Last summer we took the kids on a road trip up the Pacific Coast Highway and through some of the prettiest spots in New England, but the one state we did not hit was Maine. I made a promise to myself that we would go back this summer and despite being in the thick of renovations and in the middle of closing on our flip house, I packed up the kids and we left at the end of July...

Portland, Maine and Cape Elizabeth

I did a tiny bit of research on where to go and what to do in Maine by scouring the archives of Rachael's blog, Erstwhile Dear before we left. She has been a favorite writer of mine since the early days of blogging and I find her posts endearing in an old friend with a cup of warm tea kind of way. The way she writes about the local hidden gems and the characters in tiny towns make me want to follow every footstep and replicate every detail.

I decided to start in Portland, Maine. The stinky smell from the working fishing wharves hits you long before you actually get into the city itself. Once there, you'll see a motley collection of shipping containers and converted warehouses along the port. It is no sleepy Maine town, but ended up being a great jumping off point for us to visit nearby sites.

We arrived just before sunset and visited Cape Elizabeth with the Portland Head Light at Fort Williams Park. If you have time, I'd pick up dinner to-go from the Thai restaurant nearby and sit and watch the sunset in the park. There are incredible trails and playgrounds here for kids to play and get their wiggles out if they've been cooped up in a plane or vehicle for too long. For a quarter you can use the coin operated binoculars to look for sea birds and other wildlife out on the water, which sent my kids into a tailspin of fighting since we only had 2 quarters.

There is plenty of room for exploring along the rocks, so wear comfortable shoes that work well on this type of terrain.

Drink

Tandem Coffee - Get there early, the line stretches out the door and the bakery items are to-die-for!

Bard Coffee - In a sweet, walkable area of town with seating if you need to work.

Eat

Ruby Thailand Cuisine - Locally owned and near an ice cream shop if you want to grab dessert afterwards - get the spring rolls!

Wear

Cotopaxi Fleece Full Zip Jacket - The evenings and boat rides can be chilly. Bring fleeces!

Cotopaxi Hip Pack - I never thought I'd be a fanny pack mom, but this was a lifesaver for holding everything I needed.

Keller's Sandals - The soles are thick with durable rubber that worked well for walking, climbing, and hiking.

Shiloh's Color Block Sandals

Kennebunkport, Maine

After reading Goop's blog, I decided Kennebunkport would be our beach day of choice. We found the tiny town, the Goose Rocks Beach General Store, and the summer vacationers to be absolutely delightful. They're funny about parking here, so while beach access is free you'll need to purchase a day pass for parking, which you can get outside the general store in the kiosk. We parked by the general store, which put us on the beach at low tide with incredible rocks to explore.

Our one regret is that we didn't realize the beaches were better (clearer) for swimming had we driven down a little further past the General Store on the left, but the kids spent hours exploring all of the cracks and crevices along those rocks. Ultimately, I think it ended up being our favorite day. We picked up hot dogs and chicken from the general store for dinner and ate them outside at the picnic table before driving down to Boston to pick up Steven from the airport.

Pro tips: Bring these compact nets for exploring. Grab cheap beach supplies and fresh muffins for breakfast at the Goose Rocks Beach General Store.

Bar Harbor & Bass Harbor Head Light House

I felt we would regret visiting Maine if we didn't at least check out Bar Harbor. Keep in mind we went at the end of July, so we were in peak tourist season. And it showed. The town was over-priced with lots of touristy shops and long lines for public restrooms. Not really my thing, but if a wait doesn't bother you you may love all of the food options.

We did stop for lunch and had a lovely experience talking to a local college student who had grown up there his whole life. When I asked him where someone would buy a house here if they wanted a place to get away, he mentioned Swan's Island off of Bass Harbor. There's a ferry you can catch and while we didn't make it on time, we did visit the Bass Harbor Head Light. The parking is limited to one small lot, so I'd recommend going early or planning to wait for a bit. Bring shoes for hiking down on the rocks so you can explore and get a good view of the lighthouse. Talk to the attendant if you get a chance! Her and her husband have traveled the world tending to lighthouses for decades and she is a delightful storyteller and a wealth of knowledge if you want to plan future trips around lighthouses.