During my recent visit to Portland Maine, I had my first-ever sailing adventure with Portland Schooner Co. My husband and I booked with Sunset Sail around Casco Bay and it was an experience we’ll cherish forever.
Sailing with Portland Schooner Co.
Portland Schooner Co. offers sails around Casco Bay in Portland, ME aboard their handcrafted, wooden schooners built in Maine. The sails are 2 hours long and the views of the Maine coastline are unbeatable! You have options for sailing times; we went with the sunset sail which was from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm but there are early morning sails and afternoon sails as well. You are welcome to bring beer, wine, and food with you for the sail, and the sailing adventures are appropriate for all ages!
Portland Schooner Co. has a fleet of five Maine-built, wooden schooners with capacities ranging from 6 to 49 guests. The oldest schooner in the fleet, The Wendameen was built in 1912 and can accommodate 49 guests!
What Exactly Is a Schooner?
A schooner is a type of sailing vessel defined by its rig: fore-and-aft rigged on all of two or more masts and, in the case of a two-masted schooner, the foremast generally being shorter than the mainmast. The origins of schooner-rigged vessels are obscure, but there is good evidence of them from the early 17th century in paintings by Dutch Marine artists. Schooners were popular on both sides of the Atlantic in the late 1800s and early 1900s. By 1910, 45 five-masted and 10 six-masted schooners had been built in Bath, Maine, and in towns on Penobscot Bay. (Schooner Information From Wikipedia)
Sunset Sail
Our sunset sail departed at 6:00 pm and you need to arrive at the dock 15 minutes prior. I HIGHLY suggest arriving earlier than 15 minutes as parking in downtown Portland was a bit tricky. The dock is located at Maine State Pier which is adjacent to the Casco Bay Lines facility on the corner of Commercial and Franklin Streets (56 Commercial Street). Portland Schooner Co. is about halfway out on the Pier past Casco Bay Lines. Keep walking past the construction until you see the pier and they are the second dock house closest to the water’s edge. If you’re using GPS, the address for the dock is 56 Commercial Street, Portland, ME 04101.
We purchased our tickets in advance, which is strongly recommended. Our tickets were $63.00 each, but you’ll want to check the website for current pricing and sail times. After a brief check-in process, we were able to board! As I mentioned earlier, food and drinks are welcome aboard (including beer & wine) so definitely bring some goodies with you! I loved sipping my wine while sailing around and taking in the sights which included plenty of lighthouses, stately homes along the coast and of course lots of lobster trap markers.
The crew of the Schooner was so pleasant and informative. They were always on hand to point out the sights, give information on the vessel, provide blankets for those of us who needed one, and even let us help with the sails! It was clear that they all love their job and it just made the overall sailing experience that much better! Be sure to bring cash so that you can leave a gratuity, it’s not mandatory but it is good practice AND well-deserved!
Thanks for Reading!
Thanks for joining me on my first sailing adventure, and I hope this post inspires you to try a sailing adventure of your own! Please be sure to check my IG page for some beautiful video footage of the sunset sail.
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Inn by the Sea, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
Inn by the Sea is a beautiful hotel right on the water in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I had the pleasure of staying here during my summer trip to Maine and I loved it!
Upon arriving at the Inn by the Sea, the first thing I fell in love with was the pristine lawn dotted with Adirondack chairs! It was my fantasy Maine hotel in person! My favorite feature of the hotel is how it’s located on the beach. You simply take a walking trail from the hotel right down to Crescent Beach.
All The Details on Inn by the Sea!
The coastal views and beauty of the Inn by the Sea make it a hotel to remember. The hotel is pricey but well worth it. All of the hotel amenities you would expect are available (free Wi-Fi, free parking, on-site gym, Spa services, poolside patio, etc.) and there is a fabulous in-house restaurant, Sea Glass, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I tried Sea Glass for breakfast and the Avocado toast was so good! During our stay at the hotel, there was a s’mores bar set up on the patio which was fun (and delicious).
The accommodations match the luxuriousness of the Inn. My husband and I booked a King loft suite. Loft suites are two-level accommodations featuring a king-sized bed on the upper level. The first floor of the guestroom offers a wet bar kitchenette including a mini-refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, glassware, and dishes. The kitchenette opens into a large living space with a full-size pull-out sleep sofa and executive desk.
A balcony opening from the living space features ocean views and seating for two. On the second floor of the Loft Suite is a lofted bedroom and oversized bathroom. The bathroom offers an air jet tub, a glass walk-in shower, and a heated floor.
Luxury But Make It Close To Town…
A great feature of the Inn by the Sea is its proximity to Portland, Maine. It was so convenient to stay at the Inn and then only have a 20-minute drive into Portland. Most of the activities and dining I had planned for Maine were in Portland, so a conveniently located hotel was key for me. Stay tuned for the full blog post I have coming on things to do in Portland, including a sunset cruise with Portland Schooner Co. Until then, rest assured that Inn by the Sea is close to all Portland, ME has to offer!
Crescent Beach
Crescent Beach is located just a short walking distance from Inn by the Sea. Simply exit the hotel and follow the delightful little wooden walking trail that turns to sand as you get closer to the beach. The hotel provides umbrellas and beach towels for your use, all complimentary!
Crescent Beach is a mile-long crescent-shaped beach with saltwater coves, wooded areas, beachgrass-studded sand dunes, and lots of rock ledges. The beach is perfect for picnics, nature watching, walking, swimming, boating, and fishing.
Thanks for Reading!
