Daytrip to South Portland
There were a few reasons why our Daytrip series didn’t come to life the past few months — timing didn’t seem to sync up with our availability, weather conditions, and restaurant availability. But excuses, excuses aside, we missed this series and heard you did too! So we’re back and have a great lineup of awesome adventures around the state that we can’t wait to chip away at in the coming months. If there are places you’d like to see us go or things you’d like to see us do, please let us know so we can work that into itineraries!
It can sometimes be tricky to find engaging activities to enjoy in the shoulder months, but on this cloudless April day we were itching to get outside and explore. We pulled our bikes out of the basement, loaded up our packs, and hit the road for a Daytrip around South Portland. We made our way to the Casco Bay Bridge, which crosses the Fore River, separating Portland from South Portland. From that first intersection, we hopped on the South Portland Greenbelt, a trail network that also serves as the Eastern terminus of the Eastern Trail, which begins in Kittery, and as a portion of the ambitious East Coast Greenway which aims to connect Calais, ME with Key West, FL. While we were only on the trail for a few miles this time, it is so nice to utilize a pedestrian and bike friendly trail network away from the humm of busy roads!
We arrived to Omi’s Coffee Shop and locked our bikes up next to their delightfully warm patio. Inside, we ordered iced coffee and breakfast sandwiches, loaded with cheese, pickled onions, and their yummy pesto. We sat outside among a chorus of spring songbirds and basked in the windless radiance of the sun. From there, our plan was to pick up lunch and find a park to enjoy it in, but since Taco Trio didn’t open until 11AM, it was a treat to start the day slowly and let conversations unfurl at their own pace.
Eventually, we hopped back in the saddle and cruised across town to Taco Trio’s new location, right down the street from their old, and ordered some burritos and tacos. This spot is a staple for us — grabbing a burrito on the way home from a big adventure or picking one up for a beach picnic with friends, it always hits the spot! Once our order was ready, we threw it in the pack and hit the pavement to work up an appetite before finding a spot to picnic.
The greenway took us straight to Bug Light — a darling little structure just at the mouth of the Fore River. We can see this lighthouse from our office windows, so it was fun to try and spot the State Theater Building where we work from the shore. We continued on to Spring Point Light, where we bounced down the breakwater to the much larger lighthouse. Still not hungry, we kept biking to Portland Head Light, where we found the perfect picnic tables perched above the world’s most photographed lighthouse — what a sight!
We pulled out our meals — Al Pastor burrito for Cam and carnitas and pescado tacos for me. As we ate, kites flew over head, catching the stiff breeze off the ocean and, occasionally, each other’s strings. Warm from the sun and full from the burritos, we migrated our perch from the picnic tables to a grassy patch, where we laid down and watched the ships go by. It was such a treat to have a slow paced Daytrip, letting the natural beauty and scenic sights soak in. After a lovely siesta, we popped over to the batteries on the other side of Ship Cove for a history lesson. Portland's Harbor Defenses date all the way back to 1809, but many of the most modern batteries like those at Fort Williams date to the World Wars. While they saw very little action in the War of 1812, American Civil War, or World Wars, their very existence likely served as a needed deterrant for an important East Coast port. Today, Air and Naval Defenses have left defensive batteries like these forts outdated and most have been removed or serve as neat relics of our history.
Since many business’ hours were in flux given a combination of the pandemic, switching to summer hours, and staffing, a lot of places were closed the Monday of our Daytrip, otherwise we would have visited spots like Fore River Brewery or Foulmouthed Brewery for a beer or popped into some shops or museums. On our way back into town, we approached Red’s Dairy Freeze and couldn’t resist getting our first cone of the season: twist with rainbow sprinkles for me, a classic, and Cam tried their coffee soft serve with chocolate sprinkles.
When it was time for dinner, we headed to Cafe Louis, a restaurant featuring an array of Costa Rican/Caribbean inspired cuisine. We have eaten there a handful of times for brunch, but this was our first taste of their dinner menu. Being the curious and indecisive folks we are, we opted for the Casado, a rotating dinner special for two! This evening, they prepared a half chicken, deliciously seasoned and incredibly moist, alongside rice and beans, cabbage slaw, plantains, and more. It was a real treat and we look forward to trying more of their menu!
Before it got too dark, we made our way home. The Casco Bay bridge is notorious for heavy winds and, after seeing how the kites were flying earlier, we had our fingers crossed for a tailwind. Miraculously, the winds were in our favor as we got lifted up and over the bridge back home. With pink skies on the horizon, we tucked our bikes into the basement and called it a day. Biking around South Portland was such a fun way to explore the area. We’re grateful for organizations like the East Coast Greenway and the Bike Coalition of Maine for their work to make the roads safe for bikers — so we hope this inspires you to get in the saddle and cruise around!