The Ultimate Maine Guide: Food, Fun & Everything In Between 🦞

Right before the kids went back to school, we took a spontaneous road trip—no plans, just good vibes. Our original goal was to check out Acadia National Park (oops, I typed “Arcadia” earlier—my bad!), but it quickly turned into a nonstop food adventure instead. 🏨 Accommodation: Grand Hotel Bar Harbor This has to be the best hotel in Bar Harbor! It’s not a huge place, but it’s so clean and thoughtfully run—you can tell every detail is cared for. When we checked in, the staff gave each kid a little stuffed animal—such a sweet touch that made the kids light up! 🧸 Downstairs, they have 24/7 access to hot water, ice water, and fresh coffee—super convenient for early mornings or late nights. And the breakfast? Chef’s kiss. The spread changes every day, with 7-8 kinds of fresh fruit each morning—including Maine’s famous giant blueberries. They’re so juicy and sweet, the kids could’ve eaten just fruit for breakfast and been full! 🫐 🍽️ Food Highlights (Lobster Lovers, Listen Up!) The Travelin’ Lobster: Hands down my top pick for lobster! 🦞 We ate here as soon as we arrived, and loved it so much we went back again before leaving. They serve soft-shell lobster—a Maine specialty—so fresh it practically melts in your mouth. You can upgrade the mussels in their combo to clams (another local favorite), and trust me, you should—they’re delicious. We tried other highly recommended spots too, but none compared to how fresh this place was. Plus, it’s less crowded than the others, and the prices are better. Oh, and one more thing: This is the only place we found with canned blueberry soda! Everywhere else only had glass bottles, and we had no opener—total lifesaver. 🥤 Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound: Their lobster is a bit pricier than The Travelin’ Lobster, but their blueberry pie? Chef’s kiss. If you have a sweet tooth, it’s worth stopping for—flaky crust, sweet-tart blueberries, pure Maine goodness. 🥧 Scenic Fried Seafood Spot (Near Portland): On our drive to Boston, we passed through Portland and stumbled on a fried seafood joint with stunning views. Their crab salad was also amazing—light, fresh, and packed with crab meat. 🍤 Red’s Dairy Freeze (Portland): A must-try in Portland! Even when it was almost dark, there was still a long line—and for good reason. I got the “Float On Coke” (a Coke float with ice cream), and it tasted just like the ones at KFC back home—nostalgic and delicious. 🍦 🚗 Fun & Activities: Don’t Miss This! We checked out almost every recommended spot, but the most worth it activity—especially for families with kids—is clam digging (and tide pooling) at Bar Island. We went twice: once in the evening and once the next morning. The first night, it was dark, so we used our phone flashlights—and still found tons of conchs and tiny crabs. The next morning, we checked the tide schedule first (pro tip: always do this!) and headed back. We walked down the small hill, turned right, and kept going until we reached the water. Flip over any rock, and you’d find 4-5 starfish underneath! We also spotted quite a few palm-sized crabs and lots of little ones. Those tiny starfish were so cute, the kids were over the moon—they couldn’t stop showing them off. 🦀✨ P.S. I heard Maine lobsters get even plumper in October—we’re already planning our next trip to try them then! #MaineTravel #Maine #BostonLobster#SceneryOnTheRoad #USATravel #MaineLobster