I first traveled to Maine when I was in my early 20s with my mom and aunt. We stayed on Schoodic Peninsula at a former Naval base near Acadia National Park, since my mom’s job gave us access to the facilities and a brand-new cabin. I thought the surrounding area was absolutely beautiful and always figured I would find my way back to Maine someday.
When it came time for planning my own family trip, I ended up deciding to stay closer to the Southern Coastal region, where there is more to do for young kids. We stayed in Kennebunk in a pretty Cape Cod style rental home within walking distance of a fantastic bakery, Boulangerie. Every morning, my son Luke and I would wake and walk over to get a hot baguette and some croissants and maybe a slice of the quiche of the day. It felt for a moment like we were in Europe!
The other thing we really enjoyed was Garden Street Bowl. I know what you are thinking, a bowling alley? But it was wonderful! Gourmet food, trivia night, and a full bar with every possible thing and adult might want or need with arcade and bowling for the kids. Something for everyone!
Maine has many things to offer to visitors including cool breezes (a respite to the humidity in our home state), fantastic fresh seafood, and gorgeous seashore vistas with craggy rocks and puffins floating around over the water. On this particular trip, we visited a number of great places of note including Bowdoin College, where we were able to visit the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum. The museum was named after Bowdoin graduates Robert Peary and Donald MacMillan, who were noted explorers of the Arctic Circle. Peary, along with Matthew Henson is credited with being the first person to reach the North Pole.
Other points of interest included a ride to Perkins Cove in Ogunquit by boat, enjoying the sandy beach at Biddeford Pool and enjoying days of frolicking in the waves at Parson’s Beach – our favorite in Kennebunk.
But naturally on this trip, like all the trips we tend to take, we focused on food first and foremost. Below are some of the highlights of our food travels that we highly recommend!
Restaurants
Old Vines Wine Bar: (Kennebunkport) this modern tapas and wine bar offers exceptional charcuterie and cheeses, as well as flatbread pizzas and salads sourced from Maine farms. It’s a great place to sit around happy hour time and watch people walk by in the midst of Kennebunkport Village.
Mabel’s Lobster Claw (Kennebunkport): This restaurant has been a staple of the village of
Kennebunkport since the 1950s. It has an old school vibe and apparently was a favorite of the Bush family, as President George H.W. Bush lived nearby part of the year at his family’s home at Walker Point. It’s a great spot in the center of town to have some seafood and walk around town.
Rococo Ice Cream (Kennebunkport): It’s not a restaurant per se, but the ice cream is worth finding here. Flavors such as blueberry chipotle, chai cinnamon, and earl grey, rose hip jam and pistachio keep the crowds coming. We probably visited this place at least 3 times!
Maine Diner (Wells): this famous diner in the Beach town, Wells, offers a wonderful breakfast, particularly the blueberry pancakes, biscuits, lobster pie and cod cakes. There really isn’t anything that isn’t delicious on the menu!
Cape Pier Chowder House (Cape Porpoise): this simple seafood shack is located in one of the most stunning areas in Kennebunkport, Cape Porpoise. It has amazing views and the sea breezes are delightful. Try the lobster roll and clam chowder. You won’t be disappointed.
J’s Oyster (Portland): this is an old school and I mean that with great respect, seafood house located right on the dock. Admittedly, we went because Bourdain visited and if he enjoyed it, we knew we would. But it was atmospheric, classic and memorable. We went for the clam chowder and oysters on the half shell.
Bakeries
Standard Baking Co: (Portland) this bakery located in Portland, offers a diverse array of daily breads and sweets, plus breakfast pastries. The madeleines and cookies were delicious!
The Holy Donut: (Portland) this famous spot in Portland uses local potatoes in the dough, giving its donuts a moist, dense texture. The kids fell in love with the Pomegranate and triple berry glaze flavors. We also had a maple bacon that was out of this world!
Boulangerie: (Kennebunk) this wonderful bakery in Kennebunk turns out French pastries and flaky croissants on a daily basis. Luke is a bread aficionado and really adored their baguettes. I was a big fan of the daily quiche and butter croissants.
Beer
Maine Beer Company: (Freeport) My sister spent 22 years in the beer industry and when she recommends a brewery for a visit, we tend to take it seriously. The Maine Beer Company located in Freeport, is a fairly famous craft brewery with a great selection of beer. It was fun seeing people pull up and loading cases into their cars. This is one beer that you won’t find too easily in other parts of the country. They are famous for Lunch, an IPA named after a whale spotted off the Maine Coast. If you visit, try the famous pizza made on the premises. You won’t be disappointed.
Allagash Brewing Company: This beer company in Portland is well known outside of Maine and has established quite a following for the Belgian style wheat beer known as Allagash White. It pairs perfectly with seafood and is light enough for enjoying in the hot summer sun. It’s named for a tributary of the St. John River located in Allagash, Maine.
Recommendations
Find a place for a rental that has all of the things that you will need on your trip. If sitting on the beach is important, heading to the Southern Coast of Maine will probably be more to your liking than headed North to the more remote area where Acadia National Park is located.
Portland, Maine is a destination for great food and there are some wonderful restaurants.
Try to spend some time walking on the beaches at different times of the day. You will see something different each time you go. Our favorite find were the small periwinkles dotting the inlets and clinging to sea plants.
Try to find a hotel or rental where you have a porch and sit outside and enjoy those gorgeous Maine breezes in the evenings.
And of course, make sure you try the lobster. There's a reason it is world famous. It's incredible. But don't eat too much. I ate too much of it my first trip and didn't have it for several years after. It's a rich delicacy to be enjoyed once or twice!
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