Things to Do

You've got questions on what to do, see, and eat in Maine. 
We’ve got answers.

Q: Hi! We’re really excited to be coming to your wedding.  Are you excited for the big day?
Thanks, we’re happy you can make it.  Yeah, it’s exciting. It’s a lot of planning, but we’re reasonably confident that you’re going to have a great time.

Q: Great! We’re thinking of taking a few days and exploring Maine, making a vacation out of it.  How does that sound?
Super, we were hoping people would take advantage of the opportunity. Maine in July is a little slice of heaven. It would be our pleasure to acquaint you with one of our favorite places. 

Q: We’ve never been. What should we do?
Can you be more specific? What kinds of things are you looking for?

Q: Well, first of all...Lobster! We want to destroy a deep sea predator with our bare hands and drench it in melted butter.  Where's the best lobster in Maine?
Truth be told, you can get lobster or a lobster roll at almost any restaurant in Maine, including, if you so wish, McDonalds. If you’re staying in Portsmouth,  Union Lobster House and Warren’s Lobster House are both just across the Memorial Bridge into Kittery, Maine. And both have a pretty good lobster roll.

Our favorite spot is Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier in Kittery Point. It sits on a dock on a tidal creek where the lobster boats tie up each evening and sell their catch. It’s often ranked in magazines as one of the best lobster pounds in New England. They can handle a big crowd, but reservations are recommended as they get crowded in the summer. Also, it’s BYOB. So plan ahead and bring your own white wine. The Brewsters have enjoyed this spot for decades. Pro tip: Bring bug spray and/or long sleeves as it can get buggy at dusk.

Q: That sounds great. Are all your answers going to be that in-depth?
Yeah, probably. We’re just like that. What else did you want to know?

Q: What if we want to spend some time at the beach?
Sure, there are lots of those around. The beaches in this area are generally fine gray sand, with a few shingled sections (loose stones about the size of a fist). The rugged rocky coast that you’ve likely seen in pictures is farther north in “Down East” Maine, which we figure you’ll be asking about later.

Kittery Point has two public beaches—Fort Foster and Sea Point Beach. The former requires a small fee for non-Kittery residents to enter. The latter does not but be sure to park in spots that are not reserved for residents. Both are sandy and have lovely views.

York has some great beaches as well. York Harbor beach is small and less crowded (and right next to where we’re getting married). “Long Sands” is a touristy beach with big waves. You can rent boards to body surf, which is a lot of fun. It’s Maine's version of the Jersey shore scene.

There are more really great state parks a bit farther up the coast, including Crescent Beach and Popham Beach. Both require a small entrance fee. 

Q: Cool. I’ve heard the water is cold, is that true?
Yes. Especially for the uninitiated, Maine seawater can be a shock to the system. July water temperatures are typically in the low- to mid-60s. We recommend getting in quickly. But submerging yourself is refreshing and makes you feel morally superior to those that wimp out.

Q: Is there anywhere to swim that is warmer?
Sure. The Brewsters live on a tidal inlet called Spruce Creek, and some of us will be gathering there for a swim Saturday morning (meet at entrance of Fort McClary State Park at 10:00 am). The sun warms the sand flats at low tide, which can make for a warmer swim, but nothing is guaranteed.

There is also an age-old Brewster tradition called “sluicing.” It basically involves swimming through a tunnel that has a strong current at certain points during the tide. The water will shoot you out at the other side. We’d be happy to have you join us.

Pro tip: Waterproof footwear is highly recommended.

Also, Maine is full of fabulous glacier lakes. Sebago Lake is about a two hour from Kittery. The water is crystal clear and quite a bit warmer.

Q: Cool, maybe we’ll be there for the swim, depends on our Saturday morning hangover. What if we want to do something more low key? Is there anywhere to get inundated with New England charm?
Absolutely. Many of our guests will be staying in downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We chose the area because it is—to use the technical term—super f*ing cute.

The harbor area is a series of brick-lined streets with tons of shops and restaurants all within walking distance of our recommended lodging options. You can also head north to Ogunquit, Maine (30 minutes north of Portsmouth), which is similarly cute but has better views of the ocean. Portland, Maine is about a 50 minute drive north and also has a really nice brick inner harbor, with shops and restaurants. But while Portsmouth has good restaurants, Portland has become Northern New England’s premier food destination. If you go, we’d be happy to provide our recommendations.

It’s summer, so if you’d like a run into the Bush family (of presidential fame), head to Kennebunkport.

Q: Cool, do you have any favorite restaurants in Portsmouth?
Yeah, for brunch, the Friendly Toast is a lot of fun—retro décor and good food. For higher end dinner fare, you can try Black Trumpet, Cava, Cure, or Martindale Wharf (great views at this last one). Moxy’s chef, Matt Louis, is a 2015 James Beard semi-finalists for best chef in the Northeast. Less expensive options include Kitchen (deli), Royal Thai Orchid, Shalimar India, and Street. There are also several options for baked goods and coffee: Breaking New Grounds, Ceres, and Popovers on the Square.

