I grew up going to York Beach in Maine for day trips with my sleepaway camp, but until last week, I’d never spent any time there as an adult.  My mom took me and my sister for a girls’ weekend, and we had such a great time walking around, exploring for hours.  Portland is a beautiful small town to escape to for beautiful sunsets, ocean breezes, and amazing food and drink.  Check out some of our favorite spots from the weekend:

Vena’s Fizz House

We had some of the most incredible drinks at Vena’s.  They do both non-alcoholic and regular cocktails, with incredible homemade syrups and unique combinations.  Try the Prickly Pear; we came here for it two days in a row.

Portland Head Light

About a 15-minute drive from downtown Portland is one of the most spectacular cliffside lighthouses I’ve ever seen.  There are hiking trails and a beautiful picnic area, as well as unlimited gram-worthy views of the bay and cliffs.

The Holy Donut

On Saturday morning, my sister and I joined a line down the block on Exchange Street to try some of the best donuts in America, according to multiple news outlets that rank that sort of thing, including Travel + Leisure.  We ordered four: Maine Blueberry, Pomegranate, Gluten-Free Maple, and the seasonal special, Coffee Cake donut.  What makes the donuts unique is their not-so-secret ingredient: potato!  They’re moist, fresh, and somehow melt in your mouth.

Blake Orchard Juicery

I wasn’t sure how I’d be able to survive three days without an iced matcha.  Luckily, Emma and I stumbled upon BOJ only a few shops down from Holy Donut!  They make their own almond mylk, so their smoothies and lattes are even more expensive than your typical juice place, but the matcha was delicious.

Casco Bay Lines

There are hundreds of small islands in the waters off of Maine, and many of them can be accessed by riding the ferry.  It’s a lot cheaper than renting a private boat or a chartered cruise, and you get to be out on the water for a few hours!

Portland Museum of Art

One of the best ways to kill a few hours on a rainy day is to check out local museums.  Portland’s has some gorgeous Impressionist paintings as well as modern art.  It’s a pretty small museum, so you’ll feel more cultured in a short time.

I’m off again this weekend, this time to somewhere very special to me.  Follow along on Instagram @starrynight64!

Love, Me