Maine

I've done a search in the atlas and on the internet – even on the government of Maine's website – and, unfortunately, it looks like there is no Crab Apple Cove, Maine. We've all heard of it – the small, tranquil, picturesque coastal community that helped to keep Hawkeye Pierce sane during his years at M*A*S*H 4077.

Well, whether the town exists or not, the fond and colorful references to it were successful in prompting me to want to visit Maine, to see the fiery blaze of fall colors, the swimming holes, and spectacular coast the character describes.

Maine is a large but sparsely populated state – it is as big as the five other New England states combined but has a population less than each of these, numbering just 1,305,728. Known as the Pine Tree State, 80% of Maine is forested, and it contains 6,000 lakes and ponds. Baxter State Park contains the northern end of the famous Appalachian Trail – the continuous, marked 2,167-mile (3,487-kilometer) footpath stretching from Maine to Springer Mountain, Georgia.

Residents of Maine, like their fellows in the northern United States and in Canada, are used to cold winters (the Algonquins called Maine the Land of the Frozen Ground), and relatively short, but lovely summers.

With so much outdoors and a 4-season climate, Maine offers excellent opportunities for "inland" activities like camping, climbing, hiking, kayaking, biking, rafting, fishing and hunting, and, when it turns colder, skiing and snowmobiling.

And as a maritime state with 3,500 miles (5,632 kilometers) of coastline, there are plenty of opportunities to whale watch, visit famous historical lighthouses, and beach comb on white sandy beaches. Let's just say you wouldn't be able to beat my mother away from the lobster pots with a stick. Incidentally, can you believe Mainers harvested more than 57 million pounds of lobster in 2000 alone?

Not quite this outdoorsy? Spoil yourself in a beautiful coastal inn. Search for antiques in some of Maine's many charming villages. Attend a summer arts festival, a performance by one of the state's two symphony orchestras, or a theatre or opera production. Or just kick back with a good book on the deck of a yacht and cruise the shoreline.

Is this enough to lure you? If not, what about the delicious charm of a place that has the largest blueberry crop in the nation?

See our 133 Jobs in Maine

Discuss This Article

Have something you'd like to say? Tell us what you think! Read and post comments for this article.

Find a Job in Maine

Choose your career:

MedHunters is the world's biggest healthcare job board. Our job directory has 17,003 jobs with 2,377 hospitals and other direct employers.

We want you to find your next job on MedHunters. Need Help? Call us at 1-888-884-8242, email us at info@medhunters.com or sign up now.