Maine is the beating heart of traditional rural America. It`s a land of tranquil fishing villages, white wooden church steeples and all-American clapboard houses, a region where colonial Inns serve up an abundance of delicious wholesome foods such as succulent blueberry pie, waffles with maple syrup and fresh shellfish and lobster.

The rugged wilderness of Northern Maine, the highlands and Aristook county appeal to anyone seeking a holiday with a real get-away-from-it-all feel. The passing seasons make this area a year-round delight, with nature painting its vivid colours across the landscape. Winter days are crisp, cold and invigorating, its woodlands and mountains laden with fine snow, eventually melting into Springs coloured with daffodils, forsythia and lilacs. Spring is the season when moosemania takes hold in the Moosehead lake region with plenty of opportunities to spot Maine`s favourite wild resident, along with black bears in late summer, eagles and white-tailed deer. The hot Summers here create the perfect venue for picnics and concerts in the open air, with white potato blossom adorning the countryside. But the Fall is Northern Maine`s most legendary season, when the woodlands and pastures light up in stunning tones of red, rust and crimson.

Northern Maine`s seasons and landscapes lend themselves to year-round outdoor activities that satisfy a lust for life. Its pristine winter landscapes invite adventurous visitors to enjoy snowmobiling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The hot summers, on the other hand, are perfect for river cruises and canoe trips on the Allagash wilderness waterway, a 92 mile ribbon of rivers, lakes and streams that weave their way through the lush forests of Aroostook county. The best hiking trails in Northern Maine stretch along the ridges of the Appalachian mountain range, the rolling landscapes of Baxter State Park and the Katahdin Area region, where abundant lakes and rivers also offer fishing, kayaking and white-water rafting. The many thousands of acres of woodland also make this area a popular hunting ground for coyotes, moose and deer.

Whilst the region`s natural highlights are enough to provide a memorable adventure in themselves, visitors also come here to enjoy the many festivals that take place throughout the year. Fall is a time when culinary celebration is very much on the menu, with opportunities to join in apple picking and cider pressing. In late summer, the Presque Isle area sees the enchanting Balloon Fest event, in which colourful hot-air balloons are released into the night skies, while at the annual Paint the Lupine festival in Oakfield, visitors are encouraged to get creative with their sketch books and paintbrushes. Northern Maine is host to a full annual cultural calendar with many other local events attracting the crowds, including arts and craft fairs, parades and heritage days.

With such a wealth of natural attractions and exciting activities on offer, it may be difficult to believe that cheap holidays could be an option in Northern Maine, but cheap flights to Presque Isle from London Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester have made the region accessible to adventurous English travellers seeking a holiday off the beaten track. Add to this a wide selection of low-priced housekeeping cottages, inns and motels bursting with New England hospitality and you`ll find you don`t need to spend a fortune to experience the holiday of a lifetime in America.