I visited 29 states last year. If I had to pick a new place to live, it would be this stunning coastal destination.

• My husband and I spent most of last year traveling around the United States.
• We spent time in 29 different states, but I was blown away by how much I loved Maine.
• From delicious food and friendly people to gorgeous scenery, I enjoyed my time in the state.

Last year, my husband and I drove across the country, spending quality time in 29 states. Although we visited so many great destinations, if I had to pick one to move to, it would definitely be Maine.

With picturesque beach towns, lighthouses dotting the coastline, and lobster boats puttering through the harbors, Maine lived up to all my expectations of the ideal New England destination.

Plus, its wooded natural preserves, delicious food, and kind people truly won me over.

There's nothing quite like the Maine coast — and its many lighthouses

If there's one thing that's synonymous with Maine, it's lighthouses. And for good reason: the state has 65 of them positioned along the coast, islands, and inlets.

During our one-month stay in Portland, we visited six, including the West Quoddy Head Light — located on the US's easternmost peninsula — and the iconic Portland Head Light.

Plus, some of the most scenic lighthouses are in the stunning Acadia National Park. While visiting, we stopped by Bass Harbor Head Light Station and hiked down to the rocks below the tower. Looking up at the beacon offered a unique vantage point I didn't experience anywhere else.

Luckily, the inland portions of the state are just as incredible

Although the coast may get a lot of attention, Maine's inland sections offer just as many opportunities to spend time outside and explore quirky towns.

For hiking, there are countless trails and nature reserves to roam, my favorite of which was the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

Although the tree-covered trails were beautiful, our main mission was to find the massive trolls made out of recycled wood. These gentle giants made the trip to the gardens even more memorable.

We also took a trip up to Bangor, Maine, which is known for its most famous former resident: Stephen King.

We walked by his house (which is as spooky as you'd expect) and checked out the imposing water tower that is often said to be the inspiration for his novel "It."

Lobster, whoopie pies, and potato doughnuts offered plenty of unique culinary experiences

If there's one food you have to try in Maine, it's lobster — specifically, the lobster roll.

For the sake of comparison, I tried both varieties that are popular in Maine: the cold Maine-style roll (which mixes chilled lobster with mayo and celery) and the warm Connecticut-style, which tosses lobster meat in warm butter. Although the cold roll may be the more traditional style, the butter won me over.

Seafood was popular across the board in Maine, but I found that my other favorite dishes were desserts. For example, the whoopie pies had the perfect level of springy sponge and decadent cream, and the potato doughnuts offered a heartier, less sweet take on the classic treat.

We also happened to be visiting during blueberry season, which runs from late July to early September. We enjoyed blueberry tarts, scones with blueberry jam, and even blueberry-infused beer served with a generous handful of the berries floating in the glass.

However, these weren't made with the blueberries I was used to buying at the grocery store. Instead, these Maine delicacies were crafted with wild blueberries, which are about half the size and much sweeter than the "typical" blueberry I usually enjoy.

We felt a strong sense of community throughout the state

Whether at a lobster shack along a rural highway or in one of the state's many breweries, the people we met were quite friendly and quick to strike up a conversation.

Locals seemed to genuinely love living in Maine (as opposed to some states we stayed in, where residents would ask, "Why did you choose to visit here?")

The most palpable community spirit I experienced was at a Portland Hearts of Pine soccer game. Here, we saw folks running into neighbors and chatting with seatmates.

The energy in the crowd was contagious, and we quickly found ourselves singing along to the team chant.

I'd definitely like to return to Maine in the future

From the food to the beaches, I fell in love with everything that Maine had to offer. At the same time, I recognize that spending July in the Pine Tree State is very different from visiting in January.

Would I still love Maine as much when there's snow on the ground and a frigid breeze blowing in from the Atlantic? Based on everything I experienced, I believe so.

I guess I'll just have to plan another trip to find out.