Traveling from Bar Harbor to Portland was a relatively short drive. On our Airstream Adventures, we try to keep travel days to 8 hours or less, even though many RVers find that too much.
Portland, Maine
When I was a kid, we used to camp for two weeks every summer. Back then, in the Middle Ages, camping in State Parks only cost a few dollars a night. That meant we could afford to rent a motor boat with water skis and/or a sunfish. Several times, we camped at Sebago Lake State Park, where I remember learning to slalom ski, taking an Ivory soap bath in the lake, and traveling to Portland to buy lobsters and steamers.
Now we camp in our Airstream with our own shower and bath facilities! We stayed at Bayley’s Camp Resort in Scarborough, Maine. It was a very convenient location to get into Portland or any of the ocean towns and beaches. We discovered a Facebook Group, Southern Maine Pickleball, and immediately found several good pickleball locations; we played several times at Deering Oaks pickleball courts and enjoyed the people and the play.
I forgot to mention the pickleball location in Newport, Rhode Island, that we found in another Facebook Group, Rhody Pickleballers. Hunter Park had a very friendly group of excellent Intermediate to Advanced players. They welcomed us, and we thoroughly enjoyed the play. Hope they will all visit us in Key Largo!
Oysters and Lobsters
Just like crab cakes are best in Maryland, oysters and lobsters are best in Maine. We indulged several times in both Bar Harbor and Portland. The Old Port has become a hot spot for world-class restaurants and bars. We had some of the best oysters at Eventide Oyster Company. Several days later, we dined at Scales Restaurant, one of the best summer dining experiences. Bill feasted on this scrumptious seafood stew! Top-notch service and phenomenal seafood. Make reservations early, as they are booked solid!
The Eastern Promenade Trail
Everyone told us about the Eastern Promenade Trail, easily accessed from our campground. We spent an afternoon on our e-bikes and traveled approximately 20 miles through wetlands and forests. The trail is well-maintained and connects to other trails along the Maine coastline.
Cape Cod
We traveled south to Brewster, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod from Portland. I chose Brewster due to its location near Wellfleet and Provincetown. We headed to Wellfleet to explore soon after checking into Shady Knoll Campground. The first place we saw after parking the car had a sign at Winslow’s Tavern that said “Oyster Happy Hour”! What perfect timing! Of course, we found a table and ordered a dozen Wellfleet oysters. We left armed with other dining recommendations, including Mac’s Shack and the Pearl Restaurant & Bar. Both were excellent; we highly recommend them if you visit Cape Cod.
Provincetown
Provincetown reminds us of Key West, and we spent a full day there. We started with an e-bike ride on the Province Land Trails, with breathtaking views of the coast and ocean and intimate glimpses of marshes and cranberry bogs. The path takes you directly to Race Point Beach or Herring Cove Beach, so you might want to bring a swimsuit! The trail is paved, but some challenging hills and twists keep you on your toes. Some hills were even steeper than we experienced at Acadia, which surprised me. I’ve become more comfortable on my e-bike, but I dismount and walk it when crossing a road.
After our 14-mile bike ride, we went into Provincetown to see the sights, and there is a lot to see! We worked up an appetite and found a good one for dinner, recommended by locals. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name of this restaurant, but there are plenty to choose from!
Nantucket
We took the Ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket on a beautiful, sunny day. Normally, we don’t do organized tours, but we decided to take the Guided Bus Tour of the island. The Driver was a local and filled us in on the island’s history and culture; it was worthwhile. Nantucket is beautiful, and we spent the day touring and walking around the town. One highlight was discovering a local Gyotaku artist’s studio, Pete’s Fish Tales. Pete wasn’t there, but the gentleman managing the shop in his absence was very gracious. We told him about our friend, Lisa Lee, a Gyotaku artist in Islamorada! He insisted that we take a pack of note cards to Lisa, and gave Bill and me t-shirts! The art world is always so friendly, I love it.
That’s it for this Airstream Summer Adventure. Unfortunately, we had to cut our trip short and return to Key Largo early. I’m bummed; I looked forward to spending a few days in New York City, New Jersey and Myrtle Beach. But we had a great time and can’t wait for our next adventure.