Our Autumn Maine Road Trip (During Peak Fall Foliage)
Happy Friday, friends! This time last week, we were driving around Maine admiring the fall foliage, beautiful homes, and coastal landscape. It was absolutely magical and honestly one of my favorite trips we’ve taken. As promised, I wanted to share a little recap with you. If you’re looking for an autumnal escape to kick off your weekend (complete with interior and exterior home inspiration), look no further. Click through for a fun read, filled with our Maine road trip adventures- during peak fall foliage. It was beautiful!
The week of my surgery, Emmett was scrolling, stumbled across a deal, and asked if I’d feel up for a birthday trip. While I wasn’t entirely sure how I’d be doing physically, one thing was certain… there’s no better mood booster than having travel to look forward to- especially when you’re stuck in bed. We scored cheap flights in and out of Portland, so that’s where we began our journey. Our plan was to spend a week road tripping up & down the coast of Maine. Check out this post for my best travel tips for good deals & upgrades!
Road Trip City Stops
We started our journey in Portland, made our way to Kennebunkport, stopped in Camden, then ventured onto Bar Harbor to explore Acadia National Park, finally returning back to Portland to fly home. We always like to hop around on vacation to cover more ground.
Where We Stayed
There is only one place worth sharing with you, in terms of accommodations. We primarily stayed at budget hotels (and with friends) the majority of our trip, but we cashed in points to stay at a luxury Auberge resort called White Barn Inn while in Kennebunk. The designer in me always tries to choose one hotel that feels particularly inspiring- it’s one of my favorite ways to refuel my creativity and gain inspiration while traveling. This was my pick!
It was super charming, conveniently located, had free bikes (and even a car you could borrow), nice amenities, and of course- the design was top notch. Scroll through some of my images below!
Every finish and detail felt intentional here. I noted the contrast trim, wall coverings, antique furniture, and Visual Comfort lighting scattered throughout. It was a visual treat that was equally beautiful and comfortable! We really didn’t want to leave this special place.
While in Maine, we had plenty of cozy fireside conversations (indoors and out), which felt appropriate for the season. We lucked out with perfect weather- which was warmer than it typically is this time of year, according to the locals. Much like here in Utah, I dressed in layers.
We also stayed with our friends David & Stephen, who you probably know as Renovation Husbands, for a portion of our trip. They’re renovating an a-frame cabin in Maine (pictured below), and they invited us to visit. It was amazing to have local tour guides, see their stunning place in person, and I enjoyed spending time with them. Be sure to follow along with their renovations- they have effortless style and such a lovely aesthetic.
What We Did
We’re the type of people who are constantly on the move- even on vacation. I never want to miss anything a place has to offer, so we typically pack our days pretty full… even if it’s just wandering around.
Here are some of my favorite things we did while in Maine…
- Walking & wandering… getting lost in the charming little towns
- Antique shopping- there were so many good vintage shops
- Biking to breweries
- Hiking in Acadia National Park
- Driving around… Mount Battie was a pretty one
- Perusing local art galleries- there were a lot
- Historic home tours- we enjoyed Victoria Mansion in Portland (millwork detail pictured below)
- Admiring the architecture & design of local homes (more on that later)
- Climbing local lighthouses
- Visiting local libraries… many were having book sales
- Shopping- Freeport had an awesome shopping scene (LL Bean headquarters & outlet)
- Ducking into some cathedrals & historic churches for a peek at the architecture
- Eating and drinking our way through the city
I would have loved to boat and really wanted to arrange a day spent on the water, but we were about a week late and weren’t entirely sure what to expect from the weather. Next time!
What We Ate
I was not expecting to have such amazing food. I knew the seafood would be top notch, but everything we had was really wonderful- even outside of that category. I was pleasantly surprised! I also love craft beer (I’m an IPA gal), and the beer was a definite highlight for me. Those northeastern micro breweries really know what they’re doing.
Here are some of the places that stood out to me, that I’d definitely recommend…
- Tandem Bakery – Portland, ME
- Sticky Sweet – Portland, ME (best ice cream recommended by Peggi)
- Via Vecchia – Portland, ME
- White Barn Inn – Kennebunkport, ME
- Primo Restaurant – Rockland, ME
- Ada’s Kitchen – Rockland, ME
- Mabel’s Lobster Claw – Kennebunkport, ME
- Batson River Brewery – Kennebunk, ME
- Boulangerie Bakery – Kennebunk, ME
I’m also a fan of popping into a pub, brewery, or cafe if it’s on the waterfront or has a good view for a drink. There were plenty of those spots… the Boathouse in Kennebunkport was a popular recommendation. We also landed in a couple dive bars in Bar Harbor with nice views.
I’ve had a serious shellfish allergy my entire life, and have had to carry an epi pen during all of our travels. The past year or two, I’ve worked with my immunologist to test my limits and build immunity… this is the first trip I’ve had complete freedom to try anything. Let’s just say, I went full send. I had my first ever lobster, oyster, mussel, and scallop. David & Stephen taught me the proper way to hold an oyster, gave me a crash course on lobster, and I’m eager to try more of it. I’ve been missing out all these years!
Home Exterior Inspiration
The designer in me was in absolute heaven… forget leaf peeping- I was house gawking. We did lots of driving around and cruising on the bikes simply to admire the gorgeous homes, architecture, and coastal landscape.
FAQ
We took a week off work… one full day of travel to get there, five days to explore, and one full travel day to head back home. Living on the opposite side of the country makes for a full travel day.
We did. Funny story… our flight landed really late (1:00 am), and they only had one car left- a small Tesla. We were worried about finding charging stations since we were headed up into Acadia National Park, but with proper planning, we made the EV work. David & Stephen had some helpful tips since they drive an electric truck.
They’re just the best! We had a fantastic time and I was thrilled to see their work (the house) in person. Talk about two incredibly talented and kind people… I’m so grateful they asked us to stay. We stayed in their plaid room and it was very comfortable! They’ve thought of all the things.
So many things! Books, clothing, pressed leaves I collected hiking in Acadia, thrifted finds, etc. We did way too much shopping. I’m surprised our luggage zipped.
Related
Looking for more travel, adventure, or road trip posts? I’ll share some of my seasonal favorites with you below…
- My Favorite Travel Essentials
- Date Night : Fall Mountain Picnic
- The Camper Reveal
- Coastal Vacation Scenes from Oregon
- Hotel Peter and Paul New Orleans
- 30 Designer Approved Cozy Finds for Fall from Amazon
- A Weekend Skiing in Jackson Hole
- Seal Cove Inn at Moss Beach
- A Snowy Christmas Tree Adventure
I hope you enjoyed this one! Let me know if you have questions or thoughts in the comment section below. We’re actually off once again… we’re packing up the dogs and are taking the camper out once last time before the snow begins to stick. Once I’m back home, it will be time to pull out our holiday decor! Time is flying. Happy November, friends.
