My trip from Maine to Iowa took more than 20 hours including an unplanned overnight stop in Indianapolis. Fortunately, my return to Maine was much smoother, and I arrived just in time for Amanda and the kids to pick me up from the airport terminal. I took over the driving and we found a spot to park in downtown Portland, where we planned to spend the next couple of hours.
Our plans quickly required revision as the Duckfat restaurant we’d earmarked for lunch had taken an hour-long break from its takeout service. With some time to kill, we walked several blocks through downtown to find Highroller Lobster Company, another spot I’d highlighted to visit. Our walk was hot and took more time than expected, but I got a lobster roll and whoopie pie, Noah got a burger, and Eilidh and I each picked up a green tea from Starbucks before returning to Duckfat.
Eilidh really liked the giant whoopie pie I purchased from the lobster restaurant.
Noah and I ate our very late lunch and Eilidh drank her tea while Amanda and Eilidh went across the street to check out Heritage Seaweed. They bought a few lotions and bath salts, and shortly after completing their purchase, our buzzer rang and the take-out order from Duckfat was ready to go. Amanda liked her panini, Eilidh devoured the tomato soup, and we sampled the five sauces included with the thick-cut French fries that were fried in (not surprisingly) duck fat.
She was proud of finishing her tomato soup!
I’d planned to check out a few shops in Portland but with temperatures nearing 90, we decided to move on to the next spot on our itinerary, the Portland Head Light. Built in 1791, it’s the oldest lighthouse in Maine and the surrounding area yielded some pleasant views. Ocean access was mostly behind fences, and the heat and relative crowds kept our stop at the site fairly short.
Rock stacks have been a popular pastime for Noah at Maine beaches.
Before leaving town, we stopped by the East End Beach where Amanda made a short attempt to find sea glass. I parked a few blocks away and got out with the kids, where we moseyed around the food trucks parked along the street. We sampled some mozzarella sticks, maple-flavored soft-serve, and snapped a photo in the community gardens.
Emmie posed in front of flowers at the community garden near East End Beach in Portland.
Amanda had been managing in a studio hotel room but with my return, we thought it might be a little crowded for a family of five. Three kids would either share a sofa bed or we’d share the king bed with a kid. I ended up snagging a room at a nearby hotel where Eilidh and I went for the night, leaving Amanda, Noah, and Emmie in the original room.
Eilidh was excited for our pseudo-date night which included time at the hotel pool and delivery of Domino’s pizza for a late supper.
Pajamas and pizza.