Maine
Maine had always been on my travel bucket list (there is a lot on that list). However, Maine was towards the top. The state’s rocky coastline filled with lighthouses and picturesque lobster shacks always looked like a postcard I want live in. I had big expectations for the Pine Tree State. Luckily, it did not disappoint. I had a lot of anxiety leading up to this trip as it was the first time away from Lukas. However, I had to go to Portland for work, so we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity. We turned it into a five day trip and we used up every minute of it.
We spent the first two nights of our trip one block from the waterfront in Portland’s Old Port District. The district is filled with one-of-a-kind shops, award-winning restaurants, and incredible views. On the first full day, we explored the coastal towns south of Portland. We rented a red four-door Jeep Wrangler (the perfect vehicle for our trip)! We put some serious miles on that Jeep and truly saw so much of Maine in such a little amount of time.
We took Route 1 south about 30 miles until we hit Kennebunkport. We stopped to walk around in the picturesque town, also made famous by the Bush Family. They have a summer home there, and we of course had to stop and take pictures. The Bush home was just one of many gorgeous cliff-side mansions overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
After a brief tour of Kennebunkport, we drove further south to the town of York. The beaches were stunning! York would be the perfect New England summer vacation spot. We definitely want to return to York and rent a beach house. We couldn’t wait to get our hands (or claws) on some some Lobster. So, we found the perfect restaurant, Fox’s Lobster House, near York overlooking a lighthouse. James got the full lobster experience as he ordered a 1-3-4lb lobster. I ordered the lobster stew which did not disappoint! It had so much flavor and was chucked full of lobster meat.
On the drive back to Portland we drove by the Cape Porpoise Kitchen – just outside of Kennebunkport. It looked like a quintessential New England Deli. Naturally, I made my husband turn around. Great decision! The place was a foodie and wine-lover’s paradise! The shop had a large selection of cheeses and wines from around the world! It also had an impressive deli. We were still full from our lobster lunch, but I couldn’t resist getting a few goodies. I bought the most delicious brie cheese and a bottle of rose wine. We pulled over at the next beach we came across and indulged as the sun set. It was one of the best moments of trip! And oh. my. goodness. That was amazing brie!
Cheese and Wine from Cape Porpoise Kitchen
We had a late dinner in Portland at Fore Street. This restaurant was incredible! The wine list was fantastic, the food was outstanding, and the atmosphere was classic. I wish I had taken pictures of our meal but I was so caught up in the experience that I completely forgot to take pictures! Fore Street is a must if you’re ever in Portland. We had another great food experience at Central Provisions – again no pictures! I was in a food coma. I’m sorry. But trust me, they have an amazing menu and funky/cool vibes going on.
Portland Area Eats
I spent the second day of our trip at a social media conference in Portland. After that we made our way to Bar Harbor. By the time we got on the road, it was already evening so we stayed in Boothbay Harbor. We found the most adorable Bed and Breakfast right on the waterfront – The Harborage Inn. The owner was so nice and incredibly helpful. He knew we were coming late so he stayed until we got there. He spent several minutes walking us around, advising us where to eat and what to see in Boothbay and once we got to Bar Harbor. By the time we got to Boothbay it was dark and the fog really started to set in. That didn’t stop us from wanting to explore. We had a late dinner at the Boat House Bistro where I had the best Risotto ever! It was perfectly made. Risotto is a hard dish to get right and they did it perfectly. Again, I forgot to take a picture but my mom and I tried to recreate it when I got home with lobster we had shipped back. This was my version….
Dinner at the Boat House was so romantic. Even though it was a little chilly, we sat outside and watched the fog roll in over the bay. I felt like we were living in the postcard I always pictured Maine to be. It was an awesome experience.
The next morning, we had another great experience as the Bed and Breakfast served a full gourmet breakfast. James and I both said we weren’t going to eat a lot as we still felt full from dinner the night before. Jokes on us. They needed to roll us out of there after breakfast. It was so yummy! Everything tasted so fresh. Luckily we had a busy day of exploring ahead of us. Before we got on the road for Bar Harbor, we drove around Boothbay, a beautiful coast town with lots of charm and breathtaking landscapes. The fog hadn’t lifted yet, but that only added to the experience. We highly recommend visiting Boothbay if you’re traveling through Maine.
Arcadia National Park and Bar Harbor
I was slightly worried this region of Maine would be “too touristy”. While it is a highly visited area of Maine, there is a reason for it! It’s beautiful. We were there in September, so the busy summer season was over but it was still hoping. We spent most of our time at Arcadia National Park. There is so much to do there! The first day we got there just in time to see the sunset at the top of Cadillac Mountain. It was beautiful! We returned the next day to do some hiking before we went on a lobster boat which docks in Bar Harbor. We loved hiking Arcadia so much that we squeezed in another hike before we returned to Portland on our last full day. There are a ton of different trails that range from easy to moderate to advanced. We hiked the Cadillac North Ridge Trail, Beehive Trail, and Ocean Path trail. We didn’t expect to do this much hiking, so we weren’t entirely prepared. If we were prepared we would have spent a lot more time hiking. Make sure you bring good hiking shoes and a backpack with snacks and water.
Arcadia National Park wasn’t the only thing that pleasantly surprised us. We loved the lobster boat experience! We booked our trip with Lulu’s Lobster Boat and the captain was a riot! Not only did we get up close and personal with lobster, but we got a tour of the stunning Maine coastline. It was chilly when we were there, so bundle up if you plan to do this. Even if you’re there in the summer, it’s cooler when you’re out on the water. Bring a jacket or sweatshirt.
We spent the evenings in downtown Bar Harbor exploring the food scene. There are so many great restaurants. There are also some bad ones. Our favorite lobster pound was just outside of Bar Harbor. Here are our top picks:
Bar Harbor Favorite Eats
I love Maine — such a beautiful state. And isn’t Portland great?! P.S. love the vest! 🙂
Thanks, Amy! I loved this trip! I can’t wait to go back. It’s such a beautiful state! Hope all is well!