Thanks for joining me and I hope that you’ll get keep Inn by the Sea on your list for your visit to Maine. It’s always fun getting comments and feedback for you all, please keep them coming!
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Bite Into Maine Has The Best Lobster Rolls Around!
Hey! Welcome back to my series on Portland, Maine! During my visit to the Portland Head Light Lighthouse, I had the pleasure of lunch at Bite Into Maine. It was such an experience enjoying an authentic New England lobster roll in the park with the famous Portland Head Light behind me. For me, it just doesn’t get any better.
Bite Into Maine
Bite Into Maine has several locations in Maine, and I dined at the Food Truck in Cape Elizabeth, right inside Fort Williams Park (home of the Portland Head Light Lighthouse). It’s such a lovely drive into the park and immediately behind the parking area, you’ll see the Bite Into Maine Food Truck.
The food truck features a full lineup of sandwiches, sides, drinks, and of course some Whoopie Pies for dessert! My husband and I ordered two Maine lobster rolls and two Connecticut rolls and a side of freshly made chips to share. The lobster rolls are available in 4.5oz and 6oz sizes and all rolls are priced at $29.50 (4.5oz) and $37.50 (6oz). My total for 3 4.05oz rolls and 1 6oz roll and chips was $134.00. Yes, pricey for lunch for 2 but it was well worth it! Bite Into Maine’s Connecticut-style roll is just warm lobster meat with butter and the Maine-style roll is chilled lobster meat tossed with mayo and chives.
Maine vs Connecticut, Which Is Your Favorite Style?
Not sure of the difference between Maine-style & Connecticut-style? Here’s how to spot the difference.
Maine
In most cases, a Maine lobster roll is served cold and usually tossed with mayo, celery, and seasonings before it’s stuffed into a bun. The bun itself is called a “New England” or “Frankfurter” and it’s very similar to a hot dog bun. The only difference is that the sides of the “Frankfurter” are flat making them easy to butter & toast (or grill). The buns are typically the same for either style. Since most people associate lobster rolls with Maine, The cold Maine-style version is the most common to come by on your search.
The key takeaway, Maine lobster rolls are typically cool and lightly tossed in mayo on a butter-toasted roll.
Connecticut
While Maine-style lobster rolls are cold, Connecticut-style rolls are served warm and only dressed with butter. There is usually no dressing, just lots of melted butter to douse your sandwich in!
The key takeaway, Connecticut lobster rolls are served warm and only dressed with melted butter, still served on a butter-toasted roll.
And The Lobster Roll Winner Is…
I absolutely loved both versions and I’d happily pay the high price tag for either version, but if I must choose a winner I’ve got to go Connecticut-style! Hold the mayo for me and BRING ON THE BUTTER! That warm claw and tail lobster meat drenched in butter…on that butter-toasted roll WITH a squeeze of lemon…ABSOLUTE PERFECTION! I’d love to hear from you all, what is your preferred style?
Thanks for Reading!
When your travels lead you to Portland, Maine, do yourself a favor and check out Bite Into Maine. Whichever style of lobster roll you prefer, Bite Into Maine does it to perfection and you won’t be disappointed!
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Portland Head Light Lighthouse
On my recent visit to Maine, I enjoyed visiting the famous Portland Head Light Lighthouse. Portland Head Light is located in Cape Elizabeth Maine, on the shores of the beautiful Fort Williams Park. Portland Head Light looks out over the Portland Harbor which is within Casco Bay in the Gulf of Maine.
In addition to the lighthouse, Fort Williams Park offers ninety acres of hiking, picnic facilities, sports & recreation views, and the most stunning ocean views!
A Brief Lighthouse History Lesson
In 1787, construction on the lighthouse began (for the UNBELIEVABLY low cost of $750!), and was completed in 1791. The first lighting of the tower was on January 10, 1791. Portland Head Light is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. During the American Civil War, raids on shipping in and out of Portland Harbor had become commonplace, and because the lighthouse was so necessary, the structure was raised an additional 20 feet.
Today Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above ground and 101 feet above water. The light station is now automated and the tower, beacon, and foghorn are maintained by the United States Coast Guard. Portland Head Light Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Keeper’s Quarters
The current keepers’ house was built in 1891, and up until 1989, it was home to lighthouse keepers. The keepers’ house and grounds are owned by the town of Cape Elizabeth and are now operated as a maritime museum.
Everything You Need To Know For Your Visit To Portland Head Light!
Fort Williams Park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset. There is NO admission fee to the park, but some parking areas do have a small fee.
I visited Portland Head Light in June and the weather was unexpectedly chilly (for me anyway, I’m a NC native and June means HOT). Be sure to dress in layers during your visit to the lighthouse, I’m told the temp never goes above 70 degrees!
While there were plenty of visitors to the park, it was never overwhelmingly crowded, with more than enough room for everyone to see and enjoy the sights. As always, I do recommend arriving early to get the best photographs!
For food, don’t miss the Bite Into Maine food truck! The food truck is parked at the top of a hill right inside Fort Williams Park and they serve the most delicious lobster rolls! Don’t worry, my next blog post is all about Bite Into Maine so you’ll be able to see and learn more about their awesome food. In addition to Bite Into Maine, there are Gelato carts and other food options in the park, and with all of the picnic areas, you can certainly bring and enjoy your own food!
Thanks For Joining Me In Maine!
Looking out at the water and seeing the colored lobster buoys in the water felt like such a quintessential Maine experience that I’ll forever be grateful for! Please be sure to stay tuned for my next post, all about the delicious lobster roll truck inside Fort Miller Park!
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