The weather here has been so nice lately, the HH and I have been outside everyday working in the yard and getting the garden beds prepped for the growing season ahead. Right now, we are at about the halfway point in our garden prep duty.
After spending the last 6 months pretty much indoors, and as much as I want to spend every waking hour out in the garden these days, I have to keep reminding myself that NOW is one of the BEST times to get out and explore the little villages and towns in coastal New England.
You know, before they’re all filled with the summer tourist crowd and getting around is too much of a chore. 😉 It’s tricky though, because you have to time it just right as a lot of the storefronts in these towns are not open year round and if you want to beat the crowds, you really need to check them out before mid May or wait until after the Labor Day holiday.
So basically, there is this tiny window of about 6 weeks at the beginning, or the end of the season to go town hopping.
Bar Harbor, Isle Au Haut, Lake Champlain, Lake Winnipesaukee, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Providence, Newport, Old Saybrook and Mystic are all towns I would LOVE to visit this year. But with so much work to get done in the garden before the planting season begins, we are only to be able to get to one town a week right now.
And well, a few days ago, we decided to spend our “date day” between the towns of Kennebunkport and Ogunquit, Maine. Specifically though, in a little area named Perkin’s Cove.
The HH was looking up lobster shacks in the area and noticed the Lobster Shack in Perkin’s Cove had just recently opened for the season, so we decided to pop in for lunch. The HH LOVES lobster and last year he dragged took me to 5 lobster shacks… and I have a feeling that this year, he is going to try and top his record from last year. 😉
I absolutely LOVE that so many businesses in New England are seasonal. Because when they do finally open for the season, it’s a big deal {I’ll have to remember to post about all the ice cream stands around here. It’s insane.}
The Lobster Shack in Perkin’s Cove had only been open for a few days when we stopped by for lunch the other day, and guess what? There wasn’t a tourist in sight, just locals. And it was awesome. The tables were full, the staff was happy, and the food was great. What more could you ask for?
The HH gave his lobster roll a 4.5 out of 5 stars, and my fish tacos were a 5 out of a 5. And after such a long winter indoors, it was good to get out and go exploring in a little coastal town again.
I am so glad we moved to this part of the country, there is SO MUCH to see and I am looking forward to all the adventures this year brings. So if you ever find yourself in Southern Maine, and you love seafood, be sure and stop and stretch your legs around Perkin’s Cove. It’s a fun little spot filled with local pottery, seafood and other treats.
Have a wonderful Friday everyone, enjoy the day!
~Mavis
Lobster Shack
110 Perkins Cove Rd, Ogunquit, ME 03907
Kristin says
The I’ve cream stands are crazy but we love them! I grew up in So CA and there’s nothing like them there. I remember reading somewhere that the per person consumption of ice cream is the highest in New England and I believe it.
Shelia King says
Good Morning from the Pacific Northwest! We are going to be one of those tourists this year (although, we are timing it after Labor Day!) Do you have a link to all of your New England adventures? I’ve enjoyed them all along but now that I want to go I’d love to review them again. Thanks in advance! Oh and happy gardening and adventuring!
Carolina Cooper says
I love it that as a local, I forget to go to the tourist places—and then you remind me of how awesome they are off season! When I saw that you had gone to the lobster shack at Perkins Cove, I thought that you were also going to say that you and the HH had walked the Marginal Way. The last few days, it has been waaay too windy, but it is a great 1.2 mile easy walk along the sea. Try it, if you have not all ready. Long ago (I think before you bought the HOA house), I sent you a snail mail article about Harvey’s Family Bakery here in Dover, New Hampshire. Soon, there will be another reason to visit our town—in late Spring, we are getting an Aldi’s—probably closer to you than the other one you shop at. I am over the moon excited about that!
Mary Ann says
I’m from So Cal, too (Native), and was surprised by how many seasonal ice cream places (Creameries) there are in New England (moved to MA for 3 years, but had to get back to the warmth of So Cal!). Unbelievably delicious ice cream and great food. Miss a lot about NE, but couldn’t tolerate the long winter, the black flies in Spring, or the humidity in summer. Fall was to die for, though.
Jane says
Hi mavis and Lucy!
My family lived in southern Maine, Shapleigh, for 35 years. We too loved the seasonal businesses. Our favorite was and still is barnacle Billy’s in oqunquit. The food is great, the rum punch is famous and you can’t beat the tiny harbor ambiance. We now live in Las Vegas to avoid the snow, but sure miss the 35 minute drive to the ocean.
Shelle says
I’m hoping to be one of those tourists this summer! We’re PNWers and planning a Maine trip to visit my brother’s family in N. Maine. I think we’ll fly to Boston and then drive up the Maine coastline, stopping at some of the towns along the way and stay a couple of days near Acadia National Park. It all looks so beautiful. I’m looking forward to the lobster shacks and the ice cream stands for sure! And because of your fun write-ups, I’m adding hometown general stores to the list too.
Lana says
Thanks for the reminder to get out there before the tourists but we are talking the NC mountains here. We live an hour south of Asheville and it gets crazy in the summer. You know you have to watch that old movie ;Mystic Pizza’ before you go to Mystic. It’s still there.
Linda says
I’m from Maine originally (Greene, just north of Lewiston) and went to high school in Turner, at Leavitt Institute now Leavitt High School in a new building, that isn’t new anymore. We’ll be going to Maine for a reunion in August and I look forward to hitting all the lobster places and ice cream joints. Things have changed a lot since I left- we didn’t have to worry about ticks then, and the humidity which someone complained about, wasn’t high except during a week or so of “dog days” in summer. Looking forward to it! Mavis, we’ll wave as we go by!
Linda
renay says
Those fish tacos look YUMMY!!! Any hint on how they were prepared? I have never made them and would love a good recipe, if anyone has one.
Debi says
The Lobster Shack is one of our favorite stops when we go to Maine. If you love lobster rolls you should try the A Bite of Maine food truck at Fort Williams. They are the best ever.