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Roaming Coastal Maine

About this tour.

This is Maine, where rocky shores, infinite nature, and endless lobster forge a coastal New England classic. Admire the picturesque Portland Head Light, Maine’s oldest lighthouse. Dig in to local delicacies with an oyster shucking demonstration and tasting. Immerse yourself in dramatic nature at Acadia National Park. See how lobster traps are retrieved from the ocean. Take part in a vintage wine tasting at a local winery. Towering mountains, delectable cuisine, and bustling harbors await you in this maritime treasure.

Your Tour Includes

• 3 Handpicked Accommodations

Included Highlights

• Choice on Tour
• Oyster Farm

Your Tour at a Glance

6 Breakfasts

2 - Moderate

Travel Style

Explorations

Activity Level

• Level This Tour

For specific details about this tour's activity level and other info to know before you book your trip, click here.

Extension Style

Travel styles, highlights and inclusions.

Must-See Inclusions:

Stroll through stunning nature at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.

Visit the quaint town of Camden and admire the surrounding hills and the quintessential New England harbor.

• Take in the picturesque Portland Head Light, Maine's oldest lighthouse.

Cultural Experiences:

Lose yourself in the natural beauty of Acadia National Park.

Watch as traps are hauled from the ocean onto a working lobster boat.

Sample the vintages during a wine tasting.

Culinary Inclusions:

Tour an oyster farm before digging into the local delicacies.

Savor a Maine inspired welcome dinner.

Enjoy a rustic New England lunch at a traditional Maine lobster shack.

• Acadia National Park
• Lobster Trap Pull Demonstration
• Wine Tasting
• Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Book with Confidence

* With Insurance Purchased

• *No Hassle Refunds
• Traveling Well Safety
• No booking fee, *no change fees
• Top Rated Travel Protection

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Getting Prepared

Know before you go, travel tips, enhance your tour.

Pre and Post Night Stay

Unique Experience

Cultural Experiences

Enhance Your Trip

• Tour Extensions

Hotel-Hyatt Place Portland Old Port

Take in the picturesque Portland Head Light, Maine's oldest lighthouse.

Accommodations

Arrive earlier.

Pre Night: Hyatt Place Portland Old Port From $225 per night

Hyatt Place Portland Old Port

Bar harbor grand hotel, harraseeket inn, need more information.

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THE 10 BEST Maine Tours & Excursions

Maine tours.

• Sightseeing Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Ports of Call Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. 2-Hour Windjammer Sailing Trip in Maine with Licensed Captain

2. Harbor Lights and Sights Cruise

3. The Real Portland Tour: City and 3 Lighthouses Historical Tour with a Real Local

4. Premium Narrated Bus Tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (3.5 Hours)

5. Discover Portland City and Lighthouse Tour

6. Guided Ebike Tour of Acadia National Park Carriage Roads

7. Narrated Bus Tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (2.5Hr)

8. 3 Hour Private Tour: Explore all the top spots of Acadia!

9. Maine Whale Watching Tour in Portland

10. Downtown Portland, Maine City and Lighthouse Tour-2.5 hour Land Tour

11. Self-Guided Ebike Tours of Acadia National Park Carriage Roads

12. Private Island Fort Tour in Casco Bay: Boat Cruise & Island Tour

13. A Walk Through Time Tour in Portland

14. Boston to Coastal Maine & Kennebunkport Guided Daytrip with Trolley Tour

15. Central Coastal Maine Private Day Tour

16. Lighthouse Lovers Cruise in Portland

17. Windjammer Classic Sunset Sail from Camden, Maine

18. Sunset Lighthouse Harbor Cruise from Portland's Old Port

19. Old Port "Seafood Lovers" Walking Lunch Tour in Portland, Maine

20. 6 Hour Private Tour: Acadia National Park, Fjord & Lobster Lunch

21. Portland Tall Ship Cruise on Casco Bay

22. 4 Hour Private Tour: Explore Acadia Nat'l Park, Fjord & Mansions

23. Acadia National Park and More Private Day Trip from Portland

24. Self-guided Electric Bike Adventure in Acadia National Park

25. 90-minute Ghost Walking Tour in Bar Harbor

26. Portland Bicycle Tour with 5 Lighthouse Stops and XL Lobster Roll

27. Vintage Fire Truck Sightseeing Tour of Portland Maine

28. Sunset Sea Kayak Tour of Casco Bay

29. A Walk Through Time in Kennebunkport - Celebrating 200+ Years!

30. 2 Hours | Portland, Maine Hidden Histories Walking Tour

What travelers are saying.

Maine Tours & Vacations

A land of lighthouses where rugged beauty meets old town, coastal charm.

Located on the  USA's  upper east coast, Maine is undoubtedly a hidden gem. Well-loved for its quaint maritime villages, traditional New England architecture, fresh seafood and iconic lighthouses, there's a reason the state motto is "the way life should be." Whether you prefer  hiking along the rugged coastal headlands of Acadia National Park , wandering the historic streets of Portland, or just indulging in a lobster roll (or two) with your local leader, our Maine tours offer a little something for everyone. With heaps of natural beauty and historical significance, this picturesque destination will completely steal your heart.

Our Maine trips

Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.

Maine highlights

Maine travel faqs, do i need a covid-19 vaccine to join an intrepid trip.

Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards

From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travelers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (excluding all Polar trips and select adventure cruises).

However, we continue to strongly recommend that all Intrepid travelers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and others.

Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.

Where is Maine?

Maine is the northeasternmost state in the US, located in a region known as New England. Maine is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the state of New Hampshire to the west, as well as parts of Canada to the north, namely New Brunswick and Quebec. 

How to get to Maine

Traveling to Maine is relatively easy with a range of options, including driving, catching a flight, or taking public transport in the form of a bus or train. Ferries are available to travel from the mainland to a number of islands off the coast.

Getting around Maine

There are a handful of ways to travel around Maine, from driving, using public transport or rideshare, or catching a flight. You just need to choose the one to suit your needs!

Maine has an efficient and reliable public transport system with bus and train networks that service most cities and regions in the state.

If short on time, you can catch a flight between cities in Maine, but driving will give you a better chance of seeing more of Maine's natural beauty.

What's the weather like in Maine?

The weather in Maine is dictated by which time of year you visit. Winters are typically cold and icy, especially in the northern parts of the state, where hearty snowfall benefits Maine's many ski mountains.

Summers are warm, sunny and pleasant but can still get fairly cool at night, especially in coastal regions. Packing layers will help fight off any chilly coastal breezes.

What do I pack for Maine?

Packing for Maine largely depends on what time of the year you're traveling in and which region of the state you're staying in.

If you're sticking to the coastal areas of Maine, the temperatures are often cooler (even in summer), so you should always pack appropriate layers, like a good sweater and long pants.

The rest of Maine experiences fairly normal seasons. You can pack dresses, shorts, and t-shirts for summer and warm layers for the colder seasons.

If you plan on walking or hiking, sensible footwear is a must. Maine is known for its natural beauty and expansive national parks, but the terrain can be quite rugged, so you'll be thankful for a good pair of shoes.

When is the best time to visit Maine?

The best time to visit Maine is between May and October, when the temperatures are warmer and the weather is nice enough to participate in outdoor activities such as cycling and hiking.

September and October are the most popular months for leaf peppers as fall foliage will be in full swing, setting the deciduous forests ablaze in shades of red, orange and gold. Due to an influx of visitors, this can be an especially busy time, and you'll want to book accommodation early.

Is Maine safe?

Maine is considered one of the safest states in the US.

This is mainly due to a strong community spirit and a smaller population than in other states. With low crime rates and quality infrastructure, you can safely assume you'll be fine traveling around the state.

Crime can still occur, so it's best always to be aware of your surroundings. Avoid traveling alone (especially at night), and stick to well-populated areas you feel comfortable in.

Are Intrepid trips accessible for travelers with disabilities?

We are committed to making travel widely  accessible , regardless of ability or disability. We do our best to help you see the world, regardless of physical or mental limitations. 

We are always happy to talk to travelers with disabilities and see if we can help guide them toward the most suitable itinerary for their needs and, where possible, make reasonable adjustments to our itineraries.

The Scenic Route Maine Tours

Portland, maine lighthouse tours.

We are outside the ship terminal

Featured Tours

• Most Popular!
• Clock 2 hours

City & Lighthouse Tour

The best way to get a taste of what our great city of Portland has to offer! A must do!

• Clock 3 hours 30 minutes

Kennebunkport Tour

Enjoy the scenic drive to the lovely seaside village of Kennebunkport; incredibly picturesque and quaint.

Scenic Route Maine Tours is a LOCAL, family-owned and operated Maine Lighthouse tour company sharing what we love about our charming city of Portland and great state of Maine!

Operating since 2012, our stellar Tripadvisor reviews prove that small groups and excellent value combined with premium quality  is a great mix.

Our friendly, fun, and knowledgeable guides love what they do and want to share their excitement with you!

Praise For Our Maine Tours From Tripadvisor

"Well run tour. Guide was excellent with many facts and stories about the area. Great communication from owner leading up to the tour. Would highly recommend"

"Excellent knowledge of area, easy to understand, small and intimate! Fun! Picked up right at pier from cruise line, she had great recommendations for downtown lunch spots too!"

"Great tour. Guide was knowledgeable about the area & shared some fun facts. Kennebunkport area is very quaint & shopping fun. Recommend this tour."

"In Portland for one day on a cruise and took this bus tour to Kennebunkport. It was a very pleasant drive-through with a great overview of a beautiful coastal town and just the right amount of time to walk around the downtown and/or eat lunch. We hope to return to Kennebunkport."

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Vacation planner, maine guided tours, you may also like..., things to do, dining in maine.

Private Sightseeing Tours and Travel Planning

Explore natural maine.

