Outdoor Summer Activities in Portland, Maine
Maine in the summer is as good as it gets.
In June Matt and I officially became Mainers! Portland Maine is our new home. My dream of living on the ocean, close to the mountains, where adventure meets peace-of-mind has become reality. I thank everyone who has helped us get here. This cross-country journey was challenging at times, but I’m positive it made us stronger. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry, we’re still super close to the Fuller House and are still involved in all the non-stop action happening there.
Summer is in full force making it the perfect time to move to Portland, Maine. I want to share the outdoor activities I’m looking forward to experiencing here this summer.
1. Nature adventures:
Hiking new and favorite trails:
There are so many incredible hikes near Portland that I’m looking forward to experiencing, especially those hikes located on the Appalachian Trail, including trails in Baxter State Park and Grafton Notch State Park. I’ll need to work my way up to hiking Old Speck and Katahdin, but I’m up for the challenge. One of my favorite moderate hikes is at Camden Hills State Park, where the views from Mount Battie that overlook the charming coastal town of Camden look to be straight from a New England postcard.
Glamping with all the comfortable perks:
I do love camping, but this year I’ve been ALL about glamping. For my birthday during Memorial Day weekend, Matt and I booked a glamping experience at Tops’l Farm in mid-coast Maine. We experienced all the adventure and tranquility of living within nature with the added comfort of having cozy beds with soft linens, a bathhouse with all the amenities needed to feel comfortable and clean, and even french press coffee and homemade doughnut service if we wanted it in the morning. We customized our retreat by planning and cooking our own campfire meals, which was a lot of fun. (And when I say we cooked, I really mean that Matt cooked.)
Exploring the beauty and thrill of Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is my happy place. It’s exciting that we are now close enough to Acadia where we can become regulars. We had our first Acadia trip as Mainers the weekend of July 4th. We hiked Beehive and then wandered down to the Bowl for a dip in the hidden pond. To me, jumping in the pond after a hot summer day of bouldering Beehive was heaven on earth. It reminded me of the feeling I used to get when swimming in Bog Lake every summer at my family’s camp in downeast Maine. Tip: make sure to purchase the yearly Acadia pass when you enter the park if you’re planning to go multiple times this year.
2. Ocean sports:
Learning to surf
I’ve been itching to learn to surf ever since my brother started surfing 8 years ago. Now is the time to make it happen! Maine Surfers Union hosts ladies surf lessons, called Lady Slide, on Wednesday evenings at Higgins Beach in Scarborough all summer. The classes run weekly at 6 p.m. and cost $50 per class (wetsuit and surfboard included). I’m signing up for lessons in August and am beyond excited!
Learning to sail
Okay, so this was initially a Matt interest, but I’m “on board” with it as well. Matt’s keen to get his captain’s license, which would allow us more opportunity to get on the water and sail. Sail Maine is in our backyard and we want to take advantage of everything they have to offer, including lessons and rentals.
3. Nourishing leisure
Saturday mornings at the Portland Farmers Market
I am enamored by the Portland Farmers Market. I’ve been to many farmers’ markets around the country, but Portland’s is the most charming I’ve experienced. Almost all the vendors are organic, they have the most stunning displays of produce, and they’ve created a genuine community of people who support local farmers, makers, and artists. Matt and I enjoy going to the market on Saturday mornings to pick up our favorite summer time goodies, like chaga bread, farm eggs, strawberries, sugar snap peas, beets, sage breakfast sausages, and herbs.
Summer Concerts
Thompson's Point is a gorgeous waterfront venue to experience a summer time concert in Portland. We saw Portugal. The Man in May and had so much fun dancing and singing to “Feel It Still” while the sun set over the cove. The upcoming concert lineup is pretty rad, but I’m especially pumped to see Nathaniel Rateliff again.
I’ve made it a priority this summer to spend as much time on and in the ocean as possible to soak up all the benefits of vitamin sea. Here’s to a summer full of beach walks, boat rides, paddle boarding, kayaking, and seaside lounging. My favorite greater Portland coastal escapes are: 1) the Eastern Promenade, which is great for morning walks, afternoon runs, and summer sunset picnics 2) Pemaquid beach in mid-coast Maine where you’ll find a peaceful ocean oasis that feels so far away from it all 3) Willard Beach in South Portland and Crescent Beach State Park in Cape Elizabeth that have beautiful sandy beaches.
