11 must-do’s in maine
maine, at the very tip top of the country’s east coast, is a wonderland of lobster and lighthouses and blueberries and pine trees and the freshest sea air you’ll find in new england. it’s a true hidden gem in the united states, and if maine isn’t on your bucket list, it better be now. below are my top 11 must do’s in the aptly nicknamed vacationland:
for the adventure seeker
1. hike at acadia national park
acadia national park is one of america’s most visited parks and was the first national park established east of the mississippi. the park protects more than 47,000 acres of land that’s home to hundreds of bird species, mammals and of course marine life. get your steps in and explore the park! some notable hikes include:
ocean path trail - a 2.3 mile trail along the coast with sweeping views of the shore and ocean
gorham mountain loop - this 3.5 mile trail is for the more experienced hiker as you walk the forest floor. this can also connect to the beehive trail which offers stunning mountain top views (but should only be taken if you’re a skilled climber.)
as with all national parks you’ll need to purchase a pass to access the area, but that can be done online at recreation.gov. a weeklong vehicle pass will run you $35.
2. be the first to watch sunrise on cadillac mountain
sunrise at cadillac mountain is an incredible experience. it’s the first place in the us to see sunrise and it lives up to every expectation. be warned - it’s an early wake up call (in the summer, you can expect to see the sun around 4:50ish) but it’s more than worth it. while the blue sky of night begins to drift away and gives way to muted reds, oranges and yellows, the anticipation for the first sliver of sun builds. when it peaks just over the horizon of the ocean, time seems to stop for a moment.
in addition to an acadia national park pass (which can be purchased here), you’ll also need a vehicle pass to cadillac mountain. the $6 pass will allow you to trek up the mountain before sunrise but you’ll want to plan ahead here. it’s a tricky system so pay attention to the below, directly from recreation.gov:
vehicle reservations are required for cadillac summit road from may 24 through october 22, 2023:
30% of the cadillac summit road sunrise and daytime vehicle reservations will be available for purchase 90 days in advance of the reservation date.
70% of the cadillac summit road sunrise and daytime vehicle reservations will be available for purchase at 10:00 am (et) two days in advance of the reservation date.
they sell out super quick and i was only able to snag one pass in the 48-hour window before because i didn’t plan ahead and get tickets 90 days in advance.
3. drive around mount desert island
this area of maine is absolutely breathtaking and a drive around mount desert island is a must. bar harbor is arguably the crown jewel of the island but there are many towns tucked into the coast like southwest harbor and tremont. take maine route 3 and enjoy the roughly hour and a half-ish drive through coves and sandy shores.
4. visit an island at low tide
another unique experience is the disappearing walk to bar island. this island is only accessible at low tide. twice a day, you have the chance to walk around bar island, which is part of acadia national park. as the ocean receeds, tourists and locals alike trek over for a roughly two mile hike. you have about 1.5 hours before and after low tide to explore, but once the window closes if you’re on bar island you have to wait 9 hours for the tide to go back out. plan accordingly! there is a water taxi service that can pick you up if you are indeed stuck but it comes with a hefty $150 charge.
5. shop at l.l. bean’s flagship store
adventuring wouldn’t be possible without a good pair of boots and adequate gear. good thing l.l. bean’s flagship store is located in freeport! the staggering 220,000 square foot campus covers everything outdoors from biking and hiking to watersports and skiing/snowboarding. millions visit every year just to get a picture with the famous bean boot (which of course we did).
for the foodie
6. eat the freshest seafood imaginable (and don’t worry there’s something for everyone, even landlubbers)
it’s a seafood lover’s paradise up in new england with clam chowder, fresh lobster and crispy haddock bites donning every menu. a few recommendations in the area include:
luke’s lobster in portland - it’s been voted for some of the best waterfront views with an equally as impressive menu. try the spicy honey butter lobster roll, it was a fan favorite with my family.
the porthole in portland - this historic pub has been catering to the portland area since 1929 using only the freshest catches each day from the waterfront. they serve some killer drinks here & the live music is a great way to spend an afternoon.
rollie’s in belfast - self-described as “pub grub in a comfy setting” rollie’s is exactly that. while they have seafood, this is really where you’ll find wings, burgers, loaded nachos and more.
black friar pub in bar harbor - located in a bed and breakfast, this pub honors “the tradition of hospitality that goes back to the dark ages of england.” their lengthy specials list changes weekly but there are some staples on the menu you can’t pass up — scotch eggs, the friar poutine and lobster chimis to name a few.
the chart room in bar harbor - it’s one of the first places that welcomes you to bar harbor and is located right on the shores of hulls cove. they’re known for some pretty impressive happy hour deals - $2 oysters, $5 drafts and $10 house cocktails.
jordan’s restaurant in bar harbor - you can always count on me to give you a breakfast recommendation! at this staple in the community since the 1970s breakfast is served all day and their blueberry muffin (which can be made gluten-free too!) is mouthwatering.
leary’s landing in bar harbor - every foodie also needs to know the best watering holes and leary’s landing is it. it’s the closest irish pub to ireland in the us! order a round of kamikaze shots for us if you visit!!!
7. make-your-own seafood boil
probably one of my favorite memories from the trip was our seafood boil, and i don’t even like lobster! because we stayed in an amazing airbnb with a spacious kitchen (listing can be found here and is perfect for families), we wanted to test our cooking skills with steaming lobsters. we found a local market, bought the live crustaceans and relied on trusty google to guide us through the process. we, of course, also grilled out with chicken and hot dogs and made other staples like mac and cheese, tater tots and salad. if you have the space & resources, i highly recommend a seafood boil or simple barbeque.
for the historian
8. tour the bar harbor historical society
i have this listed for the history buff, but anyone would enjoy the bar harbor historical society located at la rochelle mansion. the mansion was built in 1903 for george sullivan bowdoin, a partner and treasurer of j.p. morgan, and his family. it’s a look back in time when the island was a humble summer town where cars weren’t allowed. one look out the front doors and into skillings river will leave you with no doubt why people vacation here.
9. visit the historic town of belfast
belfast has been named one of america’s coolest small towns by usa today and it shows. the red-brick historic district is home to the country’s oldest shoe store, colburn’s, and the state’s oldest weekly newspaper, the republican journal. tucked among the historic buildings are well-known art galleries, book shops and specialty stores. we stopped here along the way from portland to bar harbor and i would have enjoyed spending a bit more time here.
10. stop by maine’s oldest lighthouse
while there are over 60 historical lighthouses in maine, the portland head lighthouse in cape elizabeth is maine’s oldest. it was completed in 1791, back when maine wasn’t even a state yet but still part of massachusetts. today, the us coast guard manages the light and fog signal so tours to the top aren’t available (unless you’re lucky enough to find yourself in portland on maine’s open lighthouse day, usually in early september). near the lighthouse is an abandoned mansion built for john goddard who, at the time, was a volunteer army colonel during the civil war.
11. snag your next summer read at maine’s oldest bookstore
sherman’s bookstore actually started as w.h. sherman, printer & stationer in 1886, where the town’s newspaper was printed. during the 1900s, when sherman’s daughters took over, they shifted the focus from printing to bookselling and since then, the store widened it’s offerings to also include local souvenirs, stationery and other gifts/mementos. there are now nine locations across the state but bar habor’s the original shop.
of course, there’s a million and a half other things to see & do and my weeklong trip felt much too short, but this guide tackles a little bit of everything in vacationland. i will definitely be visiting again sometime soon.
what have i missed? what do you recommend?