~YOUR STYLE ~YOUR PACE ~YOUR EXPERIENCE

Enjoy a Private Tour & Travel Planning Experience in Maine

Experience the scenic beauty of natural Maine. Participate in the exciting discovery of nearby day trip tours and getaway excursions by creating your own customized adventure activities that fit your style and interests. Lighthouses and scenic coastal tours with lobster lunch stops or oyster adventures will delight you and your family or group of any size. Maine is natural, with over 3,000 miles of coastline and forests that cover 90% of the state, where you will always find quiet beauty. Our private driver guided tours are done by local guides in most areas along the coast from York, Maine in the southern part to Bar Harbor / Acadia National Park along the northern coast. We also offer complete travel planning assistance booking accommodations, transportation, activities and even dining with our local Maine partners. Spend less time planning your Maine travel experience and more time enjoying it.

Lighthouses

From world renowned lighthouses to our award winning lobster, and everything in between - here are the key sites to see when you tour with us.

Coastal Maine

Beauty, flavor, people, and places. There are more than just a few reasons why so many people return year after year.

This is the best way to experience Maine. You can sit back and relax as we explore Maine together. Welcome to Vacationland.

Private and Personalized Tours

Maine is always beautiful and we love sharing it. Let us create your customized tour itinerary or complete travel itinerary. We can't wait to show you around! ~Your Style ~Your Pace ~Your Experience ~ Reservations Required ~

Private Customized Tours

Off The Beaten Path

Maine day trips & tours.

254 Commercial Street Merrill’s Wharf, Suite 245 Portland, Maine 04101

Monday – Friday 10:00AM – 4:00PM Eastern Time Zone

CALL US         EMAIL US

• 207.288.0300

The Best Way to See One of the World's Most Beautiful Islands!

Get into acadia with us..

Acadia National Park Tours

Looking to immerse yourself in the beauty and splendor of one of the world’s most beautiful areas?  Trust our Acadia National Park Tours experts! Nature lovers, history buffs, photographers, or anyone wanting to get oriented with Mount Desert Island and Acadia National Park will appreciate the knowledge and experience of our tour guides. Sit back, relax, and let us share with you the human and natural history of this exceptional locale. Whether you are here for the day, or an extended period, there is no better way to start your visit!

All tours depart from Testa’s Restaurant, 53 Main Street in downtown Bar Harbor.

No Park Pass required.

What our guests are saying

We took the Acadia National Park tour on a Cruise stop in Bar Harbor. I am thankful that we had reservations because it was sold out by reservation only! That says a lot for a tour. The bus driver (Santos) was very knowledgeable and we had a wonderful time. The views are spectacular from Cadillac Mountain and Santos gave us a ton of information about the area. I recommend this tour to anyone traveling to Bar Harbor.

Stories were wonderful. It was a great way to start our visit to Acadia and Bar Harbor

The tour was great!! A lot of history information was giving, we would have known all that if not for the tour. The tour guide was great!! Santo did an excellent job and made it fun!!

Rita Wallace

Tour leader had a ton of information and his presentation was fantastic --very knowledgeable -history and environment. We loved it and had a great time.

Curtis Schmid

This was a great tour! Our guide, Heather, was so knowledgeable and entertaining. I learned a lot in just a short amount of time. I would definitely recommend it to others.

Kim Woodbury

The Guide is knowledgeable, the price is right and the scenery is pretty, the pacing is correct, perfect 3hr tour, what more do you want. Ideal for shore excursion when you don't have that much time.

Debbie Blum

A phenomenal tour experience especially with our guide Heather. Thanks for this memorable experience

Donna M Diaz

Size of tour was perfect. The transportation was very comfortable. Our tour guide was a local, environmentalist, former national park employee who was enthusiastic about the park and extremely knowledgeable. Loved the history she shared with us.

Cheryl & Nile Luedtke

We really enjoyed the tour. The Park was magnificent and Mike was an incredible guide! His knowledge of the park and its history was amazing.

Jack Morgan

What a wonderful tour this was. We were happy that we booked this tour instead of cruise line tour. Great information about the area, the park, and what a fun ride. Beautiful vista views from the top of the park.

Yvonne Forbes

Leach From the time we called to make our reservation we were treated as family. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and quite funny. The tour was amazing!

This was a great tour! We learned a lot and got to see as many park highlights as possible in the short time we had. We went to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the Nature Center and wildflower garden, and Thunder Hole. It's such an amazing place and I can't wait to go back.

Jennifer Stachnik

Our tour guide Roger was excellent! He was extremely informative and entertaining! We would recommend these tours to everyone!

Morgan Reimers

This was a very comfortable tour with an excellent guide. We got to see the countryside, make some short (but just long enough) stops and even visit with some locals. The bus leaves from the center of town which is very convenient and it was fun to walk around Bar Harbor. And the price was worth every penny.

O9472VRjohns

The tour guide was very knowledgeable and the bus stopped enough times to get the great fall leaves shots we were after. If you get back on the bus in good time, you'll have more time to see the sites down the road. If not, some of the spots will be cut short. Our times were adequate. The price for the tour was very reasonable and the driver was great.

Since we traveled a long distance to spend a week in the area, we wanted a guided tour to help us get the lay of the land to help us maximize our time. This tour certainly filled the bill. Our guide was knowledgeable and entertaining, mingling local stories with history, interspersed with some terrible jokes that kept us groaning and laughing. I highly recommend it.

My husband and I were delighted to stumble upon this bus tour in Bar Harbor, that took us all the way to the top of Mt. Cadillac. Bus driver/tour guide Heather painted a colorful picture of life in Bar Harbor through her stories, jokes, and in-depth knowledge of the area, its history, and environment. And she gave us a discount coupon to Testa’s, where I had a tasty lobster roll (with garlic butter)!

Amazing tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The Female tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about the island and the park. She made it a 10 Star tour!

This tour covers the entire National Park Tour Loop including Cadillac Mountain. The tour guide was very good. There was plenty of time at the stops. Be sure to reserve your tour online as it often sells out, especially when there are cruise ships in port. When we got our tickets the ticket agent gave us a coupon for Testa's Restaurant and we had an excellent lunch there. This tour is a very good value.

ChuckBrooks

We enjoyed this tour on our first full day and glad we did. We learned many things about the park we wouldn’t have found out otherwise. Our guide was funny and tailored the trip to our group. You will see the highlights of the park and get some great ideas on where you want to return to explore later. We thought it was worth the money.

Greengirl87

Get the Story Behind the Scenery.

Operating from mid-May through the end of October, our fully narrated sightseeing excursion features three stops within Acadia National Park.

OTHER SERVICES

We offer private group tours of Acadia National Park! Contact us for availability and pricing.

Want to learn more? Here are the most common questions from our guests.

Four generations of Acadia expertise

Our tours began in 1955, but our experience with Acadia National Park goes back much farther than that. Learn more about the origins of this family owned and operated company.

acadianationalparktours

Maine Coast tours

Most popular maine coast tours.

On each of our guided tours, you’ll enjoy a balance of sightseeings led by locals and free time to follow your interests. All our tour packages include an expert Tour Director, breakfast daily, select lunches and dinners, comfortable transportation, and accommodations hand-selected by our staff.

4.3 out of 5 stars

4.5 out of 5 stars

What travelers say about their tours

How it works.

Planning a trip is a breeze with the help of Go Ahead Tours’ experts working behind the scenes.

Bar Harbor Acadia

Greater Portland

Northern Maine

South Coast

Western Lakes Mountains

Guided adventures in maine, exploring maine’s forests, mountains, and coasts is much more fun with a guide.

If you have an itch to try some outdoor adventure that is new to you, but you don’t know where or how to begin, a guided tour is a great solution. Guided tours and expeditions of many kinds – from white water rafting in Maine ’s remote forests to kayaking the rocky coast – are set up to show you the way, from start to finish. Guides can provide instruction, equipment, a lift-off and end point, and lots of tips to enjoy the day (or night – think about moonlit owl tours). Beyond the practical matters, guides are local residents who can entertain you with stories of the place in addition to deep knowledge of the adventure of the moment. These adventures cover a large range of interests:

• Snowmobiling and ATV rides,
• Hunting & fishing trips,
• Snowshoeing,
• Dog sledding
• Nature tours,
• ..and prowling the northern roads at night in a small van to spot moose.

Popular Outdoor Guided Adventures in Maine

When planning your trip to Maine, don't miss out on a guided tour along the beautiful coastlines, pristine forests, and charming towns. No matter what you are looking for, Maine has offerings for everyone. From hunting and fishing to enjoying time on the water, there is no better way than getting to know Maine with expert tour guides. Experienced guides ensure safety and peace of mind and provide valuable insights into the region's history. Whether by land or sea, guided adventures in Maine will immerse visitors in the beauty of this region. Some popular options include climbing aboard one of the beautiful nine vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association. This is an ideal way to explore the granite islands of Penobscot Bay , the wildlife of this part of the Atlantic, and the actual Downeast scenery.

Name your adventure! Scan the listings below and let your mind roam over a fun new thing to try, maybe this weekend, maybe in a season or two from now. Think about adding a guided adventure to a gathering of a bunch of friends or a family gathering. All of you will go home and savor a unique adventure that you can remember as a group.

Crab Apple Whitewater (ME)

3 Lake Moxie Road The Forks, ME, 04985 Phone: 800-553-7238

Get ready for the rafting trip of a lifetime, with experienced guides leading the way

Maine Windjammer Association

Sailing from Ports in Rockland and Camden, ME, 04843 Phone: Toll-Free: 800-807-9463

Windjammer fleet offers breathtaking sights, on-deck fun, fabulous food, comfy cabins

Weatherby's

112 Milford Road Grand Lake Stream, ME, 04668 Phone: 207-796-5558

Experienced Maine guides will ensure your fishing, hunting experience is memorable and rewarding

New England Outdoor Center

30 Twin Pines Road Millinocket, ME, 04462 Phone: 207-723-5438 Toll-Free: 800-766-7238

Center’s group tours are a great way to experience a variety of outdoor adventures

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For special offers and great New England travel tips subscribe today.

