Forget Portland! Visit Maine’s Oldest City With Secret Islands
As Portland has change into a stylish hotspot in recent times, the remainder of Maine is basically the final frontier of the East Coast.
Maine vacationers do not usually enterprise past Portland, aside from Acadia, certainly one of America’s prettiest Nationwide Parks.
However there’s a lot extra to discover away from the charismatic brick roads winding by the Outdated Port, ample blue-water seashores, and countless lobster distributors of Portland.
Maine’s small towns are really pleasant, and top-of-the-line is usually ignored, although many roadtrippers cross by on the way in which to Portland.
Simply 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 attraction of a bygone period, standing the check 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 Finest Stored Secret
Ever heard of Kittery? Until you are from the area, probably, you have not. With Portland hogging Maine’s journey scene, it is fully comprehensible.
However Kittery has existed for a whole lot of years, and gatekeepers have executed an exceptional 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 price range airways, Breeze and Allegiant, from common hubs akin to Orlando (MCO).
In any other case, Boston Worldwide 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 Individuals 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…
Moreover, 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 could wish to deliver a metallic detector alongside as there have lengthy been rumors of misplaced treasure left behind.
As Kittery stands at present, you possibly can’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 Battle.
However 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 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, Seashores, 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. Go to 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 wager for the complete Gerrish Island expertise is to e book a trip rental on Vrbo or Airbnb since public entry is closed (apart from Fort Foster).
Subsequent up is the Isle of Shoals, a sequence of islands spanning throughout state strains 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 must cross over to Portsmouth and hob aboard a ship from Isle of Shoals Steamboat Company.
Sadly, they go away us hanging with the dreaded “coming quickly” message on their calendar, however because the climate will get hotter, it is all however sure they’re going to restart service sooner somewhat than later.
Right here is the place I stated you may wish to deliver a metallic 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 Citadel (New Hampshire).
Badger is related by bridge, so you possibly can drive right here, and boasts nice eats like native favourite Ore Nell’s Barbecue served ‘Central Texas model’, whereas New Citadel presents an ideal collection 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 model’.
Cheaper Than Portland
Perhaps I am in an unique membership, however once I visited Portland, I used to be sticker-shocked by resort costs. The truth is, it is the one metropolis I’ve chosen to remain in a Motel 6 to economize.
Worst of all, they did not go away the sunshine on for me! What a sham!
Portland has change into so stylish, there is not any approach I am the one one noticing town’s excessive costs whether or not or not it’s top-rated lobster rolls or resort rooms.
Vacationers haven’t got to fret about that in Kittery. The truth is, certainly one 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. Inexpensive costs do not cease there, although.
Keep 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.
Final 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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Opinions expressed listed below are the creator’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, 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.