Yes, I looked at the same map several times while also looking at three TMo phone all saying No Service. Many, many times. In Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and even parts of Connecticut and Massachusetts.
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Our neighbors with T Mobile don’t have much luck near our cabin.
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Our family has many different carriers and none get reliable service at camp (western Maine). There’s actually a duct taped X in the floor in the most likely spot, but only certain times of the day. We still have a seasonal landline for emergencies
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Interesting. I guess we’re lucky in our area which is so remote.
All - just finished our Maine trip. What a state!!! Since you all were so nice to share ideas, I wanted to let you know how it went - and what we did - for anyone who might go there or try themselves.
My overarching thoughts - the people are chill and that’s awesome. I saw more of the following than ever before:
- help wanted sign (I know everywhere is short employees, but not like Maine)
- plant based foods
- rainbow flags
- Subarus
- Bakeries - everywhere
- Ice Cream - unbranded - everywhere
- Lobster - everywhere and Blue Berry Pie - everywhere north of Portland
What I didn’t see much of:
- Starbucks - just two - and while there’s many Dunkin not as many as I thought.
- National Banks - no B of A, Citi, Wells Fargo…I used the ATM and paid a fee - not sure if my bank will give it back. The Bank of Bangor had no little stickers on the ATM
- Refills - twice I was charged on the “3rd” glass of iced tea…hmmmm Must be a Maine thing!!
What we did:
Last Saturday, we flew to Boston. I know many of you recommended against but it saved us four hours of flight time (non stop) and it worked for us. It’s a little hairy the first 5 miles - but after that all good. You’d think they’d make a highway.
We ate at Polcaris in Saugus, MA. They are home of Regina’s pizza which is supposedly famous. It was fine.
Our first Maine stop was that night in Ogunquick. Super cute town on the coast some of you recommended. We did the Marginal Way. Thanks. The coast was gorgeous with lots of crowded restaurants. We ate at the Treehouse Tacqueria and stayed the night in Augusta at the Fairfield Marriott - so had a late drive.
Sunday - Tuesday was Acadia. We stayed in Seal Harbor at a basic Air B&B. The location was outstanding - about a 5 minute drive from Jordan Pond and in between Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor. We only went to Bar Harbor once - tourist trap - we knew when two cruise ships were there. I thought the Jordan Pond restaurant was fine and we ate on their beautiful lawn. We ate at the West Side Cafe for dinner the first night in Bar Harbor - it was “fine” but had a disinterested server.
The next day we ate at the Colonels for lunch in Northeast Harbor and The Noreaster for dinner - both were solid.
Tuesday we did Southwest and Bass Harbor - and ate at Bub’s Burrito in SW Harbor.
We enjoyed the many hikes we did in Acadia and Tuesday night we drove to the Bed and Breakfast - Old Winterport Commercial. It wasn’t what I dreamed of a Bed & Breakfast - old building in not a tourist town - but the price was right and the reviews great. The room was very nice and I’m glad we stayed. We actually ate dinner in Bangor, about 15 minutes away at a place the inn keep recommended - Kimberlys. I was dying to try a lobster roll but hate mayo and they all have mayo. I asked if they could do without and they did for me - and served with warm butter. I didn’t realize these come cold - oops - but it was good.
Wed morning we left the B&B and stopped at the Sweet Cheeks bakery - because I used to call my daughter that when she was little - before she labeled that inappropriate. All I know is their baked goods - wow. Outstanding. We walked around Camden (really nice town) and walked out on the jetty to the lighthouse in Rockway. It’s 7/8 each way and the waves crash against the pier -but it was fun. Interestingly, there is no sign or description related to the light house. We ate lunch at the Home Town Cafe in Rockway and it was yummy and my better half visited the Puffin Museum. I definitely liked Camden more than Rockway but both were nice.
Wednesday night we broke with your all suggestions (sorry) and checked into Moody’s Motel. We LOVED IT. We had our own cabin with screened in porch - and the rooms, while small, are nice with hard word floors, a comfy bed. For us, it was like a Kozy Kabin at COA meets a motel - just a lot of fun. We also ate dinner and breakfast there OK, the food isn’t the best but of the three blueperry pies we ate in Maine, this was easily the best. For those with young kids/grand kids, they have a swing set and a teeter totter by the cabins - I mean, who has those…loved Moodys and did some hiking in the forest near there.
Thursday was the Booth Bay farmers market (bought some yummy granola) and then the botanical gardens for 4 hours. This place is so impressive but moreso is that some residents decided to create this just 30 years ago and mortgaged their homes to make it happen. Wow. If you go to Maine, this is a must do. We missed lunch this day but enroute to our hotel in Brunswick we stopped at Monteags Farm Restaurant - I had the lobster bisque and a berry salad and it was really really good!! Great restaurant. We did pass by Red’s Eats - apparently the best lobster rolls - the line was HUGE.
We stayed in Brunswick on Thursday at the yawn - Best Western - which was actually nice and ate at Wild Oats, the top rated breakfast place in Brunswick.
Then we walked Bowdoin for 40 minutes - ehhhhh - not as nice as others - but ok.
And then we hit Portland and Peak Island where we biked around for a few hours and had lunch at Baba on the island - outstanding cookies.
DInner was in Portland - we went Japanese at Yosaku - wasn’t the highest rated on Yelp but had a nice patio and we really enjoyed it - had what they call Teppan - but it wasn’t Teppan as we were not in front of a griddle. This was rather like meat on the BBQ and unique to Japanese veggies - green beans, potatoes and more - on the grill. NOt greasy…so very good. And I broke down and had Desert Island Ice Cream - ehhhhh - so so.