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Best Guided Tours in Maine

• by Marco Polo

Take a tour with a local guide around Cadillac Mountain via the Park Loop Road. Rockefeller's Stone Bridge, Otter Cliffs, and Thunder Hole are just a few of the places to see.

Marco Polo Guided Tours earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase at no additional cost to you. Your support is much appreciated.

With this self-guided driving tour of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine, you'll see the park's lush greenery, spectacular views, and picturesque lookouts.

This fun, interesting, and educational walking tour of historic Bar Harbor, Maine, takes you back in time.

A three-hour walking food tour of Bar Harbor is the perfect way to get to know the city. Visit a variety of waterfront eateries for a taste of the local cuisine.

As you sail from Boothbay Harbor with a guide, you'll see playful seals, busy docks, beautiful lighthouses, and other well-known sights. 

See if you can spot any seals or other sea creatures. The Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, as well as the Ram and Burnt Island Lights, may be seen during your visit.

A semi-private minibus will take you from Boston to Kennebunkport on a scenic tour of New England's coast. An optional lobster tour allows visitors to learn about the history of Maine, shop, and sample some of the state's best seafood.

Take a sunset sail on the iconic wooden schooner Appledore II. On your way back to Camden, you'll see Mount Battie and the Curtis Island Light as the sun sets over Maine's jagged coastline.

During a two-hour walking tour with a local guide, you'll learn about the history of Kennebunkport, a famous shipbuilding town.

It's a 2.5-hour walking tour of Kennebunkport, Maine's diverse food scene. As you learn about the history of this seaside community, you'll be able to sample local lobsters, chowders, and more.

The Appledore II, a storied wooden schooner, is available for a sightseeing cruise. Set sail towards Maine's rocky coastline, which is known for its lighthouses and animals, as well as summer mansions, islands, and lobster fishing boats.

Take a 50-minute guided tour of Portland in a fire truck.

Take a trip down memory lane with the pioneering women who campaigned to protect and develop some of Portland's most beloved landmarks, as well as those who ran the factories and ran for office themselves. The Arts District and the West End will be the destinations of this walking trip.

Admire Portland, Maine, from the deck of a classic schooner tall ship. See seals, lighthouses, and other marine life along the rocky shoreline of Casco Bay.

Make your way through Portland's old town. This two-hour tour is led by a knowledgeable historian, and it stops at many historical places. 

Take a tour of Portland's downtown, historic Old Port, and working waterfront with a knowledgeable local guide. People and events that have been omitted from normal history are covered in depth in this course.

A walking tour of the greatest eateries in the city of Portland, Maine's "foodie capital." You may learn about the history and culture of the Old Port by taking a leisurely stroll through its streets.

Take a walking tour of Portland, Maine's historic district that incorporates history, conversation, and food sampling. At each of Portland's well-known breweries, you'll learn about the city's beer history and sample some of the best brews.

Make time to visit Portland's West End, which is both beautiful and historically significant. On this two-hour walking tour, you'll get to explore some of the most beautiful residential areas along the Western Promenade, as well as local churches and cathedrals, museums, parks, and sculptures.

Take a kayak out on Sebago Lake and paddle through a meandering stream sculpted by water. Try to catch a sunset over thick woods while spotting local fauna.

This half-day excursion visits Bar Harbor, Acadia National Park, and Mt. Desert Island. Since transportation is provided, you may focus on the environment and tell stories. Visit Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park to see the island's scenery and fauna. Cadillac Mountain, Sieur de Monts Spring, Thunder Hole.

Visit Portland's historic district and some of the city's less-known sights on a guided tour. Touring the city with a native Portlander and a college librarian as your guide, you'll see hidden jewels and hear fascinating anecdotes of Portland's past.

A vintage fire engine is a great way to see Portland's beautiful coast, historic landmarks, and active neighborhoods. Live commentary and stunning views of lighthouses and buildings can be viewed from the engine. Visit Portland's cobblestone streets, where you can browse gift shops and sample the local food. You'll be in the heart of the city, surrounded by cafes and stores.

Visitors to Portland may miss out on some of Maine's most breathtaking sites since they aren't able to travel along the coast. On this guided tour of Portland's most popular attractions, you won't have to worry about arranging transportation. The Portland Head Light, one of three historic lighthouses in the city, is one of the most well-known landmarks.

You'll learn about Portland's history on a walking tour of the city's Old Port, downtown, and waterfront areas. You can visit Hendry Wadsworth's mansion, Longfellow's, and the Eastern Cemetery, as well as the Abyssinian Church, if you're interested in learning about the city's history.

Touring Portland's historic Old Port on your own is a great way to learn about the city's culinary traditions. This trip takes you to up to seven different restaurants, where you'll be able to sample enough food to fill you up for the rest of the day. In order to get a better sense of Portland's culinary offerings, your tour guide shares their recommendations with you.

Camden's picturesque shoreline is home to Appledore II, a vintage wooden schooner. This environmentally-friendly alternative to motorized Camden cruises lets you explore the coast with just the wind, sails, and sea for company.

Take a small group tour of Bar Harbor centered on local food. As you go, listen to comments on the local culinary scene and taste at Village Green eateries. The sampling makes for a full meal, and the small group size allows for customized attention and inquiries.

A half-day private tour of Maine's Acadia National Park Find routes and paths that are tough to find. Cover the Park Loop Road with Cadillac Mountain vistas. Tours include food, drinks, and climate-controlled transportation.

Explore the state's fish industry and sample some of its delicacies during this tour. Enjoy seafood chowders and lobster rolls along with local craft beer or soda pop after a stroll along the coast.

The Acadia National Park e-bike rental is excellent for exploring on your own without a group. This e-bike rental includes everything you need to explore the park's carriage lanes and Park Loop Road. You select when to ride an e-bike.

On this sailing tour, you'll get a new view of Portland and the coast of Maine, as well as a chance to relax on the water. A vintage Maine-built windjammer is moored at the Maine State Pier; hop on board and take a spin around the harbor. As soon as the ship has set sail, take advantage of the sea breezes, keep an eye out for seals, and maybe even try your hand at raising the sails or piloting the ship yourself!

This half-day private tour of Acadia National Park in Maine will show you the best of the park's attractions. Your tour guide can provide suggestions and information based on your interests and preferences. There is no need to climb Cadillac Mountain to enjoy the spectacular views from the Park Loop Road. Snacks, drinks, and climate-controlled transportation are all included in the price of the tour.

This small-group excursion takes you on a voyage across the Atlantic Ocean onboard a catamaran. During your trip, board the yacht and unwind in one of the various sitting areas. Enjoy the scenery, keep a look out for animals such as seals and bald eagles, or simply unwind on board as you cruise around the coast. Please feel free to bring your own food and drink to complete the experience.

Portland and Casco Bay. Portland, Maine has five lighthouses. We've changed the 5 Lighthouse Tour for COVID-19. We canceled the tour. Biking from Ocean Gateway and back. Visit 4 lighthouses (Bug Light, Spring Point, Portland Head Light, and Ram Island Ledge). Lunch is at "Bite into Maine."

Check out Bar Harbor, Maine, from a sailboat on this tall ship trip. Small groups provide a more intimate setting for you to take in the natural beauty of Acadia National Park and Frenchman's Bay. Cruise the coast of Maine from a new perspective and keep a look out for local species.

It is an unforgettable experience to take in everything that nature has to offer in the Rangeley Lakes Region. It's a great way to get a bird's-eye view of animals. In fact, moose are often spotted in their native environment on our travels!

3-hour morning kayak trip in NW Casco Bay. You get a crash lesson before the tour begins, and your guide is always present. You can paddle tandem in double kayaks. From a unique vantage point, see Brunswick's animals. Continue on a short land adventure with complimentary food.

The Portland Peninsula on two wheels with a professional guide The Eastern Promenade and the Eastern Promenade are linked by the Back Cove Trail. You'll learn about the value of local food, history, and culture as you explore the Old Port.

With a kayak rental, you may explore Sebago Lake's natural splendor on your own, looking for native birds, fish, turtles, and ducks as you paddle through the neighboring streams and take in the breathtaking sights this Maine lake has to offer.

We collaborate with the world’s largest and most recognized travel businesses to develop a selection of tailored guided tours for your convenience. If you decide to purchase any of them, we earn a tiny affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.

Table of Contents

What are guided tours?

Guided tours are all generally all-inclusive group travel experiences led by a local travel guide and following a fixed itinerary for a specific tourist attractive or local activity. Many sightseeing guided tours, skip-the-line tickets for major travel attractions, group day/night tours, food tastings, wine tastings, and even airport transfers.

Should I use guided tours on my vacations?

Explore and experience your destination like a local.

See everything! The best way to get the most out of your trip is to get personalized advice before and during your trip. Experience your travel destination as if you were a local. Then, find all the hidden gems!

Avoid scams and pay better prices

Beware of cons! Tourists are frequently taken advantage of by unscrupulous local agents in other countries. Book your guided tours early!

I have a tight budget, can I still buy a guided tour?

With so many different guided tours to choose from, no matter what your budget is, you’re sure to find one that fits your needs.

Save time, Get the most out of your trip.

It’s a waste of your vacation time to look for local guided tours while traveling

With a planned tour schedule, you know exactly what you will be doing every day, without any risk of disappointment.

Check reviews before buying a guided tour

Overwhelmed by options and unsure which guided tour to take? Check out other users’ reviews to determine which activities are suitable for you.

