From Kittery to Portland and everywhere in between...
If you want life to slow down a bit, you need to take a break from your usual routine and try something new. This applies to all aspects of life, i.e. work, home, hobbies, vacations, etc..
For five out of the past six years, we have spent our week long summer vacation in Ocean City, NJ. We always have a great time, and the kids love every minute of it, but since we’ve been there so many times, and since we are so familiar with the area, those seven days now feel like just three or four.
Rather than doing the same old same old this summer, Mrs. G-LO and I decided to change things up. This year’s week long vacation was spent in a place called Camp Ellis, a small seaside community just outside of Saco, Maine. This would be our third trip to Maine, but our first with the boys.
Since “a picture is worth a thousand words“, I thought it would be easier to give you a visual presentation of what we did all week. Here goes…
Explored Camp Ellis
Our rental house was behind the house on the left. A 300 ft. walk to the beach.
Camp Ellis beach at low tide. Hermit crab heaven!
The 4,000+ Feet Long "Camp Ellis Jetty"
The Marina at Camp Ellis
The boat launch at the Camp Ellis Marina
More of the Camp Ellis Marina
Even more of the Camp Ellis Marina
Ate lots of lobster!
This is where we bought our lobsters. He even lent us a pot to cook them in.
Say hello to our little friends!
Now say hello to dinner! We had 10 of these beauties for a total cost of $85!
Attended the Mainely Grillin’ & Chillin’ BBQ Festival and Woodsman Competition
BBQ Competition!
Pulled Pork, Beef Brisket, BBQ Baked Beans, and Coleslaw... OH MY!
The Woodsman Competition
Bought Some Hard To Find Beers From New England. Like You Didn’t See That Coming!
Downeast Beverage Company in Portland, Maine
Vic & Whit's in Saco, Maine
I picked up the following beers at Vic & Whit’s and at Downeast Beverage Company:
- Allagash Brewing Company: Fluxus 2011 and Victoria Ale
- Smuttynose Brewing Company: Homunculus and Farmhouse Ale
- White Birch Brewing Tavern Ale
- Rock Art Brewery: Jasmin Pale Ale and American-Belgo IPA
- Penobscot Bay Brewery Half Moon Stout
- Rising Tide Brewing Company: Daymark American Pale Ale, Ishmael American Copper Ale, and Ursa Minor Weizen Stout
- Maine Beer Company: Peeper Pale Ale and Lunch IPA
A fuzzy photo of the purchased beers
Went On A Sunset Sail In Portland Harbor
The Wendameen
Sailing aboard The Bagheera
Found Many Great Places To Eat!
The bar at When Pigs Fly Pizzeria in Kittery, Maine
The beer list at When Pigs Fly
Grilled Pineapple Pizza: San Marzano Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, Chopped Jalapeno, Speck, Sea Salt, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. DELICIOUS!
Huot's in Camp Ellis, Maine. We had the fried clams and shrimp on several occasions. And we don't usually like fried fish!
Dinner at the Maine Diner in Wells, Maine. Chicken Pot Pie for the Wife. Pancakes for the Kids. The Eddie Andelman for Me: Mac + Cheese, Grilled Kountry Klub Franks, Coleslaw, and a Corn Muffin.
Ice Cream at Garside's in Saco, Maine
I hope you enjoyed this photo tour of our Summer Vacation! If you’ve been to any of the same places, free to tell us about your experiences in the comments below.
Here is a complete list of links in case you plan on following in our footsteps:
- Camp Ellis, Maine
- Mainely Grillin’ & Chillin’ BBQ Festival and Woodsman Competition
- Vic & Whit’s
- Downeast Beverage Company
- Allagash Brewing Company
- Penobscot Bay Brewery
- Rising Tide Brewing Company
- Maine Beer Company
- Portland Schooner Company
- When Pigs Fly Pizzeria
- Huot’s Seafood Restaurant
- Maine Diner
- Garside’s Ice Cream
Hi little friends! Man, that looks like some good eats and a great trip.
Yo Rufus!
