Forget Portland! Visit Maine’s Oldest City With Secret Islands
As Portland has grow to be a classy hotspot lately, the remainder of Maine is actually the final frontier of the East Coast.
Maine vacationers do not sometimes enterprise past Portland, apart from Acadia, one in every of America’s prettiest National Parks.
But there’s a lot extra to discover away from the charismatic brick roads winding via the Old Port, ample blue-water seashores, and countless lobster distributors of Portland.
Maine’s small towns are really pleasant, and probably the greatest is usually missed, although many roadtrippers move via on the way in which to Portland.
Just throughout the New Hampshire-Maine border lies the state’s oldest city, relationship again to the 1600s, over a century earlier than America was, properly, America and the Gulf of Mexico was nonetheless…
Ahh, by no means thoughts.
Not solely is that this hidden gem nonetheless exuding the attraction of a bygone period, standing the take a look at of time, however it beholds quite a few secret islands and a treasure trove of maritime historical past and coastal charm ready to be (re)found.
Welcome To Kittery, Maine: The East Coast’s Best Kept Secret
Ever heard of Kittery? Unless you are from the area, possible, you have not. With Portland hogging Maine’s journey scene, it is utterly comprehensible.
But Kittery has existed for lots of of years, and gatekeepers have completed an outstanding job of remaining tight-lipped about one of many East Coast’s best-kept secrets and techniques.
Being a city of solely 10,000 residents, there is not any business airport right here, however there may be in neighboring Portsmouth, New Hampshire, one other charming coastal city in its personal proper with connecting flights from finances airways, Breeze and Allegiant, from in style hubs corresponding to Orlando (MCO).
Otherwise, Boston International Airport (BOS) is simply an hour away and has much more choices.
Kittery has an interesting timeline spanning centuries from previously being named Amiciskeag by Native Americans years earlier than tribes engaged in armed conflicts with French and English settlers for rights to the land, and everyone knows how that finally turned out…
Furthermore, what might appear to be a tall story is definitely true. Pirates (sure, real-life pirates!) like notorious Blackbeard, as soon as traversed Kittery’s isles, so you could need to convey a metallic detector alongside as there have lengthy been rumors of misplaced treasure left behind.
As Kittery stands at present, you’ll be able to’t assist however discover the aesthetics of seafarer attraction and the palpable sense of historical past all through city, with websites like Fort McClary, a army fort used way back to the Revolutionary War.
But even with all of the historic significance, do not anticipate Kittery to be a boring glimpse into the previous.
Downtown (a.ok.a. Kittery Foreside) has been remodeled with quirky artisan retailers, upscale cafes serving craft espresso concoctions, and a surging meals scene leaving one travel guide to primarily describe Kittery as a mini Brooklyn.
Kittery’s Secret Islands: Barbecue, Beaches, And Waterfront Stays
Some islands of Kittery’s scenic shorelines are off-limits for tourism therefore the key. The excellent news is there’s loads of islands no one ever appears to speak about that make for superior spring and summer time getaways.
Let’s begin with Gerrish Island. Visit Fort Foster Park for less than $25, one other historic web site, however this one boasts small tranquil seashores and sweeping coastal surroundings, together with quintessential lighthouses.
Your finest guess for the complete Gerrish Island expertise is to ebook a trip rental on Vrbo or Airbnb since public entry is closed (aside from Fort Foster).
Next up is the Isle of Shoals, a collection of islands spanning throughout state strains however that includes fun-to-say Smuttynose Island and Appledore Island on the Maine aspect of the dividing line.
To get right here, although, you may must cross over to Portsmouth and hob aboard a ship from Isle of Shoals Steamboat Company.
Unfortunately, they go away us hanging with the dreaded “coming soon” message on their calendar, however because the climate will get hotter, it is all however sure they will restart service sooner reasonably than later.
Here is the place I mentioned you may need to convey a metallic detector ,as these are pirates’ previous stomping grounds,
Circling again towards city, there is a pair of islands value visiting: Badger Island (Maine) and New Castle (New Hampshire).
Badger is linked by bridge, so you’ll be able to drive right here, and boasts nice eats like native favourite Ore Nell’s Barbecue served ‘Central Texas type’, whereas New Castle gives a terrific choice of waterfront resorts like Wentworth by the Sea with rave evaluations claiming it is a ‘charming historic lodge with a water view’ and has ‘beautiful clear rooms vintage type’.
Cheaper Than Portland
Maybe I’m in an unique membership, however once I visited Portland, I used to be sticker-shocked by lodge costs. In reality, it is the one metropolis I’ve chosen to remain in a Motel 6 to save cash.
Worst of all, they did not go away the sunshine on for me! What a sham!
Portland has grow to be so stylish, there is not any method I’m the one one noticing the town’s excessive costs whether or not or not it’s top-rated lobster rolls or lodge rooms.
Travelers do not have to fret about that in Kittery. In reality, one in every of its claims to fame, moreover being Maine’s oldest metropolis, is its buying.
East Coast residents from throughout make day journeys to buy ’til they drop on the Kittery Outlets. Affordable costs do not cease there, although.
Stay on the revamped Kittery Inn & Suites for simply $64 this spring or The Water Street Inn, holding an ideal 5.0 Google ranking, for $128.
Last however not least, it is a should to have lobster, proper? Dave’s Maine Cafe has lobster rolls for simply $18!
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed here are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, lodge, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accepted or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the put up.