Maine’s 2022 May Update

May 3, 2022

SLOW TRAVEL IN MAINE

The Slow Travel movement is gaining ground and now, after two years of the pandemic, seems more relevant than ever. Slow Travel is about taking your time, slowing down and not rushing from place to place. It’s about local communities, discovering regional cuisine and supporting local farms. The good news is that Maine offers all of these essential elements of a Slow Travel experience, which allows travelers to connect with local people, culture, and food. Start with the many options for a day spent biking, hiking, kayaking and fishing. Maine’s parks are refuges from a fast paced world, especially its varied state parks and public lands. The pace of life is slow in many coastal towns, but it’s even more so in Maine’s Lakes & Mountains Region, in Aroostook County and The Maine Highlands. Take a boat to one of the state’s many islands, from Monhegan to Matinicus to Swan’s Island, to really get away from it all. Or take a meandering drive off the beaten path, on country roads that offer amazing vistas but little traffic.  Visit Maine’s website is filled with activities that allow for slow travel.

MAINE FOOD NEWS

Maine Lobster Festival Returns
The much-loved Maine Lobster Festival in coastal Rockland is scheduled to return this summer for its 75^th celebration and will run from August 3 – 7, 2022. What began as a local festival has grown to become an internationally-recognized celebration of Maine seafood, attracting visitors from around the globe. Run by more than 1,300 volunteers from local communities and from “away,” the five-day event includes 20,000 pounds of lobster, which are transformed into Lobster Rolls, Lobster Mac’n Cheese, Lobster Bisque, Lobster Stuffed Risotto Balls and Lobster Won-tons. There are vendors, a seafood cooking contest, the Maine Sea Goddess Coronation, The Big Parade, Steins & Vines tasting, entertainment, The Great International Lobster Crate Race, fine art, and work from crafts people. Go to Maine Lobster Festival for more details.

Biddeford’s Food Scene Praised by Food & Wine Magazine
Food & Wine magazine has singled out Biddeford as one “of America’s next great food cities,” praised as a small city with a big food scene. The magazine’s editors said that Biddeford is “Portland, Maine’s quiet older sister with great taste—the one you ask for recommendations on nicely curated bottle shops and vintage clothing boutiques.” The article went on to name some favorites, including Magnus on Water,  Night Moves Bread, Jackrabbit Cafe and Elda, as well as the “vintage comfort food mecca Palace Diner.” Read more at Food & Wine.

Twelve
Two top chefs from Manhattan, Colin Wyatt of  Eleven Madison Park, and Daniel Gorlas of Per Se, have left New York and teamed up with Portland, Maine’s Prentice Hospitality Group, which also operates EVO Kitchen + Bar. This summer, Wyatt and Gorlas will open Twelve, a seasonal American restaurant that pays homage to Maine’s best ingredients. Twelve will be housed within a historic waterfront building in the old Portland Company industrial complex, which is going through a massive renovation as Portland Foreside, Portland’s newest neighborhood. There’s more info at Twelve.

Paper Tiger
Paper Tiger is a new cocktail and oyster bar in Portland’s Old Port that the owners say was “inspired by traditional fast food, oyster bars, and late night Chinese restaurants.” It has a bar, seats along the front window, booths and outdoor tables. The menu includes a full raw bar with a changing oyster selection, and an eclectic assortment of dishes such as Black Pepper Mushrooms, Monkfish Ssam, poutine, coconut wings and a menu of exotic cocktails.  Visit Paper Tiger for details.

Batson River
Batson River has two locations that will open during the summer of 2022. The Batson River Fish Camp is coming to Wells and will be offering brewery tours. Batson River Brewing & Distilling will expand with a full tasting room and rooftop bar in the heart of Biddeford. Go to Batson River for details.

GLAMPING

Fortland
Fortland is the clever name of a new glamping experience at Fort Scammel, a Civil War-era fort on House Island in Casco Bay, off the coast of Portland. Accommodations include furnished yurts and tents provided with bedding, linen and kitchenware. There’s access to a communal outdoor kitchen with grills and stoves, a communal fire pit, and composting toilets. Rates include a boat ride to and from the mainland, not to mention water views in all directions. Go to Fortland for more information.

Acadia Wilderness Lodge
Opening in the spring 2022, Acadia Wilderness Lodge promises to bring a luxurious touch to the Acadia camping experience. Located on the quiet side of Acadia National Park, in Tremont, it’s a yurt village, and the yurts are on the luxury side, with private bathrooms and soaking tubs. Each yurt has a dual use room that doubles as a relaxation room with two daybeds, a yoga pillow, meditation/reading nook, and an Amazon Alexa device capable of streaming relaxing music and ocean sounds. The resort will offer Aera Home aromatherapy oils, diffusers scents and body products. There’s outdoor seating around the communal outdoor fire place in the Village Center. Details at Acadia Wilderness Lodge.