Maine in mid June: 2011

Monday, December 12, 2011

july 4th--any special events?

thinking of coming to portland during july 4th weekend. are there any special events that happen in Old Port or on any of the islands?

thanks for the info.

whirlw%26gt;

july 4th--any special events?

meliving.com/events/…index.shtml

july 4th--any special events?

thanks. it seems like the eastern prom is where the action will be for the 4th. is there any other thing to see in this area?

The Eastern prom is great on the 4th. They close the streets in that area so you%26#39;ll probably have a 15 mminute walk to get to the park, unless you go early in the day. The Eastern prom is walking distance from the Old Port.

*bump*!

One more idea...

I just read that L.L.Bean, in Freeport (20 mins. from Portland), is putting on the largest fireworks show ever, in Maine. When Bean does something like this, they usually do it right. Might be worth checking out.

';Must sees'; and ';Must eats'; on the Maine coast

We%26#39;ll be travelling from Scotland to Maine via Toronto %26amp; Halifax at the beginning of October. We are staying in B%26amp;Bs in Bar Harbor for 4 nights,Portland for 2 nights,Ogunquit for 2 nights and then on to Boston.we%26#39;ll be using public transport all the time.

Any ideas please for places not to be missed and ideas for the best value eating places in those towns.

Thanks

';Must sees'; and ';Must eats'; on the Maine coast

We covered part of your itinerary on our trip last summer. Check our GoList for details and have a great time!

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i12151-New_Engl鈥?/a>

';Must sees'; and ';Must eats'; on the Maine coast

By ';public transport'; I assume that means you%26#39;ll be taking the Downeaster Train from Portland to Boston. I rode that recently for the first time and loved it. A great way to avoid Boston traffic, which can be horrendous!

It%26#39;s very easy to get around Boston on the mass transit system (they call it The ';T';) and it%26#39;s pretty easy to figure out the T maps and schedules. You shouldn%26#39;t have any problems, .just make sure you select a hotel that%26#39;s convenient to a T stop. We stayed at the Omni Parker House right downtown and got an excellent deal on Expedia. We couldn%26#39;t have been happier with the location.

Your best bet for info on Bar Harbor, Portland and Ogunquit is simply to read archived threads in the forums of those towns. The ';can%26#39;t miss'; stuff gets discussed frequently. In Bar Harbor, stay close to the town green or waterfront park. That way, you can get around on foot and using the Island Explorer Bus system IF it hasn%26#39;t closed down for the system. Portland has a city bus, but you might decide you%26#39;d like to rent a car one day to go out to Cape Elizabeth to the lighthouses. Ogunquit is walkable if you bring comfy shoes and stay somewhere centrally located. You want to be close to the intersection of Route 1 and the Shore Road. Rates should be affordable in October.

Re: Bar Harbor and vicinity:

The Island Explorer free shuttle will operate on the more popular routes through 8 October.

A number of hikes and walks, as well as places to eat, are discussed in the Overview section at the top of the Bar Harbor forum page.

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Weather in July?

We will be in Bar Harbor on July 15 and from what I have read the temperature during the day is around 80 and at night it is 60. Does it rain a lot during July?

Weather in July?

No it does not rain a lot during July. Hardly at all.

Weather in July?

Hi Fewman!

I think Bonnie Mae may be writing a bit ironically.

The Maine coast gets its share of rain in July, although not dramatically different from other parts of the Eastern Seaboard. I%26#39;d be surprised if your vacation were rained out, but it has been known to happen.

Rain may come from three kinds of weather:

1) Passing frontal systems, that may cause showers and sometimes thundershowers for a day here and there. A front goes through on average every three days, but not with any sort of consistency, and not all produce rain. They seldom last more than a day at a time.

2) Atlantic coastal fog, which does have the potential to hang in for a week or more at a time if your luck is bad and the wind is southerly. In such periods, the air is moist and clammy, and the nights and early mornings are frequently doused with drizzle or showers.

3) On the average of once a year in July, the tail end of an Atlantic hurricane will charge through, completely washing out one day.

Having said that, summer is far and away the favorite time to visit Maine, as you%26#39;ll discover when you check motel prices! Don%26#39;t be troubled by fear of inclement weather.

Happy travels, and let me know if I can help further!

David

capetien10@gmail.com

If, as I have suggested several times on this forum, you consult the Weather Underground trip planner for the Bar Harbor area, you would see that for the period 10--20 July the probability of a ';precipitation day,'; i.e., a day with measurable rain, is about 26%---and in the last three years of record (10-20 July), there was a total of five such days, i.e., 20%.

I really wasn%26#39;t writing ironically. It%26#39;s been my experience in the last eleven years of living here that it really doesn%26#39;t rain much in July. And when it does rain, it%26#39;s often in the night with some resulting fog around the next morning. Or at least that%26#39;s the way I remember it. Now April and May are quite rainy. Sometimes June.

Ditto to that. We%26#39;ve been visiting Maine in July for the past 15+ years and our sunblock has always gotten a workout!

Want a ';deadliest catch'; experience!

Ok, not really, but I would like some recommendations on boat tours where we can catch lobsters (or pull in the traps) and really feel like we are getting a true experience. Any recommendations in Southern Maine (we are staying in Ogunquit, but can travel north for a day). Thanks!

Want a ';deadliest catch'; experience!

You should head to Portland - there is a place on Commercial Street that provides this service and then cooks up your catch for you.

Going to Maine for the first time - where to go, what to do?

My husband and I are planning a trip to Maine in August. It will be the first time for both of us. We would like some help or suggestions as to which part of Maine to prioritize in our visit. I know Maine is popular for its coastal towns. Would that be the best region to see for first timers? We love historic places so a coastal town with old forts and villages, perhaps? Suggestions are heartily welcome! We have about a week to spend.

Thanks. God bless.

Going to Maine for the first time - where to go, what to do?

The first time I went to Maine we crammed a lot into our first visit to get a ';sampling';. We visited kennebunk (popular for being seaside area, nice beach, great shopping area downtown by water, Bush%26#39;s family compound). We went to Freeport for the LLBean and other outlets. We went to Boothbay Harbor (think turn of the century boardwalk/tourist) it has MANY touristy shops, ice cream, taffy, sailboat rides, antique stores, and very close to artist galleries and a short drive to Ocean%26#39;s Point - totally get away from it all rocky beach area. Of course we also did Bar Harbor and Acadia national park.

It was a lot in one week, and we only were at each place a day or two.

That being said, on all of our return trips we strictly do Bar Harbor/Acadia now. In my humble opinion, it%26#39;s the best! You can hike, bike, shop, sail, whale watch, carriage tours, kayak...the list is endless. Lot%26#39;s of great food, fun things, and the beauty of Maine!!!

Going to Maine for the first time - where to go, what to do?

You don%26#39;t say in your post how long you will be in Maine; and how you are getting there???? I am going to assume flying since you live in MN - so - for your first trip - fly into Portland; drive south to Kennebunkport and spend a couple days. Leave there; drive North; (staying off 95 - use Rte 1 and other coastal roads) You can stop in Freeport to visit LL Bean (other outlets there are pretty generic; so I would not waste my time anywhere else); perhaps make your next couple nights in Camden - and then proceed further north to Acadia National Park. The Park is gorgeous - but Bar Harbor is getting pretty crowded; especially in August. You might want to pick another small town somewhere close; like Southwest Harbor. Maine has some of the very best inns and B%26amp;B%26#39;s in the country - even if you are not a B%26amp;B%26#39;er (my husband is NOT) - we stay in them in Maine and even he loves them. There are some great reviews of good ones elsewhere in this site. (and some all the breakfast tables are private - no sharing a table with strangers at 7AM) The best food in Maine can be found on the water at small shacks - clams, lobster, lobster rolls (think shrimp salad, but with lobster - stuffed in a grilled hot dog bun!) Many are still family owned; most have fabulous food; and almost all are very cheap (by today%26#39;s standards for seafood)

Like the previous poster - we love Acadia the best...but if it is your first trip; you would do yourself a disservice by only seeing that part of Maine.

