Took Day Journey to Island in Maine Utilizing $15 Ferry: Peaks Island

Positioned in Casco Bay, Peaks Island can solely be accessed by ferry boat.

Lower than a thousand individuals reside on Peaks Island year-round, although that quantity will increase in the summertime. A variety of the island’s residents repeatedly use the ferry to commute to and from downtown Portland to go to work, attend college, or run errands.

So, the ferry sometimes runs fairly continuously between the 2 locations. I appreciated that this gave me extra flexibility round leaving and getting back from my day journey.

My round-trip ferry ticket price me simply $15. The ship left from Portland’s waterfront space simply off Business Avenue.

I selected to take a seat on its high stage to maximise my views on the quick journey, which solely lasted 17 minutes.

From the water, I noticed Fort Gorges, a former navy fort; Bug Mild, a lighthouse in South Portland; and Mackworth Island, a state park.

As soon as I arrived, I beloved that our ferry dock was only a few minutes’ stroll away from an ice-cream parlor, seafood eating places, and retailers renting golf carts or bicycles.

The island appeared too massive to discover on foot, so I knew I wished to lease some mode of transportation. It will’ve price me $100 to lease a golf cart for 2 hours or $20 for a motorcycle, so I selected the extra inexpensive possibility.

After I obtained my bicycle, I used to be given a helpful map highlighting the island’s numerous landmarks.

I beloved driving previous the brightly painted homes and rocky, pristine-looking seashores. They appeared good and quiet, a distinction from fashionable seashores in Portland that may get fairly crowded on weekends.

At one level, I took my bike over to Battery Steele, a concrete navy fortification from the Forties that is coated in colourful graffiti.

I used to be capable of observe a path as much as the construction so I might go searching its tunnels and rooms. It was greater than I anticipated and felt straightforward to get misplaced in, however the views from the highest had been nice.

I additionally loved stopping by the island’s Umbrella Cowl Museum, which options hundreds of umbrella covers which were collected through the years.

The island additionally had a number of artwork galleries showcasing work of Portland and different cities in Maine.

My day journey was nice and inexpensive, particularly since ferry tickets had been low-cost and the journey was so quick.

Peaks Island felt like a pleasant escape from the hustle and bustle of downtown Portland — plus, driving a motorcycle round all day was a fantastic exercise.

I might return, although I’d attempt taking the ferry to a distinct Casco Bay Island for my subsequent day journey.