Forget Portland! Visit Maine’s Oldest City With Secret Islands
As Portland has turn out to be a classy hotspot lately, the remainder of Maine is basically 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 by means of the Old Port, ample blue-water seashores, and infinite lobster distributors of Portland.
Maine’s small towns are really pleasant, and top-of-the-line is commonly ignored, despite the fact that many roadtrippers cross by means of on the best way to Portland.
Just throughout the New Hampshire-Maine border lies the state’s oldest city, courting again to the 1600s, over a century earlier than America was, nicely, America and the Gulf of Mexico was nonetheless…
Ahh, by no means thoughts.
Not solely is that this hidden gem nonetheless exuding the appeal of a bygone period, standing the check of time, nevertheless 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 fully comprehensible.
But Kittery has existed for a whole bunch of years, and gatekeepers have executed 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 no 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 funds 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 enchanting 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 deliver a steel detector alongside as there have lengthy been rumors of misplaced treasure left behind.
As Kittery stands in the present day, you possibly can’t assist however discover the aesthetics of seafarer appeal 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 reworked with quirky artisan retailers, upscale cafes serving craft espresso concoctions, and a surging meals scene leaving one travel guide to basically 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 season 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 finest guess for the complete Gerrish Island expertise is to guide 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 aspect 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 slightly than later.
Here is the place I stated you would possibly need to deliver a steel detector ,as these are pirates’ previous stomping grounds,
Circling again towards city, there is a pair of islands price visiting: Badger Island (Maine) and New Castle (New Hampshire).
Badger is linked by bridge, so you possibly can drive right here, and boasts nice eats like native favourite Ore Nell’s Barbecue served ‘Central Texas fashion’, whereas New Castle affords a terrific number of waterfront resorts like Wentworth by the Sea with rave critiques claiming it is a ‘charming historic resort with a water view’ and has ‘pretty clear rooms vintage fashion’.
Cheaper Than Portland
Maybe I’m in an unique membership, however once I visited Portland, I used to be sticker-shocked by resort costs. In reality, 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 is no approach I’m the one one noticing the town’s excessive costs whether or not it’s top-rated lobster rolls or resort rooms.
Travelers haven’t got to fret about that in Kittery. In reality, one in every of its claims to fame, moreover 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 score, 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 below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, authorised or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included throughout the publish.