Peaks Island Lobster Bake

OVERVIEW

Cruise to Peaks Island for a traditional Maine lobster bake with all sorts of delectable side dishes. A ferry will take you across Casco Bay to the island, which lies just three miles offshore. On the way over, you will pass the 19th-century Bug Light Lighthouse, an elegant cast-iron beacon with Corinthian columns. First settled by the Abnaki Indians, Peaks Island didn’t start to flourish until the late 1890s, when Portland’s population grew, and an amusement park went up. It is hard to imagine, but Peaks Island was once called the “Coney Island of Maine.” Today, the population is about 1,000, and the lifestyle is low-key and quintessentially New England. Upon arriving, you will walk to the nearby Inn on Peaks Island, a seasonal lodging that features outstanding views of the sea and classic Maine cuisine. There, you will enjoy a traditional lobster bake with New England clam chowder, steamed mussels and sides such as corn on the cob.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take the ferry across Casco Bay to Peaks Island and enjoy the scenery on the way over.
• See a 19th-century cast-iron lighthouse modeled after a monument in Athens, Greece.
• Enjoy a classic Maine lobster bake with clam chowder and steamed mussels, as well.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.