Tag Archives: waterfront

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The birthday dinner.

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The day after my husband’s birthday, when his dental pain and swelling was greatly reduced, we celebrated his birthday at a lovely waterfront restaurant on the mid coast.

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Did we enjoy a nice table with a water view?

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No. We sat at the bar because my husband loves nothing more than striking up a conversation with random people he neither knows nor will ever see again.

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It wouldn’t have been my choice, but it is closer to the alcohol so I don’t complain too loudly.

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First cocktail? Summer Thyme… which is still a long way off in Maine, but delightfully crisp all the same.

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Husbands appetizer? Butternut squash soup.

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I went with the herbed truffle fries with Parmesan thinking it would be a small nibble and not the massive plate I was served. Needless to say three quarters of it went home with me. Second cocktail was a lovely Basil Limeade.

By this time the restaurant was packed and the kitchen was slammed. Waiting for our entrees meant cocktail number three. I chose the white sangria but was disappointed with the mixed on the spot over fruited glass of wine. Sangria must be mixed and let to sit so it absorbs all the flavors. Boo to number three.

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My chosen meal was the duck sausage with mushroom, homemade ziti and Marsala crème sauce. It was fabulous. As was the pear martini.

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Husband went with the shrimp scampi which was also wonderful with freshly made pasta and a rich garlicky sauce.

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In case you’re wondering, the name of the restaurant is the Water Street Kitchen and Bar and it’s located in what is commonly known as the prettiest village in Maine… Wiscasset.

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We’ve been coming here for years, though it’s previous incarnation was Le Garage. Because back in the early 1900’s? It really was an automotive repair shop, hence the original sliding doors.

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As seen from the water side.

If you’re in the area, drop by. But make a reservation if you want a table, it’s a popular place.

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Porters Preserve

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Another beautiful summer day in Maine meant another walk along the coast.

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This time we headed to the Boothbay region to a little speck on Barters Island called Porters Preserve.

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23 acres of prime property generously donated to the land trust by the Porter family. It’s a little known, out of the way, peaceful haven of wooded trails and rocky coastline.

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The minute we hit the trail? I knew I should have doused myself in bug spray before entering. The black flies were swarming and before long I was scratching like a flea bitten dog.

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We meandered through a few wooded paths…

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And then found the shore.

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So pretty. So quiet. Give me a good book and a glass of iced tea? I’d be happy all day.

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We walked out onto a pier and a float that clearly belonged to someone …

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As it was stacked with new lobster traps.

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But there wasn’t a soul in sight…. which is just the way I like it.

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To be continued…

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Ogunquit Cliff Walk finale.

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As much as I hated the coastal stroll to end, we neared the end of our cliff walk loop.

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That’s Wells beach, one of the longest sandy stretches in Maine.

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I grabbed a few more photos….

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And gloried in the final few feet.

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If you’re ever up this way, please visit. It really is spectacular.

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The turn towards town.

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One more hotel and you’re there.

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Where you’ll probably have to walk another half a mile to find your car.

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🤣

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Ogunquit Cliff Walk… part 4

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It’s amazing how many different things you see when you turn around and head back the same path.

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Beautiful coastline walking south, beautiful coastline walking north. It never gets old.

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Wish I could say the same for my hairdo which was looking a bit worse for wear after battling the constant wind.

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Sparse lone trees.

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Craggy, rock filled shores.

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Oceanfront backyards.

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One desecration of nature, because humans can’t help being destructive.

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The Atlantic Ocean.

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Strategically placed benches.

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The Cliff Walk has it all.

To be continued….

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If you only do one thing when you visit southern Maine…

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Make sure it’s the Ogunquit Cliff Walk. There’s no better way to leisurely experience the Maine coast and you’ll get some exercise to boot. A definite win win.

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The 1.25 mile walk starts alongside a waterfront hotel with pristine fencing and gardens.

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Turn the corner, and the Atlantic Ocean beckons.

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Maine isn’t known for large resorts, we’re more of a bed and breakfast state, but the Anchorage By the Sea is well named.

You can’t get much closer to the ocean than that.

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Most of Maine’s beaches are rocky, but Wells… the neighboring town… has plenty of sand.

The Cliff Walk is fully paved and easy to traverse…. and did I mention there are rocks?

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When you marry a billy goat like my husband, rocks are never left unexplored.

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I can’t say enough good things about the beauty of this place and it’s hardly a surprise Ogunquit was an artist colony at the turn of the 20th century.

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Nature is a wonderous thing…. but sometimes she struggles to survive.

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Shame we need to be reminded of that…

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There are numerous memorial benches scattered here and there along the path…

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Perfect spots for quiet reflection and contemplation.

