Camden is really nice…and in my opinion should be on the list as a darling small town with great hiking and such very nearby!
2 Likes
I’ve been to Camden twice. My daughter (separately) has been there as well. This time, they got an Airbnb cottage where they can walk to everything, though they will have a car.
All - great thoughts - so let me let you know where we stand - so we can get some ooohs or boos 
We’ve changed back and forth but think we’ve settled on this:
-
Land in Boston 2:30P and night one Augusta - using points is why and setting us up for the next days. There won’t be much to do that day but we can stop for dinner in a cute town - whether Portsmouth, Ogunquit, etc. This is a Saturday.
-
We take the indirect, more scenic way to Acadia from Augusta- and will do Acadia Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. We are staying in Seal Harbor, per many recommendations, at a sort of bare bones place - close to Jordan Pond (two nights). It’s a place either over or under a bakery (not sure - just know there’s a bakery there). So there Sunday and Monday nights.
-
We leave Acadia end day Tuesday and start driving down the cost and found a B&B - not on the coast - actually ten miles from Bangor but great reviews. It’s called Old Winterport Commercial House. It’s not that far off the coast path as we head toward Camden. The reason we chose it - it’s a B&B - and while we’ve found quaint hotels, none were a B&B and usually those breakfasts are great!! We found nice places but just motels and wanted the B&B experience.
-
On Wed we do Camden and Wed night is at Moody’s - doesn’t look like much - it’s a diner and motel some of you mentioned - but my wife is excited for both the lemon meringue and blueberry pie. And you can’t beat the lodging price - and reviews are great!!.
-
Thursday - is Boothbay Harbor and many of you have recommended the gardens and that is being strongly considered - so thank you. It’s the one night we’ve yet to book a hotel. But we will get within range of Portland but hopefully something not $500 a night. Perhaps we hit LL Bean that day / night - because it was like when we were in Vermont, we went to Ben & Jerry - not that it was impressive but it’s just Vermont!! We are not LL Bean people but still. Perhaps we’ll find another B&B - sneak in a second one for the trip.
-
Friday will be all Portland - whatever we can fit in and Friday Night is the AC Marriott Portland Waterfront - and we fly out of Boston at 4:30P on Saturday so probably need to get on the road by noon-ish if not sooner.
Thanks for all the great feedback everyone has given.
A few questions for you all who’ve recently been or just know - the loop road - is it one way or two way between Seal Harbor and Bar Harbor.
Also, Cadillac Mountain - no way we can make sunrise - we are night people. Is it worth it at other times - later day or sunset?
Thanks to all.
Cadillac Mountain is nice any time of day (provided it is clear so you get a great view). This year you need to get a timed ticket in advance to drive up to the summit.
2 Likes
If you’re trying to get to Bar Harbor from Seal Harbor, use Rt. 3, not the loop road. Much, much more direct. You can access the park loop road from Seal Harbor using the Stanley Brook entrance, which puts you on a 2-way stretch of the loop road.
4 Likes
Traffic COULD be bad on Saturdays, so don’t push it too late. One year we had to go to a wedding in New Hampshire and got stuck on the turnpike for quite awhile.
1 Like
But how does the overall flow seem? We should have added a day - but 7 days, 8 days - guess doesn’t matter - and there’s always a return trip if needed. Or if we’re done at Acadia in two days we can add a day elsewhere and just back track to hotels as nothing is too far as you work down the coast.
I’m not too worried about Saturday. I get off the plane, to the car - no lines as I’m executive aisle at national - and we have no agenda - so we’ll get to where we need - if we’re late - no problem. The 2 hour 15 is still better than 6 hours one stop, etc.
I wish we had more time in Portland - but if we do another NE trip, it’s easy enough to get to it appears.
And there’s Waze We’ll be ok.
1 Like
OK, but I’m just saying if there is an accident or backup due to construction, it could be a lot longer than 2 hours, 15 minutes. I speak from experience, ha. I always plan on getting to Logan pretty early, just in case.
I think your schedule looks OK. You will see a lot and decide if you’d like to visit some places again! Or you can go inland where the locals do and find some really beautiful sights.
oh, you mean on the last day - got it!!! Yeah, we’ll make sure to get back on time - add at least an hour, etc. or check Waze minute after minute.
As for inland I was thinking that - maybe we come back in a winter for skiing…or a summer. it seems like everyone is in 5 % of the state so the other 95% will beckon.
The good news - i’m just early 50 - have lots of time.
Funny - one of my counterparts lives near Manchester and calls on a location in Bangor - and has never been to Acadia…and it’s just an hour away. Crazy.
I’m stoked for Maine for sure.
1 Like
I would not stay at Moody’s. I do t think anyone suggested staying there. I would ONLY stop there for the pie. Really…it’s pretty close to Camden. Any chance you can stay the additional night in Camden and then just stop at Moody’s to eat on your way south. Really…pie is good for breakfast…but staying there is not really something I would recommend. There is nothing else there…except that pie…which is a one hour stop max.
OR….leave Camden when you plan to…stop at Moody’s for pie…and then head south. No need to stay there. At all.
Will bring this up to the Mrs. Thanks as always. I mean, the room is definitely “bare bones”. Well she said someone mentioned Moody - but she’s done a lot of research and has been on many sites and might have gotten it from there.
My daughter is on her drive to Camden, Maine right now from NYC, and stopped for dinner in Kittery, and sent back photos of our favorite dinner, steamers and lobsters, outdoors…so starting the vacation off right!
6 Likes
Looking good.
Yes, landing at Logan on a Saturday at that time of day and going north will be better than during the week. I have a similar set up with Avis, but everyone takes the same shuttles to the rental car hub, etc…it just takes time to get out of Logan. Your mapping app of choice will get you to the MA/NH border any number of ways and you will be on your way.
Thursday night after Boothbay you could just stay at the Marriot Residence Inn or Fairfield between there and Portland. You can hit LL Bean early Friday and spend the rest of the day enjoying Portland. There are a number of BnBs between those spots for Thursday as well.
Actually looking now. I also have an Intercontinental night to use but I’ll have other chances later.
All the hotels I’m looking at - that have breakfast - they’re not good - like the Boothbay Inn - but we’ll find someone between them and Portland!!
Thanks
1 Like
This is a great option! But I would suggest spending Wednesday either still in Camden area…or something. Really…Waldoboro where Moodys is located is all of 45 minutes south of Camden. There is no need to spend a night there…at all.
Also, I know you are looking at hotels that serve breakfast…but there are restaurants also you could patronize for breakfast.
1 Like
Not breakfast but the bed and breakfast type place. We don’t normally do those. Sure we can go to a restaurant but I think the b&b experience is different. We’ve not stayed at one in many years. But not a deal breaker. So far our only one is the old winterport commercial house. Which has great reviews so here’s hoping they are true.
Often in rural areas, Waze either doesn’t work or sends one in circles. This is particularly true in areas with a single road, like Maine. We’ve had some funny experiences.
On the other hand, Waze gets us to our cabin in a remote area of Maine with no problem. I leave it on because I enjoy seeing what’s around us.
I’ve never had any issues with it on 95 or 295. I love knowing where the cops are hiding. There can be a lot of them!
2 Likes
Apple Maps also show traffic and radar. We usually default to that. We are very rural and I thought Waze was for cities. Learn something new
Yes, it varies. Waze takes people to the field next to our house rather than to our house ( a problem as it thinks the way to the field is on a different street). But I’ve seen it work really well in rural Iceland and seen it not work in more urban areas. It has gotten better over the years. We did once drive into someone’s hedges as it stated the house was right there.