A new England fall is magical. It’s the perfect goodbye kiss to summer; the changing leaves and crisp, cider air. It’s the time of year when pumpkins start appearing on porch steps and apples are picked by the bushel – ready to be made into pies or apple sauce. The boots get brought out of the closet and warm wool sweaters are hung up in place of light summer dresses. Above the treetops, you can see the smoke curling lazily up out of the chimneys, and it becomes acceptable to sprinkle pumpkin spice on everything. In short, it is my absolute FAVORITE time of year.
Speaking of blissful autumns, we recently got back from a trip back east to visit my husband’s family in Maine. Now, here in California, we may experience a few leaves that change color before dropping to the ground – but nothing like the fiery reds and oranges that burn across the hills in Maine. So, our trip was a real treat for this girl. In the brisk days of autumn, it may be too chilly for swimming in the many lakes, but there’s still plenty of whale watching boats headed out and lighthouses to see. We had a total of seven full days to explore and we covered a good amount of sights, as well as spent time with the family. Below you will find my ultimate guide of what to do in Maine during the fall (but really any time of year).
7 Things to Do in Maine in the Fall
Maine in general offers so many attractions, especially for those of us who love the outdoors. However, Maine in the fall is a special treat and definitely has its own sort of magic. Not only are the vibrant seasonal leaves in full show, but there are a lot fewer tourists than in the busy summer months. Here are some of the top things you must make time for when visiting Maine in the fall.
Enjoy the history and amazing cuisine in Portland
The coastal city of Portland, with it’s historic Old Port section and cobblestone alleyways, reminds me of Boston. We spent most of the day walking around Old Port and smelling the salty air blow in off the harbor. There’s so much to do and see. From the cute Boston-esque brick townhouses and harbor walk to the hip downtown hangouts. There’s something for everyone to enjoy in this historic city. Here’s what we managed to fit in on our day trip to Portland.
Portland Head Light is one of the most picturesque lighthouses. It stands sentinel on a rocky outcrop, with the waves beating up against it. Construction on the lighthouse began in 1787 by order of George Washington and was completed in 1791. The poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, use to visit the lighthouse, and it is believed to be the inspiration behind his poem, “The Lighthouse.”
In addition to historic lighthouses, the city is also a hub for amazing food. Portland was named the 2018 Restaurant City of the Year, according to the esteemed Bon Appétit magazine. I wish we had a couple of days to thoroughly enjoy the city and eat ALL the food, but alas, I’ll have to save that for future trips. For lunch, we ate at Portland Lobster Co., a little shack right on the water with limited seating but amazing lobster rolls. Judging by how many people were there, it’s definitely a locals hangout. We sat on our bar stools and swung our feet over the water, watching the boats come in. The restaurant next door had a live band so we got to enjoy some local music with our meal.
According to reviews, some other great places to eat near Old Port are:
1. Duckfat $$
2. East Ender $$
3. DiMillo’s On The Water $$
4. The Honey Paw $$$
5. Emilitsa $$$
6. Fore Street Restaurant $$$$
After our meal, we walked around Old Port – making sure to stop in all the boutique shops along the way, including Cabot Farmers’ Annex. For anyone who knows me, cheese is a huge weakness of mine. When we walked into Cabot’s we were met with long tables lined with free samples of their cheeses (along with some port wine dipping sauce, local organic honey, and cheese sauce with crackers). The flavors ranged from every type of cheddar you could think of to spicer blends like Buffalo Chicken, Habenero, and Pepper Jack. Our favorite was Alpine Cheddar Cheese, which contains a blend of Parmesan and Swiss, giving it a deliciously nutty flavor. After tasting all they had to offer, we couldn’t resist buying a couple of blocks and bringing them home.
Walking around Old Port is a dream. There’s colorful boutique shops, cobblestone alleyways, museums, and more. We ended up going to the Portland Museum of Art for an hour or so since entry is free on Fridays after 4:00 pm. They have a wonderful collection of paintings by N. C. Wyeth, who not only is an amazing artist, but also illustrated many classic children’s books, such as Treasure Island, The Boy’s King Arthur, and Robinson Crusoe. After that, we swung by the historic Tate House. It was built around 1750, making it the oldest Pre-Revolutionary house open to the public.
For dessert, we decided to head over to the Holy Doughnut. These were by far the BEST doughnuts I’ve ever had. They’re made with fresh Maine mashed potatoes, which give the doughnuts a deliciously moist texture – unlike the usual airy fried dough ones you’ll find at most chains. The Holy Doughnut prides themselves on using locally grown, fresh ingredients, which gives their customers satisfying, healthy, comfort food. They have a wide variety of flavors, including Triple Berry, Salted Dark Chocolate, Apple Cider, Pomegranate, Maple Bacon, Fresh Lemon… and the list goes on. It was hard not buying one of each flavor. If you are ever in Maine, you MUST grab some Maine potato doughnuts. I use to be a Krispy Kreme fan, and now I’m ruined for anything but The Holy Doughnut.
Visit the stunning Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is a show stopper, no matter what time of the year you visit. There is so much to do, and we barely scratched the surface. From hiking trails to amazing vistas, Acadia has something to offer everyone.
A few “must-see” sights would have to include Bass Harbor Lighthouse and Cadillac Mountain. The walk down to Bass Harbor Lighthouse is easy and the road is well maintained. It would be the perfect place for an afternoon picnic. We relaxed on the rocks down by the sea for a bit and watched the lobster boats come in to collect their bounties.