We stayed at the AC Marriott right in downtown Portland. The city was much smaller than I would have imagined - and that was nice as everything was close by the hotel.
This morning we hit the Holy Donut (outside of downtown) and had the apple cider donut. And there was a farmer’s market there where we got some fresh cider - so that was yummy.
We stopped in what I think was our favorite city on the way back to Boston - Portsmouth NH. What a great downtown area - we enjoyed it more than Portland - walking around, seeing the drawbridge go up. They have a substantial downtown area - and pack a lot of businesses in. We ate lunch at The Works Bakery and Cafe.
We left at 1:15 enroute to Boston and pulled into the rental car center at 2:30, about 10 minutes slower than the nav said - but I did have to stop for gas and like many of you said, there would be traffic (a little). After dropping the car, we were at the gate at 3:05 for a 4:40 flight. So for us, we got lucky and the Boston trip worked - or we’d have missed what might have been our two favorite cities - Portsmouth and Ogunquit.
So it was a great week. Of course I wrote too much but wanted to share what we did for others interested, who live there, or who wanted to see how our trip bounced vs. what you’ve all done b4.
Thanks again - you all gave a ton of great ideas and my better half had sheets and sheets of your messages!!
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I had to laugh at this. There is a highway but it was probably jammed (frequently happens) so your gps routed you around it. I wonder what route it had you taking to get north.
Your trip sounds like a lot of fun. ME is a great place to vacation.
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I think you went to Rockland, not Rockway…right?
Glad you had the pie at Moodys.
Sounds like a busy but fun trip.
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Rockland. My bad. There’s also a Rockport - we didn’t go but I wondered if it was related to the shoes!!
You get to route one after taking a few roads to get there including a u turn and darting cars like in a video game. Red lights sometimes mattered. You have to drive aggressive so my better half wasn’t loving. Just for 5 miles. We took the 1 both ways so whatever it took to get to it. The highway signs from the north actually have you get off at 1.
I want to say the 16 is where we got off the 1. The signs said an earlier exit but Apple Maps and waze both disagreed. I think the area was Chelsea.
Not a criticism but had to laugh at Treehouse Tacqueria and Bub’s Burrito. Because we live in the SW, we have a rule that while in Maine we eat no Mexican food, just for the break. We focus on seafood while we’re here.
As for Boston, DH’s sister is visiting with us right now, and she flew in to Boston because she was afraid a connecting flight to Portland would get cancelled. DH went to get her alone and will drop her off alone. I won’t make a five hour round trip just to pick someone up or drop them off if they’re under 80.
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The first place - we couldn’t get in anywhere else. This was a 30 min wait - ogunquit was packed.
The second - we were in sw harbor, trying to get back to ‘Thundering Hole’ in The main part of Acadia b4 high tide, didn’t have time and it had 5 stars in yelp.
But yeah I laughed myself as we did and Japanese the last night. We each had lobster just once (not our thing) and I had a cup of bisque at Monteags. I liked that place a lot. The better half had grilled haddock there - she liked - and it was our collective only haddock occasion.
From Portland to BOS showed an hr 35. Of course we detoured slightly to Portsmouth but I think the nav was within 10 minutes of reality. Both ways.
You’re in Boston - that’s how it is there. That’s why I don’t drive to the airport. I fly out of Portland or take the bus directly to Logan.
When I made the mistake of driving one time before I had a good GPS app, I got so lost coming home from the airport that I had to stop at a police station to get directions.
Yes, the only place I will eat Mexican up here is Margarita’s in Portland. They do a decent job. But I can’t wait to go to Austin in October for real Tex Mex.
And ugh, I just realized I’m breaking my cardinal rule to drive to Logan to pick up my daughter after she returns from a trip in November. She made the mistake of booking a return flight that arrives so late, after 11 pm, that there are no more buses to Portland. So I told her I will come get her. I don’t mind - she has helped a LOT with transporting her older brother to medical appointments.
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Airport to airport is about an hour and a half, but from our cabin to Logan is 2.5 hours. If you’re not one of our elderly parents who can’t navigate a connection reliably, you get yourself to Portland if you want to visit us. After picking up his sister, DH agrees. No more five-hour round trips no matter how much we love you.
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I get it. Wife doesn’t like one stops. And the time save. We could have gone to Manchester too - one stop and allegiant flies to Portsmouth although I’m not sure it’s every day. I think southwest flies to Portland non stop from Nashville. But not every day.
It’s just under two hours from our house to the airport IF there are no traffic issues. But that’s a huge if.
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Obviously we took a chance but we timed, via the nav, when we needed to be and where.
We loved Portsmouth - I think if we go back we’d go there and maybe skip Portland although we did enjoy Peak Island.
Tons of small towns….I figured Maine would be really rural. It must be north of Bangor but tons of people, cars to the south.
Only heard one Boston accent - u know caaar. On peak island …one person wearing a byu sweatshirt to tie into the CC.
Not in Maine. Not at the restaurant in Saugus. Not at the airport.
All in all great trip - highly recommend to someone looking to do something different.
Maybe will do Canada - Montreal or Quebec City and east next time
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That’s because you hugged the coast and the larger cities. Maine is primarily a rural state, but you have to drive inland to enjoy that. From where I sit, Maine is all trees and wildlife.
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@tsbna44 next time you find yourself in Portsmouth, I highly recommend visiting Strawberry Banke, a living history museum that also has beautiful gardens. It’s a lovely setting and the tour guides are excellent. https://www.strawberybanke.org/
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Walked by or near. But will do. We had 90 mins. Walked the Main Street, saw the draw bridge and ate at a good Panera type place.
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