Maine 2017 Travel Diary.
Here’s a rundown of all the things we did in Maine! This post is going to be super long and wordy and I’m going to tell you what we saw, ate and loved. Also, a little video below that is more for my memory and is probably super long and boring for you.
Our trip was sort of last minute – we knew we wanted to go SOMEWHERE before the baby, just a little trip somewhere new with the three of us. We planned it the week before and only had about 2.5 days to stay.
This whole thing started with Max’s first plane ride (even though we’ve traveled a lot since he was born, we’ve always drove! I’m a big road trip person.) Our flights both ways took off at 6AM (actually, 5:45AM!) and he was awesome. He slept the first short flight and was awake for the second flight to Portland/Pittsburgh. We probably didn’t need the iPad, but he loved it.
Not as much as he loved the pretzels though. Can’t even count how many bags he went through.
As the recommendation of many of you, we stayed at the Press Hotel right in Portland. It was really nice! Max loved the letters all over the carpet and every single time we left the room or came back, asked HOW DID THOSE LETTERS GET THERE?! Ha.
We spent the first day exploring! We got in early but we couldn’t check in until 3, so we drove to Freeport first since many of you had mentioned that. Lots of shopping and it was cool, but we were pretty tired. We did eat at the Tuscan Brick Oven Bistro which a bunch of you had also mentioned. It was pretty good, but probably our least favorite meal. We were also just exhausted from being up since 3AM, so there’s that. You know? We needed to recharge!
After an hour or so of rest, we explored Portland the rest of the evening. We went to Flatbread & Co because so many of you mentioned that too! It was really great and Max loves pizza. Delicious! Our table was perfect and we got to look at the boats and the water!
Annnnd stopped for the first ice cream of the trip… for Max of course. Hehe. Gorgeous Gelato was so fun inside. The oreo gelato was amazing.
Eddie was adamant to get donuts at the Holy Donut the next morning and he did! This might have been the most suggested place. In true Eddie form, he bought A DOZEN.
Like, what? I tasted the chocolate sea salt which was probably my favorite. I also loved the Maine blueberry and the sweet potato cinnamon sugar was amazing too. The thing is though… that I am still a yeasted donut girl at heart! So while these were totally Eddie’s cup of tea and I really loved them, I just found them to be kind of heavy. But as light as a heavy donut can be? I’m a crazy person.
First thing we did on Saturday was head to Portland Head Light. We went at the perfect time because there was barely anyone there. We stopped periodically over the next two days and almost died at how packed the place was. Crazy!
Then! We made our way to Kennebunkport. I was really looking forward to going here… and the only reason I can think of is because I would have been in early elementary school when the first President Bush was in office, and I swear I used to hear them just talk about Kennebunkport on the news. Ha! It’s been stuck in my mind ever since. I know, so odd. Very random.
But anyway! I loved it.
Most of you said that The Clam Shack had the best lobster roll. I think you might be right! This was easily our second favorite of the trip (wait until you see how many we had… ugh, omg) and was so, so, so GOOD. We ended up splitting it because Eddie also wanted a huge a thing of fried clams. I wish we had each got our own.
Max loved the clams as soon as I called them “beach fries.” Every time he sees a picture of them now, he screams “BEACH FRIES!” I want to eat him up.
The weather the entire weekend was PERFECT. At least, perfect in my eyes. Like in the 60s and 70s. Not really warm enough for a full beach day but Max loves running on the beach, so we did that a bit too.
I adored Kennebunkport but we were there at such a crowded time. It was so jam-packed being the last “real” weekend of summer… and being a weekend in general. We both loved it and Eddie has already looked up places to stay there next year. I’ve also seen pictures at Christmas and would love to go there then!
At this point, I realized that I was glad we stayed in Portland because it gave us a chance to do a lot of walking and exploring, but next time I think we’d stay somewhere more beachy and drive into Portland, as opposed to the other way around.
That night, we decided to try out Eventide because the lobster roll you all mentioned had been haunting me since we arrived. Our game plan with Max is that we tend to eat at weird times, so we went close to 5 (which is, like, really early for dinner for us) and still waited about an hour. It wasn’t bad since we could walk around and it was so nice out.
