With both kids in college, it’s time for the Mrs. and I to get out an explore. Somehow we both said - we’ve never been to Maine - let’s do it. It will be state 50 for me. We are going Sept 10 - 17.
Besides Acadia (we figure two or three nights) and Lighthouses, any thoughts on filling a week?
Also, by Acadia, any thoughts on reasonably priced accommodations near the park? I guess you can that that for Portland too and any other recommended areas? The state is uber expensive. We’ll probably mix in some chains (I have points) and bed & breakfasts.
One thing to note - in reading what to do, there’s a ton of breweries in the state - and that’s not our thing. We’ll hike and sightsee.
Also, does it make sense to cross into New Brunswick or venture up to Quebec City (I have a feeling that might be another trip).
Definitely spend a couple nights in Portland. Belfast is a cool little town in between Acadia and Portland. Acadia the usual suspects - Thunder Hole, Cadillac Mountain and the hike around the on the edge of Sand Beach is a personal favorite. There are little islands to go out to also but I don’t have info as we usually stay an hour or so away from Acadia and do it as a day trip. The beaches in southern Maine are nice, but way too crowded most places in the summer. I wouldn’t try to add the Canada stuff on - plenty to do in Maine! And definitely eat lobster rolls!!
I think @MaineLonghorn gave us good recommendations for B&Bs in Bar Harbor that were really reasonable. Our problem was we needed two to three rooms and they didn’t have enough space for us. We stayed at the Bar Harbor Motel. It was great! But not a 5 star place if that’s what you want. It’s 1-1.5 miles from the park and Bar Harbor, but their door step is a bus stop for the tram. We didn’t use our car once while we were there. And they had an awesome breakfast even during covid. And the staff was very nice.
Edit - we did use our car to drive up Cadillac Mountain and then to the lighthouse. But otherwise, we rode the tram
Another possibility to think about: It is possible and even reasonably common to rent a cottage on the ocean – more often on an inlet or cove connected to the ocean. People will often spend a few days boating or kayaking, and from time to time eating lobster. We wait until mid June before we start kayaking because the ocean is still cold now (and only some of us eat lobster).
A week ago it was perhaps 80 degrees inland. We went up right on the coast of Maine and found it to be 50 degrees and foggy. Ten miles inland the temperature was a lot warmer. Having a light jacket with you might be wasted, or might be needed. I still own a light fleece jacket that I purchased on the coast of Maine specifically because I failed to take one along one time and found that I needed it.
There is a maritime museum in Bath that is worth seeing. At some point we took a schooner trip that started very close to the maritime museum. I think that they might be associated with each other.
We have driven from New Brunswick to Southern Maine, and it is a long way. You can do it in a day, but both Maine and New Brunswick are bigger than they look on a map. The Hopewell Rocks are really cool, but they are up slightly past Moncton and therefore relatively far from Maine. I think that I would do it on a different trip.
Quebec City also might want to be done on a different trip.
If you want the “quintessential Maine experience” try Thurston’s Lobster Pound. It’s fairly expensive, but it was nice to watch the boats out in the harbor and enjoy our lobster.
We are hikers and bicycle riders, and we really liked riding our bikes around the Schoodic Peninsula (the quiet side of Acadia).
We stayed at a place you can see by googling “Alone Moose Waterfront Suites.” The owner was wonderful. NOTE - it did not have central AC when we were there, and it’s not particularly fancy, but it met our needs well, and is in a great location.
You can rent bikes and ride in Acadia on the carriage trails. I wouldn’t ride the big loop that everyone drives on.
We stopped in Portland for 3 days on our way. I think we just stayed at a Holiday Inn there. It was fine. We did a lot of walking and biking around Portland. We did a bike tour that included 5 lighthouses. (We did in on our own, but they have an escorted tour to do it also). @MaineLonghorn is probably the most knowledgeable person about Maine on CC.
Maine is so lovely. Acadia, Portland and Bar Harbor are great places to explore. We loved New Brunswick, Campobello Island with the FDR house was a highlight. St. Andrews in NB is charming Stayed at the Algonquin many years ago.
