Maine With a 3-Month-Old: Lobster Rolls, Giant Trolls & Coastal Adventures

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Maine has been on our travel list for a while, and this trip did not disappoint. From fresh lobster rolls and hidden coastal restaurants to giant trolls tucked away in the woods, Maine gave us the perfect mix of food, nature, and adventure…and we got to experience it all as a family of three!

Our journey started with an approximately 8-hour drive (with a few stops along the way because traveling with an infant changes everything!). Our first stop was Cape Neddick, a small lobster restaurant tucked away near the inlet of Cape Neddick Harbor. It was the perfect way to officially begin our Maine adventure. We started with two Maine classics: lobster rolls and clam chowder. Both were absolutely delicious and exactly what we hoped for when visiting the coast.

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Before heading to our hotel, we made a quick stop at the Ogunquit Trading Post. Of course, I had to pick up some Maine souvenirs

: magnets, postcards, and my of course a sticker! This place was massive and honestly one of the biggest gift shops I have ever walked into. They advertise more than 10,000 gifts, including Maine souvenirs, jewelry, moccasins, clothing, and toys. If you’re looking for a one-stop shop to bring home a piece of Maine, this is definitely the place.

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We finally arrived at our hotel, the Home2 Suites by Hilton in South Portland. After unpacking, we took some time to rest before heading back out to explore the city. This was the first time we stayed at a home2 suite and we really liked it. It literally felt like a home away from home. Perfect set up to handle baby bottles, cleaning and even some cooking if you wanted to! We booked home2 here in Portland and later when we were up near bar harbor.

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One stop we had originally planned for the drive up was the famous Wedding Cake House in Kennebunk, but unfortunately it was closed for renovations. This historic home, officially known as the George W. Bourne House, dates back to 1825 and is famous for its intricate Carpenter Gothic details that make it look like a giant wedding cake. It is often called one of the most photographed homes in Maine. Hopefully it opened back up soon but if you take the drive it’s still a pretty site.

A Sweet Start in Portland

Our first stop in Portland was, of course, something sweet!! So we stopped at The Holy Donut.

We decided to order online for pickup because the line wrapped around the building, and with a 3-month-old with us, waiting in a long line wasn’t exactly ideal. The crowds told us one thing though: this place was definitely a local favorite!

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Fun fact about our little guy, PJ was only 3 months old during this trip, and he had already traveled to 6 states! He has officially seen more places in his first few months than some people do in years!!

Now back to the donuts…

The Holy Donut is famous for making donuts with Maine potatoes, which gives them a unique texture compared to traditional donuts. Their potato-based recipe creates a denser, moist, cake-like donut that has made them a must-stop destination in Portland.

We ordered:

  • Blueberry Glazed

  • Dark Chocolate Sea Salt

  • Toasted Coconut

  • Blueberry Lemon

  • Old Fashioned

  • Chocolate Dipped

My favorite? The blueberry lemon. WOW. It was incredible! Every donut was delicious, and I honestly loved trying something so different. Potato donuts sounded strange at first, but they absolutely worked.

After our donut adventure, we parked the car and walked around Portland to explore some of the city’s murals. We found the Portland Maine Lighthouse mural at the intersection of Congress Street and Center Street which was a fun little stop for photos.

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Dinner at Highroller Lobster Co.

We ended our evening with dinner at Highroller Lobster Co., a fun and unique spot in Portland known for its creative lobster dishes and fun atmosphere. What started as a food cart eventually grew into a popular Portland restaurant serving lobster rolls, seafood, burgers, and creative menu items.

The restaurant had such a fun vibe. casual, colorful, and exactly what you picture when visiting a city known for amazing food. Whe lobster cheese crisp taco, lobby pop tm, lobster grilled cheese and a frankfurter! I know it seems like a lot of food but the portions were extremely small. Everything was 10/10!! The taco? I’m dreaming about right now….

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After dinner, we headed over to Portland Breakwater Lighthouse to watch the sunset. There is something special about ending a day by the water, listening to the waves, and watching the sky change colors.

Portland surprised me. It had more of a city feel than I expected.. but it had lots of restaurants, breweries, shops, and places to gather. Since this was just a quick overnight stop for us, we only got a small taste of the city before waking up early and continuing our adventure north.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: The Highlight of Our Trip

Our next destination was the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, and I can honestly say this was one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited.

The gardens reminded me so much of Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, New Jersey, the outdoor sculpture garden where my husband and I got married. If you are ever in New Jersey, that place is absolutely worth visiting!

When we arrived at the botanical gardens, we were greeted by beautiful scenery, butterflies, friendly faces, and something completely unexpected…

GIANT TROLLS.

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And I mean giant….

The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens features the “Guardians of the Seeds” troll sculptures created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. These magical, oversized sculptures are made from recycled materials and are hidden throughout the natural wooded areas of the gardens. The trolls are meant to encourage visitors to explore nature, discover their messages, and learn about protecting the environment. (Meander Maine⁠)

We made it our mission to find each troll and take pictures along the way. Seeing the amount of detail that went into creating these enormous sculptures was incredible. I kept wondering how long each one took to build!

After finding the trolls, we explored the rest of the gardens. The grounds were stroller-friendly, and they even had trolley golf carts available for visitors who needed assistance getting around. We decided to walk and enjoy the beautiful sunny day surrounded by nature.

This stop was easily one of my favorites from the entire trip.

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Acadia National Park & Cadillac Mountain

Our final stop in Maine took us about three hours farther north to Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor.

Bar Harbor itself was beautiful. It’s charming streets, small shops, trolley rides, and amazing coastal views. Using our America the Beautiful Pass, we were able to enter Acadia National Park and make our way up Cadillac Mountain.

Last summer, I had tried planning a trip to Cadillac Mountain, but reservations were completely booked months in advance. This year, with changes to the reservation system, we were able to get our ticket right when we arrived!

Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the eastern seaboard of the United States and offers incredible views of the surrounding islands, coastline, and Atlantic Ocean. Rumor has it that it’s the first place you see the sun rise on the east coast.

Many visitors hike to the summit, but you can also drive up, which made it much easier for us traveling with a baby. Standing at the top and looking out over Maine was such a memorable moment.

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Final Thoughts

Overall, Maine was a huge success.

Would I go back? Absolutely. Especially to visit the gardens again or experience Cadillac Mountain at sunrise. But for now, there are still so many other places waiting for us to explore!

Maine gave us lobster rolls, donuts, beautiful gardens, ocean views, and memories as a family of three that we will never forget.

Next stop: New Hampshire.

See you in that blog post!