We usually fly into and out of Boston because airfare is cheaper. It’s a couple of hours to drive.
1 Like
@groundhog74 where are you flying from? And what airline?
St Louis and Southwest
Southwest goes to Boston and Portland, so depending on where your coming from, one or the other might be easier/cheaper. Boston’s only a two-hour drive away. For us, coming from Denver, Portland is usually cheaper and easier (though never a direct flight) – but not always, and Boston is a reasonable option.
I find the Portland airport and car rental experience far more sane than Logan. Boston is an option, for sure, and if you do that, you might want to stay near the airport for the last night to save yourself the stress of worrying about traffic getting there, etc.
2 Likes
Unless you are planning to do things in Boston, I would suggest flying Southwest into Portland. The airport in Portland is much easier to navigate. And if you stay in Portland, you will be close to your hotel, not a two hour drive away.
Another Southwest destination to check when you are looking at prices is Manchester NH. It’s also a couple of hours to Portland but is one of the easiest airports I’ve ever been to.
But I’d choose Portland.
2 Likes
Well, for us it comes down to cost. Sometimes there’s a big difference. We fly out of Portland, Manchester, and Boston. Manchester hasn’t been cheaper for us in awhile, though.
If we are staying in Portland and doing tours on different days, does it matter what order we see Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby? Or is there a reason to combine two on one day? Thanks.
It doesn’t really matter what order, but Colby is farther away than the other two. Bates and Bowdoin are only about 30 minutes apart, so if you were to combine two in one day, it would make sense to do those two.
I know your daughter is interested in environmental studies. If you have time, you might want to try to see Bowdoin’s coastal studies center and Bates’s Morse Mountain coastal preserve. Both would take more time (and the Morse Mountain preserve is actually closer to Bowdoin than it is to Bates).
2 Likes
We visited Bowdoin and Bates in March, and it was fine, not terribly cold, although maybe we were lucky. We stayed in Portland, as many have recommended here, at a relatively inexpensive hotel right in front of the harbor. We enjoyed Portland as well as the drives to and from the two schools. I think we did Bates first and Bowdoin second, but no particular thought behind that order. We had lunch in Lewiston (an Italian restaurant in a renovated factory complex) and Brunswick (I can’t remember what, but there are a number of nice restaurants right near the school), and we also stopped off in Freeport on the way back from Bowdoin. It was a good trip, although I’m not sure how adding in Colby, which we did not visit, would affect things. We flew into Portland, and it really is a very easy and convenient airport.
2 Likes
Agree with @Shelby_Balik that Colby is the one to do on its own as the other two are closer to each other and closer to Portland. Done that way, the two days won’t feel too rushed or exhausting.
4 Likes
Colby is just 30-40 minutes up the highway from Bowdoin. You drive right past the turn off of Bowdoin on your way from either Boston or the Portland airport. We toured both in one day and it was fine.
2 Likes
It’s about 50 minutes. Not bad, though.
1 Like
The issue here is that the poster is working out a strategy to see all 3 BBC schools. If they were visiting only two in one (long) day, Colby could be one of them – it’s about 75 minutes from Portland-- but if they have two days to see 3, it makes sense to do the "B"s on one day and “C” on the other.
That strategy also makes it possible to grab a bite in each of the towns or have a dining hall meal. That’s helpful if the point is to try to get a feel for the vibe at each.
2 Likes
Yes, I wouldn’t do all three in a day.
2 Likes
Maine is horrible from December 1st to about June 1st, although it is possible to string together some good days in May. The spring is a muddy, grey mess and the weather is never really great until mid to late June. Summer is good after July, but it really shines in the Fall. Other than that, only thing to do in the winter is ski or play basketball. Sorry to be blunt but that is the way it is. You have to embrace an activity in the winter.
For March recommend staying in Portland.
1 Like
But if you have a student who wants to attend college wherever, it’s my opinion they should see the college when the weather is not picture perfect.
3 Likes
Weather is in the eye of the beholder. March is not the loveliest month. But it can range from snow/mud/rain to crisp early spring. I personally love winter in northern New England, but I happen to like the cold. If you’re a warm-weather person, Maine is not for you.
3 Likes
I agree with all who say Portland or Freeport. There are a couple of beautiful hikes on the road between Freeport and Lewiston. Especially Bradbury Mtn. State Park, which has views to the coast. But, if snow and ice are around, you will need Yak Traks or ice cleats to hike safely. If outdoor time is not on the agenda at all, I’d probably choose Portland because it’s lovely with great shops and restaurants.
At the colleges, the Arctic Museum at Bowdoin is neat. Both Bates and Colby have wonderful art museums. The LA Museum in Lewiston is good too.
2 Likes
Agree