I would suggest taking a look at the Pemaquid Point area. You%26#39;ve got the lighthouse and Fort William Henry, trips to Monhegan island, wonderful coastal scenery, nice shopping and dining options in Damariscotta and on the peninsula and you%26#39;re within easy reach of Portland, Historic Bath, Camden, Rockland .... and even Bar Harbor / Acadia for a day trip.

We%26#39;ve been to Maine several times (will be heading back this July 18 to Bar Harfor / Ellsworth area). Yes, the coastal towns are great. May I suggest, Camden, Boothbay Harbor, Kennebunkport (get a glimpse of Geo. Bush Sr. at his Walker Point compound), Bar Harbor and the nearby Acadia Natl. Park. Whichever you choose-reservations are a must in the summer season! Don%26#39;t forget bug spray and bring a sweater, just in case. In any of the coastal towns, suggest a whale watch trip, or just a plain sunset sail on a vintage sailing ship. Clean water, good food, and honest hard-working folks will give you a vacation you want to return to again.

Hope this gives you a start. You may reply for more details..Enjoy!

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Night programs at Acadia

I have my whole itinerary planned out and was just waiting for the Beaver Log to post the schedule showing the stargazing program at Sand Beach. Sadly, it%26#39;s on a night when we can%26#39;t go, and I don%26#39;t want to un-reserve everything just to fit it in.

So, I%26#39;m wondering if anyone has ever done the ';Owl Moon'; program or any of the Ampitheater night programs at the campgrounds? What kinds of programs are they usually? Good?

Elise

Night programs at Acadia

i%26#39;m writing again to pull this post to the top....

anyone with any insight?

We leave in two days.

Thanks!

Traveling back from Nova Scotia...

plan to stop once i hit maine on I-95. Where would be the best spot to settle in for a night after we cross the canadian border. good food and beer is a plus. thanks!

Traveling back from Nova Scotia...

As soon as you cross into Maine you will be in the town of Houlton. If you do not stop there you will have to travel another hour or so to reach the next town of any size that will have lodging and another hour after that to reach the first ';city'; which is Bangor.

Unless you have more time you want to drive I would just stop in Houlton. There are only a couple of choices for lodging and I can not really reccomend either one as I have not stayed there. As far as food goes it may sound funny but we really like the food at the truck stop restaraunt there, the Irving ';Big Stop';. The first time my brother wanted to take us there we were skeptical but the food was excellent. They have a very large menu choice and I would have to describe the food as like a really good ';home cooked'; meal.

The restaraunt as well as a couple others and both of the hotels are located right off the I-95 exit in Houton.

Traveling back from Nova Scotia...

We always cross at St. Stephen/Calais ME (usually faster and less traffic). There%26#39;s a great Chinese restaurant in Calais (which we often eat at) and a pub or two, which look cute, but we%26#39;ve never stopped in. Can%26#39;t help you with lodging though......we always keep driving further on into Maine or town to NY.

You certainly could cross over in Calais/St. Stephen it would certainly be shorter distance wise and probably about the same time wise. I just did a quick comparison of the two routes. From the Nova Scotia/ New Brunswick border to the Maine/ New Hampshire border on I-95 it is about 511 miles and 9 1/2 hrs via crossing into Maine at Houlton and is about 473miles and 9hr by crossing into Maine at Calais then going to hit I-95 in Bangor. The time I think would actually be about equal because you can make a little better time then the map programs say if you use the interstate route. The choice is yours, if you are driving to and from I would go a different way each time just for a change in scenery.

If you did chose to cross over in Calais there is indeed a really good Chinese restaraunt there. As for lodging I would reccomend the Calais Motor Inn.

guys,

thanks for all the help!! i think we will go down through

calais, as there isn%26#39;t really much in other spots! i%26#39;ll check

out that chinese resteraunt for sure!!

thanks a million!

katahdin hike/climb

on tuesday, june 19, 2007 my husband and i made it to the summit of katahdin. it was spectacular! we stayed at the big moose inn, which was very very nice. at 5:40am we drove to the gate of the park, about a 15 minute drive from the inn. the ranger was just opening it and we were the fourth car through. the route we took was chimney pond to saddle side to the summit and returned the same way. the weather was perfect, clear blue skies and about 65 degrees. around 6:40 am we hit the trail for chimney pond and arrived around 9am. we relaxed at chimney pond for about an hour and then headed up the saddle side. wow, that was a difficult climb. once we made it to the plateau things got much easier....well, nothing about the saddle side to the summit was easy! the summit was great. we could see for miles and felt it was quite an accomplishment to summit katahdin, but we knew the hard part of the hike was ahead of us. around 1:45 pm we started our descent. going down the saddle was slower than going up and if you are afraid of heights this hike is not for you. we arrived at chimney pond around 5:45pm used the toilet and continued on roaring brook to our car. by 8:30pm we checked out of the ranger station and were driving out of the park. it was a really long day, but completely worth it. we encountered only a few people on the trail and most of the hike until the summit was ours alone. if you are lucky enough to hike during the week and hit a perfect day the mountain will be yours.

i think my husband and i both underestimated the time it would take to hike katahdin and also we had no idea of all the boulders and scree that were present throughout the hike. the rocks really slowed us down. two days after this hike my thighs are still very tender, but i wouldn%26#39;t trade this experience for anything.

some things to remember if you hike katahdin; bring lots of water, plan for the hike to take longer than you think, don%26#39;t spend too much time relaxing at chimney pond, get ready for granite granite and more granite, and the most amazing view in maine!

katahdin hike/climb

Great post. Just one question that several people have asked as of late that maybe you could answer.

What was your opinion on the condition of the roads going into the park and inside the park. I have not been up in that area for a couple years but have basically told peopel who have asked that they may be a little bumpy in places and are gravel but overall they are fine.

Specifically people have asked if they can drive to the trailheads in a small car and if they would do any damage to a nice new SUV. So far no one who has very recently been there has answered any of the posts.

katahdin hike/climb

the road to baxter state park from millinocket was perfect, all blacktop. Once inside the park it was gravel. we drove to the roaring brook parking lot in a brand new hertz rented volvo hatchback without any problems. the gravel road seemed to be recently graded and was smooth with a few places of that washboard effect. you do not need an suv to make it to roaring brook. i think even one of those smart cars could easily make it to roaring brook. have a great hike and watch out for moose!

Thanks so much, hopefully some of the people asking will see this post. I did not know that the road was paved right to the park entrance. I did however know that for the most part the roads were decent. The ';washboard'; you speak off can be interesting at times if you do not slow done. For someone who is not used to gravel roads and the washboard effect it can be an brief moment of concern.

I keep trying to get a weekend to get back up that way myself but so far no luck, but at least now I can tell people who ask me about the roads.

ooh, my knees hurt just reading your report!

We did what you did, only we took Cathedral up. My knees ached for weeks!

Congrats on your accomplishment and on hitting such a great weather day.

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last five years of foliage bar harbor and acadia

I was wondering from someone sho lives there what the last five peaks were in bar harbor I tried weather underghroundf and they want a credit card andy onme knwo what the last five peaks were we are there Oct 4-20 aloha from Maui

last five years of foliage bar harbor and acadia

I haven%26#39;t kept real close track. Some years have definitely been better than others. Nor is there exactly one day on which everything peaks. The yellows seem to come on first. Then red. Then some rust and bronze near the end. My impression is that the peak of color is usually right around October 10th to 15th.

last five years of foliage bar harbor and acadia

About all you are going to get is impressions. The problem is that no two years are alike in terms of timing or climate. For example, two years ago, we had a very cold and rainy late September-early October which really muted the colors. A year ago, we had a very wet spring which encouraged the growth to molds that afftected many of the maples into the autumn.

It also depends on what you (and others) perceive as the peak. Is the peak the brilliant acrylic reds of young hard maples? Is it the mix of red, yellow, and yellow-orange maples? Location is also important---the Coxey Drive area near Seal Harbor seems always to be one of the first areas to really ';color.'; The Eagle Lake Road area between Bar Harbor and Eagle Lake is a classic for fall color and usually is earlier in that regard than other areas on the island.

