Recs Needed -- Portland, ME
- Thread starter The Sundance Kid
- Start date
Fore Street. It rivals the best in Boston; an absolute must. You'll need a res
Just got back from Portland when we did a New England trip. The lobster shack we ate at was closing that weekend for the season, but it was still incredible.
It's a fun little town and also ate at Fore street. Great!
It's a fun little town and also ate at Fore street. Great!
Another vote for Fore Street here. I don’t know Portland well (I pretty much stick to the Midcoast area), but that’s by far the best restaurant I’ve dined in down there. Nice town to wander around in—and this time of year it’ll be a lot less hectic than in “high season.”
If she’ll be in Maine for more than a couple days, a trip up the coast might be nice.
Holler if you’d like more info (although @ball911 might well have better Portland recs). By the way, it’s been “some balmy” up here for December—high temps in the 50s yesterday.
Hook ’em.
If she’ll be in Maine for more than a couple days, a trip up the coast might be nice.
Holler if you’d like more info (although @ball911 might well have better Portland recs). By the way, it’s been “some balmy” up here for December—high temps in the 50s yesterday.
Hook ’em.
Thanks...and yes Fore Street was good when I ate dinner there a couple of summers ago.
Street and Co. (Same owners at Fore Street). Go with the scallops in Pernod sauce, and the lobster with linguine.
Start off with cocktails a Bar of Chocolate across the street.
Be sure to have some potato donuts at Holy donut.
This was one of our favorite vacations of all time. Can't wait to go back.
Start off with cocktails a Bar of Chocolate across the street.
Be sure to have some potato donuts at Holy donut.
This was one of our favorite vacations of all time. Can't wait to go back.
Photo 1 and photo 79 are the two dishes we had at Street and Co. Highly recommend them!
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/street-and-co-portland-2?start=0
Anyone have any recs on the area - all along the coast as well? Wife and I are heading there for 10yr anniversary in late Sept. Have a bike and brew tour planned, going to Bar Harbor for a day or 2, but that's all that's definite.
I'll hang up and listen.
I'll hang up and listen.
If you rent a car in Boston stop by Ogunquit. Great shops and great food along with a great walk along the coast on the edge of town. My daughter and family live in North Yarmouth, about 15 miles up IH 295 north of Portland and we have been to Maine many times, most recently last December. They are about 10 miles from Freeport, home of LL Bean which you should visit. Town of Freeport has some nice shopping for the ladies and some good restaurants. The Muddy Rudder is a great restaurant at exit 17. Turn off 295 to take U.S 1 at Brunswick to go to Bar Harbor. Take the short drive down to Booth Bay Harbor off of US 1. On the way stop by Edgecomb Pottery which is more than pottery-- nice jewelry in neat building.
Boothbay is a small village with some nice B&Bs, good restaurants and neat shops. Camden and Rockland are great places to stop and view the harbor and visit the restaurants. I love the book stores that you keep passing on the highway. Bar Harbor is a great place to visit and probably won't be crowded that time of year. Lot of nice B&Bs and good restaurants. Go up on Cadillac Mountain which is part of Acadia National Park. Rockefeller used to own a large part of the island and he had 16 rock arch bridges built so he could take carriage rides. Today they are part of the National Park and are great to bike on. Take the drive around the island. Stop at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse on the very southern point. Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor are all nice little villages. Lobster is very cheap, usually a few dollars a pound so eat up while you area there.
Maine is a rural state that is very charming. You will really enjoy it. My daughter and husband are both engineering graduates from UT and have their own consulting firm. They love to have visitors from Texas so if you want more information email me and I will connect you with them. dwf@mail.utexas.edu
Boothbay is a small village with some nice B&Bs, good restaurants and neat shops. Camden and Rockland are great places to stop and view the harbor and visit the restaurants. I love the book stores that you keep passing on the highway. Bar Harbor is a great place to visit and probably won't be crowded that time of year. Lot of nice B&Bs and good restaurants. Go up on Cadillac Mountain which is part of Acadia National Park. Rockefeller used to own a large part of the island and he had 16 rock arch bridges built so he could take carriage rides. Today they are part of the National Park and are great to bike on. Take the drive around the island. Stop at the Bass Harbor Lighthouse on the very southern point. Northeast Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Bass Harbor are all nice little villages. Lobster is very cheap, usually a few dollars a pound so eat up while you area there.
