We are talking about Portland on the East coast, in Maine. Maybe next time, we will check out the West Coast of Portland. But for now, we are exploring the ocean side gem of Maine.
We added Portland to our New England Road trip in October of 2022. Although not traditionally thought of as a fall destination, Portland is a great addition to any New England Trip. And as you may know, we love a good lighthouse around here, and couldn’t pass up the chance to see America’s most iconic light.
Here is how to make the most out of a few days in Portland.
Scenic Drives
We left New Hampshire after a few days of leaf peeping, and drove through a large part of Maine to reach Portland. This is one of those scenic drives that’s worth taking your time and making unplanned stops. We found an unexpected overlook along the Saco River. We were also excited to find a set of railroad tracks, and snapped a few magazine-worthy fall shots. It’s worth spending a leisurely afternoon exploring inland of Maine before reaching the waterfront city of Portland.
Portland Head Light
The Portland Head Light is arguably the most iconic lighthouse in the North East. It has been helping with nautical navigation since 1791, and is Maine’s oldest light. Although you can not climb to the top of the tower, you can view the light, and keepers quarters from both north and south, with each view having a unique landscape surrounding it.
The lighthouse has no admission fees, which also includes the park surrounding the light. Fort William’s Park is 90 acres of hiking, sports and recreation areas. This is also a great place to enjoy a picnic, or grab a lobster roll, more on that later.
Lobster for Every Meal
Maine is known for Lobster, in fact most of the places around the US, when you order lobster, you are ordering a Maine Lobster. We sought out some of the most famous, and highly ranked lobster restaurants in the area.
Bite into Maine- A little mobile food truck serving lobster rolls 6 different ways. 3 different locations throughout Portland means you are probably no more than a few minutes from one of their trucks. We stopped at the one by the Portland Head Light, and that really feels like the full Maine experience.
Luke’s Lobster– Luke’s Lobster, is a rustic laid back waterside spot. What drew us to this spot was Luke’s Trio. A sampler of 3 rolls of Lobster, Shrimp and Crab is perfect way to get a taste of all the different seafood the area is known for. Also, the lobster bisque is 10 out of 10 amazing.
Becky’s Diner– Becky’s is where the locals go, specifically the local fisherman. Typically the place is packed with crews right off the port, and they are serving the fresh catch right back to them. You’re limited to a couple of options on the menu, but with the choice of 1 lobster or 2 lobsters, you really can’t go wrong.
Portland Lobster Company- The Portland Lobster Company is right on the harbor, a small little building, serving up fresh lobster, so fresh in fact you can bring your own fresh caught lobster and they will cook it right up for you.
Becoming a Lobster Fisherman
Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we would know what its like to experience lobster fishing. But in Portland Maine, they not only serve up the freshest lobster, they will teach you how to catch it. We booked an afternoon trip
.with Lucky Catch Cruises, they suited us up in gloves and aprons, and we headed out of port and into open waters. They show you how to haul up the pods, identify the lobsters to keep or toss, and then rebait the traps for the next days catch.
When we got back to land, we disembarked with two fresh lobsters and brought them right up the dock to the Portland Lobster Company, mentioned above. For $20 they will cook up the lobster, add a side of corn and french fries, butter and lemon. This was the freshest lobster we ever had, literally sea to table in minutes.
Doughnuts, because Lobster isn’t my Favorite Breakfast
When something has a cult following, it is probably for a reason. Long before we even began planning our trip to Portland, we had heard of The Holy Donut. They have 4 locations around the area, and serve up some really interesting and delicious flavors. The most unique part of this local shop is that these are not your typical donuts, these are potato donuts. This may not be a good pairing with lobster, but sometimes you have to take a break from shellfish and grab a donut and coffee to start the day.
Cryptozoology
So this is going to sound like an absolutely random additional to this trip, but it honestly feels like something you just can’t miss. If you are like us, and since you are here I’m guessing you are, and like roadside attractions and unusual destinations, you’ll love this place. The study of Cryptozoology is the subculture that searches for and studies unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated, i.e. Big Foot. The International Cryptozoology Museum is a tiny little space in Portland that is packed with lore, specimens, and all the proof you need to convert you into a Big Foot believer.
Oceanside Vibes
When you think of Portland, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t necessarily a beach getaway. But this was honestly one of the most surprising parts of our trip. We stayed at the Higgins Beach Inn, and woke up one morning to the sight of surfers strolling down the sidewalk on their way to the beach. The waves were especially good the few days we were there, and it was easy to see how this could be an amazing place to spend a summer break. We visited in October, so it would have been far too cold for us to spend any time in the water, but the surfers were all in wetsuits, and seemed to be doing ok.
Scenic Train Ride
We were not able to add this to our Portland trip this time around, but it is definitely on our list for next time. The Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad is a historic track the travels along the Casco Bay. According to their website, they offer onboard narrative to accompany your ride, with a little bit of railroad and Maine history thrown in. Depending on what time of year you visit they also have special rides, like the Polar Express in the winter. If you’ve been around for a while you know how we enjoy a good train journey, so this is a must do for next time.
If you have a chance to plan a trip to Portland, ME we definitely recommend you go, it’s a fun and quirky place to spend time. If you want to see more, check our of YouTube video of the few days we spent there.
The Savory Suitcase 