That being said, the development of fall foliage on MDI seems to follow this pattern. First, some of the younger hard maples, especially those bordering low wetlands, will turn bright red. After that, many of the other maples will begin to color, followed by the aspens, birches, and beeches. After that come the oaks, usually toward the end of autumn color.

When all this starts---who knows? I have seen some young maples coloring in mid September, but they are few. Suffice it to say that if you are here for the 4-20 October period, the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor that you will experience peak fall color. Moreover, it%26#39;s not like the peak (however defined) is some evanescent phenomenon---if you happen to oversleep, you won%26#39;t miss it.

Maine Foliage.com tracks peak dates. But, IMHO, the prettiest colors are a few day BEFORE the state%26#39;s official peak date--I like to look and see a full range of colors (some green, some red, some yellow, some orange.)

You should do just fine.

From the site that Michelle mentioned, the answer to your question is: 10/19, 10/13,10/22, 10/19, and 10/15.

As a one-year (2006) example of the breadth and characteristics of the fall foliage season, check the albums at:

http://tinyurl.com/2w873s

Homans Path was shot 22 September

Autumn Rambles either 6 or 7 October

Jordan Stream Trail 9 October

Aunt Betty%26#39;s Pond 19 October

And according to bonniemaev%26#39;s research, the ';official'; peak was the 15th.

As someone mentioned, different areas / vantage points will peak at different times. So, while the canopy that you look down on while on a high point on the Beech Mtn Trail might be perfect on 10/15 and starting to brown thereafter, when you%26#39;re hiking a week later the trees might look perfect to you at eye level.

I think you%26#39;ll see beautiful colors during your visit. I%26#39;m envious of your long stay in Acadia during the foliage.

P.S. Bring long pants and long sleeved shirts and warm outerwear. The sunsets and sunrises can get downright chily in October, especially if you take them in from mountain tops.

Bar Harbor/Acadia trip review

My entire review of our trip up and down the Maine coast is on the Maine forum, but here%26#39;s the Bar Harbor/Acadia portion. Pictures are in my original post on the Maine board.

Bar Harbor: About a 3 hour drive from Portland, we went up 95 to Bangor and then over to Bar Harbor.

We arrived before we could check in so we went directly to Acadia and got our park pass. It was only $10 since it was not peak season yet. We drove the loop road and stopped several times for pictures. Walked down to Sand Beach and got some great photos and experienced first hand how frigid that water is! After we drove the loops we checked in at The Manor House Inn.

It is a beautiful Inn with several cottages to choose from. We stayed in the Acadia Cottage behind the main house. It was built in 2000 and my only complaint is that the wall between our bedroom and the neighbors bathroom was too thin. We tried to keep the A/C or tv on when we were in the room so we didn%26#39;t have to hear too much. But the man next door our first night must have had something his stomach didn%26#39;t like for dinner because we heard him puking several times. Fortunately they left the next day and we didn%26#39;t hear much from the next couple. Our room was large, the bed was comfortable, and the bathroom had a very big 2 person jacuzzi tub. Only 4 rooms in the cottage and there was a nice common room and a great big front porch for us to enjoy. The breakfasts were served buffet style and we could eat it wherever we wanted. They have beautiful porches and gardens, so many places to sit and enjoy breakfast. We ate in the garden the first morning and on the front porch of the main house the next 2 so we could watch the people go by. Even saw a woman walking a pug one morning, and I love pugs! Again the location was just perfect, less than 5 minutes to Main St. Parking at the Inn was a little iffy when they had no vacancies, but we got by and managed to back out of the drive without doing any damage!

Ate at Geddys our first night and the food was mediocre as best. My husband had the island special: clam chowder, lobster, and blueberry pie. Chowder tasted like it was from a can, the lobster tasted about like any lobster I guess, we much prefer other types of seafood, and the blueberry pie did not taste homemade. I had the Italian pizza and it was really not good at all. I ate a couple of slices and my husband who will eat anything finished the leftovers off later that night. Our meal at Geddys was our only really disappointing meal the whole trip. The food was edible just not that impressive and like I said, very mediocre. It kind of reminded me of Joe%26#39;s Crab Shack.

After dinner we drove up Cadillac to watch the sunset. We got there early so we could walk around and explore and take lots of pictures, then we found a rock away from the groups of other sunset watchers and had our own private and quiet view of the sunset. It was so beautiful, a great start to our stay in Bar Harbor.

First full day in Bar Harbor we ate breakfast, walked around Main St. then did a 3 hour sea kayaking tours with Aquaterra Adventures. It was $45 each. They supplied water shoes, a jacket, and all the gear. There were only 6 people in our group. We kayaked from noon-3. My husband loved it, I didn%26#39;t enjoy it quite so much. We didn%26#39;t see much wildlife (we saw what might have been a porpoise but not sure) and I was just flat out scared most of the time. My husband was in charge of steering the kayak and I didn%26#39;t like the feeling of not being in control and having no idea where we were going! The views from the water were pretty and I%26#39;m glad we did it in retrospect but I was so glad when it was over. The guide said that in his 10 years only 2 kayaks have ever capsized but even that didn%26#39;t help me calm down. He was a great guide and we were happy with the experience, I%26#39;m just a wimp and spent much more time stressing about what might possibly happen than enjoying what was actually happening.

After getting cleaned up we had an early dinner at Poor Boys Gourmet at the recommendation of our kayak guide (plus he gave us a coupon!) We got there early so we saved money on their early bird special. DH had baked haddock and I had a huge grilled chicken caeser salad. The food came out very fast, we barely had enough time to eat our bread! We sat on the patio and the breeze felt so nice. DH had a lighthouse ale and I had their home brewed root beer. We heard their desserts were fantastic so we had the blueberry pie with shortbread crust. Everything was so so good. With tip our meal was less than $40 and it was just delicious. I would eat there over and over again if I could.

Played mini golf at Pirates Cove down the road. What a great course! Very well maintained and challenging at times. We did both courses and won a free game that we never ended up having time to play but it never expires so we will be back! Best part was the balls float so my husband was able to retrieve my ball from the water features whenever I overshot!

Second full day in Bar Harbor: After another great breakfast we went back to Acadia for some hiking. We hiked South and North Bubbles, probably took less than 2 hours to do both. As our hiking guide said the hike was ';strenuous but short with a great pay off';. Fantastic views from the top of both. We saw Bubbles Rock and Jordan Pond. After our hike we drove to Jordan Pond House for popovers and lemonade. Afterwards we drove over to Somes Sound to see the fjord. It had clouded up by then and gotten quite foggy so we didn%26#39;t do any more hiking.

Did a bit more shopping in Bar Harbor (got some nice personalized ornaments at a Christmas store) and had another early dinner at McKays Public House. We had the crab cakes as an appetizer, they were delicious and worth the minor allergic reaction I had! DH had the McKays salad and I had a cheeseburger. Their bread was delicious. Another fantastic meal that did not break the bank since we both ordered off the pub menu. Another place I would definitely visit again and again. Since the restaurant is literally a house the rooms were small and pretty quiet, it had a nice atmosphere.

Bar Harbor/Acadia trip review

This report is so detailed and information-packed that I think you should make it a ';Go List.';

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Bar Harbor for a day

Hi! Me and my mom are coming into town on a cruise and we have never been here before. We are really looking forward to our day there and wish it was going to be more. I do not take ship tours so we were trying to decide what to do with our day. I plan on reserving ';at your service'; taxi for a half day around Acadia and then I would like to just go back into town and wander. Can someone tell me if wandering around the town is pretty do-able? Is there any waterfront walks? We are going to be looking for a nice waterside restaurant if possible for lunch... and then just a little strolling around shops and stuff. Can someone give me some suggestions?

Thank you so much in advance!

Bar Harbor for a day

Wandering about town is definitely doable. There is a very nice shore path that winds along the harbor/bay. Once you get away from the village business center (which isn%26#39;t all that difficult) there are lots of streets to explore.

As a waterside restaurant, probably the one at Bar Harbor Inn (which is along the shore path) has the best ambience (and pretty decent food, from all reports).

