Where to Find Lighthouses, Lobster & Ocean Views

Cape Elizabeth is known for Lighthouses, Lobster, and Ocean Views. This little town boasts some of the most scenic lighthouses and iconic landscapes that make Maine such a popular travel destination. Cape Elizabeth is located about 5 miles southeast of Portland on Maine’s southeastern coast (1). The town of Cape Elizabeth has five lighthouses that are great spots for photo opportunities. Moreover, exploring the light houses gives you a wonderful chance to relax and enjoy some mindful moments.

The lighthouses are surrounded by parks and other outdoor attractions. This along with Maine’s famous lobster rolls are the makings of a very mindful excursion as scenic beauty and ocean breezes will be the distinguishing points of your trip to Cape Elizabeth, ME.

My wife and myself drove from New Hampshire to Cape Elizabeth for the day. Our itinerary included exploring lighthouses, state parks, and eating some lobster rolls. When we arrived at the Lobster Shack, which is next to two lighthouses, we were a little disappointed that the lighthouses were not as easily accessible. However, we were able to take some pictures from the distance.

The grounds are owned by the restaurant, which include all the picnic benches on the ledge overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The area is not large and is easy to walk around. With that in mind, you will only need about an hour or two to explore and eat lunch.

Things to Consider

There are some things to keep in mind when traveling to Cape Elizabeth, Maine for your lighthouse excursion. First and foremost, the drive is a distance and out of the way from many major highways and towns. Furthermore, when you are researching lighthouses to visit, make sure that you have the appropriate name and directions as each one requires different travel routes. Moreover, the lighthouses can vary by location and can be next to restaurants, in state parks, or in very remote places. Most state parks will ask for a nominal entrance fee. Therefore, plan accordingly as some surprises are not always enjoyable.

Moreover, if you are not familiar with driving through Maine you might want to consider their tolls, which can be costly at times and there are a lot of them. My wife and I drove from New Hampshire to Cape Elizabeth, ME. Our round-trip costs were roughly $12.00, and we did not get very far into Maine. This is not a crazy cost, but it is one to consider when you are in the budgeting and planning phases of your trip. Consequently, the small fees and unanticipated costs associated with travel are the ones that can add up the fastest eroding away at funds you had set aside for other intentions.

The Lobster Shack

225 Two Lights Road

The Lobster Shack Restaurant has great food and the prime location for photographs. Although, the food will make for a unique experience, we must mention that it is not reasonably priced. In other words, if you are on a budget, we would recommend having your lunch at one of Portland’s downtown restaurants and splurging on a desert at the Lobster Shack. Nevertheless, the location is amazing as you have access to indoor and outdoor seating that will give you incredible views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Lobster Shack is extremely popular and can produce long lines. However, the restaurant is efficiently run, and can go through a line quickly without diminishing customer service or quality of food. The restaurant itself represents an authentic fisherman lobster shack that has warm wood and large windows that provide a lot of sunlight and astonishing views of the Atlantic Ocean. For that reason, The Lobster Shack is one of Maines iconic restaurants and gives you a true immersion into the culture, atmosphere, and food of Maine.

A generous portion of steamed lobster that is lightly salted, peppered, and infused with a dash of lemon juice. This dish is served in a hotdog bun that is topped with a dill pickle and paprika seasoned mayonnaise. The lobster boat is accompanied by a side of crinkle fries. This Maine delicacy is well revered throughout New England and the world.

The Raspberry pastry is a flaky outer shell that is filled with a raspberry jam, topped with buttercream and a dash of powder sugar.

Ocean Views

The outdoor patio offers unobstructed views of the ocean, which makes for a wonderful place to relax and take it all in. This is also a great spot to eat and enjoy the boats passing by.

The beach at the end of Two Lights Road is both beautiful and naturally undisturbed. Evidently, this seems to be a prominent theme throughout the Coastal Maine region. As a result, the natural unperturbed rocky beaches help contribute to Maine’s abundance of seafood and their fishing industry, making them one of the top exporters of seafood in the United States (3).

Undoubtedly, the grounds near the Lobster Shack provide spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean. The beautiful and scenic views offer the mindful traveler excellent photo opportunities and a nice ocean breeze that can cool off any sundrenched traveler. Moreover, the natural landscape of wildflowers offers the photographer a beautiful canvas, and the mindful traveler an enjoyable and peaceful stroll along the ocean’s edge.

The above image captures the view of the eastern lighthouse, which is still active today and is one of the brightest lighthouses in Maine. The eastern lighthouse is visible up to 17 miles at sea (2). Unfortunately, this lighthouse is not accessible to the public and it is not associated with any public park.

Overall, Maine and Cape Elizabeth are both known for lighthouses, lobster, and ocean views. The lobster was great, and the coastline views were legendary. In other words, this beautiful place is worth the visit.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog post. We hope you enjoyed the post as much as we did creating the post. Please feel free to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

References

1. Town of Cape Elizabeth (2021) https://www.capeelizabeth.com/
2. Maine Office of Tourism (2021) https://visitmaine.com/things-to-do/parks-natural-attracMaine tions/two-lights-state-park
3. 10 Things to Know About (2019) U.S. News https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/articles/2019-03-15/10-things-to-know-about-maine

ATLANTIC OCEANBEACHLIGHTHOUSESLOBSTERLOBSTER ROLLNATURE

Copyright (2024) ImprovingMindfully All Rights Reserved