maine in mind. It's recently received high marks.

Boston.com reports that Bar Harbor is a place worth spending a long weekend. Or an entire week of your summer vacation, if you can swing it. And here I was, thinking my beloved Wells Beach, Maine was finally getting its due. I've been vacationing with my family every summer on Wells Beach since before I was in middle school. It's the crown jewel of Maine's Seacoast, as far as I'm concerned. A quieter, more low-key alternative to nearby Ogunquit or the beaches in York.

But back to Bar Harbor. Boston.com got the info from this recent piece that runs down 15 great small towns for when you want to spend your summer vacation someplace a bit more quaint. From TripsToDiscover.com: "A stunning getaway on Maine’s coast, the historic resort town of Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park. Its downtown area is filled with spectacular Victorian-era mansions, some of which have been transformed into B&Bs and fine dining eateries." The piece goes on to talk about Bar Harbor's walkability, bikeability, and hikeability.

Just be warned: Bar Harbor's not as close as you think. It's a good four-and-a-half hour drive from Boston. So maybe plan on spending the week and not just a weekend. Alternatively, you could take advantage of one of the three round-trip flights to Bar Harbor out of Boston daily. That will cut your travel time down to about an hour and a half. Of course, you could just scrap that plan and drive the ninety minutes to Wells Beach. I'll meet you at the Boardwalk Arcade on Mile Road for a little bit of Skee-Ball.

It's that time again: time to plan that warm-weather getaway. So what are the best summer vacation states?

If you're reading this in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, you won't have to travel far this summer if you don't want to. That's because, according to Gambling.com, the Bay State landed just inside their Best States To Vacation In Summer 2023. Of course, if you're a Massachusetts native, this should come as no surprise. Summer vacations in some way, shape, or form will inevitably involve swimming. And Massachusetts beaches are some of the most beautiful in the nation, no matter if you're on the coast or at a lake.

The Gambling.com research crew analyzed five different data points in order to determine which states states are best when it comes to choosing your summer vacation destination. The criteria are as follows: accommodation availability, accommodation affordability, crime rates, average sunshine, and number of available attractions. Once the numbers were crunched and the data was sorted, each state received a "Summer Vacation Score," with the highest possible score being 100. Strangely enough, the top-ranked state only scored a 68.6 total. That's research for you.

Before we take a deep dive into the data (and the water), an interesting note: Massachusetts was the only New England state to make the Top 20 in this particular ranking. I don't know if that surprises you, but it surprised the hell out of me. I can't think of a better summer vacation destination than Maine. I've been going to Wells Beach for a week every summer since I was a kid, and my family has spent many a happy summer in the Lake Region for the last 20 years. Alas, Maine just doesn't measure up according to the criteria in this study. See which states do.

From Rockport all the way down to the Cape and Islands, the Bay State is where it's at for summer vacation.

Kansas beat us? KANSAS?! I mean, the scores were close. But still...

Summer with the Yoopers? Sounds like a good time.

I mean, they have that famous river, right? So there's that.

The Outer Banks, baby! Or is that South Carolina? I have no idea. Never been, never will.

Yeah, it's hot. But it's beautiful in the summer. Grand Canyon, Sedona. Lovely.

I don't know about Texas. Not just in summertime, but anytime. Crazy state.

This tracks. "Hot time, summer in the city." Upstate is great, too. Cooperstown!

Remember back in the day when you'd go town to Baltimore in the summer to see the Sox at Camden Yards? You can still do that! It's just that the Orioles are the better team now.

I spent a few summer days in Philly a couple of summers ago and it was an absolute delight. Highly recommend.

Surprised Cali didn't land higher on the list. I'm guessing it's the affordability factor.

Sure, Jersey is fun to make fun of. But the Jersey Shore is a fine summer destination. I even like Atlantic City!

Come on. Iowa? Seriously? No wait: this actually looks welcoming and cool. Well done, Iowa!

I mean, I guess? I don't know much about Kentucky. Aside from that one guy that everyone says looks like Cecil Turtle.

Yeah, these Midwestern states ranking high for summer vacation destinations is making me question the way they came up with these rankings. I've been to Indy in the summer. Not much fun.

Now Ohio I can get behind. Cleveland does indeed rock, with the Rock Hall. And Dayton, home of Guided By Voices!

Atlanta is an absolute blast. Spent a summer weekend there years ago. Touristy stuff is cool, but the non-touristy stuff is even better.

Chicago. Whatever Great Lake Chicago sits on. Go look it up yourself, I don't feel like it.

I'm surprised this didn't land at No. 1. Even in the summertime, Florida seems to be everyone's fave vacay destinay.

Virginia is for Lovers. And for summer vacations, apparently. Yeehaw!