Tag: maine

Hey earth muffins! Like I mentioned in my previous Focaccia Bread recipe, the world is a scary place right now. 2020 has been an absolute ride, so I hope you all are staying safe and healthy! Today marks the end of the stay at home order where I live; I am excited, but also cautious, to start going out of my house again. The one thing I have missed the most during this pandemic is traveling. I have written some weekend travel guides in the past, so I thought I would share one for a city close to my heart: Bangor, Maine.

If you read my Bar Harbor, Maine travel guide, you will know that my family spent a lot of time in Maine. I loved growing up on the East Coast and now that I live in the Midwest, I often miss the ocean. Going back to Maine is the number one destination on my travel bucket list at the moment! Bangor is the third largest city in the “vacation state”, so I hope this guide helps you plan your next trip! 😍

What to Do & See:

~Drive by Stephen King’s house. Mainers are pretty proud of iconic author Stephen King. He has a home close to downtown Bangor, which is currently being converted into a museum/living space for other writers. I personally love the creepy fence that surrounds his house at 47 W Broadway St, and the neighboring houses are also super pretty to admire!

~Walk around downtown Bangor. While it isn’t the nicest downtown, there are a couple of highlights. First, the Maine Discovery Museum is perfect for any young kids; I still think the sign out front (complete with a huge frog) is super cute! The Rock & Art Shop (36 Central St) has some really pretty stones and gemstones, which are awesome souvenirs to bring back home!

~Hit up the Bangor Mall! If you are in need of some shopping there are a ton of chain stores at the mall (or in surrounding buildings). I got my ears pierced at this Claire’s location – such good memories haha.

~Visit the Paul Bunyan statue! I have a weird fascination with oversized roadside attractions… I love to make my family stop and look at gigantic animals, etc. This statue is a Bangor classic! Located at 519 Main St, you can admire Paul in all of his greatness.

~See a show at the waterfront or the Collins Center for the Arts. Bangor is right next to the Penobscot River, and there is an awesome waterfront that hosts concerts and festivals. Each summer there is a huge music festival that is super fun to go to, and I bet there are a bunch of other festivals throughout the year! If you want to see a symphony, ballet, or play, the Collins Center for the Arts is only 20 minutes away in Orono.

What to Eat:

~Bagel Central (33 Central St): I crave their bagels and cream cheese at least once a week! They make bagels, sandwiches, pastries, etc. all from scratch, and their prices are always very reasonable. It is also in a great location downtown, right across the street from the Rock & Art Shop.

~Asian Garden (123 Franklin St): The last time I went here it was called Panda Garden, but I am sure the Chinese food is as good as I remember! I am a huge sucker for some tasty Asian food, and my family would frequent this restaurant whenever we were in the area. 🐼

~Hannaford: Not a restaurant but a East Coast grocery store that is way better than the Krogers of the Midwest. If you will be staying in an Airbnb or driving to Bar Harbor to camp then you NEED to check out a Hannaford. Treat yourself with their store brand carrot cake – I have yet to find an equivalent!

~Dysart’s (1110 Broadway): Ever seen the meme/video of the old man who can’t say buttery, flaky crust?

Well it comes from an ad for this restaurant! Granted the original truck stop restaurant isn’t this location, it still has the same food. It is homemade and you get a large portion – perfect after a long day of being a tourist!

~Gifford’s Ice Cream (1109 Broadway): Who doesn’t love some Maine ice cream? Just like Bagel Central bagels I often crave Gifford’s too… Their Moose Tracks is the best! 😍

There you have it – my travel guide to Bangor! I’ve been to a bunch of other cities in Maine; if any of you are interested in other guides please let me know! 😃 Where are you planning on traveling to next?