I agree with sticking to Maine. New Brunswick is a long, long drive and you won’t see anything more than you would here. I like Camden a lot. Hike up Mount Battie to get a beautiful view.
The Sea Croft Inn in Bar Harbor is great. Affordable, a block from the water, parking which is convenient to walking around town. The only place we stay.
I would recommend taking the free bus around Acadia. It’s almost impossible to park your car at beaches, trailheads, etc. Research online to learn about buying passes to go up Cadillac Mountain or in other parts of the park. Acadia has gotten very crowded so you want to be prepared. Look up info on the carriage roads to find places you want to hike.
If I had a chance to return to Maine, I’d rent a cabin on Moosehead Lake for several days or a week. I enjoyed Portland on our last visit, but next time I’d want to spend time in Bangor and some small towns.
It just depends what visitors want, the stereotypical coastal experience or what locals like. I’ve shared before that our cabin is near Flagstaff Lake, Mount Bigelow, and the Appalachian Trail. This area is my favorite in Maine but you have to like the wilderness. You won’t see tourists unless you do something like whitewater rafting.
The best whale watching we’ve ever seen was in Maine in September. We saw a humpback and her calf and the momma was teaching the baby how to fin slap and do some other whale behaviors. It was an amazing experience! We did it out of Bar Harbor.
We took our time driving up the coast and I fondly remember eating lobster crepes for lunch in Kennebunkport. No idea the name of the place or if it’s still there but we enjoyed walking around town and gawking at the mansions.
Agree, Absolutely depends on what someone prefers. I loved our driving trip in Maine and New Brunswick 20 + years ago with my sister and sons(husband stayed home with the dog!). Flew into Bangor and rented a car, went to Acadia (great popovers), went to a lobster pound , explored some coastal Maine towns, crossed into NB from Lubec (I think) , saw Campobello, St. Andrews by the Sea(Kingsbrae Garden, Bay of Fundy, whale watching). A very memorable trip. I like gardens, historical stuff, etc.
Have been to Portland and Bar Harbor a couple of times on cruises and enjoyed that as well.
Good luck with the planning, @tsbna44 . That’s half the fun!
Also - if you haven’t booked your hotels, do so immediately. I have a friend who wanted to go in August and couldn’t find anything near where she wanted to stay. September starts to b foliage time so it can still be crowded.
Yeah so far all I did was book air to Boston. I need to get on that. We thought waiting til after Labor Day we’d catch a break and I think we do but it’s still pricey.
On the flip side, I want to find good cancellation policies or maybe we’ll just book the first few days in case we alter the agenda.
If you prefer coastal, then definitely hiking in Acadia is great. Check if the island explorer bus is still running when you will be here, if not you will need to use the reservation system to secure parking at the more popular sites. Portland is lovely for a few days, great restaurants, fun to take the ferry out to Peaks Island, and make sure to stop at LLBean in Freeport.
Consider a day trip to Boothbay Harbor. The Audobon boat tour out to see the puffins is lots of fun and low seasickness risk.
If hiking is your jam, consider trekking out to Western Maine to climb the Bigelows, Tumbledown, Bald Pate, etc. Farther north you can do whitewater rafting on the Kennebec or Allagash Rivers and potentially spend time in Rangeley or Moosehead Lake.
And try to get restaurant reservations, too. It’s tough as a local. We’re used to eating wherever we want without much notice, but it’s changed. We have to get reservations in advance! Darned tourists, ha.
Reading someone’s post reminded me - when we were in Portland, one evening we jumped on a ferry and rode to an island and back at sunset. It was great weather, and we got some nice pics. It was cheap, but I can’t remember exactly how much.
With just a week, I would keep the trip to the coast of Maine only. From Boston, the “stops” I would suggest:
~Southern Maine: Kennebunkport/Ogunquit
~Boothbay Harbor
~Camden
~Acadia National Park / Bar Harbor
