As you may know, we just got back from our annual-ish Maine summer vacation. It used to be an annual event, but now that the kids are older and we are busier, it’s become more or less an every-other-year thing. We always stay with my parents at their vacation home on Green Lake, and we divide our time between enjoying the lake and touring various attractions in the area.
Maine is a big tourist destination these days, I often get asked about what to pack for a Maine vacation, so today I’m sharing everything I wore while we were there, along with my Maine vacation travel capsule.
What I Packed For A Week In Maine
The key to packing for a Maine vacation is to bring a little bit of everything… but keep it casual. There is rarely a need to dress up, so at most I bring a pair of white jeans and flat sandals for dinners out. On the other hand, the weather is quite variable, and you should be prepared for anything in that regard. I’ve been in Maine in July when it’s 50 degrees and pouring rain and other times when it’s 90 degrees and humid, so I never go without packing clothes for both weather extremes and anything in between.
Case in point… two of my outfits from last week, taken one day apart.
As with any trip, you’ll want to think through your activities. We stay on a lake-front property, so water shoes and swimsuits are a must. We often go hiking, and I like to walk or run for exercise, so I always bring a good sneaker/hiking shoe along with some activewear.
We also spend a lot of time lounging and reading, so I like to bring some comfy clothes that don’t button and zip; and we rarely go anywhere fancy, so I don’t bring heels or much jewelry. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it almost always rains when we’re in Maine, so I make sure to pack a rain jacket.
Shop My Vacation Capsule
In addition to what’s in the shopping widget below, I brought my Frank & Eileen Malibu Travel Set c/o Frank & Eileen for hanging out at camp.
I never need everything I pack, but that’s okay because you really don’t know what you’re going to need until you get there. And this year, I actually wish I’d packed more! I found myself wanting another pair of blue jeans for excursions and a warmer layering piece for hanging out at camp. (I somehow forgot to bring my Athleta Pranayama Wrap, which usually travels everywhere with me.) I also somehow failed to pack white jeans, and I was really wishing I had those, as well.
What I Wore On Our Maine Vacation
Okay, so here’s what I actually wore. I started with my go-to spring/summer travel outfit. I chose my comfiest blue jeans that are lightweight and summery, and I topped them off with my favorite white t-shirt and a pink denim jacket. These pieces can all be mixed and matched with other pieces in my travel capsule, and they’re also my heaviest pieces, so I prefer to wear them than to pack them.
I also wore my comfy Paul Green Hadley Sneakers, knowing that they’d be easy to walk in all day, and again, to save room in my suitcase.
KUT from the Kloth Kara (M) // Frame tee (XS) (similar for less) // Frank & Eileen Galway Gaucho Jeans c/o (29) (similar for less) // Paul Green sneakers (8) (similar for less) // Yurman earrings // similar pendant // David Yurman bracelet // Goyard tote (similar for less) // Away The Medium
When we arrived in Maine, it was warm and sunny, so I removed my jacket and kept the t-shirt and jeans on for a while. Later in the day, I changed into jean shorts and a lightweight sweater to sit out on the dock and read.
Faherty Golden Hour Pullover (S) // AG Becke jean shorts (29) // YSL sunnies
The next day, we got up and drove out to the Schoodic Peninsula, where we had lunch at Lunch On The Wharf. It was sunny and warm, but I knew it would be cooler on the coast, so I wore the green Faherty pullover with white shorts.
Faherty Golden Hour Pullover (S) // KUT from the Kloth Jane Shorts (similar) (8) // Birks (39) // similar bag
I wore sandals to start out, but I also brought my sneakers along with me for walking out on the rocks at Schoodic Point.
That night, we went out to dinner at one of our favorite spots, the Union River Lobster Pound in Ellsworth. I changed into my jeans and a short sleeve sweater. (I didn’t really need to change, but I don’t like wearing shorts to restaurants because my legs stick to the seats.)
stripe sweater (S) // Frank & Eileen Galway Gaucho Jeans c/o (29) (similar for less) // Birks (39) // similar bag
The next day was rainy and chilly, so we hung out at the lake for most of the day, and I just wore my Frank & Eileen sweatpants and my Barefoot Dreams pajama top. (This is when I was wishing I’d brought warmer clothes.)
We decided to go out to dinner that night, so I pulled on my trusty travel outfit.
KUT from the Kloth Kara (M) // Frame tee (XS) (similar for less) // Frank & Eileen Galway Gaucho Jeans c/o (29) (similar for less) // Beek flip flops (8) (similar for less) // similar bag
The next day was rainy and cold again, but we didn’t want to sit around the house all day, so we drove into Camden, a cute little harbor town in the MidCoast region. We at lunch at Waterfront Restaurant and then walked around and did some shopping.
I didn’t want to wear those same jeans again, so I opted for the shorts and sweatshirt routine… I was definitely wishing I’d worn long pants in the restaurant, though.
Z Supply sweatshirt (S) // KUT from the Kloth Jane Shorts (similar) (8) // Paul Green Hadley Sneakers (8) // similar bag // Lagos earrings
The next day was cold and rainy, yet again, and we drove into town to go to the L.L.Bean Outlet and get ice cream. I gave up on looking cute and just wore my warmest clothes… the jeans, a sweater, sneakers, and my raincoat on top.