Bar Harbor for a day

Thank you so much...

Can you tell me how far of a walk it is from where the tenders drop us off to the Harbor Inn for lunch?

Thanks again!

The walk from where the tenders leave you off to the outdoor cafe which the Bar Harbor Inn runs is only about half of a city block. You%26#39;ll see the bright yellow umbrellas of the cafe from the boat and from the tender.

The Shore Path mentioned above starts right in front of those yellow umbrellas and goes for about half of a mile. There are old mansions along one side and the bay with the Porcupine Islands along the other side. Quite nice.

If you are in the village at the time of low tide, there is also a little tougher walk along an exposed sand bar to Bar Island, which is part of Acadia National Park. It%26#39;s a nice walk and there is a path on the island that goes to a high spot with great views of the village and the mountains of Acadia.

There are some nice maps of the village at this web site:

www.barharborinfo.com/gettinghere_frame.html

Thank you so much. That is very helpful and just the information I was looking for. I can%26#39;t wait to be there. We have been waiting forever.

Bar Harbor Grand Hotel

Perhaps because the hotel is fairly new, there are not too many reviews of it anywhere. I%26#39;d appreciate hearing from anyone who has stayed at this property. Is it noisy? Close to town center? Easy walking to restaurants? What about the ';packages';? Are they a good deal or not so? Thanks in advance!

Bar Harbor Grand Hotel

Stayed there in October 2006 and am returning in August 2007. I was very pleased. It is not noisy at all because it is away from the nightlife. It%26#39;s five blocks to the waterfront, and all the restaurants are within those five blocks, as is all the shopping. Not sure about the packages. I do know that the room rates are on their website and I don%26#39;t believe they participate in any of the hotel discount websites, so you can do the math and see if it%26#39;s worth paying for the dining, tours, or whatever is listed.

What I liked:

1. As noted, everything was a very easy walk but it is away from the bars so very quiet at night.

2. Very clean and new.

3. Plentiful continental breakfast.

4. Great old-fashioned wraparound front porch with rocking chairs.

5. Excellent customer service from the staff.

Hope that helps! Feel free to ask more detailed questions if you like. Have a good trip!

Bar Harbor Grand Hotel

Thank you very much for your note. We are looking forward to staying at the BHGH; it sounds like a neat place.

viking motor inn

Anyone have a review of the Viking motor inn? Need pet friendly reasonable hotel for 3 days in September.

viking motor inn

At the following website, there are two really terrible reviews of the Viking:

travelpost.com/hotels/…h57831

Too bad, because it looks fine from the outside and it%26#39;s got a driving range and mini-golf right next door.

Is there a reason why you wanted that particular location? It%26#39;s not within walking distance of anything other than the driving range and mini-golf----and a hospital.

There are a lot of nice options in the Brunswick area. Are you looking for chain hotel, B%26amp;B or other? I don%26#39;t know how to find out which lodgings are pet friendly. However, if you get a chance to post again with a little more information about what you%26#39;re looking for, I%26#39;m sure I and other regulars can give you some suggestions.

viking motor inn

Unless price is THE major consideration I%26#39;d say keep looking.

I stayed there years ago before I moved to Brunswick. I asked my client to suggest ';something clean and inexpensive'; but I would not have picked myself. Now that I live in Brunswick, I%26#39;ve seen better choices. I%26#39;d also avoid the Maine Line Motel and Travelers Inn. Both --ahem--lack street appeal.

There are oodles of other lodging choices in the area, mostly chains, and surely you can find something nicer and pet friendly. Look at Brunswick, Harpswell and Freeport. Harpswell is a 15-minute drive, but on the water, it would be fun to stay out there unless you really must be in town.

Unfortunately, nothing is going to have a great location in Brunswick as most of the lodging is on or near Route 1. The Brunswick Inn (formerly Brunswick B%26amp;B) is the only lodging with a truly great location in the town center, but I%26#39;m guessing the prices are on the high side.

P.S. The photos on the expedia web site of a room looks okay, but the room I stayed in was really dark and creepy like the room the poster on the other forum described.

We are looking for a pet friendly, mid coast area hotel reasonably priced . How about the Beach Cove Hotel and Resort in West Booth Bay Harbor?

Wanting a convenient hotel as we will be traveling Freeport and Camden. Would staying in Freeport be the best bet?

We can go in either mid September or mid October? Any preference?

Thanks for your help.

Freeport has tons of lodging options, so you will be very likely to find something that meets your needs there. I%26#39;m not familiar with the Beach Cove in West Boothbay.

Mid-October is usually peak foliage in southern midcoast Maine. In mid-September you might get some warm weather---you never know---which would allow you to spend more time in/on the water.

I do know that the Maine Idyll Motor Court in Freeport allows pets and is very inexpensive. It%26#39;s an old, old place run by the same family for many years. One of the owners just died, but I think the family still plans to keep it going. There are several reviews here on tripadvisor.

Are the lobster pounds open in October?

If so what are your favorites?

A must for my husband.

Thanks

Maine Idyll has a website with some pictures. I think it%26#39;s www.maineidyll.com. I also took a quick look at www.freeportusa.com and saw these places mentioned that they were either pets welcome or considered:

Best Western Freeport Inn

Econolodge

Harraseeket Inn (great place, but pretty pricey)

Maple Hill B%26amp;B

The Summer House

White Cedar Inn

I can%26#39;t give you a review of these places, but you could check them out on this site and on the freeportusa site. If any of them seem appealing, maybe you could re-post and see if any of the regulars have comments.

Thanks for the list. I had found some of the same on petswelcome.com but will check out others and freeportusa.

I also use tripadvisor.com for reviews but like to hear from locals.

thanks again

I put Maine Idyll in the same category as the VIking Motor Inn. I wouldn%26#39;t stay there, either.

And, the location can%26#39;t be quiet. It fronts on Route 1 and I-295 runs behind it.

Surely you can find something better in the Boothbay area. Tho October is foliage season, the rates really do drop considerably. I think you can find something you%26#39;d be happy with that wasn%26#39;t sketchy at a reasonable price.

Lobster pounds usually close Columbus Day weekend.

Bar Harbor Regency/Holiday Sunspree Resort & Marina

Are these 2 different properties? Are the Holiday Inn reviews for this wonderful looking location? I%26#39;m a bit confused. Can anyone advise?

Bar Harbor Regency/Holiday Sunspree Resort %26amp; Marina

Yes, it%26#39;s all the same site. They do have a very nice location right on the water, a bit north of the village of Bar Harbor. It%26#39;s the only Holiday Inn in Bar Harbor or the immediate vicinity. The next nearest one is in Ellsworth.

Bar Harbor Regency/Holiday Sunspree Resort %26amp; Marina

Yep.

Most of the lodging in Bar Harbor is either B%26amp;B or small family-onwed hotels. This is one of only three properties that have the big resort feel.

You%26#39;ll find beter review for the other two, the Bar Harbor Inn and theHarborside. Incidentally, both of those are are in walking distance of town shops and restaurants, so you might like them better.

good makeup

Eating lobster in Maine ( Lobster Tales)

and shopping was what we set out to do and we accomplished both very successfully. Noone really did much time on anything but lobster rolls that I could find, so I am on about the whole lobster, because we ate it every day for lunch and dinner - you would have thought we would be sick of it, but not at all. Bring it on! The lobster shacks are like I know Fish %26amp; Chips places to be, order, get a number, try to find a table before your number is called.

Having never been before it is a bit boggling trying to figure out where to go, where to stay, whew. So, in hopes of helping someone else, esp a lobster lover, here is what we did.

We stayed in S.Portland at the FAIRFIELD INN MAINE MALL for the first few days as it was Memorial Day Weekend and we felt we could wing it for the rest of our time (8days total)., Great location, easy access to shopping, Starbucks and the freeways. We arrived very late and were starving,

Front desk recommended SEBAGO BREWING COMPANY and now we do too. Our flight staff were all there and seemed to be regulars. Great food, (try the scallops wrapped in bacon) nice atmosphere and they close at 1:00 AM.so you better finish your drink by 1:15 or it is gone! We hung out there a few nights, great music and a better place to play dominoes than the hotel rooms (What can I say. we are way past the nightclub scene and it was a good mix of people of all ages.)

