Here are a few ideas for activities in this part of the country, and how I was able to save a lot of money over the St-Jean-Baptiste holiday weekend.

Acadia National Park is a great place to get some fresh air. In Autumn, the scenery is breathtaking with the vivid colors of the landscapes.

Numerous hikes are available for all levels. The highest mountain in the region is Mount Cadillac, at 466 metres. You can also visit Acadia Park with an electric bike.

From October 7 to March 6, this mountain is the first place to watch the sun rise in the USA. The mountain offers a magnificent panoramic view, attracting many curious onlookers. You could book this private excursion to Cadillac Mountain to admire this exceptional spectacle.

Trails lead to the summit, which can be reached by paved road. If you wish to make the ascent by car, you will need to book a paid reservation on the National Park Service website to select a time slot.

However, there is no time limit once at the summit. In my opinion, Cadillac Mountain is a must-see activity on your visit.

Adventurers will love the trails with ladders and iron bars on the mountainside, such as Precipice trail or Jordan cliffs, for ages 12 and up.

In the same style, but accessible to all, Beehive trail offers superb views and ladder fun.

For less strenuous effort, the coastal trails will fill you with wonder. These include the popular Ocean path, which starts at Sandy Beach, passes through the thunder hole and ends at Otter cliff, where you can watch climbers scale the cliffs.

For a short break, we stop off around Jordan pond and its restaurant. The park stretches over more than a peninsula, and you can easily spend several days there. For those in a hurry, there’s a looping auto tour that takes in all the most popular attractions. A seven-day pass must be purchased at the park entrance to use this road.

Ogunquit and Old Orchard have been attracting Canadians for many years. Despite the cold water, the vacation atmosphere is very much in evidence.

We passed through Old Orchard, famous for its boardwalk with rides, arcades and restaurants. Many families seem to enjoy it.

For our preferences, we’d rather try our luck at Ogunquit or Kennebunk beach next time, having not been overly charmed by the ambiance of Old Orchard. However, I must admit that the sandy beach is long and beautiful.

It’s possible to surf in Maine, but you don’t want to be cold and you need to be equipped with a wet-suit, as the water temperature hovers around 17°C in July. Let’s just say it’s gripping!

For a bite to eat, there are plenty of restaurants offering fried and fast food. We found the menu at Big Daddy’s bar and grill interesting.

A visit to Portland, about an hour’s drive from Maine’s capital, Augusta, was a favourite on our getaway. The Old Port district is a lovely walking tour, with cobblestone streets and picturesque architecture.

Wandering the streets window-shopping, discovering small local art shops, while sipping an iced coffee from an independent café, was a real treat.

On the road around Portland, stop off to photograph the various lighthouses along the coast, including the most famous: Portland Head lighthouse.

This guided tour includes a trolley tour of Portland, with a stop at this historic lighthouse.

You could also discover the beauty of the Maine coast with this schooner cruise on Casco Bay.

To plan your visit, check out our guide to Portland.

Given our proximity to Montreal, we chose to drive to get there. A little help from the AIR MILES program helped lower our gas bill at Shell.

What’s more, it’s now possible to transfer your Dream Miles into cash, which enabled me to convert some leftover Dream Miles into more free petrol.

Don’t forget to check the application regularly to sign up for the various promotions, so you can build up your points bank faster.

I paid for my nights entirely with points, using two different programs to test them out. I made an initial reservation with my National Bank World Elite Mastercard^® and applied the rewards points to my spending on the account.

For my second night, I visited the Avion portal linked to my RBC Avion Visa Infinite Card and booked directly with the points. The confirmation with details arrived almost instantly in my e-mail.

If you still have a travel credit in your pocket due to the HSBC to RBC Avion conversion, this could be a great opportunity to use it since you need to make a reservation of $200 or more for a hotel or car rental to apply it. In both cases, the process was extremely simple.

For members of the Best Western program, there’s a hotel near Acadia National Park and another in South Portland.

Portland is home to several Marriott Bonvoy establishments, including the Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront. Given the cost of rooms in the U.S. and the exchange rate, which is not in our favour, points can really help lighten the bill.

If you prefer the joys of camping, you’ll be spoiled with choices during the summer months! Off-season and winter camping is also available in some of Maine’s state parks.

It’s possible to pay for activities in points. For example, the Avion portal offers 78 activities for the Maine region. Simply place your order on the rewards site. Plus, most activities offer free cancellation.

Another tip is to apply your Membership Rewards points to your bill. The flexibility of the loyalty program means you can save on any expense.

Alternatively, you can use Expedia ‘s booking platform dedicated to Scene+. You can book activities in exchange for Scene+ points.

In conclusion, a trip to Maine with points is an economical and accessible choice in terms of proximity. Time to make the most of it!