When one of your good friends requests a 24-hour trip to Maine for his birthday, you go all in.
So that’s exactly what happened when birthday boy, Chuong (also check out his music!), decided Maine was the perfect place to celebrate. We hopped into three full cars and left Montreal at seven in the morning for an overnight trip filled with lots of spontaneous adventures.
Here’s a rundown of where we went and what we did.
1. Dunkin’ Donuts
What’s a road trip without some good coffee and snacks? In Canada, I’m used to stopping at Tim Hortons for my on-the-road caffeine fix, but in the U.S., Dunkin’ Donuts seems to be the go-to choice.
Their iced coffee is pretty tasty (and a must-have for the early start) and they have so many yummy donuts and breakfast sandwiches (including the cutest looking breakfast tacos!). Plus, everything is way bigger in the U.S. so my small iced coffee felt more like a medium – which means, I got even more caffeine to kick off the day!
Iced coffees at Dunkin’ Donuts
2. Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier
Lobster in Maine is non-negotiable, so we decided to stop by the Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier, nestled right along the creek, for lunch.
The lobster rolls were pretty good, but TBH they weren’t the best I’ve ever had. Once you’ve tried lobster in the Canadian Maritimes, the bar is set pretty high. But I must say, they serve one of the best clam chowders I’ve ever tasted! And the scenery with gorgeous water and colourful fall leaves surrounding us made it even better.
Lobster roll and chips at Chauncey Creek Lobster Pier
3. Old Orchard Beach
After lunch, we headed to Old Orchard Beach, where we stumbled upon this really cool arcade at Palace Playland that boasts over 20 thousand square feet of photo booths and fun games like skee ball, basketball hoops, and the cutest rubber ducky claw machine!
Arcade at Palace Playland
The beach area has lots of fun options like pizza places, cafés, charming boutiques, and souvenir shops. The fair was closed, but the pier, beach, and water were still beautiful. I definitely would’ve loved to be there during the summertime!
Souvenir shop at Old Orchard Beach
We also wanted to stop by the iconic Portland Head Light about a half hour away, but sadly it started raining and the gates closed. We still managed to capture a few photos of this beautiful Maine coastline from the road as we left though.
Pier at Old Orchard Beach
4. Becky’s Diner
Google Reviews said Becky’s Diner is a local favourite, so when dinnertime rolled around, that’s where we headed. We had to wait over an hour to be seated, so that’s when you know it must be good!
The place had that classic diner vibe, and their menu literally had everything: all-day breakfast, and lots of daily specials including lobster, chowders, pastas, burgers, steak, burritos, pot pies, and even milkshakes.
Shrimp scampi pasta at Becky’s Diner
I went for the fried fisherman’s platter, which came loaded with fish, shrimp, squid, scallops, and waffle fries – so good! Oh and don’t forget to try a blueberry pancake before you leave, because when in Maine, you have to have the blueberries!
Fried Fisherman’s platter at Becky’s Diner
5. Applebee’s
If you’re looking for a cheap but tasty midnight snack, Applebee’s is always a solid choice! Their appetizers never disappoint: BBQ chicken wings, spinach and artichoke dip (my absolute favourite), and of course, who can resist their chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. Yum!
Since it’s Halloween season, they’ve got drinks in buckets for only 10 dollars, so I had to try the Franken-Mama bucket. It’s a blue drink made with Bacardi rum (I love Bacardi!), mixed with passion fruit, pineapple, cherry, and lime, and topped with gummy brains. It tasted like candy, and as good as it was, those are always the most dangerous drinks!
Halloween drinks at Applebee’s
6. Hampton Inn and Suites
We spent the night at the Hampton Inn and Suites in Portland (I loved the heating system in the room, especially after a chilly day). We also got to take advantage of the pool (the pool’s deep end is seriously deep though!), which stays open pretty late. The lobby’s coffee counter was a huge plus too. They have all sorts of different roasts and teas available 24/7, which we definitely made the most of!
The location was great, just an 8 minute walk from the Applebee’s and close to most major routes, so getting around was easy. And of course, the free breakfast (who doesn’t love a good cheese omelette, ham, waffles, and toast in the morning?) and free parking made everything even better.
Continental breakfast at the Hampton Inn and Suites
7. Trader Joe’s
No road trip is complete without a little grocery shopping pit stop. Some of our friends decided to swing Trader Joe’s by to grab a few snacks (and a bottle of their famous Everything but the Bagel seasoning) before heading home.
Trader Joe’s in Maine had some cool stuff, especially a variety of fun fall snacks like pumpkin pancake batter and pecan chips. But I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of Trader Joe’s (I know, hot take!). But I do always enjoy checking out their tote bag designs and greeting cards. Also, can you believe there’s only one location in all of Maine?!
Greeting cards at Trader Joe’s
In the end, Maine gave us everything we needed for a perfect 24-hour getaway: good food, spontaneous adventures, and plenty of laughs. It’s trips like this that remind you why these little moments with friends matter so much.
Even if the trip was short and we didn’t get to do everything we wanted (and even if my butt and neck still kinda hurt from always being the middle seat), it left us with memories we’ll cherish for a lifetime.
So, where’s your next road trip destination?
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