Yeah That’s Kosher! >> a Kosher Travel blog » Blog Archive ::
There were no Kosher restaurants or stores in Portland, but the Shul was . TRAVEL TIPS: Top 10 tips for “Kosher” Backpackers 4 votes, average: 5 out of 5
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We've never been to Maine and thought we should fix that. We're flying in/out of Portland the last weekend in July and thought we'd ask for any suggestions. We're fairly avid hikers, rabid lobster fans and generally like the ambience of seaside towns, having both grown up in one.
Dining suggestions (we've got breakfast at Becky's already listed), B&Bs, attractive drives or islands would all be welcome suggestions.
It sounds like you are in for a treat. Here are some ideas for things to do:
1. Go on a boat ride (or rides) on Casco Bay. Various themes, various things to see and do including hiking and eating lobster. http://www.cascobaylines.com/HTML/fr_cruises.htm
great nanny looking for eve/weekend work - Portland (OR ::
newborn-12 years old. i am free mon-fri after 5 pm and most weekends all day . please e mail me Read & reply to this Portland (OR) classified ad free.
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Portland Mercury | End Hits | Weekend!::
So let me enable your inner Fosse with a list of shows for the weekend. . have any tips on some cool Florida bands who play the Gulf Coast, let me know.
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2. See the most photographed lighthouse in the world --- Portland Head Light. Plus there are great trails in Fort Williams Park where the lighthouse is located. http://www.portlandheadlight.com/
3. At night, go to LL Bean. No need to waste time during the day. If, on the other hand, if you want to go to Freeport to do some outlet shopping, you will find it in Freeport. http://www.freeportusa.com/
4. In South Freeport, go to Harrasseeket Lunch & Lobster which is also open for dinner. Terrific off-the-boat lobster with a wonderful view. http://www.hollyeats.com/Harraseeket.htm
5. You can take a day trip to Boothbay Harbor which is a bit touristy but beautiful nevertheless.
6. If you get up early, you can take a day drive to Camden and see the cute town and go hiking in nearby Camden Hills State Park.
7. Take a drive to southern Maine and see Kennebunkport, Ogunquit (keep in in mind they have a famous playhouse), and Cape Neddick Lighthouse. Maybe find your way to go on a lobster boat in Ogunquit (get there early). Check out http://www.ogunquit.com/attractions_list.cfm?WBT=Attractions%20-%20Charters/Cruises , http://www.kennebunkport.com/home.htm , and http://www.lighthouse.cc/capeneddick/ for further information and ideas.
Maine Camping: TIPS Maine Camping Tips Family Camping Vacation ::
Maine Camping Tips, family vacation ideas and camping tips from Maine Living at the close of Labor Day weekend, missing the glorious Maine fall months.
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As for lodging, you might want to ask someone else as I travel as inexpensively as possible so I'm either Pricelining or looking elsewhere for super cheap rates.
It sounds like you had quite a trip. Your experience at Peaks Island was interesting to read as I've heard about Jones Landing (I'm assuming that's where you had the uninspired meal with the rude server). I've never eaten there but your experience is what I've heard a bit often. We only eat at lobster shacks and places like Becky's. I've never been to the higher end restaurants so I've been taking copious notes. Glad you had a wonderful time on Sebago. That area is more "Maine" than Boothbay Harbor which is a classic tourist trap.
We're thinking of doing the 5 hour boat ride to Bailey Island. I just love being on Casco Bay. So glad you went to the Portland Head Light. My fiance proposed to me right there on Valentine's Day. We will definitely go there to walk around and play some tennis.
I'd be happy to share. Our first day was pretty much blown by the bad weather delaying flights, so that by the time we arrived, all we had the energy to do was to crawl into bed and sleep.
The next day we drove out to the Sebego Lake area. We are avid geocachers (www.geocaching.com), so we did a bit of hiking and caching and admiring the lakes. Traffic was suprisingly heavy on the way out from Portland, but it was a very nice area and well worth the drive. We hiked up a few of the surrounding hills and admired the views of the lake regions. We had our first lobster rolls at a small lakeside restaurant and enjoyed them immensely.
