Fall in love with Maine

Maine (Tom’s Version)

Since my bottom had room to spare on a brick (!), I understood well the spirit of Maine’s state slogan: “the way life should be.” I mean—look at me here, wearing a thick coat of wet sand, bobber in two inches of water, and not a care in the world in that stare. My mom likes to say I’ve been going to Maine since before I was born, and she could claim the same of herself. In fact, my great-grandparents purchased land on Square Pond in 1940, and a year later, they built the camp there. It’s been the most special place in the world to me. While I’ve always felt the greatest sense of myself up there in Maine, I had no idea that sharing my favorite place with my favorite person would make my world that much bigger.

Seeing Maine through Kelsey’s eyes has enriched it for me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. She’s a doer and a goer, and together we’ve been all up that coast and down back again. Maine’s become our special place. Since so much of how I see myself is through her, I feel the most whole with her by my side, up there.

The only thing that could make Maine more special is if you’d care to join us there next summer for our wedding.

Maine (Kelsey’s Version)

My first trip to Maine was in the summer of 2020, in the height of Covid. Because we had a private residence to stay at, we were able to go and remain secluded (oh how far we’ve come!), which was the perfect reprieve from working at the hospital. We spent the days lounging by the lake (Square Pond) and took the kayaks out to catch the sunset each night. Luckily, when I think of that summer now, I don’t think of Covid, I think of Maine. (And Taylor Swift’s album Folklore if I’m being honest…)

Since that trip, we’ve travelled up every year, making a total of 5 trips. We’ve spanned everywhere from Square Pond to Bar Harbor to Cliff Island to visit Summers. It is the most magical place in August and I can’t wait to share it with you all!

His & Hers

Song that makes you think of Maine:

Tom: Hard Way Home by Brandi Carlile or Hungry Heart by Bruce Springsteen.

Kelsey: August by Taylor Swift or Tomorrow by Shakey Graves, both of which were part of our playlist that first summer and every year since!

Best Lobster Roll:

Tom: The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport.

Kelsey: It would have to be a tie between Sprague’s (in Wiscasset) which had the most lobster EVER per roll, or Eventide (in Portland) which is by far the most unique!

Favorite activity:

Tom: Hiking in Acadia! The Beehive hike and Jordan Pond are my favorites.

Kelsey: Taking the ferry in Casco Bay on a nice day! Don’t forget to bring a drink for the ride!

Best Maine Beer:

Tom: Maine Beer Company’s Dinner

Kelsey: Maine Beer Company’s A Tiny Beautiful Something

Best Dinner:

Tom: A whole lobster at Ted’s Fried Clams

Kelsey: Abel’s Lobster on Mount Desert Island (near Acadia!)

Maine Map

We spent time creating a GoogleMap of places throughout Maine that we’ve been to and would recommend, or are on our bucket list. If you have additional questions, please reach out, and read below for details on a few of our favorites! We are by no means experts, but would love to share our experiences.

  • Lobbie on Cliff Island with the Hammel's

  • The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport

  • Kayaking around Treasure Island at Square Pond

  • Square Pond

  • Kayaking Square Pond for Sunset

  • Lobster dinner at camp!

  • Waiting for our lobster rolls at the Clam Shack in Kennebunkport

  • A quiet morning on Square Pond

  • Our first trip together to Maine, summer 2020!

Boothbay Harbor/Midcoast Maine

Midcoast Maine is pretty darn magical, and there is so much to explore in Boothbay itself as well as surrounding areas!

    • Glidden Point Oyster Farm is open 11-5 daily for shuck-it-yourself oysters

    • Sprague's Lobster

    • Boothbay Craft Brewery

    • Red Cup Coffeehouse

    • The Alna Store

    • Rent kayaks

    • Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

    • Southport General store

    • Edgecomb Potters

    • Eventide Specialties

  • Glidden Point Oyster Farm

  • The biggest lobster rolls, ever.

  • Sprague's Lobster

  • Tom shucking oysters @ Glidden

Portland

We drive into Portland a few times each year we go - it’s about an hour from Square Pond. There is so much good food and things to explore, that I’ve included Portland proper as well as Freeport (~20 minutes north) and Casco Bay islands in this. Riding the ferry to the islands for the sightseeing alone is a MUST on a nice day!

    • Standard Baking

    • Scratch Baking Co.

    • Tandem Coffee and Bakery

    • Holy Donut

    • Blythe and Burrows

    • Crown Jewel (must take the ferry!)

    • Bissell Brothers Brewery

    • Maine Beer Co Brewery (in Freeport ~20 mins north of Portland)

    • Eventide

    • Duck Fat Frites Shack

    • Lucky Cheetah

    • Bar Futo

    • Take the ferry for a roundtrip of views, or take the ferry to Great Diamond Island and enjoy a drink at Crown Jewel

    • Take the ferry to Peaks Island and rent bikes, grab a pizza at il Leone

    • Stroll along the waterfront

    • Pop into some of Kelsey's favorite shops: Soleil and Blanche & Mimi's

    • Drive up to Freeport to visit the original LL Bean

  • Maine Beer Co

  • Oyster shooters at Eventide

  • Enjoying Casco Bay by Ferry!

  • Drinks at Crown Jewel

  • Cliff Island magic with our tour guide, Summers!

  • Enjoying a Dinner at Maine Beer Co.

  • Cliff Island

  • Casco Bay Ferry

  • Mini print vending machine at Soleil

  • Lobster rolls at Eventide

Mount Desert Island

We’ve travelled to MDI to visit Acadia National Park twice together, and camped at one of the Acadia campgrounds both times. There is so much to explore on Mount Desert Island, from watching the sunrise from the summit of Cadillac Mountain (you have to make a reservation for this — do your research as it fills up FAST!), to hiking the Beehive Trail (don’t look down…), and ending the day with oysters and a waterfront seat at Abel’s Lobster.

    • Beehive Hike (avoid if you're afraid of heights)

    • Jordan Pond Loop

    • Bubbles Trail

    • Great Head Trail

    • The Salt Market for coffee/pastries

    • Abel's Lobster for dinner

  • Bubbles Trail view of Jordan Pond

  • Jordan Pond Loop

  • Oysters at Abel's Lobster

  • Taken on Great Head Trail, looking back at Sand Beach and the Beehive

  • Best seats at Abel's

  • Beehive Trail

  • ~Nature~ in the tide pools

  • Jordan Pond Loop