An Art-Lover’s Weekend in Rockland, Maine: Day 1

Photo credit: Cait Bourgault

Last spring, I had the opportunity to join several other travel influencers to experience The Heart of Maine’s Art Scene, in Rockland, Maine.  We had such a great time traveling to this gorgeous coastal town. We were hosted by the nicest people who all took time out of their busy schedules to share their love for Rockland. Also traveling with us was Cait Bourgault, an amazing photographer, and she captured so many fun moments.  (Check out her website: www.caitbourgault.com)
It’s not common for me to have an itinerary made for me, and it was so nice to sit back and not have to plan a thing.  Here is what we did on our trip.  Enjoy!

We started our day at the Maine Lighthouse Museum. I love lighthouses and always stop to take pictures of them, so I was happy this was our first stop. I loved seeing the pennies on the floor showing where the Maine lighthouses were!

Photo credit: Cait Bourgault

The museum had so many fun pieces. This one rotates.

After our drive from Portland, we needed to get some food into us, so we were treated to Clan McLaren for lunch.  This hip spot served delicious sandwiches and salads.  I had a chicken salad called the Lorelei, and it was so good I’ve tried to replicate it at home. 

Photo credit: Cait Bourgault

Our first stop on our art tour of Rockland, Maine was the striking new home of CMCA, designed by architect Toshiko Mori.  The building is a work of art itself, with its 11,500 square foot building with 5,500 square feet of exhibition space. 


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The Real Portland Tour: Getting the Lay of the Land from a Portland, Maine, Native

The best way to see a new town is to be shown around by a local, who will give you its history and recommendations of what to do while you’re there.  They know the best tourist spots and will even share some hidden gems.  This is exactly what you’ll get when you take The Real Portland tour.  Derek will make you feel like a long-lost friend that’s taking you around his hometown. 

I chose this tour when I was attending the Women in Travel Summit, and although I’d been to Portland a ton of times, I got to see places I had no clue existed.  This 90-minute tour was the perfect way for me to see Portland from a new perspective…that of a local.

Derek, a native of Portland, was knowledgeable and I could picture my girls dying laughing at all of his jokes and puns.  I can’t wait to bring them next time.  He gave us the history of Portland as we passed the busy downtown area, the Arts district, and the Old Port.  We went by gorgeous brownstones and Victorian mansions and enjoyed stunning views of the Eastern Prominade.  There were beautiful views of the harbor…or “ha-bah” as Derek would say!

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Victoria Mansion: A Historic Gem in Portland, Maine

There’s nothing more fun than discovering a hidden gem in one of your favorite cities.  While attending the Women in Travel Summit last spring, I went on The Real Portland Tour and our guide told us we HAD to get inside of the Victoria Mansion because there was nothing like it in Portland.  I hadn’t been able to take that building off my mind so while my girls were in camp this summer, I decided it was finally time to go in and take a peek.  I was lucky to have a private tour with Torie, who was able to bring life to the history of the house. Let me show you around…

Also known as the Morse-Libby House, Victoria Mansion was built between 1858-1860 for Ruggles Sylvester Morse and his wife Olivia.  Can you believe it was their summer home! The outside of the home is stunning and will make you stop in your tracks to look at it.

When you walk in, you’ll be amazed at this stunning staircase

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Portland Museum of Art: A Morning at the Museum on My Kid-Free Day in Maine

While my girls are in camp, I like to spend some quiet time exploring different cities.  After a hectic day in Boston, I decided to slow it down and head to Portland, Maine for the day to enjoy some relaxing ‘Me Time’.  My first stop was the gorgeous Portland Museum of Art.  I’d been here years ago on a quick trip so I was anxious to be able to spend as much time as I wanted. 

It’s hard to walk by the museum without giving it a second glance.  The courtyard outside has some beautiful sculptures so I had to stop and take a look.  The first thing I noticed was the sculpture that looked very familiar since I just saw one very similar at the CMCA in Rockland, Maine. 