That night we stayed in the Hilton Garden Inn in Auburn and spent the late afternoon and evening wandering around Freeport, spending our money in the various outlets and generally having a fine time. We had dinner at the Broad Arrow Tavern in the Harraseeket Inn, which we were pleased with. It had a nice casual ambience with an open kitchen featuring a wood-burning stove and service that was a perfect blend of friendliness and professionalism. They had a strong commitment to local products and organic methods and the meal was excellent, although not spectacular. They didn't do anything wrong, but they didn't try anything too challenging. The wood-smoked mussels as an appetizer were particularly excellent.
Maine 5k - Wellsphere::
Maine 5k - Free tips, articles, expert advice, videos, communities and more. Maine Mother’s Day 5K – May 11, 2008 (Portland) Dragonslayer 6K Road Race
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Susan Vaughan - Author::
The dh and I enjoyed Columbus Day weekend at Lake Mooselookmeguntic in western Maine. The weather was cool but clear and gorgeous, and the house was
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The next day we drove out along the coastline. We took a confused, meandering course around several of the penninsulas and hiked a few little parks and nature preserves. Probably the highlight of the day was the touristy, but fun, Boothbay Harbor. We had lunch on the deck at the Lobster Deck, where the hot lobster roll was so good we forgot about the roll we had earlier. Huge hunks of claw meat heated and a little butter made for the best sandwich ever. The desserts looked good, but we were unwilling to wait in the line to order them, so we had to pass. The harbor and town were quaint and pretty much fit our preconceived ideas of Maine. I don't know that it is a place we'd spend a lot of time in, but it was perfect for this trip. For some reason, every group of motorcycles in a four state region had converged on this section of the Maine coastline and their driving was not always the safest or smartest. It was a fun day, and I'd endorse a drive along the coast for any visitor. We arrived in Portland a bit late and checked in at the Hilton Garden Inn on the harbor. We got a lovely harbor view on a high floor by virtue of our gold status and thought it was a fine hotel. We were able to score same day reservations at Street and Company, where we had an excellent meal. Their presentation of serving the dish in the ultra-hot skillet fresh from the stove seemed appealing initially, although once I branded my forearm on the metal it no longer seemed so clever. Perhaps plates are customarily used for a reason. Despite the burn, the food was excellent and the service good. The dining room was quite a bit too hot -- I'm guessing that they don't see those tempatures too often.
The next day we wandered around the wharf area and caught a ferry out to Peaks Island. We should have spent more time on the water, because the views and sea air and breeze were all wonderful. Next time, we'd probably try to charter a boat or take a water taxi around the harbor -- it was really one of the highlights of the trip. We rented bikes and circumnavigated the island. We had an unremarkable lunch at a restaurant near the ferry terminal where the food was uninspired and the service even worse. Another couple asked if they could select a different table and the server snapped "I don't care where you sit. Do whatever the hell you want." We tried to avoid aggrivating her. The island itself had countless fabulous views and rocky beaches. We enjoyed the bike trip immensely. By showing up promptly at 5:00, we were able to snag a 6:30 dining spot at Fore Street. We'd heard that although the food was stellar, the service could be uneven. However, our experience was absolutely terrific. The waiter was very well informed about the dishes, the wine list was solid and the food was perfect. Combining respect for the ingredients with an innovative flair for blending different tastes, it was a nearly flawless meal. My personal favorite was the tomato tart appetizer, which had a wonderfully light puff pastry crust, nicely carmelized tomato and a thick slab of goat cheese on top. It was wonderful. A spit-roasted pheasant over wild local mushrooms was also a highlight, along with tasty side dishes. From a choice of four dessert wines by the glass to the greeting and fresh hot bread, there was not a single wrong move. We'd go out of our way to do this one again.
