Maine (Portland) timing
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,415
Maine (Portland) timing
Generally speaking, are lobster shacks open Memorial Day-Labor Day? Any known to be open longer? Trying to figure out when we want to visit Maine (husband hasn't been, I haven't been since I was a kid and used to sail up there in the summer, driving up from CT) We tend to prefer visiting places in shoulder or off-seasons for cheaper prices and fewer people, but since husband wants to eat lobster lobster lobster (and drink craft beer, but I'm not worried about seasonality there) I want to make sure we visit when at least some of the shacks are open because that's such a fun way to eat lobster in Maine
I'm sure I'll be back with specific questions as we do further planning, but timing is the first thing to figure out. Thanks!!
I'm sure I'll be back with specific questions as we do further planning, but timing is the first thing to figure out. Thanks!!
#2
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: BOS
Posts: 1,461
Some open sometime in April, and stay open through most of September. I think Bob's clam hut in Kittery is open year round, although that's an hour from Portland. (Their food is really good though.) You really have to look up the individual places you're interested in.
#3
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: SEA
Posts: 3,953
Yup, it depends. IMHO, the best lobster roll in the Portland area is Eventide, and that's a restaurant open year round.
I would say that for shoulder season, you're better off with October than, say, April/May. A lot more places stay open later into the season versus opening before summer. The reason is, Sept/Oct/Nov are great months to visit with fall weather and scenery, plus school's in so the crowds lessen (but the demographic does skew older, with more busses full of seniors). April and May, though, usually still suck - it might snow, it's almost definitely muddy, and temperatures are not hitting 60 quite yet. You're almost better off coming here in the dead of winter than visiting in April, in my opinion.
I would say that for shoulder season, you're better off with October than, say, April/May. A lot more places stay open later into the season versus opening before summer. The reason is, Sept/Oct/Nov are great months to visit with fall weather and scenery, plus school's in so the crowds lessen (but the demographic does skew older, with more busses full of seniors). April and May, though, usually still suck - it might snow, it's almost definitely muddy, and temperatures are not hitting 60 quite yet. You're almost better off coming here in the dead of winter than visiting in April, in my opinion.
Last edited by PWMTrav; Jan 18, 2017 at 12:13 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,415
Thanks - fall typically works better for our schedules anyway, but good to know it's a nice timing option. I hadn't thought the coast of ME would get crowded with leaf peepers but I suppose it's a possibility?
(I do recall the seasons of upper New England - winter, mud & summer , correct? :-)
(I do recall the seasons of upper New England - winter, mud & summer , correct? :-)
#5
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,382
My summers in Maine start the first weekend of June, and it is _quiet_ at that time. Many others don't show up until the Independence Day holiday in July.
The summer people in Maine do however linger until the end of September, so it's not like Cape Cod where everyone vanishes after Labor Day.
My favorite lobster roll is "Bite into Maine," a food truck in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, just south of Portland.
The summer people in Maine do however linger until the end of September, so it's not like Cape Cod where everyone vanishes after Labor Day.
My favorite lobster roll is "Bite into Maine," a food truck in Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, just south of Portland.
#6
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 56
We visited May 10th to 13th, last year. Sunny weather and most restaurants opened. Both the fancy and the shacks on the docks were all open. We event did a lobster boat tour on May 10th, were we helped the boat pull up lobster pots and clean out the unwanted sea life. Bonus: 5 breweries were open and all were within a 2 mile walk in old town Portland.
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,718
The farther you roam from Portland, the quieter it's going to be before May and after Labor Day. In Boothbay Harbor, where Mom retired, we used to visit in mid-April and the place was dead as a doornail -- might as well have been January. Same for post-September 15. If you visit out of season you might be well-advised to stay and eat in Portland, which is lively year-round, and do daytrips into the quiet surrounding regions.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,415
I think that's what we're leaning toward for this trip. As we are craft beer fans, we're eager to be able to walk & try beers & not have to worry about driving or getting a ride back to our bed.....
#9
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,414
They may have more up-to-date hours/info that hasn't quite made it's to BeerAdvocate, etc.
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: Delta Gold, silver, what yr is it?
Posts: 2,415
#15
Senior Moderator and Moderator: American AAdvantage & TravelBuzz
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 10,414