Eddie got oysters and I was so jealous. I don’t break this rule when I’m pregnant though. It probably would have been the safest place to eat them (like right off the coast!) but I just can’t while pregnant. Too scared.
THIS LOBSTER ROLL.
I am dead. It was easily one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. Um, it was so good that Eddie ate one and then ORDERED ANOTHER ONE. I was only mildly embarrassed… until I took a bite of his second one.
This was even better than you guys said it was. I mean, it was incredible. I almost feel like it can’t even be classified as a lobster roll though because it’s so… different? But perfect? It was our favorite meal of the trip!
On Sunday we decided to head to Old Orchard Beach. It was so, so, so crowded and while it looked fun, we wanted something a little more relaxed. A few of you had mentioned Old Orchard Pine Point (I think that’s what it is called?) and that was perfect!
After that, it was more lobster rolls! We went to the Lobster Shack at Two Lights.
Another super suggested place. I loved this place for the vibe alone! We did have to wait in line for almost an hour but it’s so cute. I love that it’s outside right on the water.
However, this was probably my least favorite lobster roll! I don’t love the mayo on lobster rolls – I want only butter – and while this was pretty darn good, the Clam Shack one and the Eventide one were just insssaaaane. I’d go back here a million times though because it felt like quintessential summer.
These were Eddie’s favorite clams though!
Okay guys, so after this… I was like… NO MORE BREAD. Oh my gosh, we ate so many lobster rolls in such a short amount of time that I couldn’t fathom any more. Our plan that evening was to maybe head to Duckfat, which so many of you also mentioned, but I was just SO full (thanks pregnancy) that I couldn’t do it. The thought of such a heavy meal made me want to cry.
We ate this lunch pretty late and actually didn’t even eat another meal that day. We spent more time walking and exploring and heading into little shops, etc.
I am so anxious to go back, only because I KNOW you guys mentioned a ton of places to us that we couldn’t fit into two days (with a toddler, especially). We absolutely loved loved loved Portland and everywhere we visited. Like I mentioned, I think the only thing we’d do different next time if we went in the summer is stay somewhere more on the water/beach and then drive into Portland.
Annnd that’s a little recap of our trip! xo
31 Comments on “Maine 2017 Travel Diary.”
Next time you go, I’d recommend doing Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. It is spectacular. My husband and I go there every year—we even got married on Mt. Desert Island we love it so much. Maine has a way of getting into your heart ❤️
Here’s my Bar Harbor guide if you end up going! http://ultimatebridesmaid.com/2014/06/20/bar-harbor-weekend-getaway-in-maine/
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It is just Pine Point. It is the same beach as Old Orchard but just the next town over (Pine Point is part of the town of Scarborough).
We stayed in Portland and Bar Harbor for our honeymoon ten years ago, and seeing the food just kills me! I didn’t care about food at all, NONE, so I don’t even remember where we ate! To think of all the good stuff I missed out on… we’re definitely going back to do it right!
You guys are the cutest – it looks like you guys had such an awesome trip! Those donuts sound like my cup of tea – dense cake donuts are my fave!
It looks like a beautiful trip!
The lobster rolls that are cold with mayo are the traditional Maine lobster roll…lobster rolls served hot with butter are Connecticut lobster rolls- my favorite too!
Yes! That lobster roll at eventide is so amazing. For me, it’s the steamed bun and butter! Definitely my favorite lobster roll. My boyfriend is a butter-only lobster roll kind of person too so we tend to seek those out.
I’m so glad you loved Maine! It’s so quintessential summer!
Lovely post, remind me of when I was in Maine last year, we stayed in Kennebunk. I would recommend going to The Maine Diner for the Lobster Pie – not what you expect. We also did the Lobster Shack at Two Lights.
, we just had Blueberry Pie & Coffee which was lovely to.
Next time you go to Kennebunkport take a quick ride to Snug Harbor Farm. It’s so nice to walk the grounds and go through the greenhouses. They also have resident ducks, chickens, bunnies, miniature horses and other birds. It was the highlight of our trip when we stayed in Kennebunkport.
I missed the opportunity to leave recs but I have family in Portland and travel there often- next time check out Duck Fat. Owner is a James Beard winner and makes amazing paninis and of course fries cooked in duck fat. Portland Lobster is great, too- on Commercial, warf side.
