Who else loves a road trip!? I know I do! This particular road trip shows stops all along I95 and 295 north through the state of Maine ending in the small town of Bar Harbor. Every year, my dad and I visit a different National Park, and this year we planned for Acadia National Park, about a 5-minute drive from Bar Harbor! This trip was taken in the peak of foliage season, in which we were treated to the most beautiful weather and foliage viewing (or leaf peeping, as some like to call it). Along the way to Bar Harbor, we stopped in a few towns along the way, some to shop and explore (Freeport), some to eat (Wiscasset), and some to stay (Bangor). It was a long weekend jam-packed with sights to see and places to explore in the beautiful state of Maine!
FREEPORT
About 20 minutes north of Portland on 295 will take you to the quaint town of Freeport, Maine. Home to the LL Bean Headquarters, this is the perfect place to spend the afternoon and explore if in the area! The actual headquarters warehouses are just down the street, but the L.L. Bean main campus is comprised of different buildings for departments of their brand: an example being a separate building for “Home” and another for “Bike, Boat, and Ski.” The Flagship store on the campus, featuring their classic Bean Boot and apparel, is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year! There is a cafe right by the “Famous L.L. Bean Boot” where you can grab a snack or coffee while walking the campus and the nearby outlet shops. Although this area is probably beautiful in every season of the year, I highly suggest visiting in the fall. During my visit, the leaves were in peak foliage and the weather was crisp and perfect for a sweater- the perfect ingredients for exploring the surrounding area on foot!
About a 5-minute walk from the L.L. Bean campus is the outlet store located in Freeport Village Station, which I highly recommend visiting. The whole store usually has a certain percentage off of everything in the store. I had my eye on a jacket while in the Flagship store, and when I walked over to the outlet, it was there plus an extra discount! I was honestly so shocked that I found it; there was only one on the rack, and it was my size! So, if you are going to park and visit the Flagship store first, definitely wait to buy anything until you visit the outlet, or visit the outlet first and end your visit on campus.
The Famous Bean Boot! And behind the trees is the 1912 cafe where you can pick up a coffee, snack or lunch. There is plenty of seating to sit, eat, and enjoy the beautiful scenery!
LL Bean through the years! There are several walls filled with these vintage catalog covers from over the years, dating back to 1927.
WISCASSET
After an afternoon spent in Freeport at the L.L. Bean Headquarters and Flagship store, we drove about 35 minutes to Wiscasset for a late lunch/ dinner. After a bit of research on where to order a lobster roll in the area, we found that Red’s Eats in Wiscasset was on every “must eat here” list. Red’s Eats was named Trip Advisors Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best in 2020, and it definitely did not disappoint. Scroll down to see what we ordered!
Red’s Eats is located at 41 Water St, Wiscasset, ME 04578.
When we arrived around 3 pm, the line was wrapped around the corner and behind the building. After about an hour-long wait, we finally made it to the front to order! It was well worth the wait, and I highly recommend if you are in the area check out Red’s Eats!
We tried Green Bee sodas for the first time, and they were delicious! Look for this brand the next time you are at the supermarket because they are made with minimal, all-natural ingredients. The blueberry dream soda tasted almost like a dessert after my meal! Also pictured above are the fried scallops that we ordered. The menu did not state that the scallops would be fried, but they were still very good! The coating was nice and light, but after eating the first one, I simply peeled off the coating and ate the scallops plain.
I knew when driving to Red’s Eats that I was going to order a lobster roll (pictured above to the right), but I was torn when I saw the crab cake platter with french fries (left). So, why not just order both!? This was probably the best crab cake I have ever had- minimal breading inside with so much crab! They even have a crab cake sandwich on the menu, which I would highly recommend. Now, for the “Maine” event (see what I did there?), the LOBSTER ROLL. My goodness, I dream about this lobster roll. Hands down, the best I have ever had, and I have had a lot of lobster rolls in my day. This roll is jam-packed with fresh Maine lobster, so much that you can barely see the roll! Served with melted butter, you basically have to eat the lobster cocktail style first before you can even attempt to pick up the roll. And every bit was mouthwatering! 10/10 highly recommend!
