im Back on Dry Land Once Again Oppertunity Awaits Me

Getting to Portland

Portland, Maine is most ii hours north of Boston. Information technology makes a fine route trip, merely once you hear all the options, you'll exist want to book a long weekend.

Your trip starts as soon as yous cross the state line. Once I'm in Maine, the air somehow smells fresher. Mayhap it's just the relief of surviving the I-95 in Massachusetts, where the speed limit is a mere proposition. But take a deep breath. The smell of pine mingling with ocean air will tell you you've left the large city.

Maine is synonymous with lobster. If you stop at whatsoever modest boondocks along the coast, you'll find the savory land specialty on offer. In Kittery, take hold of a bite at Bob's Clam Hut. If you want to try something other than lobster, I'm always partial to the fried whole clam bellies, clam strips, or the fried scallops.

On the bulldoze from Kittery to Portland, there are several opportunities to experience coastal Maine. York, Ogunquit, Kennebunkport, and Old Orchard Beach are all scenic places to brand a pit cease and walk around. York, Ogunquit, and One-time Orchard all accept beautiful sandy beaches.

York is habitation to the most photographed lighthouse in Maine, Nubble Low-cal on Cape Neddick.

Kennebunkport is best known today equally the summer holiday spot of the President George H. W. Bush and his family. Yous can get a proficient await at the compound if you have a spin on Ocean Drive. The homes sit on Walker's Indicate and there's a place to pull over most the compound. It's easy to see why the family loves the area. The town of Kennebunkport is quaint, with lovely shops and restaurants, and the views are spectacular. If you lot want to extend your stay, accept a guided kayak bout, or come across how that lobster really makes it onto your plate during a ride on a lobster boat.

To experience any of these towns, you can wind your way through them on your way to Portland, or pick one or two and just jump off the I-95. Information technology's less than an hour if you lot take the interstate straight from Kittery to Portland. Taking the breathtaking route could set you back three-plus hours depending on how often you decide to stop and whether yous're visiting during the busy summer and fall months.

Beers for fears

Portland is known for its excellent craft mash scene. It's more than just striking a brewery here or in that location; at that place'south an surface area of Portland that's dwelling to several breweries, all inside 100 yards of each other.

Allagash Brewing Company consistently tops any 'best craft breweries' list in New England; non merely Maine, the unabridged vi-state area. Information technology tin have upward to 45 minutes to go here from downtown Portland with traffic, merely it'due south worth it. This place won my heart on our first visit several years ago. When my hubby and I walked in with our iii-year-former twin boys, the kickoff words the staff said to united states of america were, "Could nosotros get them a juice box and a snack?" Sold! I will come here until the day I dice, or until the doctor tells me I must stop drinking beer.

But Allagash'south beer is the real star. Y'all can either sample in the tasting room for a few bucks, or reserve the Thousand Cru Tour. It's a three-hr experience with barrel-tastings, a look at the bottling line, and chats with the folks who make it all happen. It's $100 per person, but 100% of the toll goes to charity. Too, there could exist a wait for the tasting room, especially during the popular summer months, and then get there when it opens.

Another perk virtually being at Allagash: eating a lobster roll from one of Portland'southward best food trucks. Bite into Maine is known for the New England specialty, which you tin can get either Maine style (common cold with mayo) or Connecticut manner (hot with butter). You tin likewise endeavour a Lobster Grilled Cheese or the Triple B (salary, brie and local blueberry jam on butter grilled sourdough staff of life). The food truck is open seasonally.

Across the street, there's an industrial warehouse which has been home to several brewery first-ups since 2009. Today it'south domicile to Austin Street Brewery, Bombardment Steele Brewing, and Foundation Brewing Company. These breweries do take tasting hours likewise if yous are into the arts and crafts beer scene. If not, you lot'll score major cool points just for knowing this niggling corner of beer heaven exists.

What to practice downtown

Downtown Portland is an interesting drove of quirky storefronts, tantalizing food, art galleries, historic homes, and a working waterfront. Old Port is the revitalized warehouse commune. Information technology's an piece of cake one-cease shop for tourists and locals, with asphalt streets and plenty of restaurants.

Portland also fosters a thriving art scene. Its Museum of Art displays works by Renoir, Monet, and Warhol, merely information technology also highlights works by Maine artists. The museum does charge access, merely information technology is complimentary on Fridays from 4-8 PM.

The museum also gives visitors the opportunity to bout artist Winslow Homer'south studio. The 2 ½ hour tour leaves from the museum and allows yous to see the area that inspired his work. You lot must reserve your spot in accelerate. The $55-$65 access for the studio tour includes access to the Museum.