It was a great trip. Had only one bad meal. A burger with a fried egg, bacon, cheese, lettuce, and tomato at Sebago Brewing Company in Downtown Portland. The egg was over hard instead of over easy (it should ooze and intermingle with the beef and other toppings). The burger was way overcooked (I asked for medium well). The bun felt like it was just pulled out of the fridge. Bad bad bad! Of course it was the only place we ate that more or less a chain, so I guess I deserve crap food for a crap decision.
Cheers!
G-LO
Great collection of photos! I am from Portland and I don’t think there is any better place to be right now than in Maine! It is such a lovely time of year,
I couldn’t agree more! We picked the perfect week and the perfect time of year. If I were wealthy and wanted a summer home, it would be in Coastal Maine.
Thanks for stopping by and the kind words!
Cheers!
G-LO
It looks like you had a great trip! Back when I lived on the East Coast, I used to go up to the Portland area every year. Thanks for bringing back some of those memories!
You’re very welcome Ryan! Thanks for commenting.
First things first… that looks like an amazing trip. I’ve never really been to Maine (I crossed the state line once just to say I’d been there, and instantly turned back around) but I’m 100% positive that it’s the type of place I’d want to live. If I lived anywhere near the east coast, I’m sure I’d visit all the time, or just move there.
Second, and I have to do this… how good could Maine BBQ be?!?! (sorry, I’m a BBQ snob)
We had a great time! Speaking of living there year round… I was talking to this guy that works at the University of New England which is close to where we rented our house. The guy was originally from Vermont but now lives in Maine year round. During the summers he runs charter fishing trips out of Saco. So we were chatting a bit while his son and my sons attempted crabbing on the dock, and of course had to ask him what the winters are like in Maine. In a nutshell, he said they suck. But, he also said that early Fall, late Spring, and the Summer are fantastic, so I guess you have to take the good with the bad. It’s an interesting state that I hope to revisit again very very soon. Just not in the winter. And besides the fabulous seafood, they have some pretty great beers too.
And as far as the BBQ, given that you live in the heart of American BBQ, I can understand your perspective (I feel the same way about Philly style roast pork and hoagies, i.e. you can’t get a decent one outside of Philly). The BBQ festival we attended had people from all over, not just Maine. They had some pretty serious equipment, and given their team names/banners and RV/camping setups, I suspect that those people were pretty hardcore about BBQ. The BBQ we ate (pulled pork and BBQ’d beef brisket) was made by an African American family from Brooklyn. Everything was delicious! Basically, it wasn’t really MAINE BBQ. It was a BBQ Festival IN Maine.
Great post! Seeing the “lobbies” as my wife calls them, is getting me in the mood for when we go up the week after GABF. We’ll be hitting Bangor to see the in-laws and then spend a few days down in Camden. Already doing some research for breweries in that area.
Thanks for pics!
Wow! GABF AND a trip to Maine!
We spent a week in Camden back in 1997. We did a 5 day sail on the Grace Bailey (A late 1800s Schooner) and roamed around the Penobscot Bay (as a pasenger, not a sailor). Such a beautiful area. There was an ice cream place on the main street that was simply amazing (where I learned the difference between a Frappe and a Milkshake). Also, had my first Dark ‘n’ Stormy with a lobster dinner at Cappy’s Chowder house. Fond fond memories.
Have a great trip!
Clear blue water, pizza, sun, lobsters AND ice cream!? That sounds like heaven to me. Great photos – thanks for sharing!
Thanks WW! Glad you enjoyed the pics.
Pingback: Whisky Review – Dailuaine 27 Year Old 1983 – Single Cask (Master of Malt) « It's just the booze dancing…
Pingback: Beer Review – Smuttynose Homunculus « It's just the booze dancing…
Pingback: Beer Review – Founders Centennial IPA « It's just the booze dancing…
Pingback: Christmas Countdown. 10 Days To Go… « It's just the booze dancing…
Pingback: Beer Review – Stone Smoked Porter « It's just the booze dancing…
Pingback: Summer Vacation 2012 – A Photo Tour of our Seven Glorious Days in the Great State of Maine! « It's just the booze dancing…
Pingback: Beer Review – Rock Art Jasmine Pale Ale « It's just the booze dancing…