Bangor was the 19th-century lumber capital of the world, and the town hasn't forgotten it -- a 31-foot Paul Bunyan statue stands on Main Street, staking Maine's claim as the lumberjack's true birthplace (sorry, Minnesota). Today Bangor is the commercial center of northern Maine and the last sizable city before the wilderness begins.
Stephen King lives here, and fans will recognize the town's Victorian architecture from his novels. The waterfront along the Penobscot River has been redeveloped with a walking trail and concert venue.