In improver to the Portland Museum of Art, the art community hosts First Friday Art Walks throughout the year. Y'all can browse the shops, watch live performances, and buy piece of work from street artists. It's the perfect fourth dimension to find the perfect piece to retrieve your visit.

Make a splash

It's hard not to want to be on the water when you're in Portland and at that place are a variety of ways to do it. Nothing gets you closer to the water, literally, than a kayak. Portland Paddle offers a multifariousness of guided tours starting at around $40 per person. They offer dusk and moonlight tours, also every bit half and full day excursions.

Another selection: accept the Casco Bay Lines ferry to Peaks Island and rent your kayak at Maine Island Kayak. Renting here allows you to explore the outer islands of Casco Bay. It'southward not only about rocky shores. From wildlife, to a fort, to a shipwreck, it's an adventurous fashion to experience Maine. Tours start at $seventy per person.

Depending on the length of your tour, you can as well rent bikes or a golf cart to have in the rest of scenic Peaks Isle. Ane tip: food choices are limited on the island. Information technology may be worth bringing over your own lunch or snacks for your visit.

Another selection to become out onto the water is to run into how Maine lobstermen make their living by booking a prowl with Lucky Grab. It's about a ninety-minute excursion and you'll come away with an entirely new vocabulary to impress your friends with: hard shells, shedders, shorts, culls, and keepers.

If ii of your favorite W words are wine and water, check out Wine Wise. If you didn't pick up on the hint from the visitor'southward name, this isn't just a sip and migrate into la-la land type of Casco Bay cruise. Sommelier Erica Archer is going to teach you lot about what you're drinking while yous enjoy views of lighthouses and the islands. You'll as well learn nearly vino/food pairings and how to properly describe a wine's smell and gustatory modality. The canvass costs around $150 per couple.

Port land-lovers

If you prefer to stay on dry land, you can pick one of Summer Anxiety Cycling's bike tours. This is not the Tour De France, merely you volition be cycling anywhere from 4 to xxx miles depending on which tour you cull. If you can handle a 12-mile ride, try the v Lighthouse Tour. Y'all'll peddle along the shores of Casco Bay and, every bit the name suggests, see five of the surface area lighthouses. It lasts from four to v hours. Bike, guide, and lobster roll are included for about $100 per person. Reservations are recommended.

Just n of Portland, Freeport is habitation to well-known outdoor clothing and equipment visitor, L.Fifty. Bean. Its Outdoor Discovery School offers instruction on everything from photography to fly fishing. Class lengths range from about an hour to a full weekend.

Food and culture

There is enough of history in Portland. One stop is the Wadsworth-Longfellow House. Built in 1785, it was the childhood home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Practically all the piece of furniture is original to the Wadsworth Longfellow family.

Besides, check out Victoria Mansion. Information technology's ane of the most fascinating extant nineteenth century homes anywhere in the country. Its asymmetrical design is so unusual and rare that it was declared a National Celebrated Landmark in 1971.

A trip to Portland is non just visually pleasing, but also palate pleasing. The city has a fantastic nutrient scene and is home to several James Beard Award recognized chefs.

The eating place Fore Street started it all. It was locally sourced before locally sourced was cool, and it'south credited with catapulting Portland onto the earth stage. Chef-partner Sam Hayward was named "Best Chef-Northeast" past the James Beard Foundation in 2004. The Old Port restaurant has also been James Beard nominated for "Outstanding Restaurant" three times. They practise have reservations, only they also concur a third of their tables for walk-ins. Just be sure to become there by 5 PM when they start taking names for those seats.

The line out the door at Central Provisions an 60 minutes before dinner should tell you that it does not accept reservations. The immature restaurant was a James Bristles Award nominee for Best New Restaurant in 2015. Owner/Chef Christopher Gould and his married woman, Paige, pride themselves on supporting local farmers and craftsmen. From the seats to the bar to the bathroom door, everything was fabricated locally. One tip: They do keep lunch hours most days of the week, and it's easier to snag a table starting at 11 a.1000.

2 more restaurants to try with James Beard fastened to their resume: Duckfat, and Eventide Oyster Visitor. From their names, y'all tin guess these restaurants take a different focus than those above. Just if you're in the mood for poutine or oysters try one of these Portland gems.

If yous're now convinced your trip to Portland needs to be an overnight stay, endeavour the Pomegranate Inn. Foodie Alert! The breakfast at this charming inn makes it worth booking a stay.

Portland Harbor Hotel is another place to rest your head. It's in the Old Port area and offers gratis bikes for a ride around town – after you've enjoyed your complimentary Starbucks java, of course!

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Source: https://www.travelawaits.com/2300181/portland-maine/

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