In early October I spent some time in the ever gorgeous Maine. The leaves hadn’t quite changed yet but that in no way took away from the beauty of the state. After a layover in New Jersey, we hopped on a small plane; it was my first time not on a jumbo jet. From our small little 24 person plane, my family and I were able to see how completely stunning the State is. Maine is SO GREEN.
After we landed in Portland, Maine, we picked up our rental car and decided that we should probably eat. I had been Yelping prior to our trip looking for the best-rated, and most recommended places to eat and I found Hot Suppa.
I had heard great things about their corned beef hash and had to have some. I figured I should have a proper plate of corned beef hash rather than something I scoop out of a can when I‘m too lazy to cook a real breakfast.
Hot Suppa was hot, and by that I mean it was packed! The building was small and sat about 10 tables. We figured since it was a Thursday morning we wouldn’t have to wait long, but the restaurant was packed and we had a 15-minute wait before we were seated.
All of the food we ordered was delicious! It was pretty pricey, running about $15 a meal, but our plates were heavy and full so that made up for it. I could not get enough of the corned beef, it was PERFECTLY salted, tender and super flavorful. I dug all the carrot bits and onions buried in the beef. It came with hashbrowns (always welcome on my plate) and a choice of sides. Overall Hot Suppa was great, I would visit it again although I‘d have to visit for Happy Hour & Dinner.
After filling our bellies we made our way over to the Portland Headlight and Fort Williams Park. This stunning lighthouse was first lit in 1791, has been remodeled and added to many times since its creation. The lighthouse was magical, and I so desperately wanted to climb inside to the light and see what the view from the top was like. It’s free to enter the park, but the museum at the lighthouse has a two-dollar entry fee. Inside you learn about the history of the house, the fort and the people who lived there. Not only is the park home to the oldest lighthouse in Maine but its home to Fort Williams and Goddard Mansion.
Also on the park grounds is the Goddard Mansion. In 1900 the mansion was used at the NCO Quarters and eventually held the NCO Club. It‘s since fallen to near ruin and only the exterior walls exist and they are fenced off but it‘s still gorgeous, try to imagine it in of its heyday. My dad and I stood there for a good while imagining the kind of parties the mansion had seen in its glory days.
We eventually left the headlight and made our way to Standish, Maine, where our family reunion was held. We dropped by a CUTE little sweets and trinkets stop on our way to grab dinner supplies one night and I fell in love! SunRise Corner is the most adorable little shop and if you are ever in the area you should swing by. Everyone working there was so sweet. I picked up a handmade bee’s wax ornament to hang in my room and it smells wonderful!
Finally! On to the MAINE event. See what I did there? I’m quite proud of that!
A few days into our Maine stay we finally made it into downtown Portland to explore. I LOVED it! Although we happened to be in town at the same time as a cruise ship, so I ignored all the tanned and wellrested tourists and enjoyed myself anyways!
Downtown Portland is a gem! The cobblestone streets, the brick buildings, the originals and the docks made me feel like I was in a far-off world or stuck in a time long ago. To be fair, I had a sneaking suspicion I would love Portland. I’m a big fan of historical and old buildings. The writer in me gets all excited about the history and fairytales that live in the walls and whispers of the past.
One of the main events in Portland was Holy Donut. I was ready and excited for this place for a long time. I LOVE donuts. Holy Donut features vegan donuts with one exciting twist, they are made with potatoes. Yes, you read that correctly, potatoes. The donuts at the Holy Donut are all handmade, and they sell out fast! I suggest you drop by one of their three Portland locations in the morning or before noon to grab a few of these delicious treats!
The triple berry donut (pictured below) is simply sweet if you like fresh and fruity donuts this is the way to go, but it was the Maple Bacon donut that really captured my heart. Sweet, savory and utterly divine.
Finally, we visited Freeport, Maine, aka home of the L.L.Bean store. No one is crazier for L.L.Bean than east coasters, the recommendation to go to a STORE were coming in by the dozens. It was here that we grabbed a Maine lobster roll from The Lobster Cooker. Well, my family grabbed, I had a pulled pork sandwich since I don’t eat seafood.
My parents loved the lobster roll, and the location was very cute! The pulled pork sandwich was everything you could ask for, and it was so big I couldn’t finish it. With outdoor seating and plenty of menu options, it’s the perfect place to sit and have a bite after a day of exploration. They even offer “husband daycare”, if you would rather walk around the outdoor mall that is Freeport without a feet-dragging nightmare.
Overall Maine was stunning. I would love to go back and see the home of horror master Stephen and revisit Portland to enjoy more food and sightseeing. If you’ve ever been to Maine, let me know what your favorite place or spot was!
Explore on!
Cheers,
Ashlee
The Great Big Wonder 
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