Faherty Golden Hour Pullover (S) // similar raincoat // Frank & Eileen Galway Gaucho Jeans c/o (29) (similar for less) // Paul Green Hadley Sneakers (8) // similar bag
It finally got nice on our last full day there, and I wore my Frank & Eileen Malibu Travel Set for most of the day. I didn’t really get a picture, but we did a reel for Instagram, and it pulled this still shot from the videos.
Later in the afternoon, we decided to go out on the boat, so I changed into my jean shorts and stripe sweater.
And then we had family over for dinner that night, and I was hot inside the house, I changed into a tank top and had Paul snap this quick pic for documentation purposes. (We don’t have a full length mirror up there.)
old tank // AG Becke jean shorts (29) // Beek flip flops (8)
And the next time we knew, we were packing to go home! I wore the same travel outfit on our return trip.
And that’s a wrap for this trip! It was definitely a bit of a mixed bag when it came to the weather, but we made the best of it.
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16 Responses
Curious about your thoughts were on the book? I can’t decide if I should bother checking it out.
I enjoyed it. I’m a sucker for a true story about someone’s life.
Welcome back! I couldn’t help but notice the Cat’s Meow Village pieces above the doors in the living room of your parent’s home.😊 So cozy. I wished I had kept mine! Also, how was JD Vance’s book? I was just checking it out on Amazon. May have to grab it.
Love all your outfits. Have a great week!
Yes! Those Cat’s Meow are from so long ago. ☺️ I liked the book. I love true stories.
i’ve been aiming to order that book, sounds interesting. Love all the outfits and the cottage is charming and fresh looking, pretty area. I’m with you about shorts, whenever I’m riding any distance or in another establishment I don’t like my legs sticking to the seats!
FYI I read it free on my Hoopla app. (You sign in with your library card and get free access to any books they’ve purchased an e-edition of). I still prefer a physical copy for most books, but for something I’m only planning to read once, it’s a good money-saving option.
I just finished it as well. I thought it was an easy read. Entertaining and thought provoking, but written in a very laid back tone. I finished it in a couple days.
Perfect outfits!
Jo-Lynne,
Loved your outfits! I took note of your summer outfits and tried for similar looks last week when we vacationed on Lake Michigan. I packed denim shorts, not my usual chino shorts, and will continue doing that in the future. Funny all the comments about the Cat’s Meows. I still have them from my hometown and they have made it through 20 years of donations to thrift stores. 🤷♀️
I have never heard of Cat’s Meow village. lol
The photos are all so good and great outfit choices. You look like a model in your white Frank and Eileen outfit the way you are standing and the wind is blowing your outfit and of course you are beautiful. Glad you still made the best of it dispite such rainy weather. We are finally get alittle rain here today in NW Oregon. It’s been so dry and forever since we’ve had rain. So many Oregon fires but I don’t think this is enough rain to help. It’s more showery. We need some down pour.
Jo-Lynne! Loved your Maine post. I need to pack for 10 days in Myrtle Beach and I always overpack. Just need my shorts, T’s, and bathing suits. It’s usually very hot and humid in August. One or two dresses for dinners out and sneakers and athletic clothes! Bought a new pair of bottoms at Athleta today, storewide sale of 25% off, and broke down and bought Paul Green sneakers after returning the P448 ones I bought at Nordstrom. The P448’s are just not comfortable for me, I’ve tried a few times. And I have many Cat’s Meow wooden houses and vacation spots that I display in a rotation! They are great souvenirs!
Thank you Jo-Lynne for these packing ideas! We are going the end of August, staying in Trenton. Was wondering
should I bring a casual dress for dinner? This is our first time going there. Can you recommend any beaches to go to?
The Trenton lobster pound is good. It’s very rustic, but you can eat there or get stuff to go.
I wouldn’t bother with a dress unless that’s your vibe. I rarely have a need for dresses in Maine … unless I have a wedding or something.
DownEast and MidCoast Maine don’t really have sand beaches but there is the one in Bar Harbor that is aptly named Sand Beach, lol. It’s small and not terribly impressive to those of us who are accustomed to more typical beaches.
I haven’t been to Maine since I was a young girl. Thanks for getting me in the mood to visit.
I really enjoyed this post, plus the one about what to do in DownEast Maine. My mom lives 45 minutes north of Portland, in the more southern part of Maine. I can fully attest to the temperature swings. In fact, when I visited last year it was 80s and 70s for a couple days, then dropped down to 60s and rain, lol. Fortunately I was prepared thanks to the Weather channel, lol. Because of the climate changing my mom has also had to deal with 90+ degree temps and she does not have central AC, like most people in ME.
Re: Maine…Agree with all your comments about what to bring! I live on an island in mid-Coast Maine 6-7 months of the year and we see all weather. I rarely wear sandals, though, unless they are closed at the toe, as I’m always navigating rocky trails and beaches, docks, and dirt roads. II also choose skorts over shorts, to protect legs a bit more from sun. It’s also much warmer in the summer than people think, most of the time, even when foggy. Living on a granite rock island we warm up! Good tip to always have a jacket or sweater wherever you go, though.