No risk to you. Free cancellation

For many of the guided tours, you can change your mind and cancel your booking without penalty up to 24 hours before the date of the activity. This is very helpful in the event your travel plans changes last minute

Meet people all over the world, make new friends on your next vacation

Joining guided tours is a great way to meet new friends from all over the world.

Types of guided tours available for your vacation

Depending on the city you are taking a trip to, there are just about any guide trips and activities for everybody. There are outdoor guided tours, water activities, Nature tracks, Music celebrations, Local food tours, Workshops and Classes, Arts Performances, Hidden Gems exploration, beer or wine drinking and tasting tours, exclusive TV & Movies trips, romantic couple trips, kids’ activities, tours to Parks and Gardens, Island expedition trips, visit popular landmarks, Museum guided tours and tickets, Airport transfer services, Memorials for you to check out to under the local culture and history, go up Towers & viewing platforms to get a birds-eye view of the landscape, shopping tours, theaters and concert halls, stop by ports and harbors, sightseeing cruise, bikes for rental, helicopter rides, ferryboat tickets, Jeep and SUV for rental, private yacht services and sailboat rental.

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Sand Beach, Acadia National Park

Balance Rock, Acadia National Park

Photo by Kevin Shields, from Where in Maine?

Autumn Sunrise overlooking Jordon Pond from North Bubble.

• Things To Do
• Lighthouses Sightseeing

Acadia National Park Guided Tours

You can get an insider's look at Acadia National Park with the help of a tour guide, who will be happy to share local knowledge, historical anecdotes, and recommendations for must-see attractions. You can choose a guided walk, a bus or trolley tour, or a boat tour to help you learn more about the park.

Walking Tours

If you'd prefer to take your time exploring the natural features of the park, you may want to try a guided hike. Rangers offer daily excursions that will help you learn more about whatever your specific interest might be, from birding to geology to aquaculture to botany. If you'd like to learn more about the history and culture of the area, you can take a guided stroll through Bar Harbor past galleries, museums, restaurants and boutiques.

Bus and Trolley Tours

If you'd like to cover more ground than a hike would allow, you can take a bus or trolley tour. In a few hours, you can see features such as Sand Beach , Thunder Hole and the top of Cadillac Mountain *.

If you'd like to explore the waters surrounding Mount Desert Island, you can take a boat tour run by a cruise operator or a park service employee. You can fish, watch for whales, or simply enjoy the salty air.

*From May 26 through Oct 19, vehicle reservations are required for Cadillac Summit Road between sunrise and sunset.

Businesses & Organizations

Moon dog excursions.

Something Extraordinary! Custom Boat Charters and Island Excursions on Penobscot Bay. Experience the beauty of the Maine Coast.

Phone: 207-230-9069

Website: moondogexcursions.com

Address: 111 pascal ave , rockport

Portland by the Foot guided historical walking tours

Guided walking tours that will knock your socks right off!

Phone: 207-200-5885

Website: www.portlandbythefoot.com

Address: PO Box 784 , Portland

Embark Maine Tours - Walking Tours of Bath, Maine

Walking tours of historic Bath, Maine, the City of Ships.

Phone: 207-208-7639

Website: www.embarkmainetours.com

Address: Downtown Bath, Maine , Bath

Explore Worldwide

See the highlights of Maine on this adventure tour through Baxter State Park, Bar Harbor, and Acadia National Park.

Phone: 1 800 715 1746

Website: www.exploreworldwide.com

Address: 75 State Street Suite 100 , Boston

The Real Portland Tour

Sightseeing Tour of Portland and three lighthouses narrated by a REAL local, born & raised in Portland!

Phone: 207-329-7401

Website: realportlandtour.com

Address: 96 Commercial Street , Portland

Maine Ice Fishing Tours and Snowmobile Rentals at Moosehead Lake

Offering Ice Fishing and Snowmobile Rental vacation packages in The Winter Fun of Maine

Phone: 207-695-3288, 866-223-1380

Website: www.maineoutfitter.com

Address: 5 Lily bay rd. Box 160 , Greenville

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Searching for " " Almost there...

Travelers from all U.S. states are able to travel to Maine without providing a negative COVID-19 test result or quarantining, unless otherwise determined by the Maine CDC. International travelers from approved countries will be subject to any federal requirements for travel.

Learn how our safe travel protocols are helping ensure everyone's visit is a safe one.

Featured in Down East Magazine!

An aimless walk in the woods is surprisingly good for you, as forest bathing guides like Jeff Brogan can attest.

Read the whole article in DownEast Magazine

Watch a video featuring Brian Kevin , Editor in Chief of Down East Magazine by WCSH’s 207

Forest Bathing Guided Walks

Enhance your maine vacation with custom tours and experiences.

We deliver awesome guided tours and exceptional experiences along the coast of Maine in and around Ogunquit, Maine. We specialize in providing customized excursions and vacation enhancement packages that are guaranteed to elevate your Maine experience at any time of year! Let us guide you into a unique vacation experience that will last a lifetime. We will maximize your vacation time by placing you in the best places at the best times.

Maine Tours Tailored for You

Enhance your vacation, what people say, meet your guide, jeff brogan.

Jeff Brogan is a professional educator, historian, naturalist, and Registered Maine Guide , and certified Forest Therapy Guide. Jeff’s in-depth understanding of Maine’s unique culture, climate, and ecology makes him the perfect companion for those wanting to get the most out of their Maine experience.

155 Greenville Road Shirley Mills, Maine 04485

Moose tours.

Home » Moose Watching » Moose Tours

As close to a celebrity as a wild animal can get, the Maine moose is as elusive and camera-shy as any Hollywood star. To see a Maine moose in its native environment and to take the Maine moose photos to prove it, you need experienced Northeast Whitewater registered Maine guides. Sign on for one of Northeast Whitewater’s popular Maine Moose Tours, Maine Moose Safaris or Maine Wildlife Photography Tours , and go moose watching on our land tours by van or by canoe. We know all the best ways to get you close enough to a Maine moose to get a great Maine moose photo, and make a great memory.

Maine Moose Tours – Moose Canoe Tours

Come join us to go on a Maine moose watching tour by canoe! Our Registered Maine Guides drive you from the Moosehead Lake Region to remote Maine woods ponds and shallow bodies of water where moose and other wildlife feed. Did you know that Maine moose in the North Maine Woods outnumber people from 3 to 1? Our Maine Moose tours and wildlife safaris by canoe are 3.5 to 4 hours. All trips depart from Northeast Whitewater with our knowledgeable and entertaining guides to remote Maine woods ponds in the North Maine Woods where you will experience canoeing in a peaceful, pristine setting. Moose feed in the shallow ponds, so our Maine moose canoe tours take you to remote spots where guests have the best opportunity to get close to moose and other wildlife on our moose tours by canoe. Capture amazing moose pictures, hear moose slurping and chomping the pond weeds, all the while getting up close and personal to the elusive Maine moose on our Maine moose canoe tours.

When you choose our evening moose watching tour, most evening moose canoe tours end with a spectacular sunset overlooking Moosehead Lake. Or enjoy the serenity and beauty of the Moosehead Lake area before most visitors awake. See the sunrise as you depart to the Maine woods ponds for a leisurely canoe paddle on our morning moose canoe tours.

Maine Moose Watching Tour & Wildlife Canoe Tour

Morning Canoe Tours

May 1 – October 13 6:00AM $72

Evening Canoe Tours

May 1 – October 13 3:00, 4:00 & 5:00PM *departure time is dependent on the time of year $72

Maine Moose Watching Tours – Land Tours by Van

Our moose watching tours and wildlife safari land tours by van offer a scenic riding tour to remote areas of the North Woods where guests are in and out of the vehicle at designated moose hideaways. Our moose watching and Maine wildlife van tours are the best land based tour to cover the most terrain, which inevitably increases guests moose sightings. Our Maine Moose Watching land tours by van provide a peaceful experience in nature, on rugged Maine woods roads. Our guide’s take you to remote spots in the North Maine woods to see moose in wooded clear cuts -back roads too deep to drive your own car- at the early hours of the morning or the evening hours while moose are moving from bogs and wood lots to feed. Be there to watch our famous Maine moose stretch their legs and forage in the Maine woods. Maine moose are twig eaters and known as vegetarians -did you know a full grown moose eats 50 pounds of vegetation in a day?

Learn local knowledge from our Maine Guide’s, ask questions about the area, and see moose in their natural Maine woods setting. Maine moose watching tours and wildlife safaris are a great way for you to make lasting memories with families and friends, and an exciting way to make new friends in beautiful and scenic northern Maine.

Maine Moose Watching Tour & Wildlife Land Tour By Van Pricing

Morning Tours

May 1 – October 13 6:00AM $64

Evening Tours

May 1 – October 13 3:00, 4:00 & 5:00PM *departure time is dependent on the time of year $64

Maine Moose Watching Tours FAQ’s

• All equipment provided. Lifejackets, paddles, boats, transportation, Registered Maine Guides, snack and drinks.
• Children under 10 years of age are only $39.00 (must be accompanied by an adult; maximum number of 2 children at the $39.00 discount rate).
• Maine moose watching group tours evening trips meet at 4:00 pm (May 1 – May 17) 5:00 pm (May 18 – August 9), 4:00 pm (August 10 – September 9) and 3:00 pm beginning Sept. 10
• Maine moose watching morning trips meet at 6:00 am (May 1 – October 13)
• Private moose safaris are available from Early May – Mid October.
• Maine moose watching tours are 3 1/2 to 4 hours long
• Please note that the 3 1/2 to 4 hours includes the ride to and from the pond for the canoeing portion. Approximately 1 1/2 hours is spent on the pond due to the remote location.

Please plan ahead. We only take a limited number of people per day on our wildlife and moose watching tours by van and or canoe. Last minute reservations are not always available, so Book Now . Call or email Northeast Whitewater Maine Moose Watching tours to set up your Maine moose tour or safari today:

sign up for northeast whitewater email newsletter exclusives!

