Tag: summer

Serendipity and Strawberries lead us to a stop at the Kettle Cove Creamery & Cafe

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I’m a planner. Rarely do I venture out without a plan in mind. I know that limits me and that I might miss moments of serendipity, but I’ve learned that I function better that way. Even so, there are those rare occasions when I wing it. It’s a big deal when I do.

So, on an excursion to go strawberry picking at Maxwell’s Farm in Cape Elizabeth, my youngest daughter and I decided we’d grab lunch on the way. I didn’t google restaurants in the area. I didn’t check out yelp reviews. I didn’t even have a place in mind based on a past experience, other than a vague sense that I’d passed some cute little spots when traveling in this vicinity in the past. We were going to let the day unfold on it’s own.

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Dinner on the Waterfront at Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room in Portland, Maine

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We ventured into Portland on a recent Friday night, and after stopping at Maps for a happy hour drink, strolled over to the waterfront and into Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room. One of my absolute favorite things to do on a warm summer evening is to eat outside while enjoying ocean views. Fortunately, there are an abundance of choices available to me in Maine.

When I saw a Groupon posted for Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room, I knew it was the perfect excuse to head back to this charm filled waterfront restaurant. But, as it can be quite pricey I was happy to have the discount in hand.

We hadn’t made any reservations, but it was one of those relaxed occasions where we were enjoying a leisurely evening and not watching the clock, so we were fine grabbing a drink at the bar while waiting for our table to be ready. It is amazing how much slower time moves when you are unscheduled. It’s wonderful.

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Maine Hikes | Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth

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For this hike, we went a little urban, and full on traditional Maine. Since we had the girls with us, we were looking for a more casual, leisurely pace. We ended up heading to Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth to check out the Bite into Maine Food Truck and discovered that it was also a perfect spot for our hike.

I had only been to this park one other time as a chaperone for a long ago school field trip. I only vaguely remembered the park, which is more a statement on my memory than on the beauty of the location. But, like so many other people, I have seen the iconic pictures of Portland Head Light which so perfectly advertises the look and feel of Maine.

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Five Fun Summer Festivals Happening in Maine

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Some summer activities unfold organically as a lazy weekend lays before you and you decide a day or two before how you want to get the most from the warm days. Other events take a bit more planning. You need to clear your schedule and, in some cases, get tickets ahead of time so that you don’t miss out on the fun.

Both types of activities have a place on my summer to do list, but for those that require advanced planning now is the time to start marking them down on the calendar. With that in mind, here’s a hit list of a few of the festivals happening in Maine this summer that are worth planning for ahead of time.

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#atozchallenge | Q is for Clam Digging for Quahogs

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Having recently finished a post on blueberry picking with my grandmother, it got me a bit nostalgic. It brought back memories of another food foraging experience from my youth. My dad’s side of the family spent many summer days along the Maine coast clam digging for quahogs or hen clams.

I was lucky growing up. My mother’s parents lived next to the ocean so I spent my summers at the beach. Their home became a meeting spot for family members some of whom came for sunbathing and for others who came for clam digging.

While I was mainly a spectator, I did try clam digging a little bit as I got older, but I didn’t have the same knack for it as my Grandmother, Dad and Uncle. They were talented and could harvest clams like crazy. I was lucky if I walked away with more than ten. I guess those clam digging genes skip a generation.

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