So, this wedding thing that I’ve been brainstorming / ruminating / stress-sobbing about for the last, oh, year, is happening in less than two weeks. Things are getting really real! My dress is done as of Friday, the candles are sitting in countless garbage bags in my kitchen, my hairstyle is still half-baked, and the last minute details are piling up: namely, what should we do on our post-wedding trip to Portland, Maine?
We decided to go to Portland because it’s close, cheap, and super picturesque — lighthouses and whatnot. Jeff’s brother lived there for a few years, so he’s been before, but I’ve never ventured to the land of Maine. What should we do? I’ve yet to eat a whole lobster, so that’s definitely on my list. Is there fall foliage in October? Any shops that can’t be missed? And I’d love to hear any recommendations for day trips or museums nearby. I’m all ears!
1. Shops: Chellis Wilson + David Wood
2. Dying to visit this: Winslow Homer studio: http://www.portlandmuseum.org/about/homerstudio/visit.php
3. We also really love Otto pizza.
Have fun!
Thanks, Stephanie!
You will love Portland! There are so many amazing places to eat and explore.
1. Follow Stephanie’s suggestions above.
2. Eat at the following as well: The Blue Spoon, Duck Fat (for a late lunch, gets busy at noon!), Fore Street for a romantic dinner, and Scratch Bakery for sweets.
3. Shop at Seawall (a cool new shop), The Black Parrot, and Portland Dry Goods.
4. The Maine Historical Society often has some fun little exhibits or house/garden tours scheduled.
Ooh, restaurant suggestions: YES! Thanks!
Portland is the best. Seriously.
Eat at Duckfat — their duckfat french fries with Aioli dipping sauce are ridiculously good. Angela Adams has a retail location on Congress street and there’s some other cute shops in that area (Ferdinand is down the street and she’s an Etsy seller with vintage and letterpress goods). And I think the art museum is free on Friday nights. Also, there’s a cryptozoology museum in Portland I’ve heard about, but never made it to.
If you want a day trip out from there, Camden and Rockport at this time of year is gorgeous. And Portsmouth, New Hampshire too.
Oh my god, cryptozoology museum?! I have to find out more about this!
Portland is a lot of fun! I’ve been meaning to check out that cryptozoology place myself – still haven’t made it there. I’ve found a lot of reasons to stop in the Holy Donut, though, they make some great Maine potato donuts in crazy flavors (Allen’s coffee brandy being one of the best/weirdest). There are a lot of good places to go out to eat (we’re going to a late night dinner at Boda tonight, half price menu Sundays after 9:30 if you’re here then!), and there should be some good foliage for you to check out. Drive around in South Portland too, there are lighthouses out there and beaches to find, and great ice cream at Willard Scoops across from Scratch. I also really like the lighthouse up at Pemaquid Point, if you go at low tide there are a lot of rocks to go rambling around on and birds and other animals to see (I studied the springtails there for a college ecology project, which was a nice excuse to crawl around on the rocks by the ocean in the sun).
Have so much fun!
I bookmarked this yesterday so I could come back and leave some recommendations, but most of the things I was going to tell you to do have already been mentioned!
Mount Desert Island Icecream is tasty.
If you wanted to get out on the water you could take a ferry on Casco Bay Lines… I think they do scenic cruises… my family used to go to one of the islands and spend the day at the beach with a picnic.
I’m obsessed with fried pickles and get some at Po’ Boys & Pickles almost every time I visit.
I know people that love Bonobo Pizza.
I second the opinions that Camden / Portsmouth are also cute places to visit.
Portland Head Light is a picturesque light house.
The L.L. Bean headquarters store in Freeport. It’s open 24 hours, so you could head over at 3am just for kicks. I mean, I usually only go there to Christmas shop for family members who are more L.L.-Bean-ish than I am, but it’s something I would do as a visitor. Tanks of fish. A giant bean boot. Etc.
If you feel like some fried sea food, The Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth is nice to go to because you get to eat outside right on the rocks by the shore. It closes October 21st. It’s not exactly a gourmet delight, but my mom loves fried haddock and we end up going there every Mother’s Day.
You are seriously so sweet. THANK YOU!
I grew up in Maine and lived in Portland for a while. I’ll echo some of the above suggestions and add a few more:
Portland Harbor Cruises. Seriously lovely. I’m not sure how late they run in the season, but they do a mail boat cruise which is lots of fun, a sunset one, a general island tour, etc.
Victoria Mansion. I think this might be right up your alley.
The Cryptozoology museum is some serious weirdo fun. They have bizarre hours. Be sure to plan ahead.
Check out what shows are playing at the State Theatre. It’s gorgeous inside and an amazing place to catch a concert.
Shopping (these are all used/vintage shops): Find, Encore, 604 Thrift, Material Objects, YES Books.
If Strange Maine is open (across from YES Books), pop in. You’ll be glad you did.
Food: Duckfat, Fore Street, Caiolas, Miyake (best sushi in town), Dog Fish Cafe, Becky’s Diner for breakfast, The Green Elephant.
Drink: Downtown Lounge (hands down my favorite bar in town–share a scorpion bowl–excellent food, too), J’s Oyster Bar, Novare Res, Grace.
For out of town adventures, I find Camden to be a bit vanilla and overhyped. Try for another coastal town: Rockland (Owl’s Head and Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse), Boothbay Harbor, Damariscotta, etc. (While you’re in the Portland area, Portland Headlight and Fort Williams is a must). Since you’ll be in Portland, Portsmouth might be a little redundant. Your best bet is to venture north.
Have loads of fun. Bundle up. Say hello to my sweet home state for me.
i like “black parrot”.
http://blackparrotmaine.blogspot.com/
get a nice jacket at the Barbour outlet (kittery) on the way up….. the weather gets weird.
Have fun CONGRATS!!
it’s been so long since I’ve been to Portland Maine I can’t give you any current recommendations– but no doubt you’ll have a fabulous time there– and it looks like you’ve been given a great list of places to dine and visit.
.. but if you’re feeling like a drive and an adventure, and have the time– head up the coast to Deer Isle — Stoningham Maine. it’s an enchanting fishing village. Haystack is there and it’s one heck of a beautiful place to visit!
cheers to you and your fine partner to be- wishing you all the best for a most wonderful wedding celebration and days and weeks and years of happiness and love to follow!
Kathi
There is an Edward Gorey show up at the public library on Congress St. through the end of December.
If you like the outdoors, go to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island! It’s a few hours drive from Portland, but it is so worth it. It is a-ma-zing. I loved it so much. I’m sure the fall colors will be stunning. Here are some photos from my trip to get you inspired. http://christinehanphoto.blogspot.com/
I don’t know if they’ll be open by the time you get there, but I had the best lobster of my life at Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound http://www.trentonbridgelobster.com/
Am I too late?
Just to look around: Nicola’s Home on 215 Commercial Street, some amazing furniture that I could never afford but absolutely love to dream about.
Two lights state park, I love looking at and climbing on the rocks there.
Check out Kettle Cove, the only place I’ve ever seen yellow periwinkle shells! It is like the local beach that is attached to crescent beach and you don’t have to pay to get in (although at this time of year I don’t know if you have to pay to visit Crescent Beach).
[...] over at TeenAngster asked her readers what she should do while visiting Portland, to which they [...]