Northeast Whitewater Moosehead Lake, Maine 207-695-0151 888-484-3317

Northeast Whitewater 155 Greenville Road Shirley Mills, Maine 04485

Passing Thru Travel

Maine’s Magnificence: 21 Essential Stops for Your Pine Tree State Adventure

Posted: May 14, 2024 | Last updated: May 14, 2024

Maine, known as the Pine Tree State, beckons with its rugged coastline, dense forests, and quaint towns. It’s a haven for those seeking solace in nature, the freshest seafood, and a touch of Americana that’s both rustic and refined. Here’s your guide to embracing all Maine offers, from the serene to the sensational.

1. Acadia National Park

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Eric Urquhart

Explore the first Eastern National Park for breathtaking views atop Cadillac Mountain and serene mornings by Jordan Pond. It’s an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise, offering everything from luxury inn stays to campgrounds under the stars.

2. Portland’s Culinary Scene

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Dav Himbt.

Indulge in Portland’s foodie scene, where lobster rolls meet craft brews and everything in between. High-end dining experiences and casual seafood shacks coexist, catering to every taste and budget.

3. The Lighthouses

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sara Winter

Tour Maine’s historic lighthouses, such as Portland Head Light, for a glimpse into maritime history and stunning ocean vistas. They’re iconic, free to visit, and perfect for those quintessential Maine photo ops.

4. Lobster Boat Tours

Image Credit: Shutterstock / spwidoff

Join a lobster boat tour for a hands-on experience of Maine’s most famous industry. Learn, lobster, and laugh your way through this unique activity that’s surprisingly affordable.

5. Camden Hills State Park

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Richard345

Hike or drive to the top of Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park for unparalleled views of Penobscot Bay. It’s a slice of heaven for nature lovers, with accommodations ranging from cozy B&Bs to camping sites.

6. The Wild Blueberry Festival

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sunny Forest

Celebrate Maine’s state berry at the Wild Blueberry Festival in Machias. It’s a sweet blend of food, arts, and community spirit, with free admission and berry delights for every palate.

7. The Allagash Wilderness Waterway

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Andrew Evertt

Paddle through the pristine waters of the Allagash Wilderness Waterway, a haven for canoeists and kayakers. It’s an off-the-grid adventure, with options for guided tours or solo journeys.

8. Old Orchard Beach

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Mircea Costina

Bask in the sun at Old Orchard Beach, home to a historic pier, amusement park, and 7 miles of sandy beach. It’s a family-friendly destination with a lively boardwalk and affordable seaside accommodations.

9. The Maine Maritime Museum

Image Credit: Shutterstock / EQRoy

Dive into Maine’s nautical history at the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath. It’s an enlightening experience with a modest admission fee, showcasing the state’s shipbuilding heritage and seafaring tales.

10. Skiing at Sugarloaf

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Kara Healey

Hit the slopes at Sugarloaf, Maine’s largest ski resort, offering thrilling runs for all skill levels. From luxury condos to budget-friendly lodges, it’s a winter sports paradise.

11. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Candia Baxter

Stroll through the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, a breathtaking expanse of flora and art installations. It’s a peaceful retreat for those seeking beauty and tranquility, with tickets priced for accessibility.

12. Bar Harbor

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Leonard Zhukovsky

Immerse yourself in the charm of Bar Harbor, a gateway to Acadia and a destination in its own right. It offers everything from high-end resorts to quaint inns, perfect for exploring the local culture and cuisine.

13. The Common Ground Country Fair

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Peter Pierce

Experience the best of Maine’s organic farming and sustainability at the Common Ground Country Fair. With a focus on local food, crafts, and community, it’s an enriching experience for a minimal entry fee.

14. Moosehead Lake

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Jeffrey M Levine

Discover the majesty of Moosehead Lake by boat, foot, or from the comfort of a lakeside cabin. It’s a nature lover’s dream, offering serene beauty and the chance to spot Maine’s iconic moose in the wild.

15. The Fryeburg Fair

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Enrico Della Pietra

Don’t miss Maine’s largest agricultural fair, the Fryeburg Fair, for a taste of local life, from livestock shows to carnival rides. It’s a family affair with something for everyone at a price that won’t break the bank.

16. Pemaquid Point Lighthouse

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Put Armstrong

Visit the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse for a picturesque view of Maine’s rugged coast. It’s a historical site with a small admission fee, offering a peaceful escape and a step back in time.

17. Whale Watching Tours

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Alexey Mhoyan

Embark on a whale-watching tour from Bar Harbor or Boothbay Harbor for an unforgettable encounter with the ocean’s giants. It’s a must-do experience, with options for every budget.

18. The International Cryptozoology Museum

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Paul Juser

For something truly offbeat, visit the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland. It’s a quirky and affordable attraction for those fascinated by the creatures of folklore and legend.

19. The Maine State Music Theatre

Image credit: Shutterstock / Kozlik

Enjoy a show at the Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick for a taste of Broadway in the heart of Maine. Offering a mix of classic and contemporary productions, it’s an artistic treat with ticket prices for all, from lavish orchestra seats to affordable balcony views.

20. Kennebunkport

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Lewis Directed Films

Kennebunkport, with its charming streets and maritime heritage, is a must-visit for luxury seekers and beach lovers alike. Stay in exquisite resorts or cozy beachfront cottages, dine in upscale seafood restaurants, or explore the shops and galleries for a quintessentially Maine experience.

21. Baxter State Park

Image Credit: Shutterstock / James Griffiths Photo

For the ultimate wilderness adventure, head to Baxter State Park. Home to Mount Katahdin and vast, untouched landscapes, it offers a rugged retreat with options for backcountry camping or staying in rustic cabins. It’s an immersion in nature that’s priceless, yet accessible to those prepared for the great outdoors.

Experience Maine

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sorapop Udomsri

Whether you’re indulging in lobster by the sea, exploring historic lighthouses, or trekking through dense forests, the Pine Tree State promises memories that last a lifetime. Pack your bags—Maine’s calling.

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The post Maine’s Magnificence: 21 Essential Stops for Your Pine Tree State Adventure republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sean Pavone.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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Maine’s tour guide to outer space is signing off after 25 years

During his tenure at the University of Southern Maine's Southworth Planetarium, Edward Herrick-Gleason has narrated thousands of sky tours and astronomy shows and established himself as local media's go-to expert for all things astronomical.

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Edward Herrick-Gleason is leaving his job as director of the Southworth Planetarium at the University of Southern Maine in Portland after 25 years. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

It was just a cheap poster of the solar system, hung on the wall of a basement laundromat and video arcade in Orono – a reputed hangout for pot smokers and a place that young Edward Herrick-Gleason had been warned about by the adults in his life.

But by age 13, Herrick-Gleason was already fascinated with things that seemed mysterious and remote. So he ventured down to the laundromat one day to check it out. The poster captured his attention like few other things had. It launched his lifelong passion for space and led to his job as manager of the University of Southern Maine’s Southworth Planetarium in Portland.

“I remember being so captivated by that poster. It just resonated with me on a very deep level,” said Herrick-Gleason, 54. “At the time, I was obsessed with the occult, with the supernatural and darkness, things that were remote and mysterious. And obviously, the solar system is pretty remote.”

Herrick-Gleason is leaving his longtime job this month, after 25 years, and will narrate his last show, a night-sky tour, on the planetarium dome Wednesday night. In a testament to his popularity with astronomy fans, the 62 seats for that free show are sold out.

Portland planetarium director says total eclipse will be totally worth it

He has tried to make the solar system seem a little less remote and mysterious during his time at the planetarium, narrating thousands of shows about the wonders and science of the universe. He’s written a blog on astronomy, spoken to local groups and become the go-to expert on astronomy for local media.

Whenever there’s an eclipse, super moon or other astronomical event, Herrick-Gleason is sought after by TV reporters, radio stations and newspapers to explain and demystify what’s about to happen. In the weeks leading up to the April 8 total solar eclipse , he was in especially high demand and seemed to defy the laws of time and space in his media appearances. Turn on the radio and you could hear him talking about the eclipse, flip to a local TV news show and there he was, telling people to be sure to wear the proper glasses. Open a newspaper ( including this one ), and he was explaining why totality was an experience not to be missed. Advertisement

Ron Thompson, of Yarmouth, was one of the first people to reserve a seat for Herrick-Gleason’s last astronomy show Wednesday. A longtime member of the Southern Maine Astronomers, Thompson has heard Herrick-Gleason give many talks and feels his enthusiasm for astronomy is unmatched.

“He’s so full of energy, it’s ridiculous. With his enthusiasm, you can’t help becoming more enthusiastic yourself,” said Thompson, 80. “He has done so much for our group over the years. That’s why I wanted to go (to his last planetarium show) and thank him.”

THE STORY OF THE SKIES

Herrick-Gleason’s enthusiasm, knowledge and storytelling skills have helped make him a “wonderful” ambassador for the planetarium and the university, said Thomas Bickford, director of STEM Outreach and Services at USM. Bickford estimates that hundreds of thousands of people, including lots of students, have listened to Herrick-Gleason’s presentations. He’s especially known for his night-sky tours on the planetarium dome, Bickford said.

Edward Herrick-Gleason teaches a class on the big bang theory at Southworth Planetarium on May 8. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer

“It’s these night-sky shows that mark Edward as the true professional in the field with a wealth of knowledge that is second to none,” said Bickford. “Not only will Edward walk you through what is going on in tonight’s sky, but will be able to answer, with interest and usually a flair for the fun side, whatever other questions might arise from the audience.”