The view from the top of Cadillac Mountain is awe-inspiring. The first time I visited Maine, back when my husband and I were dating, he took me up here to watch the sunset, and I can tell you – the sunset views from the top of Cadillac Mountain are some of the most magnificent sunsets you’ll ever see.
Honestly, there are so many lakes and hiking trails that we didn’t get to. Here’s are some of the places that are next on my Acadia National Park Bucket List:
1. Ocean Path (4.5 total, easy)
2. Jordan Pond Path (3.5 miles total, moderate)
3. The Beehive Trail (1.5 miles total, moderate/strenuous)
4. Precipe Trail (2.6 miles total, strenuous)
Seriously, Google these hikes and you will see why they’re on my list and why I’m so bummed that we didn’t do them. Especially Beehive Trail and Precipe – I mean, you have incredible views with some rock scrambling and cliff hikes that tie in nicely together for some heart-pounding experiences. What more can you ask for?
Enjoy some of the small coastal towns
Maine is littered with beautiful coastal towns; from quaint little bedroom communities to larger cities by the sea. They’re quintessential Maine and the heart of its lobster and seafood industry. Sometimes, I wish I had a summer cottage here – looking out onto the bay. A little white cottage with a peach door, surrounded by coastal maple and spruce trees, some hydrangeas on the front porch, and an old weathervane on the peaked roof of the garden shed. It sounds heavenly, but it’s not an unusual sight to see in these storybook beach towns.
No matter how many times we visit Maine, we always make time for a day trip to Camden. This quiet, coastal town is our favorite place to be – whether it’s in the middle of a snowstorm or on a warm autumn day. You can enjoy the colorful shop fronts on Main Street, take a stroll down by the water’s edge, or check out the secret (not so secret) outdoor amphitheater behind the library.
Some great places to eat in Camden are:
1. Cuzzy’s Restaurant & Pub $$
2. 40 Paper. $$
3. Fresh & Co. $$$
Also, if it’s still open for the season, there’s a cute little ice cream shack at the end of the walking bridge over the river called River Ducks Ice Cream.
One of our favorite places in this cute little town is the Camden Public Library. The library is built into a hill, so parts of the first floor are underground, and a large dome-shaped skylight lets light in from the outside. We always set aside some time to just wander in and cozy up on the plush window seats that look out onto the harbor. This is one of the most picturesque libraries I’ve ever been too. Watching the fluffy snowflakes fall silently outside those huge windows last winter is a treat I will never forget.
Another one of my favorite places is an adorable little bookshop called, The Owl and Turtle. From the moment you walk in, you are surrounded by the heavenly smell of pastries and hot beverages coming from their bookshop cafe. It’s the perfect place to sneak in out of the cold weather and peruse the bookshelves whilst sipping a hot drink.
Camden has so many independent shops. Jo Ellen Designs is my personal favorite – I would buy out the entire store if I could. They have everything from handmade soaps to beautiful cookbooks, handmade rugs, blankets, and adorable baby clothes and handmade toys. It really is a hidden gem.
Some gorgeous coastal cities to visit:
1. Bar Harbor
2. Camden
3. Boothbay Harbor
4. Damariscotta
6. Kennebunkport
Take a backroads drive
Maine has some of the prettiest backroads. There’s wide-open meadows and blueberry fields, lush forests, and farmhouses scattered sparsely across the landscape. It’s like stepping back into a slower pace of life. So unlike California, where we’re all in the fast lane living at 100 mph. Maine is the idyllic hideaway from the busyness of life. There’s a certain freedom about hopping in the car and getting lost down a country road. The backroads here are some of the best ways to see this smaller state.
Go Leaf Peeping
Every year, thousands of people flock to the New England area to catch a glimpse of the stunning fall foliage. They even have a name – Leaf Peepers (yes, it’s a thing). You can visit this website for a weekly updated map of Maine’s foliage.
The opportunity to see such brilliant colors in real life was really what I was looking forward to this trip. The fall colors didn’t really start popping until our last two days there, and we took full advantage.
Sample some famous Maine blueberry products
Along with lobsters, Maine is famous for its blueberries. From blueberry soda to blueberry pie, some of the best blueberry products you’ll ever taste will be from Maine. My husband is a huge fan of Blueberry soda and pretty much ordered it every time we went out to eat while visiting.
Go on a Lobster Boat Tour
This was one thing we didn’t do, but hopefully, we’ll get the opportunity in the future because it sounds fun to me. Maine Lobster Fishing is one of the oldest continuously operated industries in North America and dates back to the English Settlers in the 1600s. During the 1840s, Maine established its first commercial lobster fishery, and the rest, as they say, is history. The art of lobster fishing operates much as it did in the old days – by hauling up the traps by hand.
What to pack for your Maine trip
If you’re planning on traveling from the hip town of Portland to hiking the rugged mountains in Acadia National Park, you can easily overpack your suitcase. During our fall stay, the weather during the day averaged around 65-70°F and dropped down in the evenings to around 50°F. I rarely used my coat (except when it rained, which it’s likely to since it is Maine after all) and basically lived in a long sleeve shirt/sweater, jeans, and good walking shoes. Please note the good walking shoes. If you’re like me, you’ll want to get out of the car and explore. The last thing you need is blisters.
I hope you enjoyed this Ultimate Guide to Visiting Maine in the Fall. If you have any recommendations on additional places to visit next time – drop it into the comments below!
