Few things create a more dramatic scene for a sunrise than a pier spanning out into the water, and the one in Old Orchard Beach is pretty iconic. Normally the area is pretty packed, and it can be tough to find a parking spot (especially in the summer). But at sunrise, there is just you, the beach, and that one old guy walking his dog around. 

I spend the night before looking at the weather. The most ideal days are when it rains a little overnight, but the clouds are breaking just about an hour before sunrise. On a perfectly clear day, the scene is still magical though. I try to get there 30 minutes before the scheduled sunrise time to catch the glow that appears before first light and to ensure you get all the different layers that a sunrise has to offer. 

When you finish up, take a quick 20 minute drive to Palace Diner for an AMAZING breakfast. Not a bad way to start the morning before anyone else has even gotten out of bed!