Herrick-Gleason said it took him some years to become comfortable speaking in front of groups. He also didn’t realize, when he started at the planetarium, how much he’d enjoy talking to people one on one. Not just about astronomy, but about their lives. He remembers a talk he gave at a church once and the awe he felt from meeting a veteran who’d been in the Normandy invasion during World War II. Advertisement

He says he developed his knack for talking about the cosmos over the years with the help of some anonymity. He narrates planetarium shows from a somewhat hidden booth in the back of the darkened auditorium, surrounded by more control panels and audio hardware than you might find at some rock concerts. He finds that easier than speaking in front of a well-lit room of people.

The planetarium might host 25 to 30 shows and classes in a school vacation week – and around seven to 10 other weeks – though Herrick-Gleason does have part-time employees who lead shows, too.

Last Wednesday, Herrick-Gleason conducted one of his “Astronomy a la carte” classes in the planetarium. He had started the classes online during the pandemic – when the planetarium was forced to close – and now continues them in person. The session Wednesday was on the big bang theory, the creation of the universe.

He started the talk standing in front of his audience, pacing from side to side as he talked. He never uses notes anymore, though he says they’re fine for people starting out in the planetarium business. He often punctuates dramatic information with a long pause or a quick hand gesture.

“Imagine there is no time, no space, no dimension, no energy, no matter, no action, no dynamism. Can you do that?” Herrick-Gleason asks. “I can’t.”

On Thursday, sitting in the same auditorium but without an audience, he demonstrated how he sets up and narrates a show. First, he turned down the lights, then flipped some buttons and knobs on his control board to project the globular cluster Omega Centauri on the 30-foot-wide planetarium dome. The image is filled with brilliant specks of color – blue, green, red, yellow and white – like a high-powered Light Brite toy. Then, without looking at anything written down, he starts narrating. Advertisement

“This is a globular cluster containing more than a million stars. These globular clusters date back to the earliest days of the galaxy, some 12 billion years ago,” said Herrick-Gleason. “And they are like fireflies, and the halo of the galaxy. If you think of the galaxy as being this large disc, the halo is a spherical region centered on the nucleus. And these globular clusters just mill about it.”

DRAWN TO BASEMENTS

Though he’s been the facility’s manager for 25 years, he actually began at the planetarium as a student volunteer in 1992. After getting his bachelor’s degree in physics from USM in 1994, he started working there part-time and became manager in 1999. In talking about his journey in astronomy, Herrick-Gleason points out that he must be drawn to basements. The poster that sparked his interest was in one, and so is the Southworth Planetarium, in the USM Science Building on Falmouth Street.

Last week, Herrick-Gleason was training his replacement, John Haley, who has taught geology at the University of Maine at Farmington, as well as high school science.

Herrick-Gleason is moving partly because he feels like he’s been in one place long enough. In keeping with his passion for all things remote, he’s moving to St. John’s, in Newfoundland and Labrador, where his wife grew up.

He doesn’t have a job lined up but hopes to lead night-sky tours outside, once he gets a work permit. He says it’ll be a welcome change to just talk to a group about the stars and the sky without having to worry about technical problems, equipment breakdowns, scheduling, programming and all the other things that go into running a planetarium.

“One of the great ironies of my departure is that I’ll be able to do a lot more astronomy now,” he said.

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Browntail moth caterpillars may be facing ‘zombie’ apocalypse in Maine

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9 places to nosh on bagels in southern Maine

From old-school spots to foodie favorites, there's a 'hole' lot to try.

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Bread and bagels at The Works Cafe in downtown Portland. Photo by Aimsel Ponti

From New York-style boiled bagels to Montreal-inspired wood-fired ones, there’s lots of great bagels in southern Maine and several shops have the accolades to back that up.

In 2023, Bon Appetit named bagels from Rose Foods and Rover Bagel among the best in the country.

Two years before that,  Food & Wine Magazine put Rover, Forage and Scratch Baking Co. on its list of best bagels in the U.S.

Whether you like yours toasted with cream cheese or as the bread for your breakfast sandwich, you can find plenty of styles and flavors from Biddeford to Brunswick.

BEACH BAGELS

The offerings at Beach Bagels include a French toast and marble bagel, and the cream cheese menu comprises spreads like strawberry, olive and honey walnut. Along with breakfast sandwiches, Beach Bagels has hearty breakfast options like omelets and pancakes. Best of all, you’re steps away from a beach stroll. Just don’t let the seagulls steal your bagel. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily WHERE: 34 Old Orchard St., Old Orchard Beach. beachbagels.yolasite.com ______________

Dutchman’s opened in 2022 as a pop-up housed at Nomad pizza in Brunswick’s Fort Andross building. It’s since become a permanent fixture there and uses the pizzeria’s wood-fired ovens to bake its bagels. The hand-shaped, honey-boiled bagels come in plain, roasted garlic, poppy and a bagel-of-the-day flavor.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday to Sunday WHERE: Fort Andross, 14 Maine St., Brunswick. dutchmans.me ______________

FORAGE MARKET

Making bagels at Forage Market involves a two-day aging process. The bagels are naturally leavened with wild yeast starter and baked next to a hardwood fire. There are usually five flavors available, including sesame and garlic. Breakfast sandwiches (including vegan options) are available. Forage also has a location in Lewiston. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 123 Washington Ave., Portland. foragemarket.com _____________

MISTER BAGEL

There are 10 or so Mister Bagel locations in Maine, including South Portland and Falmouth. It all began with the Portland location, which was the first bagel shop to open in Maine. The late Rick Hartglass started Mister Bagel in 1977, and it is still a family business. Music fans will appreciate the breakfast sandwich menu, which includes The David Bowie (bacon, egg and American cheese), the Jimmy Buffett (egg with roast beef and cheddar) and The Lady Gaga (avocado, salt and pepper, with or without egg).

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to noon Saturday and Sunday WHERE: 599 Forest Ave., Portland. misterbagelforestave.com ______________

At Rose Foods, the menu varies depending on the day, but there are usually six to eight flavors available. For example, should you pop in on a Friday, you’ll find a poppy and onion bialy (a cousin of the bagel that is not boiled). Rose Foods also makes a number of bagel sandwiches, including the Classic Nova with Nova lox and the Classic Whitefish. Advertisement

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily WHERE: 428 Forest Ave., Portland. rosefoods.me

______________

ROVER BAGEL

At Rover Bagel, you’ll find wood-fired plain, poppy, sea salt, sesame and everything bagels available most of the time, and the spread game here is strong with cream cheese options like lemon-thyme-honey cream and chili-garlic.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 10 West Point Lane Suite 10-204, Biddeford (Pepperell Mill). roverbagel.com

______________ Advertisement

SCRATCH BAKING CO.

You haven’t lived until you’ve experienced the line of devoted fans waiting for Scratch Baking Co. to open, especially on weekend mornings. Along with the popular Maine sea salt, plain and other everyday flavors, Scratch has a daily special bagel. There’s honeyed rosemary on Wednesday and jalapeno cheddar on Thursday. Scratch is also famous, at least to locals, for its P-Cheese spread. It’s a pimento cheese recipe made with cheddar, mayo, roasted red peppers and seasoning and was passed down to co-owner and head baker Allison Reid by her grandmother, Mern.

WHEN: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to noon Sunday WHERE: 416 Preble St., South Portland. scratchbakingco.com ___________

THE MAINE BAGEL

The Maine Bagel is a drive-thru with several breakfast and other kinds of sandwiches available. With a bagel list that features egg and bialy among the standards, the family-owned spot is the perfect place to stop on your way to Pine Point Beach. The Maine Bagel really shines with a dozen kinds of cream cheese spreads, including raisin-walnut, lox, strawberry, cranberry-nut and bacon-chive.

WHEN: 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. WHERE: 117 Route 1, Scarborough. themainebagel.com Advertisement

THE WORKS CAFE

The Works Cafe is an institution on the edge of the Portland’s Old Port. It opened in 1990 as Bagel Works before it changed its name in 2002. The original shop in this regional chain opened in Manchester, Vermont, in 1988, and there are 11 locations around New England, though just the one in Maine. Gone are the ’90s-era banana-walnut bagels and cold pizza cream cheese, but The Works Cafe is still a reliable place to grab a salt, multigrain or cinnamon raisin bagel, among others. The menu also has bowls, sandwiches and smoothies.

WHEN: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily WHERE: 15 Temple St., Portland. workscafe.com

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Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand

The porn star testified for eight hours at donald trump’s hush-money trial. this is how it went..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

It’s 6:41 AM. I’m feeling a little stressed because I’m running late. It’s the fourth week of Donald J. Trump’s criminal trial. It’s a white collar trial. Most of the witnesses we’ve heard from have been, I think, typical white collar witnesses in terms of their professions.

We’ve got a former publisher, a lawyer, accountants. The witness today, a little less typical, Stormy Daniels, porn star in a New York criminal courtroom in front of a jury more accustomed to the types of witnesses they’ve already seen. There’s a lot that could go wrong.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Michael Barbaro. This is “The Daily.”

Today, what happened when Stormy Daniels took the stand for eight hours in the first criminal trial of Donald J. Trump. As before, my colleague Jonah Bromwich was inside the courtroom.

[MUSIC PLAYING]

It’s Friday, May 10th.

So it’s now day 14 of this trial. And I think it’s worth having you briefly, and in broad strokes, catch listeners up on the biggest developments that have occurred since you were last on, which was the day that opening arguments were made by both the defense and the prosecution. So just give us that brief recap.

Sure. It’s all been the prosecution’s case so far. And prosecutors have a saying, which is that the evidence is coming in great. And I think for this prosecution, which is trying to show that Trump falsified business records to cover up a sex scandal, to ease his way into the White House in 2016, the evidence has been coming in pretty well. It’s come in well through David Pecker, former publisher of The National Enquirer, who testified that he entered into a secret plot with Trump and Michael Cohen, his fixer at the time, to suppress negative stories about Trump, the candidate.