On our last day, we intended a more ambitious drive along the coast to the south, but wound up spending much more time at each lighthouse along the way than we planned. We got no farther than Cape Elizabeth, but we had a great time checking out Bug Light and Portland Head along the way. The park at Fort Williams was especially interesting. We ate our final lobster at Two Lights Lobster Shack and headed for the Jetport, where the less said about our six hours there the better.
Wow, thanks very much Analise. That is some excellent advice. I'm looking at the waterfront Hilton Garden Inn in Portland. It is endorsed pretty highly on the Hilton board and I need to capture a few more stays to earn Diamond, so that will probably work out fine.
I have copied your suggestions down, but I suspect that I may only have time to either head north and wander around Camden and environs or south and explore Kennebunkport & Ogunquit. If I could only do one, which would you suggest?
I've also been looking at some promising looking hikes around Sebago Lake, Quaker Ridge and Rattlesnake Mountain in particular. If anyone has feedback on that, I'd be all happy too.
I've found more information on dining options at chowhound than I can possibly handle, so I'm probably relaxed about that. Thanks again, Analise.
You are very welcome. I just adore Maine so if I can help somebody on their trip, it's just my pleasure to do so.
If you only had time to go to Camden or Kennebunkport/Ogunquit, I'd choose Camden. When I think of the Maine coast, I think of the rocky coast, Penobscot Bay, and being more "down east". While Camden is a bit touristy, it seems less so than Kennebunkport and Ogunquit. You can find wonderful schooner trips for 1 or 2 hours at the dock in Camden. Plus you have the state park nearby and since you are an avid hiker, you would really enjoy the trails, the views, and the whole ambiance of the Penobscot Bay. Here is info about Camden Hills State Park. http://www.state.me.us/cgi-bin/doc/parks/find_one_name.pl?park_id=14 It is a longer drive (can be 3-4 hours), to me it is worth it.
I spent several summers along Sebego Lake--it's under an hour from Portland. Bring your Cutters or Off! because the mosquitos are especially hungry up there. Naples is a cute town there. Plenty of trails. Sebego Lake is in either Cumberland or Androscoggin Counties.
For great hikes within the Portland area, you might like this website which has maps and trail information: http://www.trails.org/ Then click on "trails and maps".
Please let me know if I can answer any questions.
I just wanted to post a follow-up to this thread to thank you for your advice. We had a great time and followed many of your suggestions. We ate suprisingly well and generally had a blast. We were greatly amused by all the people complaining about the oppressive 80 degree heat. It is pushing 100 and humid as a swimming pool here in Virginia.
I'm so glad you had a wonderful time. I'm going up for a 3 day weekend in two weeks and I cannot wait. I was a bit envious of your 5 day weekend. :D If I may ask, what types of things did you do or see?
Wow, thanks very much Analise. That is some excellent advice. I'm looking at the waterfront Hilton Garden Inn in Portland. It is endorsed pretty highly on the Hilton board and I need to capture a few more stays to earn Diamond, so that will probably work out fine.
I have copied your suggestions down, but I suspect that I may only have time to either head north and wander around Camden and environs or south and explore Kennebunkport & Ogunquit. If I could only do one, which would you suggest?
I've also been looking at some promising looking hikes around Sebago Lake, Quaker Ridge and Rattlesnake Mountain in particular. If anyone has feedback on that, I'd be all happy too.
I've found more information on dining options at chowhound than I can possibly handle, so I'm probably relaxed about that. Thanks again, Analise.
I just wanted to post a follow-up to this thread to thank you for your advice. We had a great time and followed many of your suggestions. We ate suprisingly well and generally had a blast. We were greatly amused by all the people complaining about the oppressive 80 degree heat. It is pushing 100 and humid as a swimming pool here in Virginia.
 Nobody understands...any help please?
 50 points for someone willing to do this!!!!!!!!!!?
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Looking for tips for 5 day weekend near Portland, Maine