Road Trip From Maine to Vermont (Including Foodie Trip Tips)
Some road trippers don’t experience things in a hurry. They’ll go for an epic experience even if it takes more time to get to their destination. The stopovers are considered destinations too.
Come experience a road trip from Maine to Vermont with a focus on local foods and bed and breakfast experiences from Portland, ME to Wilmington, VT. We’ll start our trip in Portland, ME.
Portland, ME
If you are flying into Portland International Jetport from Canada or other parts of United States, pick up a
full sized car for less than $20 a day and choose a
hotel according to your budget here.
We recommend Hilton Garden Inn Portland Downtown Waterfront (65 Commercial Street, Portland, ME) for its location and walking distance to restaurants and the old port.
Most people come to Portland for their lobsters, seafood feasts and Mount Desert Island Ice Cream. Imagine flavors like chocolate wasabi and Thai Chili among the unique flavors. Even President Obama stopped by one of the stores. He went for the coconut flavor. Here is the video to prove it (click on the picture below to view the video:
MDIIC store in Portland is on 51 Exchange Street.
Two restaurants for lobster and local treats:
Portland Lobster Company
180 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
This is the place if you are looking for the best local flavor, low key quick meal without compromising on taste and quality. Visitors are never disappointed with their clam chowder, lobster roll, lobster bisque, steamed lobster dinner, fish and chips and lots more. The combination of waterfront view, live music and fresh foods sets this restaurant apart.
If you are there for dinner try their full lobster dinner and cold local beer.
Duckfat
43 Middle Street, Portland, ME
Aptly called because their classic Belgian fries are made with local Maine potatoes fried in duck fat. Duckfat is a small sandwich shop that claims to serve the best fries in Portland. It is a unique place for your dining experience with a menu like Corned Beef Tongue Reuben, Port Belly and duck fat beignets.
Halfway Point between Portland and Wilmington
It takes three hours 45 minutes drive from Portland to Wilmington and we have chosen a halfway point for your stopover. Your
halfway point is Concord in New Hampshire.
If you like to experience a vegan meal, stop by at
Spoon Revolution Vegan Bistro at 55 South Main St, Concord, NH. This specialty restaurant has limited hours of operation. Check the website before visiting.
All their dishes are 100% vegan homegrown organic produce and gluten-free.
Wilmington, VT
This picturesque small town is surrounded by rural mountainous countryside in the Deerfield Valley in the Green Mountains of Southern Vermont. Wilmington is a year round destination. In the winter, Mount Snow offers skiing, tubing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and snowboarding.
In early spring, sugarhouses will be steaming with maple syrup and visitors could take part in the tradition of maple syrup production. This is by far one of our favorites. Get a chance to gather the sap from the maple trees and see the whole process from extracting to billowing. If you don’t have a chance to experience that, remember to buy your supply of maple syrup from the local farms.
Summer activities include hiking, picnicking and boating in Lake Whitingham or visit the village shops in historic buildings. In the Fall, see the spectacular New England fall foliage in full display. Check out also Wilmington’s antique shops and tag sales for the unique antique piece of New England.
One bed and breakfast place we recommend:
Shearer Hill Farm
297 Shearer Hill Road, Wilmington, VT 05358
Bed and breakfast owners, Bill and Patti are friendly and genuinely love what they do, that is to serve the guests and make them feel at home. Shearer Hill Farm is a small working farm, totally hidden from the well worn path. You will find yourself traveling into the ‘wilderness’ to the quietness of home yet you are not cut off from civilization.
The best part about this bed and breakfast place is their renowned baked applesfor breakfast served with their own maple syrup along with coffee, homemade granola and muffins.
Shearer Hill Farm has a sugarhouse for their guests to enjoy. Guests could help Bill gather sap and boil the syrup on during their stay. They are the only Vermont bed and breakfast place that offers guests the joy of witnessing the works of an authentic real sugarhouse.
When you are on a road trip, the unexpected twist and turn or wrong way may bring you to a hidden gem you may never have planned for. Have you found your hidden gem while on your road trips across the country or anywhere you are currently living? Please share your experiences.
