Maine: My 36th State Visited!

A 3-day trip to Maine over Labor Day is all you need! Day 1: Portland – Explore the City & Visit the Lighthouse Spend the day wandering downtown Portland and checking out its iconic lighthouse—perfect for easing into the trip and soaking up coastal vibes 🏙️🏴‍☠️. Day 2: Acadia National Park Adventures First Route: Ocean Path Trailhead Hike from Ocean Path Trailhead to Thunder Hole, then to Otter Cliff, and finally to Otter Point Overlook—where you’ll get stunning views of both forest and sea. The round-trip is 4 miles, and you can finish it in 1.5–2 hours 🌊. Sand Beach Head back to the trailhead, then drive to Sand Beach—relax for a bit and enjoy the coastal scenery. Second Route: Beehive Trail Everyone says this trail is tough, but if you’ve hiked Arizona’s Red Rock, it’ll feel like a breeze! Beehive Trail is one-way: climb up to the summit, then come down via Bowl Trail. If there’s no crowd, you can finish it in just over an hour. ✨ Tip: Parking spots are super hard to find on Labor Day—leave early! The trail can also get crowded; if the people ahead stop, everyone behind gets stuck. If hiking isn’t your strong suit, take Bowl Trail up instead (it’s easier). Cadillac Mountain Sunset After hiking, drive to Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunset. Important: You need to buy a permit in advance—don’t forget! 🌅 Day 3: Jordan Pond & Scenic Drive Back to Bar Harbor Jordan Pond Trail This trail is very flat and takes about 2 hours round-trip. Along the way, you’ll pass Bubble Rock—climb up for a panoramic view of the lake 💧. Park Loop Rd Scenic Drive Finish the day by driving along Park Loop Rd, enjoying the views as you head back to Bar Harbor. 🦞 Food Highlights: Maine Lobster Beats Boston Lobster! I have to say—no idea why Boston lobster is so famous; Maine lobster is way better! Portland Restaurants ISF Trading A highly recommended seafood spot in Portland. The fish is incredibly fresh—perfect for seafood lovers 🐟. Dimillo on the Water Their Maine Lobster Stew 💮 is amazing! I initially thought it was clam chowder, but it’s actually a rich, creamy, cheesy stew with corn—and huge chunks of lobster. It’s one of the few “white people meals” I can genuinely rave about 🦞. Stonewall Kitchen A local Maine jam brand. I bought their famous blueberry jam 🫐, cranberry-peach champagne jam, and seasonal maple pumpkin butter. I thought I’d tried every kind of blueberry jam growing up, but theirs is next-level—packed with big blueberry pieces and perfectly sweet. Bar Harbor Restaurants Peekytoe Provisions Lobster 🦞 + pumpkin sauce + crispy bread = absolute perfection (YYDS—top-tier deliciousness)! Archie‘s Lobster It only has around 300 reviews, but it has a 4.9-star rating—and for good reason! Their lobster roll is incredible: buttery bread that’s crispy on the outside and soft inside, stuffed with big chunks of lobster. So flavorful 🤤. Lobster Ice Cream (A Miss!) I should’ve listened to other travelers—lobster ice cream is just “lobster being lobster” and “ice cream being ice cream.” The sweet, milky ice cream paired with salty lobster? Totally unnecessary. Save your money! #TravelWithKids #BostonSurroundings #MaineTravel #Maine #BostonWeekend