portstr – exploring ports of call

Nestled in the heart of the Caribbean, Gustavia, the capital of Saint Barthélemy (St. Barts), is a breathtaking port of call that exudes charm, elegance, and tropical allure. This tiny yet vibrant harbor town, known for its French sophistication and laid-back island atmosphere,…

We had been warned. It should have been little surprise to us when the older woman–she never told us her name–appeared from around a corner of low bushes. She piloted the golf cart expertly, coming to a stop just a few feet ahead…

Maybe we were wrong to do it like this from the start. Maybe trying to codify, or even observe, what it is that makes island life unique just leads to its being transformed and ultimately diminished. “Hm. I’m not sure,” Lyn McElwee responds…

Make no mistake, Cliff Islanders are nice. Nine-year-old Rufus MacVane will tell you all about that.“There’s Bobby, he’s a super nice guy. He helps people a lot and he’ll always wave to you. And then there’s Crowley. I call him Crowley, his real name is Dave. .…

With stay at home measures in place due to the coronavirus pandemic, many people have had to cancel travel and vacations. It’s disappointing and disheartening to have to cancel or postpone something you’ve been looking forward to, but just because plans have to change, doesn’t mean we can’t still experience some of the joy of traveling.

Quiet picnic spots, porpoises and seals, remote campsites and seldom-seen coastal beauty await. Little Chebeague isn’t as little as you might think. My guide is leading me into the island’s dense, leafy interior. I can hear the words that she used before we…

“Everything that slows us down and forces patience, everything that sets us back in the slow circles of nature, is a help.” That quote comes from a posthumous publishing of the journals of May Sarton, the Belgian-born, Massachusetts-raised poet and memoirist who spent…

Cousins, Littlejohn islands offer year-round, drivable, Casco Bay bounty Bring your bike. Bring a camera. And pack a lunch. This is the distillation of advice that my travel partner and I received from locals – well, basically locals – during our recent foray…