Maine is a beautiful state that is known as a great summer destination. The beaches, the shores, and the natural beauty is outstanding, but being in New England, it is not usually a destination most people think of visiting during the winter.

Yes, if you do winter sports you may want to visit the ski resorts, but what about just driving around and seeing the sites?

Covered in snow, Maine’s beauty is outstanding.

Although the cold temperatures may make you weary, there are many beautiful scenic landscapes you can take in without leaving your car.

Don’t believe it? These photos were all taken from the side of various roads in the Southern Maine area.

 

This, if you can believe it, is actually a color photo of Bug Light in South Portland, Maine. Officially named Breakwater Lighthouse, it is nicknamed Bug Light, because it is “as cute as a bug” (according to what local’s told me).

It sits at the end of the Greenbelt Walkway and usually the city of Portland can be seen in the background on the other side of the harbour.  It was built in 1875 and modeled after an ancient Greek monument (source: SouthPortland.org website).

The snowstorm coming in this evening turned everything into a vast spanse of black and white, but still created a beautiful and still landscape that did not go unvisited by other brave visitors.

 

With snow hitting late in the evening, Mainers decided to get a head start on morning snow removal.  On a side street in South Portland,  a man snow-blows his driveway and street the best he can before bed. The thought of shoveling may make you cringe, but the scene is beautiful when you don’t have to do it yourself.

 

A cute, little house on a side street in South Portland, Maine.  You can see how much snow they’ve had this winter.  The snow levels are almost as high as the porch.

 

On the road to Smiling Hills Farms in Westbrook, Maine you can see what winters in Maine are like, as they are as high as the speed signs.

 

Another photo taken on the road to Smiling Hill Farms.  The barn sits on the corner of where you turn in.  Smiling Hill Farms is located up a short road and is open to serve lunch, and creamy, homemade ice cream (yes ice cream) year-round.

Try the blueberry ice cream made with real Maine blueberries.

 

Because in Maine, stop signs like to joke around.

 

This photo was not taken directly from the road, but from a short walk into the woods behind a house in southern Maine.   You can see the fell trees covered in snow.   The snow back here is waist deep and pristine (until I ruined it to take photos).  If you plan on trekking into winter woods in Maine, and are not a professional, I recommend not venturing far from houses, and using snowshoes and specialized gear (not just jeans and short boots).

You can also see plenty of scenes like this without actually venturing into the woods behind someone’s house.

 

You never know what you will see on drives through Maine country roads.  On a random road around Pownal, Maine (just north of Freeport), I stumbled upon some farm equipment buried in the snow.   This photograph was taken from the side of the road (no trekking in the snow).

 

Maine is a gorgeous and interesting place no matter what season.