This is Where You Need to Celebrate National Lobster Day—Today!

Happy National Lobster Day!

Today lobster is seen as a seafood delicacy the world over, but it wasn’t always so highly prized. In fact, when the popularity of this spiny marine crustacean rose, way back in the 1800s, is was actually amongst the poorer classes.
Many New England servants lived off a diet solely consisting of lobster. There was even one community who passed a law limiting the frequency a household could feed lobster to their staff to just three times a week. It was even served in prisons to the inmates—much to their dismay. Back then you could walk down the beach at low tide and easily capture them. They were plentiful and cheap.

Oh, how things change.

Today, lobster fishing is a $1 billion industry in the state of Maine alone, with the delicious creatures fetching between $10 and $12 per pound at most markets. If you order lobster in a restaurant, expect to pay upwards of $32 for a one and a quarter pound whole lobster (bib included!) making them some seriously profitable commodities for the coastal communities who fish them.

Since today is National Lobster Day, Yahoo Travel explored some of the best places across the country to get crackin’ and indulge your love of lobster in all its meaty, butter soaked glory.

Maine

Celebrate Lobster Day with a super fresh lobster dinner at The White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport. (Photo: The White Barn Inn)

Lobster are at their most abundant in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Maine, making this state the unofficial US home of the lobster. If you ask anyone from New England they will tell you how much better the lobster is from there. And in all likeliness, this is probably true, due to the freshness of the goods available. With that being said, everyone should experience eating lobster which has just come out of the water at some point in their lives. Why not on National Lobster Day?

At The White Barn Inn in Kennebunkport, Maine, visitors can enjoy their signature Crustacean and Chip Dinner—a beer battered lobster with hand cut fries served with a sweet and spicy sauce. The dinner is $38 per person and served in their fabulous bistro, a AAA Five Diamond and Forbes Five Star restaurant.

Florida

Enjoy a lobster and brie grilled cheese at the Checca Lodge & Spa in Ismalorada. (Photo: Checca Lodge & Spa)

The state of Florida is famous for it’s spiny lobster, which calls the tropical Caribbean waters of the state’s coast its home. If you find yourself in the Southern State on June 15th head over to the Cheeca Lodge & Spa in Islamorada which is situated on a narrow spit of land that makes up part of the Florida Keys. Surrounded by stunning turquoise waters and teeming with marine life, this resort makes for an incredible place to relax and unwind.
And why not do that while enjoying a Lobster Grilled Cheese sandwich made with fresh Florida lobster, melted brie and toasted sourdough. Finish up with some home made gelato, made on the property. The sandwich will set you back just $18.

Related: How to Catch a Lobster in the Florida Keys

California

What better way to celebrate Lobster Day than by spending it sailing on the Freda B and digging into a lobster boil? (Photo: The Schooner Freda B)

The California spiny lobster is found along the entire length of the state, from Monterey in Northern CA down to the Gulf of Tehuantepec in Mexico. But much of the lobster served in restaurants in the state is shipped in from the East Coast.

Related: The 10 Most Mouth-Watering Lobster Rolls in the United States

In San Francisco you can join the crew of the Freda B for a day of sailing around Angel Island in the San Fransisco Bay before indulging in the Angel Island Lobster Feed, a traditional lobster boil served outside on the hillside grounds of The Mansion at Casa Madrona in Sausalito, CA, with amazing views of Richardson Bay and the San Fran skyline.

The Lobsta Shack will hook you up with with a tasty lobster bake. (Photo: Lobsta Truck/Facebook)

If you’ll be in the southern part of the state to celebrate National Lobster Day, why not head to the Lobsta Shack in downtown Los Angeles. This new fixed location restaurant, started by the genius team behind the Lobsta Truck, serves the incredible lobster rolls that made their street food truck famous, along with an expanded menu of other delicious seafood offerings. On June 15th they will be doing a buy two, get one free deal on whole live lobsters.

The newest addition to the restaurant’s repertoire is a traditional lobster bake, where the restaurant will deliver and set up everything you need for a full New England Lobster Bake experience. The meal features clam chowder, live lobsters, andouille sausage, clams, fixings and blueberry pies, and can be set up wherever you please for as many people as you want. How festive.

Of course the Lobsta Truck will also be on the streets and might be in your area if you want a more informal lobster eating experience.

Massachusetts

Head to charming seaside restaurant The Dunes for some of their famous lobster pot pie. (Photo: Winnetu Oceanside Resort/Facebook)

If a rustic and comforting dining experience is what you are looking for to celebrate National Lobster Day, head to the Winnetu Oceanside Resort in Martha’s Vineyard. The resort’s newly re-invisioned restaurant The Dunes recently reopened after a complete overhaul and now has a new name, decor and menu - the highlight of which is a decadent sounding Lobster Pot Pie ($18).
Fresh New England lobster tossed with vegetables in lobster cream and topped with a delicate pastry lid. Serve with a crisp glass of white wine. Perfection.

All this lobster talk is making us hungry.

So how are you going to celebrate National Lobster Day?

Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Check out our original adventure travel series A Broad Abroad.