Day 1 Headed north to Haraseekat. Caught an unbelievable sale at Cuddledown and then to the HARRASEEKAT LOBSTER SHACK for lunch by the water.. Small lobster was $14.95, the place was packed and the owner was kind enough to show us how to get every sweet morsel of meat out of that shell! (All these years I thought I knew what I was doing!) All in all, a good experience so we will give it 5/5.

Freeport Outlets were good but very spread out - LL Bean takes up 2.5 blocks. You will need to buy comfortable shoes if you aren%26#39;t wearing them. Enough of shopping. We stopped for a quick refreshment at JAMESON%26#39;S TAVERN- great tap selection and the bacon wrapped scallops were almost as good as Sebago (which produces a great beer).

Went for dinner to New Harbor to SHAW%26#39;S FISH %26amp; LOBSTER (a bit overrated as the movie %26#39;Messsge In A Bottle%26#39; was made there, which I guess they thought was a good reason to jack up the prices of everything) I originate from the West Coast and was a bit thrown off by the %26#39;necks%26#39; on the Littleneck Clams (Steamers) ended up giving them to the next table. Lobster here was $19.95 and was the smallest that we had on the whole trip, but the flavour made up for it. (4/5) Again, the place was packed.

Day 2 Headed South to Kittery Outlets which is spaced out in mini malls (again, the comfortable shoes please) We had lobster at the WEATHERVANE -over $20.00 and the worst of the trip - very watery and not very flavorful. (1/5)

The most unusual experience was at the CLAM SHACK in Kennebunkport...we decided to get big lobsters. This is how we found out that the smaller ones are tastier. These were tough, but may have been slightly overcooked. The %26#39;tables%26#39; are wooden crates outside - on the plus side, you have to lean over so far, there is no spillage(2.5/5)

Day 3 - felt we had not had enough of the north so back we went this time to Boothbay Harbor. Note that if you miss your exit, it can be a v-e-r-y long drive. Here we finally got with the program at KALER%26#39;S CRAB %26amp; LOBSTER and ordered twin lobster for $24.99 and Snow crab legs for $16.99 and shared. Table by the window(4.5/5) Excellent.

Day 4 Stayed in S. Portland to avoid the parade traffic. Went to EGGSPECTATIONS (4.5/5)for breakfast after buying out the Bass Outlet Shoe store across the street.

Dinner at the LOBSTER SHACK in Maine. Nice location, though far and hard to find. $24.99 for one lobster!! Robbery., we thought.

Day 5 South again, Old Orchard Beach area BAYLEY%26#39;s LOBSTER for crab and or lobster roll . Forget everything you have heard or read - these were exquisite. Later hit KEN%26#39;S SEAFOOD shared a Lobster Salad 3/5 and twin lobsters (I know! too much of a good thing!)

Day 6 We moved to Ogunquit. Stayed at the Grand Hotel. We live in Puerto Vallarta so did not care about waterfront. Took the penthouse, bedroom and living room with bath in middle make great private sleeping quarters and the deck is huge. They have gotten bad rep about noise level, but the only thing we heard were birds. Staff were really great - went the extra mile consistently. Highly recommend the penthouse rooms.

Perkin%26#39;s Cove. Hmmm if your name is mentioned on the Gilmore Gilrs tv show, as Barnacle Billy%26#39;s was, then you can charge $30.95 for the same lobster. We had mussels and (raw) bacon wrapped scallops and commiserated about how much we missed SEBAGO BREWING CO. Also, after we ate we wanted to check out some other restaurants, MC%26#39;s host was a rude dude with a %26#39;tude, so never went there.

Day 6 If you are in Ogunquit, you will seriously want to eat at WILD BLUEBERRY INN. It even sounds good, doesn%26#39;t it! Today we took a lobster break., and %26#39;wined and cheesed%26#39; on our balcony.

Day 7 Around the York area, there is a place called the MAINE DINER where we had lobster pie, cheddar broccoli poppers and homemade blueberry pie. We had to do it, but we were sorry. Very deliciously heavy and intensely rich.

For dinner, much, much later, we ended up at THE OARWEED in Perkins Cove. The lobster was stlll a bit pricey, but very good. And for our last lobster meal we say 5/5 overall.

Day 8 Right back to the WILD BLUEBERRY INN for breakfast and then on our way back to hot and humid PV (where the lobsters are tough and without claws and the shopping ..ahem, but whoa we%26#39;re not complaining cuz we can go on vacation for those things)

As a side note, you might think of cholesterol and weight gain and just plain richness from all that lobster. Turns out that lobster has less cholesterol than an equal portion of chicken or turkey. We both lost weight!- we didn%26#39;t really need the butter, the lobsters were so sweet and flavorful on their own, and as I said earlier, we could easily do it all again - and will, next Memorial Day weekend.

Eating lobster in Maine ( Lobster Tales)

Thank you so much for the reviews. This will come in very handy when we vacation there in Sept. I%26#39;ve printed it off, and it will be my official ';Lobster'; bible.

Eating lobster in Maine ( Lobster Tales)

Sue--print this one out for your trip, too:

…mainetoday.com/dining/…001547.html

Ooh - thanks MicheleS. I can%26#39;t wait. We%26#39;ve been trying to get to Maine for 3 years, and ';things'; kept coming up that made us post-pone our trips. One of our dogs is recovering from surgery, and things are looking good for a Sept. 18-26 vacation to Maine. Our oldest son will be flying home from Kentucky to join us for this trip, so it will be extra special. Whoopie!!

natural remedies for pimple

Walking distance from ferry dock area hotels

I%26#39;ve read a few comments about some of the hotels/motels up on Route 3, i.e. ';too far to walk'; to town. I looked at it and it seems as if it%26#39;s just a mile to town. I%26#39;m assuming one can walk on the side of the road there. We%26#39;re thinking of staying in that general area, and don%26#39;t want to deal with parking in town if we have to. Just wondering.

Walking distance from ferry dock area hotels

Yes, you can walk to town from those motels near the Nova Scotia ferry dock. Most of the way even has a sidewalk on one side of the street. The free Island Explorer shuttle buses are now running for the season. You can catch one of those to or from the village center. But you are correct, the walk really isn%26#39;t that long or tedious.

Walking distance from ferry dock area hotels

Ummm...depends on how much luggage you%26#39;ve got, though!

They%26#39;ll probably leave their luggage at their hotel, near the ferry dock, when they walk to town for dinner.

That%26#39;s right, you know, walk to town and back, get some exercise, walk off dinner etc. :) Thx Bonnie.

Tips for our Maine Trip

Heading to ME July 4th and 5th, have motels in Ogunquit and Rockland already booked. We plan to travel from Kennebunkport to Camden and are looking for suggestions on things to see, reasonable priced restaurants for great seafood, and any harbor cruise operators anyone can suggest for a sunset cruise or something like that in one of the cities. I am somewhat familiar with Kennebunkport and Ogunquit from many previous day trips, but not with Rockland and Camden in particular. Thanks.

Tips for our Maine Trip

I dont have a lot of ideas because we usually drive through the area on our way to Bar Harbor. Last year, though, we did stop for a bit and walked out the Rockland Breakwater to the lighthouse... that was very nice and relaxing. And then on the other side of the water from the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse is Owl%26#39;s Head Lighthouse. And just outside of Camden, you can take a spin up to the top of Mount Battie and enjoy the nice view of the area. The harbor in Camden was pretty neat, too.

I am sure others will chime in, but I really havent spent a whole lot of time in either of these two places. I have been to the places I mentioned, though, and thought they were a very nice experience.

Tips for our Maine Trip

There are oodles of windjammer opportunities with boats going out of Camden and out of Rockland. I%26#39;d search ';windjammer + sunset + Camden'; and then the same with Rockland. Here%26#39;s one for example that sails out of Rockport. www.woodenboatco.com/Heron-Schedule.htm

Another less pricey cruising option is to take one of the Maine State Ferries out to an island. I%26#39;d recommend Vinalhaven as it has the most walkable options near the ferry terminal. See maine.gov/mdot/opt/ferry/215-vinalhaven.php Only hitch is that those boats will not be running as late as sunset. If you take one of the Maine State Ferries, don%26#39;t plan to take your car. Too expensive, too much of a hassle, too long of a wait in line to get the car aboard.

