Higgins Beach is just a few miles from Portland, but the surfer vibe is straight out of a Beach Boys song. Welcome to a laid-back coastal community loaded with yesteryear charm. Kids ride their bikes around town, surfers catch waves until night falls and the tides are a constant source of conversation. It’s an easy-breezy, ocean-studded getaway and an idyllic spot for the last summer hurrah or an autumn weekend by the Atlantic. This pocket-sized town is perfect for carefree, car-free travels.
Get Outdoors:
Higgins Beach. Credit: Joe Shlabotnik under License 2.0 GenericHiggins Beach is known as one of Maine’s best-surfing spots. A local crowd hits the water in the early morning and late afternoon. Black Point Surf Shop is your ground zero, offering lessons, boards, and wet suits to protect you from the chilly water. For SUP and kayak rentals, the friendly folks at Higgins Beach Market have got you covered. It’s also the place to go for made-to-order sandwiches, salads, and hearty pizzas served piping hot and loaded with sharp cheddar cheese, mozzarella, and fresh toppings, for a delectable New England spin on this Italian classic.
Stay:
Wish you had a friend with an awesome beach house? The staff at the Higgins Beach Inn is just as welcoming as your bestie. The 23 rooms in this historic property follow a minimalist thread, with everything you need to be comfortable without an ounce of froufrou. Sun-bleached colors, tiled bathrooms, and top-notch bedding are seaside perfection. It’s casual comfort that feels as cozy as a cashmere sweater.
Spend time on the front porch enjoying the gardens and lush lawn before you walk just a few steps to the sand and sea. The inn has beach towels and chairs, so off you’ll go to enjoy the fresh sea air.
Eat:
Shade is the onsite restaurant at the Higgins Beach Inn. The menu excels at just-caught New England classics like lobster rolls and fish & chips. Creative fusion dishes such as shellfish stew in coconut broth are divine. Don’t miss happy hour and its one-dollar oysters, perhaps paired with an après-beach cocktail. The three-season enclosed patio is a delight.
Get Here from NYC
Ride Concord Coach Lines from East 42nd Street to Portland in just under 6 hours. Catch a taxi or Uber in Portland and you’ll be at Higgins Beach in 15 minutes. JetBlue flies to Portland from JFK in an hour, so keep an eye out for shoulder season deals.
For more information, go to Visit Maine.
Photo credits: Hayley Griffin. Video Courtesy of Visit Maine
If you’re searching for more tips on handling your gear – check out this post about how to store your surfing board.
Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributes travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She is fluent in Italian and Spanish and laughably adequate in French. Her background as an Early Childhood Educator gives her an added understanding of what it takes to travel with kids in tow. She firmly believes that the most important part of education takes place outside of the classroom, on the road, around the world. She never misses a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. Follow Allison at @gourmetrav.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram