Around Boston đ Day Trip to Portland, Maine â Lighthouses & Seafood
The weatherâs finally warming up, which means itâs the perfect time for a day trip to nearby spots! đ It takes about 2.5 hours to drive from Boston to Portland, Maineâs largest cityâideal for a quick visit and stocking up on fresh seafood đŠ. 1. Portland Head Light This lighthouse, located in Fort Williams Park, is truly stunning! The sea breeze is so refreshingâon one side, you have the vast Atlantic Ocean; on the other, the elegant white lighthouse and ruins of an old fortress, which add a rich sense of history. Every photo you snap here turns out amazing đž. Pro Tip: Visit on a sunny day! The light in the late afternoon is soft and warm, making the lighthouse and ocean look even more beautiful. đ« Admission: Free (no tickets needed!) đ żïž Parking: Minimum 2-hour fee of $6 2. Bard Coffee Tucked away in downtown Portland, this cafĂ© has a super chill vibeâitâs a favorite among locals too! I ordered a hot latte; the coffee beans had a slight acidic note, which was smooth and refreshing. There arenât many seats, but turnover is fast, so itâs great for a quick stop or grabbing a drink to go â. 3. The Holy Donut This is Portlandâs âinternet-famous donut spotâ! Their specialty is donuts made with mashed potatoes, giving them a unique textureâcrispy on the outside, chewy on the inside. I tried the Toasted Coconut and Chocolate Stout flavors, and they were totally different from Dunkinâs donuts (in the best way) đ. Heads Up: Some popular flavors sell out fast, so go early if you have your heart set on a specific one! 4. ISF Trading (Seafood Wholesale Shop) If you love seafood, you canât miss this place! Here, you can buy Maine uni, sweet shrimp, and all kinds of sashimiâeverything is ultra-fresh, and the prices are way cheaper than restaurants. Grab some to take home and cook a fancy seafood feast; itâll fill you with so much joy đŠȘ. Finding the Shop: The entrance is a bit tricky to spotâat first, I thought it was closed! Look carefully for a roll-up door with a small âOfficeâ sign; thatâs the entrance. Bonus: The owner speaks Chinese and is super friendly and helpful â€ïž. 5. Oakhurst Strawberry Milk I first tried this strawberry milk at a ski resort, and itâs so nostalgic! It tastes just like the pink strawberry milk we had as kidsâcold and creamy, itâs so refreshing to drink on a warm day đ„. Fun Fact: Oakhurst is a local Maine dairy brand with a long historyâit was founded in 1921, and its headquarters is right in Portland! Itâs a iconic dairy brand in New England, and you can find it at Hannaford supermarkets. 6. The Honey Paw (Proceed with Caution!) I donât recommend this Asian fusion restaurant⊠We ordered their signature noodles and lobster sandwich, and both were way too salty. The portions were small too, so itâs not great value for money. To top it off, they add a 5% âadministrative fee,â saying itâs used to increase kitchen staff wages. đ€ Shouldnât the boss just pay their staff a fair wage in the first place? #BostonLife #Boston #StudyAbroadTravel #EasternUS #Maine #Portland #PortlandMaine #BostonArea #PortlandTravel #BostonStudyAbroad #Coastal #MaineTravel