From Rocky Peaks to Coastal Trails: A Summer intern's Grand Tour of Maine and Beyond

By Staff Writer

For Teddy Almond, this summer offered more than just bylines at the Portland Press Herald. It became an eight-week immersion into the landscapes, trails, and hidden gems that make Maine a destination unlike any other.

Almond, a rising junior at the University of Rochester from Madison, New Jersey, arrived in Maine as a breaking news intern with one goal: to experience as much of the state as possible before Labor Day.

"I've never been to Maine before, and I wanted to truly get the New England experience," Almond said.

That experience began at Acadia National Park, where millions of visitors annually come to witness the intersection of rocky coastline and dense forests. Almond set out to conquer the Beehive Trail, a route known for its demanding terrain.

"Looking up at the mountain I was about to climb and seeing people carefully hugging the rock face made me realize this might be a bit more than 'difficult,'" Almond recalled.

The hike required scaling a rudimentary metal rebar ladder bolted into the rock face while winding through boulders. The mantra that carried Almond to the summit, roughly 500 feet of elevation gain: "Don't look down."

The reward was a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean meeting pristine beaches—scenery far removed from the New Jersey Palisades Almond described as "instead of pristine beaches, you're looking at the New York cityscape."

Almond offered a practical tip for future hikers: tackle the rocky ascent first. "You don't want to climb down the rocky side, which looked a lot more dangerous and harder," he said.

Just across Casco Bay from Portland lies Peaks Island, accessible only by ferry. The 15-minute crossing offered views of scattered islands and sailboats navigating the harbor. While Almond found the island itself "a little underwhelming," the journey provided striking vistas of Portland's waterfront.

Travelers should note potential savings: a parking lot five minutes from the ferry terminal offers all-day spots for $15, compared to $25 at the terminal itself. For those boarding, standing near the front of the boat—where vehicles exit—provides unobstructed views of the bay.

The call of Maine's waterways led Almond to Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center, situated along the Dunstan River just south of Portland. For $35, paddlers receive 90 minutes on the water to navigate the winding waterway. Almond's advice: bring extra sunscreen, particularly on hot afternoons.

Seeking cooler refuge from a Fourth of July weekend heat wave, Almond initially headed to Old Orchard Beach—only to discover every other Mainer had the same idea.

"The Palace Playland theme park seemed closed, and the beach was absolutely packed," Almond said. "After trudging through painfully hot sand and setting up my towel, the noisy, busy environment was far from relaxing."

The solution came at Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, where rocky beaches along Casco Bay offered solitude and surprisingly comfortable swimming conditions.

"When it got too hot, I decided to take a dip in the water and was shocked," Almond said. "Instead of the icy cold I'd grown accustomed to in Maine, it was warm, even pleasant. My watch clocked the water temperature at 80 degrees Fahrenheit."

Almond's theory: shallow water combined with sun-baked rocks created conditions more akin to a warm bath than the typically frigid Atlantic.

The adventure extended beyond Maine's borders. A trip to Boston included a flight from outside the city to Martha's Vineyard in a small Piper aircraft piloted by Almond's boyfriend, Sam. Due to airspace restrictions during the World Cup, the couple received unusual aerial views of Boston typically unavailable to small aircraft near Logan Airport.

"I was not accustomed to flying in a tiny plane, and any turbulence can most certainly be felt in the tiny cabin," Almond admitted.

The Boston itinerary also featured the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, home to a collection spanning multiple continents and the site of the infamous 1990 art heist.

"While rather niche, one of my favorite parts was actually the cute pastel-green elevator," Almond said. "The period-set rooms just steps away from medieval tapestries really transport you through time."

No Maine summer would be complete, however, without visiting the tallest peak in the northeastern United States. Mount Washington's auto road carries visitors more than a mile into the sky in a 30-minute climb.

"The smell of fresh air and burning brakes from cars passing by filled the air," Almond described. "As we passed through the alpine zone where the tree line ends, the parking lot below got smaller and smaller, and the clouds above quickly turned into fog."

The temperature differential was dramatic: 80 degrees at the base, a brisk 50 at the summit, accompanied by what felt like gale-force winds. Almond's wardrobe—light sweater and shorts—proved inadequate.

"Be sure to bring layers," Almond advised. "Also, don't bring a hat—it will just blow away."

For those driving down, Almond recommended using low gear rather than riding the brakes continuously, with stops along the way to cool brakes and appreciate the scenery.

The eight-week journey also included side trips to lesser-known destinations: Mackworth Island, a 10-minute drive from Portland offering peaceful walking trails (bikes are prohibited, a detail Almond discovered only after pedaling there from downtown); Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownal, praised for mountain biking and running trails with minimal crowds (bug spray recommended); Giant's Stairs Trail in Harpswell, where scenic drives and ocean-side rock climbing reward adventurous visitors (watch for slippery surfaces); and Mile Beach at Reid State Park in Georgetown, a long stretch of sand perfect for beach running and kite-flying.

" Maine has some of the most stunning geography of any state I've been to," Almond reflected.

For readers planning their own Maine adventures, Almond's journey offers both inspiration and practical wisdom—proving that even a short summer can yield lasting memories with the right mix of preparation and willingness to explore.