A Foodie’s Guide For The Best Time To Visit Maine

In the north, you can hike miles of trails through pristine wilderness and cool off in refreshing lakes. In the south, long sandy beaches await you. People can stay in small fishing villages or set up camps in remote areas. During your meal, you’ll enjoy seafood from the sea to your table and drink award-winning craft beers from all over the world.

Maine, has been branded as the ‘Vacationland’ for a reason, it’s because of its unique setting and diverse activities to choose from. If you’d like a gastronomic experience, carefree and fun vacation, you don’t need to wait for the best season because the best time to visit Maine is any time of the year. A trip to Maine, whether it’s for a day or a month, is surely worth your time and money.

When In Maine

If you ever visit Maine, one of the nicest things to do is taste the native cuisine. Maine has some of the greatest seafood on the east coast, owing to local fishermen and chefs who know how to handle fresh, live shellfish. Maine also offers some of the freshest vegetables, which has molded the state’s cuisine culture. Here are some of Maine’s food staples:

• Black Hole Beans: The meal’s high protein and fat content is cooked using a cast-iron skillet and an open flame. The English settlers used a Native American method of cooking, which included setting the pan over hot embers in a hole excavated underground for hours.
• Lobster Rolls: Lobster rolls are a vital element of Maine’s culture and history, dating back more than 150 years. Lobster fishing is not just part of Maine’s history, but also its economic environment, sustaining the state in ways unknown to many.
• Blueberry Cake: Wild blueberry is the state’s official fruit and Maine is the largest producer in the world. In the state’s cookbooks, particularly those dating back decades or even centuries ago, these slightly sour and highly sweet berries are vividly documented. The blueberry cake was a popular dessert in rural towns, particularly during church services.

Summer Season

In the summer, when lobsters are old enough, they get rid of their hard shells and put on a new one that’s much bigger and softer. These soft-shell lobsters are easier to break open, and their taste gets even sweeter and tastier. Even so, you can get fresh lobster all year long, so don’t worry about it. 

Fishermen only set traps from June to October, when lobsters are closer to the shore and in great abundance. However, there are a few courageous lobstermen who endure cold decks and frigid seas all year to bring in fresh lobster, regardless of the weather.

Food events

• Yarmouth Clam Festival: It starts on the third Friday of July and it’s a three-day event in Yarmouth, Maine, where you can eat clams in any way you want and enjoy a lot of old-fashioned entertainment.
• Maine Lobster Festival: This five-day event in Rockland, Maine, is a long-running celebration of the state’s favorite seafood the ‘Lobster’. It features top musical acts, competitions, a parade, and 20,000 pounds of fresh lobster.

Fall Season

Before the leaves start to change in Maine, you can make reservations at inns and hotels that are close to the scenery. Bethel is the best place in the state to see fall foliage, and there are beautiful drives and day trips that show off the best things about the season, from antique shopping to apple tasting.

Food events

• Fryeburg Fair: This yearly event is widely regarded as the state’s greatest agricultural fair. It’s eight days of autumn enjoyment and food truck hopping.
• Damariscotta Pumpkinfest: A parade, a pumpkin boat race, and a giant pumpkin drop are all part of the annual celebration. It takes place during the long weekend of Indigenous Peoples Day. 
• Damariscotta River Grill is the best place to eat if you want to eat traditional Maine comfort food. It has everything from freshly-caught Pemaquid oysters and mussels to seafood fettuccine and crispy duck confit risotto
• Great Maine Apple Day: In Unity, Maine, there’s a festival to celebrate the apple harvest. There will be cider making, apple pie contests, and a show of all the different kinds of apples that grow in Maine.

Winter Season

Maine residents rely on their favorite winter comfort foods to keep warm. It’s easy to find these delectable comfort dishes at most Maine restaurants and local diners. The dishes’ simplicity makes them accessible even for those unfamiliar with the native cuisine. Native Maine cooks and chefs transform these comfort meals into an appealing feast

Comfort meals are more important in cold days. The cold winter comfort foods keep you going, whether you’re out skiing or staying indoors till spring comes. Fish and shellfish are prominent ingredients in comfort foods. Lobster mac and cheese is a flavorful, heartier version of macaroni and cheese with real lobster pieces in every bite, and is considered as one of the best versions of this meal.

New England Clam Chowder is also a popular seafood dish. As such, Portland’s Gilbert’s Chowder House is a Maine staple favorite, with sliced onions, potatoes, clams, and bacon. Enjoy this tasty treat after a day of winter fun in Maine’s wonderful outdoors. Fish chowder is a delicious variety with salmon, haddock, cod, and other cold-water fish in a creamy base.

Food event

• Pies on Parade: This event brings people who love food to Rockland, Maine. The goal is to try the best pies you can find. No matter how much you or your kids like to eat, this event is 100% clean fun for the whole family.

Spring Season

Spring comes after a long, cold winter in Maine. Strawberries are one of the reasons that makes people excited for spring. During the spring season, Maine would be full of new places to eat. 

There are many people who think Maine is all about lobster, but it’s way more than that. Spring is when fishing season starts, beer and wine trails come back, and berries starts to bloom. Make sure to pick up some blueberry pie and a bottle of Moxie to drink on the way.

There are so many coffee shops in Portland Maine, from major chains to local cafés. Try to find Maine’s locally-owned coffee businesses, and taste its different blends. This coffee shops have great service and they take pride in their products, which are obtained from farmers to support local companies.

Food event

• Maine Maple Sunday: An annual event that celebrates the start of spring. It’s a great way for families to spend time together. Syrup producers from all over the state open their sugarhouses to the public so that people can taste maple syrup and other treats that have just been made.

Conclusion

As you plan your trip to Maine, there are a few more things to keep in mind. Seasonal color variations in Maine’s landscape provide a variety of possibilities for visitors to see and appreciate the state’s natural beauty. Enjoying their food, culture and diverse activities is worthy of a check in your bucket list.