{"id":11727,"date":"2016-07-21T18:25:54","date_gmt":"2016-07-21T22:25:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/?p=11727"},"modified":"2016-07-21T18:25:54","modified_gmt":"2016-07-21T22:25:54","slug":"floating-the-perfect-evening","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.portlandmonthly.com\/portmag\/floating-the-perfect-evening\/","title":{"rendered":"Floating the Perfect Evening"},"content":{"rendered":"

July\/August 2016 | view this story as a .pdf<\/a><\/p>\n

The Maine coastline has an irresistible pull during the summer months. Stay there all night long with our guide to drinking, dining, and dancing on the water. <\/span><\/h3>\n

By Karen Hofreiter<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"After-Dark-JA16\"For three months every year Portland\u2019s familiar seascape of grey, restless waters meeting moody slate skies takes on a theatrical transformation. Sienna sunsets make their blazing debut before slipping into the cerulean depths, a celebratory curtain call to another summer day. These not-to-be-missed performances\u2013like all good things\u2013are here for a limited time only, so catch them while you can. And the best seats? Out on the water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paddling Out<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Nothing encompasses summer magic like a Moonlight Paddle or Sunset Sea Kayak tour with Portland Paddle.<\/strong> Tours depart from East End Beach, 370-9730, portlandpaddle.net; Sunset Sea tours daily through September 11 (adults $40); Moonlight Paddle every Friday through August 26 (adults $45). Exact times depend on sunset. Starting from East End beach, tours follow the jagged coast along the Eastern Prom, gliding past the osprey nests by Ocean Gateway, the mouth of the open ocean at Fort Gorges, and the birds diving at Pomroy Rock. Under the star-studded sky with views of the summer constellations Lyra and the Summer Triangle, surprises are always possible along the way. \u201cWe\u2019ve gone out during the Perseid meteor shower and seen dozens of shooting stars lighting up the sky. We\u2019ve headed out just after [a thunderstorm] and spotted rainbows stretching over the islands. We\u2019ve started out paddling in fog only to have it suddenly dissipate, revealing a gorgeous sunset and wide-open views of the bay. We often see seals. Sometimes they pop up right beside the boats. On a rare occasion during a new moon, bioluminescence can be seen\u2014sometimes just a sparkle here and there, sometimes so bright that the paddles glow as they\u2019re dragged through the water,\u201d says Zack Anchor, proprietor. But at the end of a summer\u2019s day, \u201cIt\u2019s the sunset that really steals the show.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

At Maine Island Kayak Co.<\/strong> (Peaks Island, 207.766.2373, maineislandkayak.com; tours meet at 5 p.m., adults $60-$65) there\u2019s also a kayak Sunset Trip which departs from Peaks Island, meaning you can first enjoy a ferry ride from the mainland and a three-mile head- start into Casco Bay. <\/span><\/p>\n

Pleasure Boats<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If after a long, sweltering day you\u2019d prefer someone else to do the paddling, consider hopping aboard one of the many evening cruises available around Portland. The Sunset Lighthouse Cruise offered by Portland<\/strong> Discovery<\/strong> Tours<\/strong> (Long Wharf, Portland, 774-0808, portlanddiscovery.com; daily through Sept. 5, see website for exact times, adults $26) is quintessential Maine, combining a narrated tour of the iconic marine structures against a dazzling sunset backdrop. Jacob Charette, office manager, describes the tour: \u201cWe get up close to Portland Breakwater Light (Bug Light), Spring Point Ledge Light, Portland Head Light, and Ram Island Ledge Light. Occasionally we can get out past Portland Head Light for a glimpse of Two Lights. On a nice, clear day, we can sometimes see Halfway Rock Lighthouse. The guides tell stories and anecdotes. For example, Bug Light is designed after the Greek monument Lysicrates, and its name came about because everyone thought it was \u2018cute as a bug.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

For a real treat, book a private evening charter with Fish Portland Maine<\/strong> (pick up in-town Portland by calling 619-1584, fishportlandmaine.com; 2-hour charter for up to 6 people, $150). Sip on your favorite local brew (it\u2019s BYOB) while listening to the self-described \u201chistorical, anecdotal, and smart aleck commentary\u201d of Capt. Mike Faulkingham. According to the Captain, highlights of the tour include \u201cFort Gorges, Fort Scammel, and Fort Preble, as well as a craftily\u00a0 <\/span>hidden lookout tower built on one of the islands (it\u2019s a secret you won\u2019t get to know unless you come out on a tour). However, I customize to my passengers\u2019 hearts\u2019 content. For example, if someone had an uncle who lived on Chebeague Island 60 years ago and they\u2019ve always wanted to see the island, then we\u2019ll do it.\u201d Another unique aspect is the opportunity to catch your own dinner. \u201cI always have a rod on board the boat for catching mackerel, so dropping a line is offered on every trip.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of hitting happy hour like a landlubber, how about sipping wine while riding with the wind? Maine Sailing Adventures<\/strong> (Maine State Pier, Portland, 749-9169, mainesailingadventures.net), in conjunction with Wine Wise, offers a Wine Sail\u00a0 \u00a0 <\/span>aboard classic schooner Frances <\/em>(Saturdays and Sundays, 6-8 p.m., for reservations call 619-4630, winewiseevents.com) with a tasting led by expert sommelier Erica Archer. Even the skipper is a fan of this classy booze cruise. \u201cI personally love it when she hosts the sparkling wines paired with the oysters!\u201d says Captain Megan Jones. <\/span><\/p>\n

Maine Sailing Adventures also offers a soulful, mellow evening with their Acoustic Sunset Sail (Acoustic Sunset Sail, 6-8 p.m., adult $42, see events calendar for exact dates and reservation information). \u201cIt\u2019s a unique thing we have going down on the Portland waterfront,\u201d says Captain Jones. \u201cIt\u2019s not your typical tour boat at all. I bet that\u2019s why half, if not more, of the guests we have onboard are Portlanders themselves.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Looking for an alternative to dinner and a movie? Why not dinner and a voyage? Casco Bay Lines <\/strong>(56 Commercial Street, Portland, 774-7871, cascobaylines.com) in conjunction with Maria\u2019s restaurant, presents an evening of Italian food and Sinatra tunes at Cruisin\u2019 with the Crooner\u2019s and Friends (Aug. 24, 6-9 p.m., $59.99, tickets 207-233-9232). Casco Bay Lines also offers regular high-energy music cruises.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

July\/August 2016
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