Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine

Columbus has increased its direct flight options but there are still quite a few destinations that involve connections. So when a new route pops up, we definitely take advantage! And that’s exactly how we decided to take a trip to Portland, Maine.

We planned to spend a few days in Portland before making the drive to Bar Harbor to visit Acadia National Park. Renting a car and driving into town couldn’t have been easier. Portland is very pedestrian friendly and our hotel just outside of the Old Wharf, gave us easy access.

We flew up after work leaving us just enough time to enjoy the sunny early evening before heading to dinner at Central Provisions. Whenever I told anyone I was going to Maine, everyone had the same response, “eat all the lobster rolls!”. I never considered myself that big of fan of lobster and I’m definitely not a fan of mayo so I wasn’t sure what all the fuss could be about until I had my first bite. I started with my first roll at Central Provisions and never looked back! (I still say butter no mayo is the way to go.)

Eventide was on just about every list I’d seen for ‘must dos’ in Portland. We headed over for an early lunch to beat the crowd. While I had enjoyed the roll I had the night before, the roll at Eventide was a true game changer. The lobster, the bun, yowza it was incredible! I know oysters are very polarizing for people. (I love them, but I still don’t like to look at them too closely.) But if you are a fan of oysters, I’d say Eventide has some of the best. So, if you ever find yourself in Portland, put your name on the list and walk around the wharf. Trust me, it is worth any wait.

It has become a bit of a running joke that when traveling in the states, we have to hit all the breweries along the way. While I’m not a big beer person, Adam loves any establishment that makes an IPA. And our trip to Portland left us with ample options. The neighborhood of East Bayside gave us plenty to explore. We visited Austin Street Brewery and Rising Tide Brewery before heading over to a place more near and dear to my heart, the Blue Lobster Urban Winery. I’d say East Bayside is definitely worth spending an afternoon.

That evening we lucked into finding a recently opened restaurant, Helm Oyster Bar & Bistro. They maximize their access to local delicious seafood.

The next morning, we headed out to Bar Harbor. Along the drive we stopped at McLoon’s Lobster Shack, which is a bit of a Maine staple from what we read before arriving. Once again, a lobster roll that did not disappoint. McLoon’s is located in a beautiful spot along the peninsula where you can enjoy your meal before heading back out on the road.

The weather was absolutely beautiful when we arrived in Bar Harbor which only added to the town’s undeniable charm. There are a few hotels and a lot of B&B’. While normally not our choice as in all honestly, we tend to sleep through an early breakfast, we stayed at the Primrose B&B. It was the perfect location to walk into the center of town.

We stopped for drinks and I had a bit of FOMO for not staying at the Bar Harbor Inn. The views overlooking the water were stunning. We took full advantage of the trail along the property before heading back into town. We stumbled across another B&B with a quaint garden perfect for relaxing and having a cocktail. The Ivy Manor Inn Courtyard Bar is a great little spot right along Main street. That evening we did the tasting menu and Salt & Steel before calling it a night.

The next morning, we woke up early and headed out to beat the crowds at Acadia National Park. We started off with the drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain, (this requires a reservation so don’t forget to book ahead of time). We really lucked out with the weather for our visit; it was a beautiful bright blue day making the views that much more incredible. We then decided to do the ‘walk’ around Jordan Pond. It started off fairly simple but turned into a true hike which involved some rock scrambling. I assure you the term ‘rock scrambling’ was not one that I was familiar with until after we completed it. We probably should have done a bit more research before we started, but the 3.4-mile trail offered spectacular views and I may have chickened out had I know about some of the dicey areas of the loop. If you like to hike, I’d definitely recommend.

Of course, we had to reward ourselves with one thing after our morning adventures. You guessed it, more lobster rolls.

We enjoyed one last night in Bar Harbor and dinner at Havana before venturing over to witness low tide. At low tide, you can walk from Bar Harbor to Bar Island along the sandbar. This natural bridge accessible from around two hours before to two hours after low tide. Just keep an eye on the time and the tide so you don’t get stuck!