Ahh, we were just in Portland this past weekend and luuuuhhhhed it! We rented bikes and biked along the Eastern Promenade and the Cove and it was really beautiful.
Eventide was one of the best meals I’ve ever had. The oysters were amazing and that lobby roll was the best bites of buttery goodness I’ve ever consumed in my life. Also, the fluke ceviche and smoked corn on the cob …. heaven.
Also just learned that the LLBean store in Freeport NEVER closes. It’s open 24/7 all year. I laughed when I looked at the doors and there are literally no locks. The woman working there said the last time they closed the door was when JFK was shot. Crazy.
Glad you guys had such a great time! Max and his little crinkle nose picture’s are PRICELESS! Xo
Did you drive by the Bush compound in Kennebunkport? We do every time we go up there – if the Texas flag is raised, then you know they’re “in residence”!
I am 100% a buttered lobster roll girl. I grew up in Massachusetts and both there and in Maine, the traditional way is with mayo. Blech. It wasn’t until I moved to Connecticut that I truly appreciated a lobster roll, because here they’re all buttered. I mean come on – if you have a lobster dinner, do you dip it in butter or mayo?? I rest my case.
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hey girl- love the pics! I would love to go to Maine! Glad y’all had a great trip!
Thank you so much for sharing!! We live in NY and stay in Kennebunkport or Onguinquit twice a year: Labor Day week and a week around the Christmas Prelude. The Onguinquit Playhouse has amazing performances. Food is amazing everywhere. In Onguinquit, I recommend The Corner Stone for their fantastic pizza. Can’t wait to visit again.
Ugh! You making me want to drive up to Maine right now! Friend of ours own a camp on a lake, Camp McWain in Waterford and you can rent cabins! The Lobster Shack at Two Lights is one of my favorite places if for the vibe alone. We usually don’t venture into Portland since growing up my dad hated crowds, but now I want to go stay and explore. I can’t wait for you to go back and see what Maine has to offer. Maine, the way life should be !
Love your pictures – there are SO many great places to visit in Maine. I know – I live in Old Orchard Beach! Even better than Pine Point in Scarborough is Ocean Park – still part of Old Orchard, but with a great community. Also, you should try Allison’s in Kenebunkport – awesome food along with cocktails! Anytime you can come off season is great too – as you saw!
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I’m so glad you had such a great trip! I think it’s impossible NOT to fall in love with Maine in the summer. Pine Point is one of my favorite places- I’m happy that you loved it too. Someone mentioned Bar Harbor/Acadia as well- it’s a long drive up from Portland, but so worth it if you go for a longer trip next time. The town is one of the prettiest little seaside towns in America. Now I can’t wait until our annual trip next summer! :)
I LOVE seeing your travel diaries!! My husband and I have one son (a little older than Max) and are currently pregnant with our 2nd and due around the same time as you. We love to be active with our son so it’s fun seeing other parents being the same way! I’m always curious..what bag to do you bring along for trips like this? Just a backpack for during the day? I always seem to either have too small or too big of a bag when traveling with a toddler. Could you add your fav travels fashion items/whatever tips for traveling with a toddler to your next ‘favorites’?!?! i’d love to hear!!!
Wells Beach and Drakes Island are a good beach also in Wells Maine.
Just wanted to thank you SOOO much for such a timely post! We had plans last week for our annual South Carolina trip but Irma ruined that for us. I was beyond disappointed…but then I saw this post, and immediately changed all of our plans! We spent 5 days in Portland, stayed at a beautiful beachfront condo in Old Orchard Beach, devoured Clam Shack and Eventide and much more. Thank you for all the recommendations and for saving our vacation! <3
PS – next time you visit, I would highly recommend taking the fire truck tour! Max would probably love it. Its only about an hour, and its really informative and you see parts of town you might otherwise miss. And you ride on top of an old fire truck!
I love this because it’s my town! Next time you come, if you stay more middle (where I grew up) you should go to Red’s Eats in Wiscasset for a great lobster roll (you can get them Connecticut style… Just butter). If you’re South, Maine Diner in Wells does them that way too! I don’t eat meat anymore, but back when I ate lobster rolls, those were my faves!
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I love Eventide too. Glad you enjoyed your stay here….
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