It came in pretty well through Keith Davidson, who was a lawyer to Stormy Daniels in 2016 and negotiated the hush money payment. And we’ve seen all these little bits and pieces of evidence that tell the story that prosecutors want to tell. And the case makes sense so far. We can’t tell what the jury is thinking, as we always say.

But we can tell that there’s a narrative that’s coherent and that matches up with the prosecution’s opening statement. Then we come to Tuesday. And that day really marks the first time that the prosecution’s strategy seems a little bit risky because that’s the day that Stormy Daniels gets called to the witness stand.

OK, well, just explain why the prosecution putting Stormy Daniels on the stand would be so risky. And I guess it makes sense to answer that in the context of why the prosecution is calling her as a witness at all.

Well, you can see why it makes sense to have her. The hush money payment was to her. The cover-up of the hush money payment, in some ways, concerns her. And so she’s this character who’s very much at the center of this story. But according to prosecutors, she’s not at the center of the crime. The prosecution is telling a story, and they hope a compelling one. And arguably, that story starts with Stormy Daniels. It starts in 2006, when Stormy Daniels says that she and Trump had sex, which is something that Trump has always denied.

So if prosecutors were to not call Stormy Daniels to the stand, you would have this big hole in the case. It would be like, effect, effect, effect. But where is the cause? Where is the person who set off this chain reaction? But Stormy Daniels is a porn star. She’s there to testify about sex. Sex and pornography are things that the jurors were not asked about during jury selection. And those are subjects that bring up all kinds of different complex reactions in people.

And so, when the prosecutors bring Stormy Daniels to the courtroom, it’s very difficult to know how the jurors will take it, particularly given that she’s about to describe a sexual episode that she says she had with the former president. Will the jurors think that makes sense, as they sit here and try to decide a falsifying business records case, or will they ask themselves, why are we hearing this?

So the reason why this is the first time that the prosecution’s strategy is, for journalists like you, a little bit confusing, is because it’s the first time that the prosecution seems to be taking a genuine risk in what they’re putting before these jurors. Everything else has been kind of cut and dry and a little bit more mechanical. This is just a wild card.

This is like live ammunition, to some extent. Everything else is settled and controlled. And they know what’s going to happen. With Stormy Daniels, that’s not the case.

OK, so walk us through the testimony. When the prosecution brings her to the stand, what actually happens?

It starts, as every witness does, with what’s called direct examination, which is a fancy word for saying prosecutors question Stormy Daniels. And they have her tell her story. First, they have her tell the jury about her education and where she grew up and her professional experience. And because of Stormy Daniels’s biography, that quickly goes into stripping, and then goes into making adult films.

And I thought the prosecutor who questioned her, Susan Hoffinger, had this nice touch in talking about that, because not only did she ask Daniels about acting in adult films. But she asked her about writing and directing them, too, emphasizing the more professional aspects of that work and giving a little more credit to the witness, as if to say, well, you may think this or you may think that. But this is a person with dignity who took what she did seriously. Got it.

What’s your first impression of Daniels as a witness?

It’s very clear that she’s nervous. She’s speaking fast. She’s laughing to herself and making small jokes. But the tension in the room is so serious from the beginning, from the moment she enters, that those jokes aren’t landing. So it just feels, like, really heavy and still and almost oppressive in there. So Daniels talking quickly, seeming nervous, giving more answers than are being asked of her by the prosecution, even before we get to the sexual encounter that she’s about to describe, all of that presents a really discomfiting impression, I would say.

And how does this move towards the encounter that Daniels ultimately has?

It starts at a golf tournament in 2006, in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. Daniels meets Trump there. There are other celebrities there, too. They chatted very briefly. And then she received a dinner invitation from him. She thought it over, she says. And she goes to have dinner with Trump, not at a restaurant, by the way. But she’s invited to join him in the hotel suite.

So she gets to the hotel suite. And his bodyguard is there. And the hotel door is cracked open. And the bodyguard greets her and says she looks nice, this and that. And she goes in. And there’s Donald Trump, just as expected. But what’s not expected, she says, is that he’s not wearing what you would wear to a dinner with a stranger, but instead, she says, silk or satin pajamas. She asked him to change, she says. And he obliges.

He goes, and he puts on a dress shirt and dress pants. And they sit down at the hotel suite’s dining room table. And they have a kind of bizarre dinner. Trump is asking her very personal questions about pornography and safe sex. And she testifies that she teased him about vain and pompous he is. And then at some point, she goes to the bathroom. And she sees that he has got his toiletries in there, his Old Spice, his gold tweezers.

Very specific details.

Yeah, we’re getting a ton of detail in this scene. And the reason we’re getting those is because prosecutors are trying to elicit those details to establish that this is a credible person, that this thing did happen, despite what Donald Trump and his lawyers say. And the reason you can know it happened, prosecutors seem to be saying, is because, look at all these details she can still summon up.

She comes out of the bathroom. And she says that Donald Trump is on the hotel bed. And what stands out to me there is what she describes as a very intense physical reaction. She says that she blacked out. And she quickly clarifies, she doesn’t mean from drugs or alcohol. She means that, she says, that the intensity of this experience was such that, suddenly, she can’t remember every detail. The prosecution asks a question that cuts directly to the sex. Essentially, did you start having sex with him? And Daniels says that she did. And she continues to provide more details than even, I think, the prosecution wanted.

And I think we don’t want to go chapter and verse through this claimed sexual encounter. But I wonder what details stand out and which details feel important, given the prosecution’s strategy here.

All the details stand out because it’s a story about having had sex with a former president. And the more salacious and more private the details feel, the more you’re going to remember them. So we’ll remember that Stormy Daniels said what position they had sex in. We’ll remember that she said he didn’t use a condom. Whether that’s important to the prosecution’s case, now, that’s a much harder question to answer, as we’ve been saying.

But what I can tell you is, as she’s describing having had sex with Donald Trump, and Donald Trump is sitting right there, and Eric Trump, his son, is sitting behind him, seeming to turn a different color as he hears this embarrassment of his father being described to a courtroom full of reporters at this trial, it’s hard to even describe the energy in that room. It was like nothing I had ever experienced. And it was just Daniels’s testimony and, seemingly, the former President’s emotions. And you almost felt like you were trapped in there with both of them as this description was happening.

Well, I think it’s important to try to understand why the prosecution is getting these details, these salacious, carnal, pick your word, graphic details about sex with Donald Trump. What is the value, if other details are clearly making the point that she’s recollecting something?

Well, I think, at this point, we can only speculate. But one thing we can say is, this was uncomfortable. This felt bad. And remember, prosecutor’s story is not about the sex. It’s about trying to hide the sex. So if you’re trying to show a jury why it might be worthwhile to hide a story, it might be worth —

Providing lots of salacious details that a person would want to hide.

— exposing them to how bad that story feels and reminding them that if they had been voters and they had heard that story, and, in fact, they asked Daniels this very question, if you hadn’t accepted hush money, if you hadn’t signed that NDA, is this the story you would have told? And she said, yes. And so where I think they’re going with this, but we can’t really be sure yet, is that they’re going to tell the jurors, hey, that story, you can see why he wanted to cover that up, can’t you?

You mentioned the hush money payments. What testimony does Daniels offer about that? And how does it advance the prosecution’s case of business fraud related to the hush money payments?

So little evidence that it’s almost laughable. She says that she received the hush money. But we actually already heard another witness, her lawyer at the time, Keith Davidson, testify that he had received the hush money payment on her behalf. And she testified about feeling as if she had to sell this story because the election was fast approaching, almost as if her leverage was slipping away because she knew this would be bad for Trump.

That feels important. But just help me understand why it’s important.

Well, what the prosecution has been arguing is that Trump covered up this hush money payment in order to conceal a different crime. And that crime, they say, was to promote his election to the presidency by illegal means.

Right, we’ve talked about this in the past.

So when Daniels ties her side of the payment into the election, it just reminds the jurors maybe, oh, right, this is what they’re arguing.

So how does the prosecution end this very dramatic, and from everything you’re saying, very tense questioning of Stormy Daniels about this encounter?

Well, before they can even end, the defense lawyers go and they consult among themselves. And then, with the jury out of the room, one of them stands up. And he says that the defense is moving for a mistrial.

On what terms?

He says that the testimony offered by Daniels that morning is so prejudicial, so damning to Trump in the eyes of the jury, that the trial can no longer be fair. Like, how could these jurors have heard these details and still be fair when they render their verdict? And he says a memorable expression. He says, you can’t un-ring that bell, meaning they heard it. They can’t un-hear it. It’s over. Throw out this trial. It should be done.

Wow. And what is the response from the judge?

So the judge, Juan Merchan, he hears them out. And he really hears them out. But at the end of their arguments, he says, I do think she went a little too far. He says that. He said, there were things that were better left unsaid.

By Stormy Daniels?

By Stormy Daniels. And he acknowledges that she is a difficult witness. But, he says, the remedy for that is not a mistrial, is not stopping the whole thing right now. The remedy for that is cross-examination. If the defense feels that there are issues with her story, issues with her credibility, they can ask her whatever they want. They can try to win the jury back over. If they think this jury has been poisoned by this witness, well, this is their time to provide the antidote. The antidote is cross-examination. And soon enough, cross-examination starts. And it is exactly as intense and combative as we expected.

We’ll be right back.

So, Jonah, how would you characterize the defense’s overall strategy in this intense cross-examination of Stormy Daniels?

People know the word impeach from presidential impeachments. But it has a meaning in law, too. You impeach a witness, and, specifically, their credibility. And that’s what the defense is going for here. They are going to try to make Stormy Daniels look like a liar, a fraud, an extortionist, a money-grubbing opportunist who wanted to take advantage of Trump and sought to do so by any means necessary.

