Maine.

Earlier this fall, Todd and I drove up the coast with no real plans in mind besides making it to Portland, Maine in time for dinner. We stopped in Portsmouth, New Hampshire first, where we poked around the cute downtown area and escaped the drizzle in a little pub. It had stopped raining by the time we made it to Old Orchard Beach, Maine, so we took our time exploring the tacky beach shops then continued up the coast, stopping at Crescent Beach State Park and Cape Elizabeth. We reached the Portland Head Light just as the sun was setting and an old park ranger was shooing everyone away, then drove into Portland for dinner at Eventide Oyster Co. My favorite thing about this trip? Realizing how incredibly diverse this small patch of New England coastline is. One minute I felt like we were in Ireland; the next, Florida.

portlandia.

Back in December, we flew to Boston to visit family and decided to make a stop in Portland, Maine. It's just a little over two hours from the city, an easy drive up 95 (complete with "Moose Crossing" signs), and we arrived just in time to celebrate my 28th birthday.

We checked into a historic hotel in the old part of downtown, then headed to Eventide for lobster rolls and champagne. The next morning, we did a bit of shopping and then drove across the bridge to see the lighthouse and putter around the grounds.

We were able to see most of the sights in the short time we were there, but I wish we could have stayed longer and soaked up the charm of the small town. We stopped in Kennebunkport on the way home for clam chowder, fish 'n' chips, and local cider.