Maine is a rural state that is very charming. You will really enjoy it. My daughter and husband are both engineering graduates from UT and have their own consulting firm. They love to have visitors from Texas so if you want more information email me and I will connect you with them. dwf@mail.utexas.edu
When you in bar harbor hit up the thunder cliffs on mount desert island. With the wind is up it's pretty incredible. Mount Acadia had a nice view too
Second Acadia Nat'l. Park , it's a can't miss while you're in Bar Harbor. I also second the recommendation to stop in/visit Ogunquit, very nice little town on your way north from Boston. The Marginal Way foot path is a nice oceanside stroll in Ogunquit, too.
Allagash Brewery makes some great beers, so be sure to visit while you're in Portland. It's beautiful in Maine, have a great trip.
Allagash Brewery makes some great beers, so be sure to visit while you're in Portland. It's beautiful in Maine, have a great trip.
Belmont Station*
Edit: NM thought you said Portland, OR.
I would head up the coast to Deer Isle, Blue Hill and Bar Harbor AKA Bah Hahbah.
Edit: NM thought you said Portland, OR.
I would head up the coast to Deer Isle, Blue Hill and Bar Harbor AKA Bah Hahbah.
Last edited:
Just hit the area known as "mid-coast." Camden is my favorite area...cool shops and restaurants and hit Mount Battie. There's an old fort built there with spectacular views of the area. I first went to Maine 22 years ago and fell in love with it.
I bought a lake house 18 miles from Acadia National Park last year and plan to spend my summers there when I hang up the rat race. The people and culture are wonderful. Although...if you want good lookin' gal up there, you'll have to bring her.
Don't go between November and June. Bitter cold in winter and then you get the mud season...followed by the black fly season that runs from mother's day to father's day. But enjoy it...you should have a great experience.
I bought a lake house 18 miles from Acadia National Park last year and plan to spend my summers there when I hang up the rat race. The people and culture are wonderful. Although...if you want good lookin' gal up there, you'll have to bring her.
Don't go between November and June. Bitter cold in winter and then you get the mud season...followed by the black fly season that runs from mother's day to father's day. But enjoy it...you should have a great experience.
Last edited:
If you can make it to Kennebunkport you won't be disappointed. Amazing place
NYTimes covered this fairly well a few years ago. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/07/28/travel/what-to-do-36-hours-portland-me.html?_r=0
36 Hours in Portland, Me.
By SUZANNE MacNEILLE JULY 28, 2016
There’s more to this maritime city than great food: gracious parks, Victorian architecture and a thriving arts scene.
Photo
36 Hours in Portland, Me.
By SUZANNE MacNEILLE JULY 28, 2016
There’s more to this maritime city than great food: gracious parks, Victorian architecture and a thriving arts scene.
Photo
Thanks to all you kind folks! Great stuff and plenty for me to google through this weekend!
Any can't miss breweries up there? We aren't hops/pale ale folks though. Love everything else beer though.
Any can't miss breweries up there? We aren't hops/pale ale folks though. Love everything else beer though.
September is very nice. Not so many tourists. If you want to catch the leaves turning, go around mid October. Getting a little cooler but unless you want to go in the water, a good time. We typically have been going in July and August since I taught September to May, but now that I am retired we will be going in the off season. Fall is tough for me since the Horns are in the middle of FB season. July and August can have some warm nights and many places don't have AC.
Get a reservation soon for the lakeside outdoor restaurant st Acadia. Everything is very crowded.
I like kennebunkport more but you need to do bar harbor at least once.
I like kennebunkport more but you need to do bar harbor at least once.
I live in Midcoast Maine, the Camden/Rockland area. Definitely worth a stop. Still a lot going on in late September—day sails, art shows, Common Ground Fair, and whatnot—as nothing shuts down completely until mid-October or so. Can recommend restaurants, etc. Plenty of hiking opportunities in Camden Hills State Park and environs. Couple lighthouses and such.
You might consider a day trip to Monhegan Island, which is a cool place to see. (I’ll probably be on the island then, actually—I’m an avid birder, and fall migration out there is crazy.) The ferry I take leaves out of Port Clyde.
(And @Vasherized — yep, Maine Beer Company brews the best beer in the state, IMO.)
Holler if you’ve got more questions.
Hook ’em.
If you are into Boats, stop by The Landing School, Near Kennebunkport - https://www.landingschool.edu/
Also, the Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay Harbor area - http://www.mainegardens.org/
Look up Five Islands / Reid State Park area near Bath
Also, the Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay Harbor area - http://www.mainegardens.org/
Look up Five Islands / Reid State Park area near Bath
Not knowing your time schedule - we flew to Manchester spent 7 days on the Maine coastline then drove up to Montreal for 3 days.
