TP Trails

After Acadia, we had planned to check out the Portland area. My friend from college gave me several recommendations, mostly food and beer related, so we had a few places we wanted to check out. I also reached out to my high school soccer coach since I knew she grew up in Cape Elizabeth. It just so happened that she was going to be in Maine while we were there and offered to host us for a couple nights! I was excited to catch up with her – it had been a few years since we last saw each other! We met up with her and her family at Lake Thompson the first night. Beautiful, large lake and one of the cleanest in Maine! We relaxed on a lake float and took a boat ride to grab some ice cream in the afternoon. In the evening, an adjacent town was hosting their annual fair, called Casco Days. We headed over there for a few games of bingo/beano (only one winning game between four of us in many games). We also played a few quarter games and Patrick won me a hamster stuffed animal. It will be perfect for tent cuddling.

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The next morning, we headed out to Portland and Cape Elizabeth to explore the area. We checked out Fort Williams and got a lobster roll and tacos from the Cousins Lobster Truck in the park. After walking around a bit, we headed to Fore Street in Portland to walk around. Tasted a few beers (10, 4 oz. beers total) at Oxbow brewery. Their beers were tasty, but a lot of saisons and a few grape infused beers. Not my preference, but fun to try! We met back up with my friend for a fresh soft-shell lobster dinner at her house. I’ve never had soft shell lobsters – they were very easy to break, but not as meaty as the hard shell (although just as tasty). We were very appreciative of her family offering to house us for two nights – very generous of them! Slept well both nights!

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A few places we checked out in the Portland area:

1. The Cookie Jar – donuts and cookies in Cape Elizabeth
2. Oxbow Brewery – offer 4 oz. tasters as well as full size beers, have a nice indoor and outdoor seating area
3. Cousins Lobster Truck – located in Fort Williams, all lobster dishes, we tried the lobster tacos and the Connecticut lobster roll (hot lobster)
4. Fore Street, Exchange Street, Commercial Street for walking around
5. Other places that were recommended that we didn’t get to:
   • Eventide (lobster rolls and oysters, no reservations)
   • Ri Ra’s –Irish pub / bar food
   • Scales – seafood spot on the water
   • Miyake – sushi
   • Scratch Bakery – bagels