I absolutely love being a tourist in my own town, and this is going on the list of things to do again… The ferry to Bailey Island aboard Casco Bay Lines is a great day trip. A two hour ferry ride, with great narration of the sites along the way, gets you to Bailey Island where you can relax &/or explore for a couple of hours, then the return ferry gets you back to Portland by 3:45, just in time for happy hour! Yep…another crummy summer day in Maine! Heading out on Casco Bay from Portland: Cruising up the Coast: Apparently, lobster buoys were a bit of an obsession for me… Bailey Island: Bet ya can’t guess where we ate lunch! Outer Casco Bay, Returning to Portland:

This was my first time exploring Stroudwater Trail, which is lovingly maintained by Portland Trails, and runs along Stroudwater River from the historic village all the way out to Smiling Hill Farm in Gorham! You can find more info on this trail in an article I’ve published on the How We Do Portland blog, and of course, over on the Portland Trails website. I’m always so grateful that we have such great trails and resources for getting outside right here in Portland. Thank you Portland Trails! Just across Congress Street from the Stroudwater Trail Parking area & trailhead is the historic Stroudwater Village, originally settled in 1727, with about 30 if its original structures still standing today. Stroudwater Falls is a striking man made waterfall (constructed in 1850) running through the village and out to the Fore River, which can be seen not far from the falls. Apparently, village residents can be real turkeys… And if you visit, be courteous, and obey the speed limit, because just one extra mile per hour could be deadly!

Enjoyed a perfect summer day at the Androscoggin Yacht Club, in Wayne Maine, to celebrate a dear friend’s birthday. I was surprised to learn that this particular yacht club is actually the oldest continuously running one in the United States! This was one of those quintessential summer days in Maine. Pinch me.

The Deering Oaks Rose Circle is in full bloom this year!