Time for some ME time! It has been 13 years since I last visited Maine. That’s a drop in the bucket considering many of the towns we visited were founded in the 1700’s and some before that. Mainers deserve high praise for preserving its rich history and instituting protections for its natural beauty. I was pleasantly surprised to learn that it is against the law for retailers to use plastic bags. Paper or plastic? Paper wins in Maine.
First stop-Kennebunkport
Kennebunkport is a charming town, especially in September, when school is in session. It has a slower pace then, I’m told. It was really low key on the Thursday when we arrived and started strolling the streets with a well-appointed crowd. (Them, not me.)
We had no dinner reservation so we took our chances and went to The Boathouse. Instead of waiting an hour for a table, we snagged a spot at the bar and watched the tide go out. The Boathouse overlooks the Kennebunk River. It was mesmerizing to watch small wave pools trickle towards you, then away, and then settle, still as glass.
We ordered mussels and they did not disappoint. They were like all mussels should be-big. They were seasoned in lemongrass, tomato, tamarind, ginger, and garlic with a baguette for dunking. Pair that with your favorite beverage, then a lobster roll, then a northeastern style strawberry shortcake and you are as set as the sun at 8 o’clock.
P.S. – it turns out I prematurely celebrated a lack of crowds in Kennebunkport. They arrived on Friday for the start of the weekend. It wasn’t too bad, things were just more populated when I returned from two great morning walks to find more people in the restaurants and quaint shops.
Rachel Carson Wildlife Refug
I love an easy 1-mile trail that is beautiful and almost impossible to get lost or injured on.
That would be this loop at the Rachel Carson Wildlife Refuge, which offers stunning views of estuaries and salt water marshes. I was taken with the soft whisps of sea grasses. It is located a short drive from Kennebunkport on Highway 9. The trail is very well maintained with handrails, walkways and lookout points. The views are stunning.
Parsons Beach
Just a stone’s throw away from the Rachel Carson Refuge is Parsons Beach. It is actually privately owned but there is a section that is open to the public. The day we went there were no more than four people on this quiet sand beach offering up gentle waves. Parking is limited. But if you are Jonesin’ for the sound of waves lapping at your feet, here ya go. 
On to Brunswick!
Brunswick, Maine is a college town, home to Bowdoin College, a small liberal arts school. I found it unusually quiet for a Saturday until I realized that this selective small liberal arts college only enrolls about 2,000 students.
The town has a delightful pedestrian-friendly downtown with many shops. We wandered (well, by car) to a curious trail called the Labyrinth in the Woods at Crystal Spring Farm, not to be confused with the assisted living center next door. Even though the sign said “there are no dead ends” in the labyrinth, we seemed to get lost. That always happens. That might freak out some people, but not me.
Adjacent to the labrynth is a flat 2.7 mile loop trail, flat and easy. It is actually a “story walk.” Along the trail are pages of a children’s story about the life cycle of the Praying Mantis. I had no idea these insects were so predatory. But then, is there such a thing as just a little killer instinct? Apparently, praying mantis ambush and consume other insects, spiders, and even small vertebrates like frogs and hummingbirds.
That’s when the lovely children’s story took somewhat of a dark turn as the protagonist praying mantis bragged about eating its brother and sister.
Chew on that for a while.
Engineering Feats for the Feet- Bailey Island Bridge, Harpswell, Maine
It’s not a long walk but it’s a cool one. The 1.150 ft. Bailey Island Bridge over Will’s Gut, which separates the island from Orr’s island. It was built in 1928 and supports vehicular and foot traffic. It is the only “open split Maine granite cribwork” and considered an engineering feat.
It is fun to cross and enjoy the views of bay on either side, full of seaweed and sailboats. The roadway portion is narrow by today’s standards but it’s reassuring that this relic is still in good shape today. A real bridge to an earlier time.
Can-do Camden
Camden, Maine, is an idyllic little town that overlooks Penobscot Bay. It was settled by the English in 1791 and its downtown is filled with shops and restaurants. Check out Natalies, which earned a Michelin rating.
Best of all, it has a public green space overlooking the harbor with a view that is stunning yet serene. It’s the perfect spot to unwind and enjoy the many scheduled concerts offered there.
Harkness Preserve Trail Rockland
A sign at Harkness Preserve Trail claims there are over 100 different types of birds in the preserve. I believe it. I didn’t see a hundred birds but I did find them plentiful, many flying underneath the cool canopy of trees.
This 1 mile trail begins in a quiet neighborhood and winds its way through a nature preserve to a nice view of Rockport Harbor.It is pretty clearly marked, with two small foot bridges. Blue marks painted on trees point you in the right direction. There are a lot of tree roots on the path so be careful if you are prone to tripping.
