One of the first things I learned about Maine is that it maintains an abundant motel culture compared to other states I have visited. My dog did not accompany me on this trip, so my hotel options were limited only by cost, rather than pet friendliness. This proved to be a real boon because hotels are pretty costly during the summer season, and possibly worse on the 4th of July, which is when I arrived in the state. I found a reasonably priced motel outside of Portland with availability, The Saco Hotel, which also came with great reviews, so I decided to try it. I am glad I did. It was a beautifully maintained place and the staff was chatty and helpful with local advice. I wound up staying at independently owned motels for most of my trip, thrilled to see this sector of the hotel industry still thriving.
I had left a very hot and humid city behind in heading for Maine and was coming off a demanding deadline, so my first plan upon arrival was to catch my breath. A short nap later, I found I had a bit of time to see some of the coast before trying to find fireworks to enjoy the Independence Day holiday. The proprietor of the hotel recommended a restaurant in Ogunquit, so I headed west and arrived at the beach just as many were moving from beach fun to fireworks down on the ocean.
The town was packed, but the beach was not. I found some parking not far from it, discovered that the recommended restaurant had over an hour wait, so I headed to a lobster shack for my first taste of Maine’s signature food. I went with a bisque because I was not terribly hungry, and sat on a rock at the edge of the beach taking in the ocean.
Once I had finished, I walked into Ogunquit to look around at crafts and ice cream. I settled on nothing, and headed back toward the beach.
Folks were now streaming there with lawn chairs, but it was over an hour until sunset. As I came near the street where I had parked, I discovered that police were ticketing cars. The signs noting that parking was prohibited were very faded but that would not get me off any hooks, so I headed up to learn that the cops had not reached mine yet. I decided to circle back toward my motel, and see if I could find fireworks in Kennebunkport, which lay on my route rather than stay illegally parked in Ogunquit.
I put a random Kennebunkport site into my phone and managed to find parking as the sun was setting, so I followed the parade of people with lawn chairs not really knowing much about where I was going and when the fireworks would start. Eventually, a family with a dog veered off the line of people into an alley, so I followed. They were going to sit there with their dog to keep him away from the sounds, but pointed out a beach inlet across the parking lot. I made my way to another rock on the edge, and watched the show, which is sponsored by both Kennebunk and Kennebunkport town over the Kennebunk River.
When it was over, I migrated back with the tired kids and brave dogs, found my way back to my rented car, and followed smaller roads back to Saco for the night. It was clear that Maine’s lower beaches were filled to capacity for the holiday weekend.
It had been a great start to Maine, with a long sleep ahead.