Five Reasons to Visit Portland, Maine, This June
Welcome to Vacationland, where summer means sparkling, azure oceans and lakes; an abundance of nature; and, with lobster boats docking up right beside restaurants and local farmers delivering fresh seasonal produce daily, a feast of unparalleled culinary experiences. It’s no surprise visitors flock to Portland, Maine, from July 4th to Labor Day. Want to know an insider secret? June is still outside peak tourism season in our beautiful state, meaning it’s the perfect time to savor the first tastes of summer without the crowds. Discover five fantastic reasons why Portland, Maine, should be top of your travel list this June!
1. You might get a seat at one of the best restaurants
The secret’s out: Portland is the ultimate small food city destination — just ask Bon Appetit, who named it “Restaurant City of the Year” in 2018. Now that Portland’s culinary scene is firmly on the map, securing a reservation at one of the nationally renowned restaurants during high season has become a contact sport. But in early June, you still stand a chance at landing one of these coveted tables, where you’ll be treated to world-class wine and food from some of the country’s finest chefs, who have collectively garnered dozens of James Beard nominations and awards in recent years.
Flush with diverse flavors and cutting-edge talent, the Portland food scene lives up to all its superlatives. It’s no wonder visitors flock here with a hunger to explore the incredible restaurants, bars, and breweries on every corner. Only the savvy gourmand (like you) knows that June is the sweet spot for a summer experience without summer crowds in Portland, Maine. Stay tuned to the Portland Wine Week blog for more insider guides to the best of drinking and dining in Portland, Maine, coming soon…
2. Be first in line for lobster (in rolls, buns, popovers, and more!)
No trip to Portland would be complete without a taste of the state’s signature dish: You guessed it, Maine lobster. Clichés exist for a reason, and lobster is the succulent epitome of the Maine coast’s cultural identity. Dozens of lobster shacks adorn the coastline, where live specimens plucked right from the ocean that morning are ready to be taken home for a lobster bake. For a classic Maine lunch, you can’t go wrong with a lobster roll heaped high with sweet, fresh meat and your choice of mayo or melted butter. But don’t stop there — The magic of Maine lobster is its ability to transcend diverse cuisines. Portland’s world-class chefs bring their own spin to the iconic crustacean, opening up a world of innovative lobster creations in restaurants across the city, all of them just begging you to take a bite. Discover fresh lobster meat encased in cloud-like bao buns, tucked into crisp, golden popovers and bathed in butter, stuffed with a delectable filling and baked, or even folded into tacos and grilled cheese sandwiches … Our favorite? The timeless taste of whole steamed lobster, fresh from the ocean, and drenched in butter (with an additional side of clarified butter for dipping!). You’ll taste Maine in every mouthful.
3. The boats are in the water
Waves crashing, seagulls calling, and halyards clinking against sailboat masts — it’s the soundtrack that lets you know summer has begun. By early June, all the pleasure boats are back in the water, marking the start of Wine Wise’s acclaimed Wine Sails. There’s no better way to appreciate Portland’s beauty than on the water with wine glass in hand, surrounded by islands, rugged coastline, and picture-perfect lighthouses.
On the lookout for more boat-based adventure? Pack your favorite bottle and hop on the Casco Bay Lines mailboat ferry (BYOB is permitted on board) to see the island communities of Casco Bay on a shoestring budget. For a private experience, secure a Fogg’s water taxi or Bird’s Eye Maine boat tour to explore the breathtaking “calendar islands” of Casco Bay at your own pace, with ample opportunities to stop ashore for lunch or dinner overlooking the ocean on Peaks, Long, Chebeague, or Great Diamond Islands. There’s more than just natural beauty here, too. Drop anchor and admire the collection of rugged military forts, including Fort Gorges (you can’t miss its striking presence in the middle of Casco Bay!), Battery Steele near the lush center of Peaks Island, and Fort McKinley on Great Diamond Island. While you can enter the first at your own risk, their wild, untended beauty is best appreciated from a distance or in a photo!
4. Pink szn!
By the time June arrives in Portland, Maine, the peonies are blooming, the strawberries are blushing, and the rosé is flowing. This precious window before the Summer Solstice brings the longest days of the year — especially at our northern latitude, where June sunsets light up the sky past 9 pm. Where better to spend those long, languorous evenings than at a table surrounded by friends as you share a bottle of great rosé?
For more seasonal delights, stroll down to Deering Oaks Park on a Saturday morning for the Portland Farmers’ Market to browse tables and carts laden with fresh, organic produce from the region’s local growers and artisans. Or take a short drive to Gilsland Farm in Falmouth, where the Maine Audubon peony garden explodes into color every June, filling the air with its perfume. So what are you waiting for? Book your tickets to Portland, Maine, to experience June in bloom.
5. Portland Wine Week!
Last but certainly not least — Portland Wine Week, June 10-16! Welcome to the ultimate celebration to kick off the start of summer. Condé Nast Traveler, named Portland one of the “12 Best Places to Travel In June” highlighting that, “Each summer, this foodie paradise on the southern coast of Maine turns into an oenophile's dream during Portland Wine Week.”
The week-long lineup of unmissable wine events in our seaside gastronomic mecca is just around the corner, ready to connect you with the finest pours and plates the city has to offer. Whether you’re a seasoned oenophile or newbie wine enthusiast, Portland Wine Week will offer a curated feast of boutique-style wine lunches, brunches, and dinners, Wine Sails, and weeklong offerings in many of the city’s restaurants, that will give you intimate access to the renowned restaurants, chefs, sommeliers, and creatives that give Portland its irresistible flavor.