By Molly Chester, Certified Travel Advisor and Scarborough resident

I book travel for a living, and I have sent clients to private islands in the Maldives, vineyard hotels in Tuscany, and tented camps in Botswana where the elephants walk through camp at dusk. But come summer in Maine, I’m drafting weekend itineraries for people sleeping in my spare room, and I thought some go-to’s might be worth sharing with fellow Scarborough-ers preparing to open their Vacationland homes to friends and family.

My first move is a morning Scarborough Marsh paddle from the Audubon, which frames our beautiful marsh from a beyond-special vantage point. From there, it’s on to a dip or a full beach day at Pine Point, where I like to walk a bit down the wide stretch of sand toward Old Orchard for a bit more breathing room. I am always grateful for our beach sticker! Ken’s for fried clams on the way out (crumb over batter, personally), or the Bait Shed if the group is in the mood for a longer lunch and a frosty drink with an unbeatable view.

If you read this column last summer, you already know how I feel about the Casco Bay mailboat run. For those who missed it, the mailboat is the actual mail delivery route through the islands, a few hours on the water stopping at Peaks, Little Diamond, Great Diamond, Chebeague and beyond. Stop at Bite into Maine on the way to the ferry terminal for lunch to bring on board. Pro-tip: Get the Maine style lobster roll and ask for the Connecticut style melted butter on the side, best of all the lobster roll worlds.

If my guests come bearing dogs, Fort Popham is my go-to day trip: a beautiful drive up the coast, a great beach, and dogs welcome all day year-round. For everyone else, Popham Beach State Park next door delivers the same gorgeous drive and some of the most wild and dramatic views on our nearby coast. Bradbury Mountain if anyone wants a hike with a real payoff view without a whole production, and Mackworth Island for visitors with kids: a causeway walk, a pebbly beach to splash around, and fairy houses tucked in the woods that are a treat for all to seek out.

If the weather turns towards the too-hot or an afternoon thunderstorm, the L.L. Bean outlet in Freeport is a no-brainer to pick up some of Maine’s famed local wares at nice discounts. Bayside Bowl in Portland for bowling and good vibes, or the Portland Museum of Art, which punches well above its weight, much like Portland itself.

For the evening, I either bring the visitor(s) back to Scarborough and stop at Flaherty’s Family Farm or Pine Tree Seafood for a haul of vegetables, steamers, and lobster to enjoy in the backyard, or refresh and head out to Portland. Fore Street if they want the definitive Maine farm-to-table experience and are prepared to be impressed, J’s Oyster for classic Portland on the water, followed by a walk to the Porthole for live music, or Izakaya Minato for my personal favorite Portland dining experience: a sleeper hit of a small-plates restaurant that is starting to gather national attention but has long been a local classic.

That is my summer guest playbook in brief, and I hope it serves you well this summer, too!

Molly Chester lives in Scarborough and plans trips to destinations near and far as the founder of MChesterTravel.com.

Photo courtesy of The Bait Shed.