And what did that impeachment strategy look like in the courtroom?

The defense lawyer who questions Stormy Daniels is a woman named Susan Necheles. She’s defended Trump before. And she’s a bit of a cross-examination specialist. We even saw her during jury selection bring up these past details to confront jurors who had said nasty things about Trump on social media with. And she wants to do the same thing with Daniels. She wants to bring up old interviews and old tweets and things that Daniels has said in the past that don’t match what Daniels is saying from the stand.

What’s a specific example? And do they land?

Some of them land. And some of them don’t. One specific example is that Necheles confronts Daniels with this old tweet, where Daniels says that she’s going to dance down the street if Trump goes to jail. And what she’s trying to show there is that Daniels is out for revenge, that she hates Trump, and that she wants to see him go to jail. And that’s why she’s testifying against him.

And Daniels is very interesting during the cross-examination. It’s almost as if she’s a different person. She kind of squares her shoulders. And she sits up a little straighter. And she leans forward. Daniels is ready to fight. But it doesn’t quite land. The tweet actually says, I’ll dance down the street when he’s selected to go to jail.

And Daniels goes off on this digression about how she knows that people don’t get selected to go to jail. That’s not how it works. But she can’t really unseat this argument, that she’s a political enemy of Donald Trump. So that one kind of sticks, I would say. But there are other moves that Necheles tries to pull that don’t stick.

So unlike the prosecution, which typically used words like adult, adult film, Necheles seems to be taking every chance she can get to say porn, or pornography, or porn star, to make it sound base or dirty. And so when she starts to ask Daniels about actually being in pornography, writing, acting, and directing sex films, she tries to land a punch line, Necheles does. She says, so you have a lot of experience making phony stories about sex appear to be real, right?

As if to say, perhaps this story you have told about entering Trump’s suite in Lake Tahoe and having sex with him was made up.

Just another one of your fictional stories about sex. But Daniels comes back and says, the sex in the films, it’s very much real, just like what happened to me in that room. And so, when you have this kind of combat of a lawyer cross-examining very aggressively and the witness fighting back, you can feel the energy in the room shift as one lands a blow or the other does. But here, Daniels lands one back. And the other issue that I think Susan Necheles runs into is, she tries to draw out disparities from interviews that Daniels gave, particularly to N-TOUCH, very early on once the story was out.

It’s kind of like a tabloid magazine?

But some of the disparities don’t seem to be landing quite like Necheles would want. So she tries to do this complicated thing about where the bodyguard was in the room when Daniels walked into the room, as described in an interview in a magazine. But in that magazine interview, as it turns out, Daniels mentioned that Trump was wearing pajamas. And so, if I’m a juror, I don’t care where the bodyguard is. I’m thinking about, oh, yeah, I remember that Stormy Daniels said now in 2024 that Trump was wearing pajamas.

I’m curious if, as somebody in the room, you felt that the defense was effective in undermining Stormy Daniels’s credibility? Because what I took from the earlier part of our conversation was that Stormy Daniels is in this courtroom on behalf of the prosecution to tell a story that’s uncomfortable and has the kind of details that Donald Trump would be motivated to try to hide. And therefore, this defense strategy is to say, those details about what Trump might want to hide, you can’t trust them. So does this back and forth effectively hurt Stormy Daniels’s credibility, in your estimation?

I don’t think that Stormy Daniels came off as perfectly credible about everything she testified about. There are incidents that were unclear or confusing. There were things she talked about that I found hard to believe, when she, for instance, denied that she had attacked Trump in a tweet or talked about her motivations. But about what prosecutors need, that central story, the story of having had sex with him, we can’t know whether it happened.

But there weren’t that many disparities in these accounts over the years. In terms of things that would make me doubt the story that Daniels was telling, details that don’t add up, those weren’t present. And you don’t have to take my word for that, nor should you. But the judge is in the room. And he says something very, very similar.

What does he say? And why does he say it?

Well, he does it when the defense, again, at the end of the day on Thursday, calls for a mistrial.

With a similar argument as before?

Not only with a similar argument as before, but, like, almost the exact same argument. And I would say that I was astonished to see them do this. But I wasn’t because I’ve covered other trials where Trump is the client. And in those trials, the lawyers, again and again, called for a mistrial.

And what does Judge Marchan say in response to this second effort to seek a mistrial?

Let me say, to this one, he seems a little less patient. He says that after the first mistrial ruling, two days before, he went into his chambers. And he read every decision he had made about the case. He took this moment to reflect on the first decision. And he found that he had, in his own estimation, which is all he has, been fair and not allowed evidence that was prejudicial to Trump into this trial. It could continue. And so he said that again. And then he really almost turned on the defense. And he said that the things that the defense was objecting to were things that the defense had made happen.

He says that in their opening statement, the defense could have taken issue with many elements of the case, about whether there were falsified business records, about any of the other things that prosecutors are saying happened. But instead, he says, they focused their energy on denying that Trump ever had sex with Daniels.

And so that was essentially an invitation to the prosecution to call Stormy Daniels as a witness and have her say from the stand, yes, I had this sexual encounter. The upshot of it is that the judge not only takes the defense to task. But he also just says that he finds Stormy Daniels’s narrative credible. He doesn’t see it as having changed so much from year to year.

Interesting. So in thinking back to our original question here, Jonah, about the idea that putting Stormy Daniels on the stand was risky, I wonder if, by the end of this entire journey, you’re reevaluating that idea because it doesn’t sound like it ended up being super risky. It sounded like it ended up working reasonably well for the prosecution.

Well, let me just assert that it doesn’t really matter what I think. The jury is going to decide this. There’s 12 people. And we can’t know what they’re thinking. But my impression was that, while she was being questioned by the prosecution for the prosecution’s case, Stormy Daniels was a real liability. She was a difficult witness for them.

And the judge said as much. But when the defense cross-examined her, Stormy Daniels became a better witness, in part because their struggles to discredit her may have actually ended up making her story look more credible and stronger. And the reason that matters is because, remember, we said that prosecutors are trying to fill this hole in their case. Well, now, they have. The jury has met Stormy Daniels. They’ve heard her account. They’ve made of it what they will. And now, the sequence of events that prosecutors are trying to line up as they seek prison time for the former President really makes a lot of sense.

It starts with what Stormy Daniels says with sex in a hotel suite in 2006. It picks up years later, as Donald Trump is trying to win an election and, prosecutors say, suppressing negative stories, including Stormy Daniels’s very negative story. And the story that prosecutors are telling ends with Donald Trump orchestrating the falsification of business records to keep that story concealed.

Well, Jonah, thank you very much. We appreciate it.

Of course, thanks for having me.

The prosecution’s next major witness will be Michael Cohen, the former Trump fixer who arranged for the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Cohen is expected to take the stand on Monday.

Here’s what else you need to know today. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a defiant response to warnings from the United States that it would stop supplying weapons to Israel if Israel invades the Southern Gaza City of Rafah. So far, Israel has carried out a limited incursion into the city where a million civilians are sheltering, but has threatened a full invasion. In a statement, Netanyahu said, quote, “if we need to stand alone, we will stand alone.”

Meanwhile, high level ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been put on hold in part because of anger over Israel’s incursion into Rafah.

A reminder, tomorrow, we’ll be sharing the latest episode of our colleague’s new show, “The Interview” This week on “The Interview,” Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with radio host Charlamagne Tha God about his frustrations with how Americans talk about politics.

If me as a Black man, if I criticize Democrats, then I’m supporting MAGA. But if I criticize, you know, Donald Trump and Republicans, then I’m a Democratic shill. Why can’t I just be a person who deals in nuance?

Today’s episode was produced by Olivia Natt and Michael Simon Johnson. It was edited by Lexie Diao, with help from Paige Cowett, contains original music by Will Reid and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Alyssa Moxley. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Michael Barbaro. See you on Monday.

• May 16, 2024   •   30:47 The Make-or-Break Testimony of Michael Cohen
• May 15, 2024   •   25:48 The Possible Collapse of the U.S. Home Insurance System
• May 14, 2024   •   35:20 Voters Want Change. In Our Poll, They See It in Trump.
• May 13, 2024   •   27:46 How Biden Adopted Trump’s Trade War With China
• May 10, 2024   •   27:42 Stormy Daniels Takes the Stand
• May 9, 2024   •   34:42 One Strongman, One Billion Voters, and the Future of India
• May 8, 2024   •   28:28 A Plan to Remake the Middle East
• May 7, 2024   •   27:43 How Changing Ocean Temperatures Could Upend Life on Earth
• May 6, 2024   •   29:23 R.F.K. Jr.’s Battle to Get on the Ballot
• May 3, 2024   •   25:33 The Protesters and the President
• May 2, 2024   •   29:13 Biden Loosens Up on Weed
• May 1, 2024   •   35:16 The New Abortion Fight Before the Supreme Court

Hosted by Michael Barbaro

Featuring Jonah E. Bromwich

Produced by Olivia Natt and Michael Simon Johnson

Edited by Lexie Diao

With Paige Cowett

Original music by Will Reid and Marion Lozano

Engineered by Alyssa Moxley

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube

This episode contains descriptions of an alleged sexual liaison.

What happened when Stormy Daniels took the stand for eight hours in the first criminal trial of former President Donald J. Trump?

Jonah Bromwich, one of the lead reporters covering the trial for The Times, was in the room.

On today’s episode

Jonah E. Bromwich , who covers criminal justice in New York for The New York Times.

Background reading

In a second day of cross-examination, Stormy Daniels resisted the implication she had tried to shake down Donald J. Trump by selling her story of a sexual liaison.

Here are six takeaways from Ms. Daniels’s earlier testimony.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

Jonah E. Bromwich covers criminal justice in New York, with a focus on the Manhattan district attorney’s office and state criminal courts in Manhattan. More about Jonah E. Bromwich

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