I wanted to get one more summer getaway in before the weather starts to turn and the cool air rolls in. Nick pretty much left it in my hands as to where we would take an overnight trip. Of course I turned to my USA Food Tour check list and narrowed down the list to locations within driving distance. I decided that Maine was the best choice for the time of year, specifically the seaside town of Portland.
After dropping off the beast, we hit the road early to get a good start to our day. The forecast was iffy with storms threatening the afternoon so we wanted to be sure to get to Maine before the rain. I plugged in my Food Tour destination into the GPS and off we went.
I don’t think that the food of choice in Maine is very difficult to figure out. Maine is the biggest producer of lobsters in North America. I could not venture into the most northern East Coast state without indulging on this succulent crustacean. I did some research as to where exactly I should dine and in what form I should order. I decided on the Lobster Shack at Two Lights in Cape Elizabeth because of the reviews and the scenery. This little shack is located right on the coast with gorgeous views.
Once we arrived I knew I had picked the perfect spot for our lunch. The line was out the door! We waited for approximately 20-30 minutes before we were able to order but I feel it was well worth the wait. Plus we had the beautiful ocean to gaze at in the meantime. I ordered the lobster roll boat which included the roll, fries, and a side of coleslaw. It was love at first bite. I haven’t enjoyed a lobster roll in quite some time and this was a great way to reunite. The Lobster Shack does a great job; no fuss, no mess. Be sure to stop by this perfect lunch or dinner spot if you’re ever in the Portland area.
The rest of the afternoon we spent exploring around Cape Elizabeth. We ended up at the Fort Williams Park but we were only able to spend a short amount of time as a storm was rolling in. We decided to check into our hotel and wait out the rain.
That evening we headed to Old Port. I didn’t make a reservation ahead of time, hoping to just wing it. I was nervous at first since the first restaurant gave us a two hour wait. Yikes! We continued on down and ended up having dinner at the White Cap Grille. This turned out to be a great spot! They have a very nice outside patio that is covered from the rain. Plus, the owner walked around handing out homemade whoopee pies! Bonus! We continued our evening walking around Old Port, stopping for ice cream of course.
Sunday morning, after checking out and enjoying a filling breakfast, we headed to the Portland Head Light. The funny thing about this is that it is located in the Fort Williams Park where we were the day prior. If only we had driven just a bit further! It worked out for the best though. We had a beautiful day allowing for some really beautiful photographs.
On our way home we had decided to stop in Portsmouth, NH for lunch. Portsmouth is another  very quaint seaside town. The cobble stone streets and cute little shops just scream New England. I will have to keep this town in mind for my New Hampshire Food Tour visit. We found a restaurant overlooking the water. Of course I had to enjoy one last seafood meal before heading home. They had a nice combo of seafood chowder and a small lobster roll. Delicious!
Portland was a great place to spend one of the last weekends of the summer. It has the small city feel for nightlife and dining plus the beautiful views of Maine. I have definitely added it to my list of places to return to. Be sure to stay tuned this month as I have two more states to check off my USA Food Tour list.
