Live What You Love #TravelJaggs: April 2012

Portland/Freeport, Maine

I have waited my whole life to see light houses in Maine and eat their lobster and trust me, it did not disappoint in the slightest!!! We decided after staying in hotels most of the trip that we would rent a cottage outside of Portland and get to enjoy cooking and enjoying all that Maine has to offer. BINGO. A decision I will pat myself on the back for the rest of my life!!!

Where we stayed: Talbot Way Cottage #8 owned by Susan Murphy (if you want her contact info email me or you can find the house on VRBO). Biggest game changer move of the trip was me finding this house. It has everything that you would ever want in a Maine cottage. It is 100 years old, on the water, has 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, wrap around porch, amazing fire places, and your soul smiles when you realize where you are. The price to stay was about $1000ish for 4 days and I would have paid more. We cooked, laughed, relaxed, read, partied, drank, and loved life every day we were there. Down the road is the Lunch & Lobster where you can get fresh lobster from he days fishing or their are markets down the road for other treats. The cottage is 5 min. from Freeport (shopping and small town) and 15 min to Portland.

Where we ate:

Ductfat, best fries of my life, duh because they are fried in duck fat. Hip new restaurant with farm to table food. Very small so dont think that you can get a big party in. Drinks are served out of mason jars and do yourself a favor and get the truffle ketchup with the fries.
Paimenmiyke, noodle town USA. Best sushi some of the travel family had every had and the ramen noodle dishes will make you want to be a different person. Great vegetarian options!
Maines Best Food Truck, if you do anything while in the Portland area find this truck, order the lobster roll, and get it picnic style. Dont even need to thank me because you are welcome in advnace. Voted best lobster roll around you will want to order another. Dare you to just eat one.
J's Oyster, if it is good enough for Anthony Bourdain then it is good enough for me. A dive oyster bar with the clientele to go with it. On the water with good food!
Top of the East, fun bar with a great view of the entire city!
Shipyard Brewery, just FYi dont be fooled that this is actually a place where you can drink beers. FALSE. But you can take a tour however we did not
Fore Street, best place to eat in town. WOW. Total farm to table, you can see every thing being cooked and I had one of the best meals of the trip here. Make sure to get your wallet ready because it is pricey but make this your one big splurge

What we did:

Fort William Head Light House, the "Maine" event of the trip for me. Most beautiful and stunning light house I have seen in all my years. Pictures galore will be taken here and you can fly kites and let kids play (that is if you have them which I suggest not travelling with them on this trip)
Freeport Outlets, the little town of Freeport is really sweet with the LL Bean head quarters housed here with outlet prices galore that will blow your mind!
Bow Street Market, if you are staying at the cottage do your shopping here, great selection of food, seafood and banging wine selection!

Looking back:

If I had to say anything for anyone travelling to the cottage or the area, enjoy your surroundings. I liked Portland but I was glad we only did it for a few hours. Having down time to enjoy the cottage was what made the trip a vacation. We cooked two great meals at night and had breakfast in the morning with coffee on the deck. It was kind of out of a movie. We had the fires going in the mornings and at night! Maine is so beautiful and taking time to enjoy what you are seeing is part of the trip. The only thing I would have changed, to stay even longer in the cottage!!

Fries from Ductfat

Living the Dream on the porch

Tony enjoying the fire

Mussel Meal

Damn

Head Light House

Lobster Roll

J's Oyster Bar

Fore Street

Life changer Foie Gras

Outlets in Freeport

Lunch & Lobster to get our meal

The travel family on our porch

The Talbot Way Cottage

Ready to go in the water

Lobster Bake

Inside of the cottage

Burlington, VT

Visit 1: The only reason I ever thought in my life I wanted to go to Vermont was to eat cheese. I love cheese. But, one of our travel family members spent some time up there during school and thought it would be a great place to visit! And that we did. The lake, farm to table restaurants, the cheeses, the beers... it had everything a little hippy/city girl could want.

Visit 2: Honeymoon Part III

Where we stayed: Hilton on Lake Champlain. The view is what you pay for, it looks out over the lake and is in a perfect location to walk everywhere. The parking is $10 a night so know that ahead of time if you have a rental car. Make sure to take advantage of the balcony overlooking the front of the hotel so you can enjoy some cocktails and the lake around sunset. The rooms, okay, nothing fancy but really you shouldnt be doing much time in them since there is so much to enjoy!

Where we ate:

Ben & Jerrys, make sure to stop in to the factory on the way into Burlington. It just makes you feel like a kid again and the Flavor Grave Yard is just fun times no matter what age. And you can get ice creams!
Vermont Brewing Company, good beers. We got the sampler and tried 9 different locally brewed beers. Very cool.
American Flat Bread, get into it. You will not be sorry and it seems that everyone in Burlington has the same idea. And when you get a pizza ask for a side of the garlic oil and put it on your pizza. Youre welcome.
Nectars, cool hippie bar where Phish got their start.
The Farm House, used to be an old McDonalds and the only trace is the old floors. Total authentic farm to table restaurant with amazing, everything.
Penny clues, do your breakfast mouth a favor and get involved. Everything is good. EVERYTHING. Local, organic, goodness gracious.
Muddy Waters Coffee, gooood coffee
Honky Tonk Bar, that is not the name, but we for the life of us could not remember the name but ask a local. They have Honky Tonk music on Tuesday and the worlds most delicious apple cider!!! VERY VERY VERY cool bar and local dive.
Pizzeria Verita- remember that amazing square pizza you had when you were in elementary school, well this is the queen version and tastier!
Single Pebble- This was featured on "Best Thing I Ever Ate" which I watch religiously, the food is good, but there is lots of it. Like lots. So if you want good food and good prices but LOTS then go here. It is pretty busy place so dont expect relaxation however the food is killer
Shelbourne Farms Brunch- do it. period.

What we did:

Shelbourne Farms, cheese (king of kings) tasting. You get to try fresh off the farm local cheeses that will not disappoint all FOR FREE. Then you get to take your car over to the barn (which look like a medevil castle) and play with the animals FOR FREE. THEN, you keep going on the road and you literally cross over into what seems like the Italian coast line to the bed and breakfast on the property. Literally we just enjoyed the farm for hours and had the best time. Take your camera!
Shelbourne Vineyards, a fun vineyard with some unique wines. Also there is a brewery right across the road where you can sample their beers. The tasting is $5 and totally worth it and you can get a glass and enjoy their porch and the view
Magic Hat Brewery, a must go. Free tasting of 3 beers of your choice and a free self guided tour that is just really, different and mysterious.
Shopping, lots of it on the main street where no cars can come through and you can just stroll and enjoy consignment shops and chain stores
Fiddlehead Brewery- Good local beers and a restaurant attached but I would not eat there, better options (Check out The Bearded Frog Pub)
Saturday Farmers Market- it is in the center of town and will have everything your heart desires, for real

Looking Back:

Wish we would have had time to check out the campus. Very beautiful, green, and students look cool.
Would have waited to go there around May because a lot of the shops/places to eat close for the winter but most of those were down by the water.
Wish I would have written down the name of the Honky Tonk Bar!!!!

Ben & Jerrys Flavor Graveyard