1. Mainers Are Almost Canadian, Eh!
Maybe Maine is so different from the rest of the country because it’s basically Canada by proxy. Maine is the northernmost state in the Lower 48 and the culture difference between here and Florida is like night and day. They share a lot of things in common with our Canadian neighbors, from favorite foods and regional traditions to slang and expressions.
2. But Above All Else, They’re Always A Mainer
Maine pride runs deep, and with good reason. Neighbors are kind to each other, they’re hard workers who take pride in a job well done, and they work hard to keep their state what it is. No matter where they move in the world, even decades later, their heart is always still with Maine.
3. And Anyone Not From Maine Is “From Away”
Tourists, beach vacationers, new-comers, and outsiders… Anyone that isn’t lucky enough to be from Maine is “from away.”
4. If It’s Not Made In Maine, Mainers Know It’s Not Worthy
The people in Maine staunchly believe in supporting their state and buying products made in Maine. For example, some residents have decided to not support L.L. Bean as much as others do because reportedly only their boots and tote bags are actually made in Maine, and much of the rest of the products are imported. And Mainers are having none of that.
5. Mainers Would Never Wear Their Boots Inside Someone’s Home
A dooryard is usually the area adjacent to the entrance of the home, most commonly the driveway, front yard, or garden closest to the front door. When you’re entering the home of a neat-freak, make sure to take your Bean boots off at the dooryard before going in. Speaking of...
6. Everyone In Maine Loves Their Bean Boots
L.L. Bean is unbelievably popular throughout the state. The flagship store with the giant “Bean boot” (as they’re called here, or even just “Beans”) is found in Freeport. In the cooler months, you won’t have to look far before finding someone sporting a pair.
7. Mainers Are Mad For Moxie
Not the gutsy kind of moxie, the liquid kind. Moxie is a soft drink that is almost entirely local to Maine, and it’s definitely an acquired taste. Some Mainers love it, others aren’t too fond of the taste, but everyone agrees it wouldn’t be Maine without its Moxie.
8. Politicians In Maine Are Totally Reasonable
No, that’s not an oxymoron. Maine’s political system is generally level-headed and the voter base is well-informed. It’s a centrist state where elections can swing either way, even Independent, and they don’t lose their minds over every little thing. When’s the last time you could say that about… well, anywhere else?
9. Everyone In Maine Knows Nothing Is Better Than Red Hot Dogs...
Keep your white hots, New York. Red hot dogs are the only dog that matters here.
10. … As Long As They’re Served In A Split Top Bun
There’s no other roll on which to enjoy a red hot or a lobster roll here.
11. “Ayuh” Means Yes To Mainers
Or, as said colloquially around the country in other variations: yeah, yep, you betcha’… In other words, “ayuh” is just the Maine way of stating the affirmative.
12. Amato’s Pickles Have No Equal
Perfectly crisp, perfectly sour. Vlasic might have the slogan cornered, but Amato’s really are the best pickles I ever hoid of.
13. Mainers Have Cornered The Real Whoopie Pies
Other places have Whoopie Pies, but they don’t compare to the Whoopie Pies that you find in Maine. It’s all in the icing and the people in Maine could pick the real ones out of a line up any day.
14. Everyone In Maine Gathers For Sunday Bean Suppers
A tradition in Maine that dates back to the days of the pilgrims, baked bean suppers are a delicious and inexpensive way for locals to congregate with their community. At a traditional bean supper, you’ll find lots of casseroles, homemade pies, cole slaw, and a mess load of baked beans.
15. Sorry Horror Fans, There Is No Derry Here
Derry, Maine is one of the most popular towns in literature, made famous by author Stephen King who used it again and again for many of his most successful books including It, Insomnia, Bag of Bones, and 11/22/63 among others. The town, however, is completely made up, just like King’s stories. A map on his website places Derry around the area of Etna.
16. But There Most Definitely Is A Stephen King Here
And there is only one of him. He was born and raised in Portland, Maine and worked as an English teacher in Hampden Maine. He has lived out his successful years in what is probably the most well-known house in all of Maine in the town of Bangor.
17. Maine Beaches Are The Best Beaches
Sure, any state with a beach sees a spike in tourists over the summer. But there’s just something about hibernating through the bitterly sub-zero winters and the pristine sands and ocean that make Maine beaches some of the best you’ll ever visit. The downside to them is that they draw in all the tourists.
18. The Best Meal A Mainer Could Wish For Is A Five-Dollar Lobstah
From the festivals to the restaurants, you won’t find lobster anywhere else on earth like you do in Maine. And the best part about living here is that you can get it cheap. Even the residents who live off of the coast know how to get it for a great price. Be jealous. Be very, very jealous.
19. Everyone’s Hooked On The Champagne Of Maine
You might be able to find this coffee-flavored liqueur throughout New England, but no one takes it quite as seriously as the folks in Maine do. It is consistently the top selling beverage in Maine every year, with locals reportedly consuming just about one bottle of the drink for every man, woman, and child across the state, giving it the moniker “The Champagne of Maine.”
20. Mainers Still Get A Taste Of Italy All The Way Up North
You might think there’s nothing unique about an Italian sandwich, but the Italian sandwiches in Maine are something very different. Created by Giovanni Amato more than 100 years ago, the freshly baked bread is super soft and is what sets these sandwiches apart from everywhere else.
21. Humpty Dumpty Potato Chips Are Everyone’s Favorite Snack
They might look like they’re straight out of a 1950s grocery store, but the many varieties of Humpty Dumpty chips are a local favorite and can only be found in Maine and throughout areas in Canada.
22. Mainers Have Serious Love For Lawn Ornaments
And it’s not just pink flamingos. Along with breathtaking landscapes and bright blue skies, you’ll see more lawn ornaments in Maine than you ever thought possible. You’ll find those giant crystal balls and lighthouses, amusing accents like enormous metal chickens, and some that look like they were abandoned on the way to the curb. It’s all a part of Maine’s charm.
23. Fiddleheads Are The Finest Delicacy
If you’ve never eaten or even heard of fiddleheads, that’s probably because you’re from away. Fiddleheads are a vegetable that comes from a variety of local ferns. Although they can be found in New England, they are by far the most popular in Maine.
24. Maine Folks Move Fast At Mardens
This chain of retail stores throughout the state sells overstock and closeout inventory items for super-slashed discounted prices, sometimes even pennies on the original dollar. Only someone from Maine knows the pain of not buying something they saw for a great deal at Mardens, only to return to find that someone else got their hands on it.
25. Mainers Are All Under The Spell Of Blueberries And Molasses
You’ve never had a true blueberry unless you’ve had one from Maine. And when they’re mixed with molasses, it’s nothing short of heaven. The most popular dishes include blueberries and molasses with hot biscuits and blueberry molasses cake.
26. Everyone In Maine Knows Puffins Trump Penguins
Sorry penguins, puffins officially win the crown as the adorable bird on planet Earth. And Maine has them. If you want to catch them (and perhaps a whale or two while you’re at it,) head on over to Bar Harbor. Or, more specifically, “Bah Habah.”
27. Maine Isn’t Just A State, It’s A State Of Mind
Okay, it sounds cliché. But it’s so true. Maine really is unlike any other state in the country. And they prefer to keep it that way.
What have you had to explain to out-of-towners about Maine? Tell us in the comments below! 
