The Northeasternmost state in the US has so much to offer and is now sitting at the top of our most favorite states. It was breathtakingly beautiful and at moments I couldn’t believe we were still in the US. The cliffs our resort sat on top of, made me think of Ireland! We enjoyed everything from the sandy beaches of Ogunquit to the Mountains in Acadia National Park.
You can’t visit Maine without doing 3 things:
1. Eat Lobster!
Maine is famous for its lobster, yielding almost 90% of our nation’s supply. Lobster Hunting Tours in Portland Maine are a must do.
2. Lighthouse hunting!
We visited 4 different lighthouses while exploring Maine. We were so close to missing the famous lighthouse in Acadia National Park, but some quick thinking brought us to our last stop of the trip and most memorable lighthouse, the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse in Bass Harbor, Maine
3. Pick and eat wild blueberries!
The Nature Walk at our resort brought us to some wild blueberry bushes that we could pick and eat from. There are tons of Blueberry farms in Maine and plenty of opportunities to enjoy the fruit. We had Blueberry pie in Ogunquit, Blueberry Popovers in Acadia National Park, and blueberry ice cream every chance we got!
Things to do in Maine:
Our resort Cliff House Maine was the type of resort you never have (or want) to leave. Nestled on Cape Neddick, just up the hill, on the cliffs, from downtown Ogunquit. They have everything you could need, do, and see for several days without getting bored. Resort activities included nightly smores, tie dye fun, Build-a-Bear workshops, fun outdoor workout classes, nature walks, lobster boils, wood carving, painting, swimming, plus a golf course and beautiful spa on property.
The Marginal Way
The Marginal Way is a beautiful walking path along the beach that takes you into downtown (depending on where you start). It’s only 1.25 miles long with plenty of benches and places to stop if needed. The cliff walk starts at The Sparhawk Oceanfront Resort on Shore Road and takes you to the rocky beaches of Perkins Cove. We stopped in Perkins Cove and ate at Jackies’ Too with amazing views and delicious food. Barnacle Billly’s and the Lobster Shack were both highly recommended in Perkins Cove. Barnacle Billy’s has a walk up outdoor ice cream spot that we stopped at before heading back. The blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream was a must.
Ogunquit Beach
Not only have I never heard of this town before, but it’s beaches have been voted #1in America?! You’re kidding me right? The weather was overcast the day we went down to the beach, but that didn’t put a damper on its beauty. We were wearing sweaters (bought at a local shop because we weren’t expecting the cold weather) and tennis shoes, so we just hung out and walked around. No swimming for us. They had a spectator area where you could sit up and watch the local surfers do their thing. There were several restaurants and shops right there at the beach too if you get there on a sunnier day and need food options.
Day Trip To KennebunkPort
Another magical coastal town to visit while exploring Maine. It’s about a 25 minute drive from Ogunquit and makes for a perfect outing. We headed up just after breakfast and drove over to Walker’s Point where the Bush Family built their private residence in the 90’s. You can’t get close, but there is a little parking area you can get out and climb down some rocks for a great view. We saw lots of black SUVs over at the residence and multiple people in black suits walking around, so we’re guessing that meant the Bush family was there. We were told it’s not uncommon to see President George W Bush (known to the locals as #43) strolling around town during summer months. That was a little ways outside of the main, downtown area, so we drove back and found a parking spot to explore the village. We spent a couple hours wandering around, shopping in all the cute kid’s shops and candy stores. Then, we ended up at The Boat House for a late lunch. Everything from the fresh oysters to the Steak Noodle Salad was delicious. Afterwards, we found a cute ice cream shop and started our way back to Ogunquit.
Lighthouse Hunting
We visited as many lighthouses as we could this trip. Our favorite was the Nubble Lighthouse, which stands on a rocky little “nub” of an island. Also nearby is the Portland Head Maine Lighthouse (oldest one in Maine!), Goat Island Lighthouse, and Portsmouth Harbor Light (only lighthouse in New Hampshire).
Day Trip to Portsmouth, NH
A trip to downtown Portsmouth is only 30 minutes away from Cliff House Maine, which makes for the perfect day outing. P.S. The Nubble Lighthouse is on the way! We ventured into New Hampshire just in time for lunch. We parked in the middle of “downtown” and walked to Portsmouth Brewery, where we enjoyed delicious nachos, lobster rolls, and the local beer. It was raining most of the time during our visit, but we still managed to explore a little of Market street, Prescott Park, Portsmouth Harbor, and African Burying Ground Memorial Park.
Day Trip to Portland and/or a Must Stop on your way to Acadia National Park
We drove to Portland as a “halfway” adventure before heading up to Acadia National Park. We booked a Maine Lobstering Excursion with Lucky Catch, and it was such a memorable experience! The whole boat got involved in catching the lobsters, and kid’s loved wearing the big orange rubber lobstering outfits. We pulled the lobster cages up from the water, cleaned them out, and threw them back in. We were able to help put the rubber bands on the lobster claws and measure the tails. We caught several lobsters and even stopped by an island full of seals. Portland Maine is a beautiful city, and the view from the water, surrounded by sailboats was magical. We didn’t stay long after the excursion, and hit the road to make the 3 hour trip to Acadia National Park.
