Go Here: A Maine Primer (Part I)

A big, juicy guide for your planning needs

As promised I’m putting together a “list” for a visit to Maine. It is be no means exhaustive - how could it be? This was only my second trip to Vacationland. I got around to see a LOT of the coast, but not all of it. You can only trust a guide so much, anyway. You should always allow for “on the ground” decisions to keep it spontaneous and feel a sense of discovery.

I prepped our itinerary through a mix of internet research and conversations with friends who know the areas well. Generally if a place is super popular on Instagram, I avoid it. There is nothing worse than visiting a place while battling the hordes of people wielding iPhones, snapping photos to prove they, too, are in the know.

Our journey took us from Portland and up the coast to Lincolnville, Camden, Rockport, Rockland, over to Mount Desert Island and the towns of Southwest Harbor, Northeast Harbor, and Seal Harbor, all in the shadows of Acadia National Park. We were lucky enough to be invited aboard some boats and to explore the Cranberry Islands; we explored Brooklin, Blue Hill and Brooksville.

We bought more dad hats with embroidered logos than I care to admit. We saw a load of smaller towns and villages, sometimes pulling over for a quick coffee and a walkabout. Those minor excursions yielded some of the best moments and the best finds. We eased into a rhythm, and more fully understood just how magical a Maine summer can be. (It’s…good.)

So I am excited to pass it along to you. First, part one: Portland, Freeport, Camden, and Rockland.