I am from Rockland and I highly agree with the other two posts. If you are interested in museums you may want to check out the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland . . . it%26#39;s getting quite a name for itself. Downtown Camden used to be the place to walk around in the daytime, but Rockland has been rebuilding the downtown area and I have to say it is as nice (maybe even nicer) than Camden. Lots of neat shops to poke in and not just touristy shops. If the tourist shops are what you are looking for then definitely go downtown Camden . . . but you may have time for both.

majorlexi

Thank you all for the advice, I%26#39;ll look into all of your suggestions and continue planning my trip!

I%26#39;m here in Rockland and while I love Camden.....I go there to shop now....its mostly very touristy.....Rockland on the other hand has lots to offer. Not only the Farnsworth but now also the Maine Lighthouse Museum which has the largest collection of old lenses and lighthouse and coast guard historical items in the United States. There are lots of windjamming folks here. My favorite is the Bugeye Schooner Jenny Norman for short trips and for longer- multiple day trips the Schooner J%26amp;E Riggin.

Hope you have a fantastic time in the area!

First, be forewarned about heavy traffic in Ogunquit. The point where Shore Rd, Beach St, and Main St (Hwy 1) meet is a mess with no signals. Visit the Nubble Lighthouse near York while you%26#39;re in the area.

In Rockland, we asked where the locals go for great seafood and were directed to the Rockland Cafe, a nice little mom and pop place with superb food and no fanciness. We%26#39;re told the local fishermen eat there year %26#39;round.

Visit any of the 3 lighthouses close to Rockland, and/or drive up to Camden and visit/hike Camden Hills State Park.

If you have some extra time, consider taking the ferry from Rockland out to Vinalhaven Island for a few hours.

We just got back from our trip and absolutely loved Camden! You can check out my full review, including stops in Camden and Ogunquit on the general Maine forum. Here%26#39;s the link to the review, hope it is helpful!

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g28940-i175-k12885…

Family friendly but good seafood too?

We are heading up to Ogunquit this weekend with 7 adults and 8 kids, can anyone recommend a good seafood place that can accomodate us? In 2003 we went to the Ogunquit Lobster Pound and it was fine, but the recent reviews don%26#39;t seem so friendly.

Family friendly but good seafood too?

There were a lot of families with kids eating at Oarweeds when we were there last week. Not sure they could put you all at one table though.

Family friendly but good seafood too?

Go to Mike%26#39;s Clam Shack in Wells. Great prices and some of the best fried clams. It was renovated this winter and should handle your group.

Coming to Maine for first time

Hi, my sister %26amp; I are planning a week%26#39;s vacation from Aug 18-25 this year with our familes; there%26#39;ll be 10 of us, 5 adults, 5 kids (8-13).

We%26#39;re looking to rent a cottage/house %26amp; would like to be near water %26amp; also walking distance to small shops,restaurants - just for fun, not serious goumet or retail therapy!

Many places have been mentioned inc Kennebunkport, Camden, Bar Harbor, Peaks Island, Acadia,Boothbay Harbor , Stonington etc.

Can anyone advise on which would offer a nice mix of peace %26amp; also activities for the kids - even jsut beachcombing tho we might like to take aboat out one day too.

Many thanks, Jane

Coming to Maine for first time

Any of those places will be a great vacation. I suspect you will hear from folks who will talk about the virtues of one place vs another.

My personal favorite is Bar Harbor. But you would be looking at about a 10 hour drive from NYC. And, considering that most house rentals are Saturday to Saturday, it means that you will probably be onthe road with a lot of other folks. Maybe leave the night before, if ths is your choice. You can search Bar Harbor on this forum and read a lot of BH discussions. But basically, it has quaint towns, great food, cute shops, and all kinds of recreation, for all ages, and all levels of ease or challenge. The ocean beach is very cold, which means the kids will not notice and the adults will scream and the heartier ones will swim. There is a great lake beach with a long shallow end, ideal for the little kids. There are mountains that go down tot he sea, terrific bicycle trails, all kinds of boat touors and whale watches (whale watches are available all along the New England Coast) as well as sea kayaking. You get the picture. All this for 10 hours of driving. Well worth the drive, if you don%26#39;t mind driving.

Whether you choose BH or any of the other locations, and I%26#39;ll add that there are many more that are just as nice, you will likely be looking for a rather large house to sleep 10 people, and manage the various adult and child configurations. You may want to search several areas simultaneously and see what comes up. It is getting late in spring, and many houses and dates will already be booked. So some of your choices may be limited. If the right house happens to be in Camden, and nothing is turning up in Bar Harbor, go for Camden.

As for finding rentals there are several ways to search. One is through the various Chambers of Commerce in each area. You should be able to Google these individually, and may even be able to find a single listing with links to all the Chambers in the state. My experience with vacation regions in various parts of the country is that the Chambers often have a listing or a link to one for vacation rentals.

Here is a link I have used for Bar Harbor, but it covers much of the caost:

http://www.downeastguide.com/

Click on lodging.

Some other sites are:

Vacation Rentals by Owner www.vrbo.com

Vacation Home rentals: http://www.vacationhomerentals.com/

Cyber rentals: www.cyberrentals.com

Good Luck

Coming to Maine for first time

Hi Jane,

I spent 11 summers in Maine,

the coastal towns are VERRRY busy in the summer. You might consider renting a cabin on a lake perhaps in the Belgrade or Rangle Lakes regions...as a trip to the coast can be only 30 mintues to 90 minutes away. So day trips are good. VRBO.com or homeaway.com both have plentyof rentals to choose from although it%26#39;s getting late in the season. Youshould be able to find a lodge. thenyou can rent boats like pontoons,kayaks, even speed boats and make sure your cottage is on the lake with a dock.

The farther north you go, the more remote and peaceful, for hiking and water activities nad nature but not as much aceess to parks, attractions etc. Hope this helps.

VivaB - San Francisco

Bar Harbor!!!!!!

Hi Jane!

Native Mainer living on Long Island here, my pick is Boothbay Harbor. Check the Chamber of Commerce website for cottage rentals. Lots to do - day trip to Monhegan Island, whale watching, my personal favorite - a sunset cruise on the East Wind, kayak to a lighthouse or on the Damriscotta River, swim (if you%26#39;re not from New England it%26#39;s tough - real cold) and laz on a local beach, 45 minutes to Freeport%26#39;s outlet shopping, small local aquarium, hiking and great restaurants. In town there is an old candlepin bowling center the kids may enjoy. It%26#39;s very laid back and family friendly with great restaurants. I%26#39;ve always stayed at the Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf Inn. I%26#39;ve taken many of my fellow teachers up for a girl%26#39;s vacation and have never been disappointed by the Fisherman. We had 5 women in one room with no fights! They have valet parking where your car doesn%26#39;t get scratched!!!!!

I love Bar Harbor as well, I visited there many times with my grandparents and lived near there for 8 months in 1980. It%26#39;s busier but you do have Acadia National Park - gorgeous!

Lisa

Hey Lisa

We live in Oceanside as well and my family lives in Brunswick Maine. (Visiting now as I type this). Just hopped on this forum to see what to do when we go 4th of July. I only read one post, but I think Boothbay Harbor is the place to be.

Thanks

Hi Gertie!

Sorry - school%26#39;s out -yea!!!!! Been real busy with end of the year doings. I%26#39;m glad you%26#39;re visiting Boothbay. it%26#39;s truly one of my all time favorite places. You MUST do the sunset cruise on the East Wind - the booth is to the left of Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf. Grab a bottle of wine, cold white is available at the little grocery/deli by the Smiling Cow, unbreakable wine glasses and a light jacket - just in case. Last year we saw dolphins - my first in Maine. Another good place for sunsets is East Boothbay on the rocks. Again we brought wine, cheese and fruit. Is there a pattern here?

