If Maine is on your mind for your boys trip, there’s so many options. Maine is exceptional for camping, hunting, hiking, or really boujee beach towns if that’s your vibe. If you’re the outdoorsy type, Acadia National Park is absolutely where it’s at. For a more traditional bachelor party though, my advice would be, pick Portland.
The Location: Why Portland? Portland is a perfect mix of laid-back coastal vibes and rowdy nightlife. The city’s Old Port District is packed with bars, breweries, and has an Old America Founding Father Aesthetic, making it a unique hub for your weekend. Plus, you can break up the drinking with lobster rolls, a brewery tour, or even a fishing trip. It also has the biggest airport in the state, making it pretty easy to get to. It's also extremely walkable, so the uber tax is pretty low, my guys.
The Hook: They take their food and drink seriously up here whether it's crafting insane beers right on site or dedicating their restaurants to a farm to table business plan. If I remember correctly there’s like four breweries just on Industrial Way: Allagash, Austin Sweet, Battery Steele, and Foundation Brewing. So I'd suggest day drinking, you know, like you're supposed to do on a boys trip. After the Brewery, hit up Bayside Bowl and grab some lanes.
If you want to spend some more time outside for your headline activity, I'd look into a fishing charter. There are tons of fishing charters in Ferry Village that target striped bass, mackerel, and even sharks. Or catch some minor league sports with the Mariners (hockey) or Sea Dogs (baseball).
Time Wasters: Portland has (in my opinion) an even better food scene than Boston or Portsmouth. It’s not uncommon in New England to know exactly where the cow that turned into the burger you’re eating, spent its life. SO GO FIND A BURGER! I've heard Bissell, Oxbow, Belleflower, Goodfire, Modestman, Austin Street, Lone Pine, Urban Farm Fermentory, Novare Res are great for craft beer and food.
You can also take a ferry to explore Peaks Island and rent some golf carts, go clubbing at Bubba’s, and take advantage of being right on the water, or go off the beaten path a bit to Salmon Falls to do some cliff jumping
Tips for the Perfect Trip: Portland is a small city so don't assume you can just wing it. Do the work and call way ahead to make sure they can accommodate a group of your size. You also might need to look into an uber caravan or a van charter if you want to do multiple brewery tours off the beaten path.
The Golf:
- Cape Arundel Golf Club (~$125+) – #1 Couse in the state by golf digest
This is a semi-private and non members can oly book 3 days in advance.. But it looks beautiful - Nonesuch River Golf Club (~$55) – 83.3 from GolfDay
- No Topgolf! but they have a couple sims - the closest are xGolf and Top Shelf Golf
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