On the other side of the bridge, Kittery has also had a food renaissance of sorts, having recently been featured in the Washington Post’s travel section. Anneke Jans is higher end. AJ’s Wood Grilled Pizza, Anju Noodle Bar, Loco Coco’s Tacos, and Rudder’s Public House are more reasonably priced. Great coffee, baked goods, sandwiches, and salads are available at Beach Pea Baking Co. and Lil’s Cafe.

Kittery also just got a brand new craft brewing company. Check out Tributary Brewing Company, the new venture of veteran brewers Galen and Tod Mott.

Q: And what if we want strip malls and parking lots?
Ah, you must be referring to the Kittery Outlets. Plenty of discounted goods and plenty of tourists. It all started with the Kittery Trading Post, which is a large sporting goods store.

Q: Speaking of sporting goods, isn’t L.L. Bean headquartered somewhere in Maine?
You betcha. The L.L. Bean’s Flagship Store is in Freeport, Maine. Actually, there are a couple of stores, since some departments—like bikes and boats—are so large that they require entire buildings to themselves. There are also a slew of outlets that opened to cater to the tourists that flock to L.L. Bean. Freeport is three towns north of Portland, so slightly more than an hour from Portsmouth.

Q: What if we wanted to make a week of it?  Where would you recommend going?
Glad you asked. This is where the “Down East” bit comes in. All of Maine is pretty, but the midcoast—colloquially referred to as “Down East”—is truly breathtaking. Mount Desert Island is home to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The Island has the tallest coastal mountains on the East Coast, and they plunge dramatically into the sea.

If you go, here are some recommendations, including favorite spots and pro tips:

As previously noted, the park is on a giant Island called Mount Desert Island (MDI), which is nearly divided in two halves by Somes Sound. The Bar Harbor side has a lot of awesome beauty. Park loop road—the only part of the park you have to pay to get into—has some of the Park's more famous attractions, including Thunder Hole, Sand Beach, the Beehive (a really cool hike). The other side—the one with Southwest Harbor—is called the quiet side and is a nice escape from the crowds.

If you're camping-inclined, we have two suggestions. First make your reservation very early as spots fill up months in advance. Second, we suggest any site near Somesville that has frontage on Somes Sound, one of only two fjords on the Eastern seaboard (the other being the Hudson River). If you can't get to it on a boat, one of these campgrounds will allow you to see some of the majesty.

Of course, MDI are has plenty of hotels, motels, and cabins to rent for those that prefer a bed.

If you go into Bar Harbor, we recommend Havana Restaurant for a nice dinner. Ask to be seated in the wine room in back; no view of water, but best food and atmosphere we've encountered in an otherwise pretty touristy town.

Our favorite hike in Acadia involves hiking (of course), swimming, incredible views, and popovers. 

The hike is a loop: from Jordan Pond House, walk up the Rockefeller Carriage Trails to the Deer Brook Trail. Pro tip: Buying a park trail map might be helpful. Take Deer Brook Trail up about a mile. It will fork (there will be a sign) and you want to go right toward Sargent Pond, a small glacier pond near the top of Sargent Mountain. We always swim and have lunch at this point, having picked up sandwiches and drinks before setting out. After a blissful pond experience, hike back to the fork in Deer Brook Trail and ascend Penobscot Mountain. It’s a quick trip to the summit since you’ve already hiked most of the elevation. Hike down Penobscot, which is a really long gentle slope with awesome views followed by a steep final descent. Take the carriage roads back to Jordan Pond House and enjoy the tea and popovers overlooking an incredible view of Jordan Pond and the Bubble Mountains. Afternoon popovers and tea are a park tradition dating back to Abby Rockefeller. Total time for the hike is about 3 hours. Pro tip: Make your Popover reservation for the lawn before going on the hike. It will allow you to skip the long afternoon lines.

Besides Sergeant Mountain Pond the only glacier lake open for swimming is Echo Lake. You can swim at the public beach, which is lovely—towering cliffs on one side—but also a bit crowded. The other option is to swim from a boat launch area called Ike's Point. Either way, the lake water will leave your skin feeling amazing and make you feel generally invincible in life.

Best for last. Hal and his family spent summers on a small island off of Mount Desert called Little Cranberry Island a.k.a. Islesford. You can take a ferry from Northeast Harbor. There is just a quiet little community out there with art galleries. We would recommend taking the dinner cruise from Northeast Harbor on a boat called the Sea Princess. The ride out there is gorgeous in and of itself. They take you to the Islesford Dock Restaurant which has really good food and incredible views of the sunset over the Acadia mountains. Pro tip: Buy the boat tickets, which do not include the price of the meal, earlier in the day to avoid being sold out. Kill some time with a short hike from Northeast Harbor to Thuya Gardens. 

Q: Wow, that was thorough.
Yeah, like I said, we’re like that. Anything else?

Q: Nope, I think we’re good. Thanks!
Our pleasure. We hope you have a blast!