Portland, Maine
Have you ever been to Maine?
This was our second family trip to Maine. We stayed in Portland this time and in Bar Harbor when we visited in 2021. Maine is one of my favorite places in summer. I love how quaint the towns are, how different the landscapes are from home and the beautiful coastline. Every time I am there, I always wish we had more time. Our family always finds things to do that leave lasting memories.
What are the top 5 places to visit in Portland Maine?
Portland Head Light and Fort Williams Park - a great place to spend an afternoon. You can hike the rocks to get closer to the ocean. We brought a picnic lunch and enjoyed it while viewing the ocean and people-watching.
Lucky Catch Lobster Boat - There are different tours and we did the lobster boat. Our family brought up the traps and pulled the shrimps and crabs out of them. We were also able to measure the lobsters. We loved the hands-on nature of the activity!
Evintide Oyster Co. had a huge selection of fresh oysters. Their fish was top notch and my little one had two orders of their haddock. I could have eaten here every day!
If you love lobster like I do, Luke's Lobster is a must in Portland. You can pick your lobster and they cook it any way you like. It was super fresh and delicious. They will also ship lobster to your door.
Last but definitely not least is the most fun souvenir store in all of Maine!! The Maine Souvenir Store literally had a dance party while we were in the store. The kids played trivia with the attendants and they won stickers.
Honorable Mention: Gelato Fiasco. Although I was going to only do 5 places, I had to mention the Maine Gelatio Fiasco because we enjoyed it so much that we actually went twice and the second time it was raining hard. Delicious fresh gelato.
Also, The Standard Baking Company was so good! I wish we had somewhere like it at home.
Evintide - This is the haddock.
Lucky Catch Lobster boat
Portland Head Light
Lazy Lobster at Luke's
Where did we stay in Portland Maine?
We stayed at the Courtyard and it was nicer than many other more expensive properties. Our room was truly spacious with two king-size beds. We had a harbor view room and it was tastefully decorated. The lobby was comfortable and we spent time playing board games in the evening which they provided. They also had an area to have breakfast and the staff was delightful. Another treat of the property was the concierge vehicle. They took us to places to eat nearby in a new black Suburban and would also pick us up within a few minutes of when we called. This was a lifesaver on a night when we had Gelato Fiasco and it was pouring down rain.
Picture from the Portland Lighthouse
Lobby at the Courtyard
The Holy Donut
A walk near downtown Portland