I may have to resort to bringing my husband this year!

Enjoy!

Lisa - see you around town!

Lisa or anyone else............

We actually booked the boat to Monhehan Island. Looking forward to that. Should we pack a lunch and bring it or eat at the restaurant?? Is there only one on the island?? Thanks

Hi Gertie!

There is a little deli/store right at the dock and the restaurant at the island%26#39;s hotel - the restaurant wasn%26#39;t open when we were there. We wish we had either brought lunch or got it when we got off the boat because we found some BEAUTIFUL spots on our ';hikes'; overlooking the dramatic cliffs that made a nice picnic site.

It is a gorgeous island and a great day trip - bring a book. Kids should have a backpack with something to pass the long boat ride. You may want to bring some plastic bags for treasures - shell, sea glass or rocks.

Be forewarned the kids that live on the island like to play with tourists%26#39; heads at departure. One kid, in need of Ritalin, was loudly betting with a friend that he could ride his bike down the hill and off the pier into the ocean. A rope was attached to the bike and he did it. Later as the boat pulled up he dove off the pier. I%26#39;m sure it%26#39;s a ritual at this point.

Enjoy!!!!

Lisa

Hi JPJ,

Glad to hear you%26#39;re thinking of vacationing in Boothbay Harbor. I%26#39;ve been in BBH for over 25 years and absolutely love it. It has everything to keep you happy for eons.

Though Teacher 2 gave you some great suggestions and I agree with them 100%, I have more to add.

For cottage rentals check out www.cottageconnection.com. It has over 150 places to rent and their website has lots of photos and info on each one and a map to show you where they are. Pottle Realty also offers rentals.

The areas you might want to rent if you have small kids are on Southport Island which is accessed via a swing bridge and only 10 minutes from downtown BBH, Sprucewold (about 5 minutes from town) or Ocean Pt, about 15 minutes from town. Each area has it%26#39;s own little beach, is family friendly and has lots to offer. Of course any area on the peninsula would be fine. So if you don%26#39;t pick one of these you can still access the little beaches at Ocean Pt (East Boothbay as Teacher 2 pointed out) and Southport Island (beach is located at Hendricks Headlight down Beach Rd). Only the Sprucewold beach is private and you must be either an owner or a proven guest with a guest pass to use it.

Regarding the Monhegan trip. You%26#39;ll absolutely love it! As Teacher2 suggested, bring a backpack with lunch, camera, etc. You%26#39;ll have so little time on the Island that it would be a shame to waste it having lunch at the Island Inn or even at the little place at the foot of the boat pier.

Consequenty, upon disembarking, with backpacks, etc. follow the trail on the map the Balmy Days gives you to the lighthouse. It%26#39;s about a 10 minute hike and well worth it. The views are beautiful and you can tour the lighthouse museum.

From there take the trail to White Head I believe it%26#39;s called. Again, this is an easy trail and not tough or hard w/kids. You%26#39;ll be rewarded with views from a 150 foot bluff looking out to seas. This is the place to have lunch while you gaze out to open ocean, watch gulls soar above you, and the waves crashing on rocks below. In August, you might even spot whales.

Other things to do in BBH include hiking the easy trails of the Boothbay Region Land Trust (google their site). Many of these trails are less than a mile and offer beautiful views of quiet coves, forests, and meadows.

Take the kids to the wonderful little aquarium at McKnown Pt. where they have a touch tank. Play mini-golf in Boothbay right on route 27. Play tennis at the Y%26#39;s outdoor courts.

Rent kayaks downtown and paddle around. Ride the two open-air trolleys around the peninsula run by the Rocktide and Browns.

Go bowling at the cute little place on the by-way right in town or play pinball or video games there also.

Have ice cream at the Ice Cream Factory. This is one of BBH%26#39;s best places. Once you have you ice cream in hand, sit out on one of the picnic tables and watch the harbor and world go by.

Go fishing off the Townsend Gut Bridge that heads over to Southport. There%26#39;s a bait and tackle place right on route 27 coming into town. Take some of the other boat/sail tours or fishing trips out to sea.

See a movie at the little movie house in what we call The Meadows. That%26#39;s the area where the grocery store is, along with a small strip mall. There%26#39;s also Video Loft where you can rent DVD players, movies, develope film, or browse Radio Shack.

If you%26#39;re there for a week or more and the kids are10 or older, sign them up at the BBH Yacht Club for tennis or sailing camp.

For daytrips, go to either Reid STate Park Beach or Popham Beach, both of which are about 45 minutes south of BBH and are wonderful large, sandy beaches with beach roses and dunes. They both have rest rooms, snack shacks, etc. Try and go during the week when it%26#39;ll be a bit less crowded.

Or go north to Pemaquid and see the lighthouse and go to the nice little sandy beach there. It%26#39;s about 45 minutes north of Boothbay Harbor.

Check out the new Botanical Gardens too, though there is a cover charge. But they now offer tours, classes, seminars, etc. in all things botanical :).

There%26#39;s endless things to do in BBH and you could spend weeks, months, years like I have and never see or do it all. Check out the BBH Chamber%26#39;s site at www.boothbayharbor.com for tons of info, calendar events, maps, etc.

Good luck and don%26#39;t forget to post about how everything went!

cozyharbor

Hi Gertie,

July 4th is a really fun time to be in BBH, though it%26#39;ll be crowded, no doubt about it. Always is! Check out the BBH Chamber%26#39;s site at www.boothbayharbor.com for a calendar of events and happenings.

Are you planning on staying the night or daytripping it from your family%26#39;s place in Brunswick? If staying the night, try and stay at one of the waterfront hotels and then you%26#39;ll have front row seats to many of the activities, including the fireworks. These hotels are the Fisherman%26#39;s Wharf, The Tugboat Inn, Rocktide, Brown%26#39;s, Boothbay Harbor Inn, Captain Fish%26#39;s, and a few B%26amp;B%26#39;s. Again, check out the Chamber site for a great list of all accomodations.

If daytripping, there are a few really good places to watch the fireworks. They are from the footbridge, McKnown Pt. Marine/Aquarium, and the Fisherman%26#39;s Memorial near the catholic church on the east side. The latter two offer some parking but you%26#39;ll have to park in town for the footbridge. Of course you can watch them from the Whale Park right in town too but most likely it%26#39;ll be jam packed there.

In any case, have a great time and if you have any further questions, post again and I%26#39;ll try and help out :).

cozyharbor

Cars in Bar Harbor area

We would probably fly into Portland and drive to Bar Harbor, if we go to Maine this August. Would we want a rental car for the entire time, or do we only need it going to and from Portland? Is it helpful to have a car in Bar Harbor, or can you get pretty much anywhere on shuttles and whatever other public transportation is available?

Cars in Bar Harbor area

It all depends on what you want to do. The Island Shuttle stops at a lot of places on the island and you can do quite a lot just using that service. We%26#39;ve found the problem with that is that the shuttle brings you to great places where there are lots and lots of other people, especially in August. I would recommend using the shuttle to get around Ocean Drive (traffic in August is a killer there) and a car to see the rest of the island. You can still find amazing places to go and not see many people.

Cars in Bar Harbor area

The shuttle does not go to the top of Cadillac Mountain which is a great place for sun rise or sun set. I agree with the above poster. Use the shuttle for one way hikes or to go to the Jordan Pond House for popovers. The parking there is very often full and the bus makes things so much easier.

You can access the shuttle route map and schedules at:

http://www.exploreacadia.com

I%26#39;ll add my vote to the two previous ones. The shuttle is the best bet for getting into the park (except, as noted, for the Cadillac summit). A car would be handy for going to the western side or southern end of the island to have dinner or explore the area.

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trip review, VERY long but w/pics

Here is our very very long trip review, link to pictures at the end. I hope it is helpful for some! We visited Portland, Bar Harbor, Camden, and Ogunquit. It was our first visit to Maine and we will definitely be back!

