I’ve already shown you what I wore on our trip to Maine (here, here and here), but I’ve been bursting to tell you more about all of the great things we saw and did. Oh and ate. Without further ado.. my fall travel guide to coastal Maine.
While I’ve been to Maine in both Summer and Winter as a kid, I had never been in the peak of Fall and now I don’t think I’d want to go at any other time. The middle of October (depending on the weather that particular year) is going to allow you peak leaf peeping and temperatures that are crisp but not yet truly cold. This trip is best enjoyed by car as so many of the towns are just a short 20-30 minute drive from one another. Allowing both scenic coastal drives and multiple stops within a single day. We saw most of south/mid-coast Maine in just 3 1/2 days. I suggest starting at Nubble Lighthouse just outside of Ogunquit and ending with Bar Harbor and Acadadia National Park.
While it probably goes without saying, you’re going to eat Lobster while in Maine. And it’s going to be gooooood. It’s offered in nearly every variety but as you pop from town to town a lobster roll from a seaside stand is an experience not to be missed. We loved the Clam Shack in Kennebunkport and Red’s Eats in Wiscasset. But don’t think your dining is going to stop at lobstah (as the locals say). We were pleasantly surprised by the amazing food options we found throughout our trip. Standouts include an unforgettable dinner at Earth at Hidden Pond outside of Kennebunkport (make reservations in advance and request a seat near the fireplace!), Duckfat (don’t miss the truffle fries) & The Holy Donut (their chai tea donut was possibly the best donut I’ve ever had) – both in Portland. P.S. While you wait for your table at Duckfat, walk over to Shipyard Brewery for a quick beer flight of local craft brews.
One of our favorite activities while exploring Maine was touring the coast’s lighthouses and sightseeing all of the gorgeous historic homes. We checked out Nubble Lighthouse near Ogunquit and Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth (the cliff walk nearby was another favorite activity!). While we spotted beautiful homes in almost every town we stopped through, the houses in Kennebunkport and Wiscasset were some of the most charming I’ve ever seen. Look closely for the door markers on the homes to see the year in which they were built and often times the name of the original owners.
Admittedly I didn’t do much shopping while we were on this particular trip, but Kennebunkport was dotted with cute boutiques and Portland had a strong small shop vibe that I loved. My favorite stores downtown were Portland Dry Goods (think luxe lumberjack for both men and women) and K Colette for home goods with a chic nautical-inspiration.
Have more questions about what to see or where to go? Feel free to ask below in the comments or contact me directly here.