Booth Bay’s cookin’ (something good)
By Lorenzo Recupero
Location: Booth Bay, Maine
Distance from Everett: 158 miles, 3 hours
Route to travel: I-95 North (to I-295 N)
It’s been some time since our last edition of Summer Getaways, but our next New England day trip destination will make up for the long wait with its natural beauty, flavor, and perfect dose of away-from-the-big-city needed to satisfy even the most seasoned getawayer.
This summer’s subject: Booth Bay, Maine
Occasionally the views of a long ride justify taking the trip to wherever we are journeying to. And the ride to the city of Booth Bay, ME from Everett, MA certainly qualifies as a worthy one. The coastal drive through the Gulf of Maine is filled with great views and the passing through of charming small towns, including Freeport, Brunswick and Bath. All of Maine’s coastal towns are home to beauty, but Bath may be at the top of the list on the trip to her more abundant sister city Booth Bay.
A laid-back village lined with winding brick sidewalks, boutique stores, artwork and seaside decor, Boothbay is a hub of culture, pastime beauty, and fantastic food. The waterfront is lively and active with whale watching outings offered daily during the summer months, and festivals, including Booth Bay Harbor Fest, a celebration of the city that gathers quality artist and skilled crafters, attracting visitors from all over the world each August.
Did we mention the flavor?
There’s so many quality local restaurants that you probably couldn’t go wrong choosing one or the other, but we went with Boathouse Bistro Tapas Bar & Restaurant just feet away from the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Spanish-Inspired menu offers a surprise for your palate from appetizer to dessert. With such delicately put together plates like Charred Carrots, served golden in a zesty citrus glaze, the Sunrise Pork Belly Tacos, a flour tortilla stuffed with flash fried pork belly and potato hash, served topped with an over easy quail egg and jalapeño parsley sauce (this stuff is liquid gold), or the Almond Crusted Cheesecake, which had the wonderful consistency and taste similar to a traditional Latin flan, Boathouse Bistro hits and thoroughly satisfies every taste bud.
Booth Bay is a summertime jewel, a family-friendly gem, offering a truly top-tier New England experience rooted in old-time beauty wrapped in the magical feel of an untapped location long lost and far away from it all. It is an experience worth every mile.
In short, Booth Bay is a destination worth every second of the ride.