Forget Portland! Visit Maine’s Oldest City With Secret Islands

Share The Article

As Portland has turn out to be a stylish hotspot lately, the remainder of Maine is actually the final frontier of the East Coast.

Maine vacationers do not sometimes enterprise past Portland, excluding 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 actually pleasant, and probably the greatest is commonly neglected, despite the fact that many roadtrippers move via on the best way 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, effectively, America and the Gulf of Mexico was nonetheless…

Ahh, by no means thoughts.

Not solely is that this hidden gem nonetheless exuding the allure of a bygone period, standing the take a look at of time, but it surely 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 fully comprehensible.

But Kittery has existed for a whole bunch of years, and gatekeepers have achieved 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 isn’t any industrial 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 price range airways, Breeze and Allegiant, from common hubs equivalent to Orlando (MCO).

Otherwise, Boston International Airport (BOS) is barely 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 in the end turned out…

Furthermore, what might seem 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 might need to deliver a steel detector alongside as there have lengthy been rumors of misplaced treasure left behind.

As Kittery stands right now, you’ll be able to’t assist however discover the aesthetics of seafarer allure 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.okay.a. Kittery Foreside) has been remodeled with quirky artisan outlets, 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 person 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 under $25, one other historic web site, however this one boasts small tranquil seashores and sweeping coastal surroundings, together with quintessential lighthouses.

Your greatest wager for the total 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 traces however that includes fun-to-say Smuttynose Island and Appledore Island on the Maine facet of the dividing line.

To get right here, although, you may have to cross over to Portsmouth and hob aboard a ship from Isle of Shoals Steamboat Company.

Unfortunately, they depart us hanging with the dreaded “coming soon” message on their calendar, however because the climate will get hotter, it is all however sure they’re going to restart service sooner relatively than later.

Here is the place I mentioned you may need to deliver a steel detector ,as these are pirates’ outdated stomping grounds,

Circling again towards city, there is a pair of islands price visiting: Badger Island (Maine) and New Castle (New Hampshire).

Badger is related 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 fashion’, whereas New Castle presents a terrific choice of waterfront resorts like Wentworth by the Sea with rave opinions claiming it is a ‘charming historic lodge with a water view’ and has ‘beautiful clear rooms vintage fashion’.

Cheaper Than Portland

Maybe I’m in an unique membership, however after I visited Portland, I used to be sticker-shocked by lodge costs. In truth, it is the one metropolis I’ve chosen to remain in a Motel 6 to economize.

Worst of all, they did not depart the sunshine on for me! What a sham!

Portland has turn out to be so fashionable, there isn’t any manner I’m the one one noticing town’s excessive costs whether or not it’s top-rated lobster rolls or lodge rooms.

Travelers do not have to fret about that in Kittery. In truth, one in every of its claims to fame, in addition to being Maine’s oldest metropolis, is its purchasing.

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!

↓ Elevate Your Travel↓

Sign Up Now For Travel Off Path Premium! No adverts, VIP Content, Personal Travel Concierge, Huge Savings, Daily Deals, Members Forum & More!

✈️Join Our Travel Off Path Community Forum: Where vacationers unite, ask questions, share experiences and even discover like-minded journey buddies!

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS

Enter your e-mail tackle to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s newest breaking journey information, straight to your inbox.

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, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the submit.