Leaving My Comfort Zone for New England
Traveler(s): Kellie
Trip Type: Domestic, Longer than a Weekend
Transportation: Plane, Train
Lodging: Hotels, AirBNBs, Hotels
Interests:Hiking, Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants, Shopping, Cafes/Bakeries, Theater, Reading
I had been wanting to treat myself for my birthday and go on a vacation, but my usual travel buddies were all busy so I decided “What the heck, I’ll just go by myself!” That’s when Pale Blue came to mind; I thought this would be the perfect occasion to try out a Mystery Trip!
Though I may not like to plan things, I still like to be prepared. Thankfully Pale Blue provided a rundown of what kind of weather to expect as well as a list of what to pack and my custom guide. When I opened up my first envelope, I found out I was going to…Boston!
Day 1: Boston!
I opened up my second envelope on the plane, which told me I would be staying at Newbury Guest House. Newbury Guest House is located on historical Newbury Street in the Back Bay area, where brownstone buildings line the streets and there is an array of cafes, shops, and boutiques. Based on my travel survey, Pale Blue knew that I loved reading so they included a list of bookstores in the area. Once I checked into my room I headed straight for those. Later on that evening Pale Blue booked me on a Historical Pizza tour! I got to try pizza from three different local spots while wandering the streets of Boston with a guide who showed me sites like the Old North Church and Paul Revere’s house. It was neat getting to see so much of America’s history while checking out some of Boston’s best local pizza spots!
Day 2: Dream Shop!
The next morning I went to grab breakfast at Trident Booksellers and Café. I had found it the day before, fell in love, and knew I needed to go back one more time. It is a multilevel bookstore/café combination! I ate my breakfast while reading my book….aka my dream set up! After eating I strolled through Charles River Esplanade where I opened up my next envelope which told me I was going to a new location….Portland, Maine! Pale Blue had booked my train later that day. I took the Amtrak up to Portland and got to watch all of the changing leaves and beautiful farmland. Once I arrived I explored for a little bit, got a bite to eat, and then headed to my hostel. I stayed at The Black Elephant, a cute and eclectic hostel within walking distance of downtown Portland.
Day 3: Portland
I started off the morning at Becky’s Diner… .I think I ate here like three times. I loved it! It was a small, local diner where the staff seemed to know everyone. After my delicious breakfast I went out to explore Portland Head Lighthouse. Built in 1791, it is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. It is actually the one of the most photographed lighthouses and after seeing it, I totally understand why! With the red roof contrasting the blue ocean waves and surrounded by flowers, it was easy to get an amazing picture! It started to drizzle but thankfully I had my rain jacket with me (great packing list, Pale Blue)! I was able to check out the old WWI and WWII battery and stroll down to the water’s edge before heading back into town to warm up. Once back into town I told myself that I needed to try out clam chowder. Even though I am not a huge seafood fan, I thought I would embrace the experience and try new things. I decided on The Porthole Restaurant & Pub which was right on the pier and has been around since 1929. I tried clam chowder for the first.. and last time, but was proud of myself for trying something new! After that I headed back to my hostel to clean up and head downtown for my next Pale Blue activity, going to watch a performance of The Clean House, a play at The Portland Stage.
Day 4: Ferry Ride
The next day I checked out The Holy Donut, which makes all their donuts out of Maine potatoes. I had heard a lot about them and was excited to try them out! I got the Trippleberry and Dark Chocolate with Cinnamon Sugar and let me tell you….they lived up to the hype! They were amazing!! After that I strolled through downtown Portland and down by the pier some more before taking the ferry over to Peak’s Island.
Day 5: Change of Plans
That morning Pale Blue had booked me an awesome kayak tour of Peak’s Island, but unfortunately the weather took a turn for the worse and it was cancelled. I frantically reached out to Erin at Pale Blue and she helped me figure out what to do next and got me a new hotel back on the mainland. Once back in Portland I continued my adventurous streak and decided to try lobster! I had been avoiding it, but after five days of facing the unknown I was feeling ready. I decided to start slowly and tried the lobster mac and cheese with a blueberry cider made with Maine blueberries. It was delicious!! Much better than the clam chowder! After my meal, I decided to go for a hike since the sun had decided to finally make an appearance. I took an Uber out to Jewell Falls where I was able to see a waterfall, flowers and an array of different foliage. Then I headed back to the hotel to get ready to go back home and back to reality.
My mystery trip was an awesome experience! It was the relaxing getaway that I was hoping for but still full of excitement. I admit that I was nervous to do this on my own. I may live alone, but traveling by myself was unchartered territory! However, I was able to explore and try out new things that I probably would not have done otherwise (like lobster) and gain a sense of accomplishment – this trip helped prove that this introvert is, in fact, a badass!
If anyone is on the fence about doing a mystery trip, especially solo trippers, I highly recommend doing it! You don’t have to be super outgoing or adventurous to do this, Pale Blue will plan a trip to match your needs and your personality type. So sign up and have the time of your life!!
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