BANGOR:
Roughly an hour and 40 minutes from Wiscasset, we drove to the last stop of the first day, Bangor, Maine! Although we lodged in Bangor for the entirety of our stay in Maine, we only got the chance to explore it one night on our way to the hotel from Acadia National Park. A ”must-see” place to visit if you are in Bangor is a stop at renowned author Stephen King’s home. It was about 10 minutes from our hotel! A quick Google search will give you the address (47 W Broadway, Bangor, ME 04401), and it is very easy to find with any navigational system. You can park right in front of the house at any time for a visit. There were very few cars at dusk one night – the perfect setting for visiting this haunting and beautiful home! The gothic-style gates are complete with the initials “S” and “K” fitting for the author’s name.
For those that do not know, Bangor is the city that inspired the fictional town of Derry in King’s IT, After walking up and down Broadway Street and driving through the different streets of Bangor, you can definitely see the inspiration come to life!
Does anyone else notice the red balloons tied onto the fence?
BAR HARBOR:
Each morning of our time in Maine, we drove 90 minutes from Bangor to Mount Desert Island – to Acadia National Park! While we spent our mornings and afternoons at the park, we ended our days exploring the neighboring city of Bar Harbor along the coast. The town is definitely one that can be seen by walking on foot. The downtown area has countless small shops for you to find souvenirs from your trip and many restaurants to eat. My favorite spots in town were the Village Green and Agamont Park located by the water. After our meals, we would enjoy an ice cream by the water and watch the ships pass by, taking in the view!
The road from Bangor to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor mainly consisted of passing through small towns. There are several restaurants, like the Happy Clam Shack shown above, small shops, and farmer’s markets to explore!
The views from Agamont Park were stunning! Such a serene place to relax and enjoy the view. There is public parking located just behind the park and it is in proximity to the Shore Path as well as the Bar Harbor Inn.
The Shore Path in Bar Harbor begins at the Town Pier and extends past the Bar Harbor Inn. People from all over the world have been walking on the path since the 1880’s while enjoying the beautiful sights and sounds of the area. This is a definite “must-see” spot in Bar Harbor!
PLACES TO EAT IN BAR HARBOR
Route 66 Restaurant
If you are looking for a restaurant in Bar Harbor that is located in downtown, Route 66 Restaurant is a great option! The restaurant is located down an alley of sorts, nestled in between a shop and a restaurant on either side. Inside, the walls are decorated with classic American paraphernalia which you can look at more closely while you wait for your order. The menu has an array of options- we opted for the Lobster Mac-n-Cheese and the Lobster Quesadilla!
Route 66 Restaurant is located at 21 Cottage St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.
Geddy’s
Geddy’s is also a great option for lunch or dinner in downtown Bar Harbor. It is close to the Shore Path, and I could see the waterfront from our table! We ordered Fish and Chips and the Fig and Prosciutto Pizza for our meals. The pizza was rather large but definitely could be eaten as a personal pizza for one or split amongst a party. I will say, after a day of hiking and sightseeing, I ate the whole pizza by myself!
Geddy’s is located at 19 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.
Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
A trip to Bar Harbor would not be complete without a stop at Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium. While the shop has a large assortment of chocolates, they are also famous for their lobster ice cream. Yes, you read that right- lobster ice cream! I recommend if you are visiting with a friend or family member and do not mind sharing, opt for the large-sized ice cream with 4 scoops. It is much cheaper than each getting a small or medium-sized cup or cone. We went for ice cream twice while in Bar Harbor and our favorite was the blueberry ice cream! Try out the lobster ice cream too- it is a buttery ice cream with small pieces of lobster!
Ben & Bills Chocolate Emporium is located at 66 Main St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.
Have you visited any of these towns in Maine?
Where are your favorite places to visit that were not mentioned? Comment below!
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