Portland

Whether you want lobster rolls or fine dining, Portland’s celebrated food and drink scene has it. But even if you’re not visiting Maine’s biggest city for the restaurants or breweries, you and your bridesmaids or groomsmen will have plenty to do and see while touring its historic streets, unique boutiques, and waterfront sights.

Tasting Room Hopping
Maine has more breweries per capita than any other state, and the greatest concentration is found in Portland. If you want to spend an afternoon trying as many breweries as possible, head to Industrial Way or East Bayside. Home to one of Maine’s original breweries, Allagash Brewing Company, Industrial Way is ground zero for the state’s craft beer scene. The business park is home to about a half-dozen breweries, including Definitive Brewing Company and Austin Street Brewery. Parking is limited in the business park, so plan to take an Uber, Lyft, or taxi to get there. East Bayside, located on Portland’s peninsula, has a wider range of tasting rooms, including non-beer options like Après, which has its own hard cider and seltzer on tap, rum distillery Three of Strong Spirits, and rhubarb wine maker Eighteen Twenty Wines. The neighborhood is also near some of the city’s best restaurants, many of which are up the street on Washington Avenue.

Taking to the Sea
Portland’s best views are from Casco Bay, and there are numerous ways to get out on the water. For the adventurous groups, Portland Paddle does sea kayak and stand-up paddleboard tours and rentals. If you’d rather have the wind do the work, there are a number of sailing charters out of Portland, including Portland Schooner Company and Maine Sailing Adventures. Explore Casco Bay’s islands by catching a ferry ride on Casco Bay Lines. Or, if you just want to just tour the bay without getting off the boat, book a cruise on the ferry service’s Mailboat Run.

Boothbay Peninsula

The Boothbay region is home to postcard-perfect coastal villages that come alive each summer. There are plenty of inns and seasonal rentals available, and the central location in the state’s southern midcoast allow for numerous excursions to other coastal destinations.

Oceanfront Exploration
The Boothbay region has all of the coastal beauty you’ll want for a Maine bachelorette or bachelor party trip, and many of the sights are easily accessible. Visit Hendricks Head Beach to catch a glimpse of Hendricks Head Light or climb to the top of the tiny Kitten Island during low tide. Nearby is the Hendricks Head Preserve, with an easy half-mile hike through pine forests just steps away from the sandy beach. At Ovens Mouth Preserve, one of Maine’s lesser-known gems, you may see fishing boats cruising through the calm, emerald-tinted water. The preserve’s western peninsula has a longer, more challenging trail network, but both sides offer unique coastal sights.

Dining with a View
There is no shortage of restaurants with oceanfront views, especially if your party wants local seafood. One of the most unique dining experiences can be found at Cabbage Island Clambakes. You’ll catch a ride on the Bennie Alice from Boothbay Harbor to Cabbage Island, where you’ll be treated to a traditional New England clambake, with two lobsters, steamers, chowder, potato, onion, egg, corn on the cob, and blueberry cake.

The Forks

If your bridesmaids or groomsmen would prefer an adventure in the woods over relaxing by the ocean, head north to the Forks, where you’ll find some of the East Coast’s best whitewater rafting and numerous options for outdoor recreation.

Outdoor Adventures
Named for the confluence of the Kennebec River and the Dead River, the Forks is a whitewater rafting destination. Some outfitters like Three Rivers Whitewater and Northern Outdoors offer lodging and dining in addition to rafting tours, but there are plenty of expert guides who will bring you out on the river, whether it’s your first or fiftieth time. The region is also known for its wildlife, fishing, ATV trails, and hiking, including a short trail to the 90-foot-tall Moxie Falls.