Going to Maine this summer?

Surely by now your instagram feed has confirmed that Maine is a favorite summer weekend destination for so many stripe wearing internet people so much so that you might find yourself taking a contrarian stand against this popular destination. And I get it. I feel this way about southern Maine and destinations like Kennebunk which are over run with people and very expensive. Allow me to show you some gems from Midcoast Maine instead!

Let’s just start in Portland, because so many people fly into PWM!

Let’s start with Fore Street, my favorite restaurant in Portland. It’s fresh, it’s delicious and it’s hard to get a seat. Reservations are genuinely hard to get, they book out weeks in advance, so don’t panic if you can’t snag one. The bar opens at 5pm and they hold real tables and the bar seats for walk-ins, and honestly an early dinner at the bar watching the wood-fired oven do its thing is its own kind of great night. Go early, go hungry!

The same owners have a world class bakery called Standard Baking Co. The line is usually backed up into the parking lot by 8:30am so my pro tip is to order ahead to make sure you get everything you want. John and I love the financier cookies so make sure to add to your list.

Another great place to grab a meal is the Eastern Promenade food trucks. They have local ice cream, burritos, and even my favorite sushi place, Mr Tuna.

If you are craving comfort food, try Duck Fat. The restaurant is very hard to get into but the Duck Fat Frites Shack is a lot easier and you can take the food to go. There are a lot of really cute stores on that same street.

Craving a bagel? Rose Foods actually makes a pretty great bagel sandwich!

We think Bard Coffee is the best espresso in town. Nothing is that far away so you could drive, uber or walk.

Bonus: Stop in Pot + Pan for edibles and space cakes made by a professional pastry chef. It’s adorable and so tasty and woman owned!

If you want to go to South Portland, there is a cool plus size second hand clothing store called Artemis!

Ok let’s hit the road.

Next stop: FREEPORT.

The L.L. Bean campus is not to be missed. Just go.

Alright! Let’s keep moving further north.

Seals and pie: Phippsburg

If you told me a few years ago that “watch seals while eating blueberry pie” would become an annual tradition, I would not have believed you, and yet here we are. Spinney's is the move. I had never been here before but we shot our Kitty & Vibe collection in the area and now I’m fully hooked. You sit on the water, the seals are bobbing in and out of the water and somewhere in there someone hands you a slice of Trish’s homemade blueberry pie and you’re eating it with salt air on your face like it’s totally normal. Bring a jacket even in July, the ocean breeze is always colder than the parking lot led you to believe. You will also be right on Popham beach, an iconic midcoast beach worth going to.

Moving on to Bath!

The people at Hallmark are really missing a perfect shoot location with Bath, Maine. This charming town is the perfect place to spend a morning exploring. Stop at Solo Pane, an actual Italian bakery run by an Italian! In Maine! The morning pastries are beautiful and they have expanded into fresh pasta and to go pizza as well. Cafe Crème can supply you with great iced coffee to sip while you browse the shops. Make sure to stop by Peace House Studio for clothing made on site in color combos my toddler core brain cannot get enough of. Lastly, stop in Reny’s for an iconic Maine shopping moment.

Up next: Wiscasset, the prettiest village in Maine. (That’s what the sign says)

This town has always been a popular tourist stop for tourists because of the internationally known Reds Eats lobster stand, but the TikTok generation is discovering this quaint little village via Alexander Widener and his newly opened antique store. It’s the first stop I’d recommend after picking up a coffee and yet another pastry from Treats Bakery! Make sure you go to Village Handcraft. He makes brooms. I know. Brooms! Right in front of you. I bought a small hand broom for small messes thinking it would hang off my pantry door collecting dust, I cannot tell you how often I use it!

Pop into Toni’s book shop for a vacation read (or a signed copy of Sunny Side Up) and then cross the street and go to MidCoast Creative Studio. Don’t let the name fool you, this is an analog activity buffet. Coloring books, fidget toys, craft projects…a dream!

Next: Damariscotta

Hard to spell, easy to visit. If you are staying near by, get your local fish at Simmons Seafood Market and your meat from Riverside Butcher. There is a fantastic used book store called Skidompha and a charming Maine chain called Sherman’s. Lunch at Bred in the Bone or dinner at River House for farm to table delicious food. Round Top ice cream is off the Main Street but worth a visit.

Back in the car, losers! We’re going to Camden.

Camden is the most famous midcoast town and for good reason. She is cute! She is also near McLoon's, my preferred lobster shack. (Although I get the crab roll!) I have written about this area quite often and you can find my faves linked here.

Hope I run into you in Maine this summer!!!

*I will never be considered a Maine local to actual Maine locals. I will forever be considered FROM AWAY to people who are born here…in fact, being born here is the only way you are considered a local, no matter how long you have lived here. It’s why I have that big “From Away” sticker by Gert & Co on my Yeti ;)