When my kids and I moved to Maine a decade ago, I envisioned us spending many weekends exploring every nook and cranny of the state. But then a funny thing happened: We settled into life with all its routines.
That’s not to say we haven’t explored. But when we find places we like, we tend to return to them.
Over the years, Wonderland and Ship Harbor trails at Acadia National Park have become favorites we’ve returned to again and again, breathing in the salty air and sometimes bringing friends. In summers, we usually swim in Pushaw Lake (we’ve tried other lakes and ponds, but this remains our favorite). Rainy afternoons at The Big Chicken Barn in Ellsworth are always fun, and back to school shopping in Freeport has become another favorite. And it should go without saying that we have favorite restaurants and eateries all over the state — The Palace Diner in Biddeford, Bob’s Clam Hut in York, Geddy’s in Bar Harbor, The Family Dog in Orono, Becky’s Diner in Portland and others.
In my imagination, I didn’t think we would become so driven by habit. For all the places we’ve been, there are so many corners of the state we haven’t visited.
That’s what made a couple of recent day trips to the Blue Hill Peninsula so special. Located about an hour from Bangor, the region is nestled between the midcoast and Down East and is home to dozens of restaurants and miles of coastline.
It’s where Tinder Hearth is located, for instance. Years ago, Tinder Hearth’s wood-fired bread was stocked at Giacomo’s in Bangor and it quickly became a favorite. At the actual bakery in Brooksville, Tinder Hearth (1452 Coastal Road/www.tinderhearth.com) serves more than bread loaves — though I encourage you to bring one home.
We visited in the spring, when it was still doing a more extensive Saturday brunch. But as we move into summer, Tinder Hearth shifts gears to a simpler brunch on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. as well as bakery availability on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The evening pizza, which got national notice in recent years with write ups in Food and Wine and the New York Times, is expanding to four nights a week —Tuesday through Friday — beginning June 11. Reservations are required but can only be booked starting the Monday of the week you want to dine.
On another visit, we ventured down to Stonington, located on the southern tip of Deer Isle. It was a quick trip to see the town and have an ice cream from Stonington Ice Cream Company while watching the lobster boats in the harbor. It got me thinking about how Maine and especially its coast has inspired so many writers over the years. I can see why. And it also made me want to return to try some of the restaurants that dot the town, including two new ones.
The recently opened Crybabies (36 Main St./babieseat.com) sits just across the street from the water. The extensive menu includes a variety of seafood dishes like the Stonington Lobster Reuben ($27.95), Bronzed Haddock Soft Tacos ($18.95) and Twice Rolled Fried Oysters ($27.95) along with many, many meat and vegetarian options.
Likewise, 27 Fathoms Waterfront Grille (27 Main St.), which had to close for renovations after enduring extensive damage during a January storm, was expected to reopen this weekend. Located on the water, the seafood-forward menu includes dishes like the Lobster Cobb Salad ($18), the Haddock Reuben ($14) and Lobster Mac and Cheese ($28), as well as a variety of meat options. The menu has a couple of vegetarian options as well.
And, of course, there are other places to try as well like Stonecutters Kitchen (5 Atlantic Ave.), Fin and Fern (25 Seabreeze Ave.) and 44 North Coffee (70 Main St.) and the fine dining restaurant Aragosta at Goose Cove in Deer Isle isn’t far either.
We’ve now been to the Blue Hill Peninsula several times. We could spend weekend after weekend exploring and never see it all. But there’s also so much of Maine to see still. This summer, I want to head further Down East to the Bold Coast. I want to hop the border to Canada for fun.
Wherever we go along the coast, now’s the time to do it. The weather is warm but still mild. The tourists haven’t arrived en masse yet. And everything, everywhere is waking up from winter rests. The only question remains: Where shall we go next?