To be continued…

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Coastal Maine

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After our delightfully boozy lunch at the Boathouse we took a scenic drive along the coast of Kennebunkport.

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It’s a beautiful area…

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Wild and windswept.

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With some seriously gorgeous waterfront homes.

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Needless to say it’s a little out of our tax bracket.

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But with President Bush’s summer home at Walker’s Point for neighbors….

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That’s not the least bit surprising.

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Discovering a hidden gem.

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I love randomly exploring an area we’ve visited often and stumbling on a new place. Last week it was the Boathouse Hotel and Marina in Kennebunkport.

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The perfect location for a leisurely spring afternoon lunch.

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And in true River style I worked my way down the cocktail menu.

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The Watermelon Sugar to start….

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A Walk of Shame with appetizers. Crab cakes for me, lemongrass ginger mussels for the husband.

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White Lemonade Sangria with a chicken Caesar salad for me, sherry baked haddock for my other half. It was a wonderful meal in a pleasant spot made even better by the friendly couple we met at the bar.

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They were visiting from Wisconsin for a college graduation so we happily gave them some local destination suggestions. Turns out they run a pub of their own in Wisconsin with the same town name as one in Maine.

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The Presque Isle Pub. If you’re ever in the area, stop by and tell them the boozy couple from Maine say hello.

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A Boothbay kind of afternoon..

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After a long leisurely stroll around town…

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And along the waterfront…

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It was time for a long over due visit to our absolutely favorite place to eat… The Boat House Bistro. Contrary to its name, it doesn’t sit on the water. And while that might put some visitors off, you don’t go there for the view.

Even at 2:45 on a Saturday afternoon, on a late November day devoid of tourists, the place was packed. First floor dining was full so we climbed up to the bar on the second. (Third floor is only open for outdoor seating in the summer)

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Happily sipping a Cosmo in front of the wine taps (there are two of them, with a total of 8 wines available) I perused the menu and was overjoyed to find my two favorites were still there.

This place has fresh seafood down to an art and I have never had a bad meal.

My appetizer? Spicy Cajun shrimp on cheesy grits with garlic, scallions, tomato and smoky bacon.

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All my life I thought I hated grits. I lived down south for 18 years and never cooked nor ordered them. We moved back to Maine, discovered the Bistro and wham! I’m eating grits and am tempted to lick the bowl. Who knew?

To be honest that appetizer could serve as a meal, it’s pretty rich. But I will never pass up the chance to eat this:

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Perfectly pan seared giant sea scallops on a bed of creamy mushroom risotto with arugula, truffle oil and shaved Parmesan.

I hate to disappoint my husband, but damn.

It’s almost better than sex.

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And speaking of husbands, he ordered a lovely seafood scampi which was bursting with shrimp, sea scallops and lobster.

Meals here aren’t cheap (almost $200 including tip) but you get your money’s worth and I have yet to leave unsatisfied or without a doggie bag.

Dessert?

We didn’t even look.

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A Boothbay kind of morning…

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The day dawned cool, but clear and sunny so we decided to head for the coast.

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One of our favorite spots is a quaint old fishing village turned tourist mecca.

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Boothbay Harbor is filled with nice shops and galleries and restaurants….

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And off season is the perfect time to stroll across the historic footbridge that connects opposite sides of the harbor.

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The bridge house has long been a tourist favorite.

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And this year there are placards explaining history and points of interest scattered about the town.

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Ol’ Bill sounds like my kind of guy.

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Another new addition to the bridge are a collection of love locks. Boothbay Harbor isn’t Paris, France…but apparently they’re trying.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the vintage hardware store up the road is responsible for this and has laid in a giant selection of locks in anticipation of the trend.

Mainers are nothing if not practical.

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Liquid Saturday , the finale.

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After a beer and hard cider filled morning and early afternoon…. and a less than stellar mid afternoon chowder house lunch with margaritas, I thought we were going home. But my husband realized we were driving up on a friend’s town and gave him a call.

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Enter the Bait Shed restaurant and bar in the Pine Point area of Scarborough…

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Where our friend was sitting and thoughtfully holding seats for us… complete with waiting cocktails.

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I’d never been nor even heard of this place, but a better spot to end the day would be hard to find.

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The ocean breeze was cool, the summer tourists were gone. We had good company, potent drinks, hearty laughs and fresh seafood.

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They don’t take themselves too seriously at the Bait Shed….

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Probably because their establishment really was a bait shed in a previous life.

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It’s the type of place Maine locals avoid like the plague during the season and visit frequently once the outta staters have left the state.

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It’s the type of place where you’ll get a dirty look if you order an espresso martini, but I saw a bowl of chowder go by and damned if it wasn’t the real thing.

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