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Higgins Beach Inn, Scarborough, Maine

When I think of vacationing in Maine, I picture us with wind-blown hair searching for shells on a beach after an afternoon of playing in the waves.  The coast of Maine has many great accommodations and the Higgins Beach Inn is one of my new finds.  Located in Scarborough, the inn is just 20 minutes from one of my favorite Maine towns…Portland.  I had never visited Scarborough before, and I couldn’t wait to explore this gorgeous coastal town.

This three-storied colonial dates back to 1897, but is filled with modern amenities for travelers.  The hotel has done a fabulous job maintaining the inn’s historic charm while giving travelers everything they need for a comfortable stay.  It is the quintessential Maine hotel that’s a short walk from the unspoiled sands of Higgins Beach. 

Read all about our amazing stay that kicked off our summer!

Seacoast Tours of Freeport: A Perfect Morning Full of Lobsters and Seals

At the start of summer, we got to spend a perfect morning aboard the Pamela B, with Peter and Laura from Seacoast Tours of Freeport.  We were hoping to go out on the afternoon lobster boat tour, but since the weather wasn’t cooperating the tour had to be canceled.  Luckily, Captain Pete invited us to join him and his deckhand, Laura, on their boat as they went out to check their lobster traps.  We couldn’t say yes quick enough!

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Nonesuch Oyster Farm

Ask me what my favorite treat during summer months is and I’ll tell you, hands down, raw oysters with an ice-cold beer.  One thing I never thought about was where oysters come from.  On our recent trip to Scarborough, Maine, we had the pleasure of hopping aboard a work boat at Nonesuch Oyster Farm to get a private tour. We started our tour in front of the Harbor Master’s house at Pine Point.  It is a gorgeous working pier and we watched lobstermen loading traps onto their boats as we all admitted we didn’t know what to expect.  We were pleased to meet Sadie who would be sharing her boat and her experience with us.  I love when my girls get the opportunity to see strong females that are passionate about their jobs. 

We hopped aboard a 17’ Carolina Skiff work boat and settled in to the wooden benches, allowing us a close view of the water.

You’ll love watching the gorgeous scenery as you boat through stunning marsh in the river.  Like fine wine, oysters will taste different depending on their environment.

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The Maine Brew Bus

One of my favorite events of my WITS19 conference was the Maine Brew Bus…shocking right?? This 3 ½ hour tour lets you have a guided tour and safe ride to visit three of Portland’s small producers of craft alcohol.  We hopped on our 15-passenger bus and let the fun begin!  Our guide, Don, and our driver, Ryan, were so much fun to spend the afternoon with! They both have so much pride in Portland and the positive effect these companies have on the community.

Our first stop was to RISING TIDE BREWING COMPANY.  Inspired by the famous quote, “…a rising tide lifts all boats,” this was the perfect spot to get an introduction to the craft beer industry. 

We got to taste four different beers while we were there. 

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Press Hotel, Portland, Maine

Every once in a while, you discover a hidden gem that you are not sure you want to share with others.  The Press Hotel is one of those finds.  The Press Hotel is located in what was once the Gannett Building, housing the offices and printing plant of the Portland Press Herald, the state’s largest newspaper. The hotel nods their hat at journalists everywhere and makes you want to get out your laptop and start writing.

I had been wanting to visit The Press Hotel for years, and I finally had my chance to spend four luxurious nights here when I attended the Women in Travel Summit.  One of the main reasons I was at this conference was for inspiration, and I couldn’t think of a better place because The Press emits a vibe that screams creativity…plus it will make you wish old-fashioned type writers were still popular.

Click here to read all about my 4-night stay at The Press Hotel.

Wilbur’s of Maine Factory Tour

Wilbur’s of Maine is a classic Maine staple, and during our media trip to Freeport we had the chance to tour their Freeport factory.  I know, I know…it’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it.  After some arm twisting, we figured we’d take one for the team and force ourselves to go eat some chocolate…are you kidding??? We actually ran to the factory!  

We started our tour learning a bit about Tom and Catherine, the founders of this this family-owned company, and their journey of building a successful chocolate factory. What kid in this world has not dreamed of candy-making as their career! Their son, Andy, took over the company in 2016 and has continued to make it one of the most loved candy shops in Maine. While learning about the company, we got to sample some tasty pieces of Heaven!

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