Autumn in New England isn't just for leaf-peeping. It's also prime oyster-slurping season.
Many devotees of the bivalve find that oysters "taste best in fall as they store fat and sugar in preparation for overwintering," explains the Maine Sea Grant program at the University of Maine.
To help visitors find the state's tastiest offerings, the coastal Maine Oyster Trail connects more than 80 oyster-related businesses.
Using the interactive trip planner at the trail's website, you can find oyster farm tours, raw bars (Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland is pictured above), boating excursions, and opportunities to buy directly from oyster cultivators in four maritime areas: Maine Beaches, Greater Portland/Casco Bay, the Mid-Coast, and Downeast/Acadia.
Search by region or by preferred mollusk-related activity and create a map and itinerary that will be emailed to you along with pertinent details about each of the destinations on your list, including driving instructions, hours of operation, and contact info so that you can reserve tables, book tours, and stake out the shuck trucks on your customized route. (Booking each experience is up to you.)
Register for a Maine Oyster Passport online to check in digitally at businesses along the trail in order to track your progress and rack up points that can be redeemed for branded merch such as hats and tote bags.
To get started on planning your own oystery getaway in the state, visit MaineOysterTrail.com.
And for everything else you need to know about plotting a memorable trip to the region, check out Frommer's Maine Coast, available in paperback and e-book editions.
Frommer's Maine Coast
You’ll never fall into tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. Doing so is like having a trusted friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. That’s because our guidebooks, unlike much of the competition, are written by resident experts—like Brian Kevin. In this highly op...
Get the bookFrommer's Maine Coast
You’ll never fall into tourist traps when you travel with Frommer's. Doing so is like having a trusted friend show you around, taking you to the places locals like best. That’s because our guidebooks, unlike much of the competition, are written by resident experts—like Brian Kevin. In this highly op...