Stop 4: Portland, Maine

Portland is such a charming small coastal city! We arrived in the evening and headed straight to check out a lighthouse first—unfortunately, it was already closed by the time we got there. But on our way back to the hotel, we stumbled upon a happy surprise: Red’s Dairy Freeze, a local ice cream spot that’s famous for being amazing. Even at 9 PM, there was still a line—and it was totally worth the wait! When I saw the people ahead of us getting to sample flavors, I followed suit and asked to try the coconut one. That first bite was a game-changer—it felt like the best ice cream I’d ever had! It was so smooth and creamy, just like the “indulgent silkiness” described for Dove chocolate. We ended up getting coconut and chocolate flavors; the portions were huge, and the total was only $10. We’d done our homework beforehand and knew this shop has been around for over 70 years—but the friendly staff (who gave us way more than we expected in terms of warmth and generosity) made it even more wonderful. I’d planned to go back for seconds the next day, but sadly it wasn’t open when we passed by—we still aren’t sure about their exact business hours. 😔 The next morning, right after breakfast, we went straight to Portland Head Light. It’s located in a park, and you just need to pay for parking: $5 for 2 hours, which was more than enough time to explore. The coastline, the lighthouse, and the bright blue sky—this scene felt like it was lifted straight out of a postcard! Every photo we took turned out like a masterpiece, so we snapped shots from every angle, as if we could “take the beauty home” with our cameras. The view was so stunning that it even made me forget the lighthouse’s original purpose; I just stood there quietly watching it stand by the sea, hardly believing it has been there for so many years (it was built in 1791!). It reminded me of a line I read once: “Year after year, day after day, it stands there quietly, alone, witnessing the endless rise and fall of the tides that have remained unchanged for thousands of years.” Looking at it, I felt a mix of happiness and awe—such a touching moment. 🥹 After leaving the park, we used our GPS to find another smaller lighthouse: Breakwater Lighthouse. There were far fewer people here, and the scenery was totally different but just as lovely. We even saw a group of middle school students picking up trash by the sea—we couldn’t help but give them a thumbs-up; their kindness made the day even brighter! 🤙 Along the wooden boardwalk leading to the lighthouse, there were memorial stones engraved with messages—what a sweet, special way to remember loved ones. 📍 Portland Head Light (Maine’s oldest lighthouse): Search the name directly on GPS. 📍 Breakwater Lighthouse (the smaller one): Search the name directly on GPS. 📍 Red’s Dairy Freeze (the amazing ice cream shop): Search the name directly on GPS. After taking countless photos, we had to say goodbye to this little city. We didn’t get a chance to ride the coastal tourist train, but that just gives us something to look forward to—we hope we can come back again someday! #USATravel #RoadTrip #Portland #Maine #TravelDiary