General info/tips:

One of the best decisions we made was to go before the peak season began, we saved so much money and didn%26#39;t have to deal with crowds. We were in Maine from the 16th-24th of June. We saved money on food by staying at B%26amp;Bs that served very hearty breakfasts. We took snacks with us (granola bars and homemade trail mix) and skipped lunch all but twice. Restaurants start serving dinner early and we got some great early bird specials by eating between 5 and 6 (plus we never had to make reservations). We got fantastic rooms at nice B%26amp;Bs/Inns for under $150 a night, the only place we battled crowds was in Ogunquit our last weekend and they really weren%26#39;t that bad.

We found the Fodor%26#39;s Maine Coast book helpful for our planning and while on our trip. We didn%26#39;t really use the lodging or restaurant reviews (trip advisor was best for that) but the book had some handy maps of the towns and good lists of the attractions and history of each place we visited and drove past. Also bought a ';hiking Acadia'; book can%26#39;t remember the name that was helpful in planning our hikes. We are AAA members so that got us discounts at at least one place we stayed, can%26#39;t remember which. We used their website for directions that turned out about 95% accurate plus they mailed us a free map that came in very handy. We booked our lodging 6 months in advance and confirmed about 6 weeks out that they still had our reservations. No problems there.

The weather was so fantastic, 70s and low 80s every day, only one partially rainy day and that was no big deal. If and when we go back we will go in late June or maybe in the fall but I hear the crowds are getting worse then. Many times we felt like we had Maine all to ourselves, it was so weird but so wonderful at the same time. Only bumped into families with screaming kids a couple of times our whole trip, it was paradise, as a honeymoon should be :)

Portland: Drove from D.C. to Portland in one day, took about 10 hours (we left at 6 am)

We stayed at the Pinecrest Inn about 15 minutes outside of Portland in the town of Gorham. It was a nice location and much more affordable than B%26amp;Bs and Inns directly in Portland. Our room was beautifully decorated and the family running the inn was so nice. Matt cooked up wonderful breakfasts! Only a couple of complaints, the mattress was extremely firm which made it difficult for us to sleep comfortably. Our room was also at the front of the Inn so we heard cars driving by, but turning on the A/C blocked most of that. The bathroom was also very small but that wasn%26#39;t a big deal since we were only there for 2 nights. Overall we would stay there again, we%26#39;d just choose a different room.

Ate at Sebago Brewing Company in Gorham our first night, a short walk from our inn. Very good food! DH had the wild mushroom ravioli and I had the haddock new england. It was my first haddock and it was delicious! DH also had one of their brews and it was very tasty. They have a location in Portland as well. We would definitely eat there again.

We spent one full day in Portland. First thing was the lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, just south of Portland. So picturesque. We got there early and no one else was around so we got great pictures without people milling around the lighthouse. We then drove into Portland and paid to park in a garage on Fore St. Got tickets for the 11:30 tour boat with Eagle Island Tours for $14 each. We were worried it would be cheesy but it was actually very enjoyable. The tour boat captain gave us great information and was entertaining. He knew his stuff. We road past several civil war forts, lots of lighthouses, and other interesting spots. He got us close to the Portland Head Light from the water and gave us plenty of time to take pictures (this time lots of people milling around the lighthouse so the pictures are not as good). The tour was 90 minutes long and we got a lot out of it, sadly we didn%26#39;t see any seals!

Spent the afternoon at the Freeport outlets, about a 30 minute drive from Portland. My husband could only take so much of that so we went back to the B%26amp;B for a bit and rested before we ate dinner at Fore St. Took us forever to find the place because we didn%26#39;t have the address. It%26#39;s at the end of the road just past Pearl St. There is construction that threw us off and the sign for the restaurant is hard to see. The food was amazing. DH had the scallops, I had the butlers steak. We shared sides of grilled %26amp; chilled asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes. The service was wonderful and we really enjoyed our dining experience. We don%26#39;t splurge often so $75 on a meal felt like a lot to us but we were glad we did it (that was without drinks, appetizers, and dessert, you could easily spend over $100 with all those extras). Probably the best restaurant/meal we had on the trip but it%26#39;s hard to compare when they were all so good!

Had soft serve ice cream cones at a little side of the road place near Gorham that was very popular! Don%26#39;t know the name but man we ate a lot of ice cream!

We liked Portland but we are not city people so more than 1 day there would have been too much. We were so anxious for our next stop!

Bar Harbor: About a 3 hour drive from Portland, we went up 95 to Bangor and then over to Bar Harbor.

Camden: About 90 minutes from Bar Harbor if I remember correctly.

Stayed at the Belmont Inn, just a short walk from Main St. The owner, Bruce, was very kind and let us check in early since we got to town early and weren%26#39;t really sure what to do and where to go. He showed gave us a tour of their beautiful inn and garden, and then gave us tips on what to do while we were there. We knew we wanted to do a schooner ride but he recommended a specific one and gave us maps and tips on other things to do in the area. So glad he did! We took the scenic drive he recommended, past Lily Pond and the funny striped cows. We went out on the rocks off the road near Rockport and got some great views of the water. We went up to Mt. Battie ($3 a person for a day pass I believe) and the views of Camden were just incredible. So incredible we went back that night at sunset again.

We reserved our spot on the Schooner Surprise for a 4:30 tour. Did some shopping in downtown Camden before the tour. It is such a quaint and relaxing town. I%26#39;d go back in a second. Captain Jack and his wife Barb led our tour on the Schooner Surprise and it turned out it was only us and one other couple for the tour! It was so nice not to be packed on the boat. They were funny and had lots of info on the area to share as we road out of the harbor and over towards a lighthouse. We even saw some sailboats doing their Thursday evening spinnaker races. It was a very fun trip, only $30 each (they did not take credit cards).

Had dinner at Cappys Chowder House after our schooner ride. Very very good chowder and I loved the biscuits as well. My husband had a salmon sandwich called ';Jo%26#39;s Health Watch'; with a salad.

Breakfast at the Belmont Inn was to die for. Probably the best of our entire trip. Honestly we liked every place we stayed/visited but I will venture to say that our one day in Camden was one of the best. I just loved every single thing about it. I felt so relaxed and that community is so friendly. It really feel like everyone knows each other. If you go to Camden please stay at the Belmont. It%26#39;s off the main road so it%26#39;s quiet, the owners are just the nicest most helpful people you%26#39;ll ever meet, and the breakfast and evening snack were so good. Could not have asked for more. I can%26#39;t wait to go back.

Ogunquit: About a 2 hour drive from Camden.

Again we got in early and it was starting to look stormy plus there was a lot of traffic so we called and were able to check in early. We stayed at the Gazebo Inn. Loved our room, we had an extremely comfortable king size bed plus a newly remodeled bathroom with jacuzzi tub. It was room #5 and had a second door out to the pool area. Scott showed us around and pointed us to all the maps/menus/info about Ogunquit we could ever need to figure out the details of our stay. We spent the first afternoon in our room since it was raining. We ordered pizza from Julie%26#39;s and they deliver to the Gazebo Inn for free. Very tasty pizza! We watched a movie (they have a huge collection you can choose from) and then went down to the beach when it cleared up. It%26#39;s about a 10-15 minute walk to the footbridge towards the north end of the beach. We walked down to the other end and grabbed a sandwich and chips from the Village Market to eat back on the beach. We were kind of tired of restaurants at that point.

The next day was our last day of vacation and our only full day in Ogunquit. After a great breakfast we walked to the beach and layed out for a couple of hours (no burn though, we wore spf 50 the whole trip!) The beach got a bit more crowded as the day wore on but just at the two ends, the middle was almost empty. It was a bit cloudy and windy so we got up and walked down the beach and then down the Marginal Way. Very beautiful walk, but at low tide it smelled like rotten eggs! Very gross. We think it was the tide pools. We worked up an appetite from all that walking and had lunch at Oarweeds in Perkins Cove. We got there at a great time and had first pick at seats so we chose and inside table with a great view from our window. I had a really good bacon cheeseburger and my husband had a tasty crab sandwich. It was a bit noisy as more families arrived but overall it was a great dining experience. Under $20 for the two of us to eat.

We spent the afternoon in the pool and hot tub at the Gazebo Inn and then relaxed for awhile until we went to dinner. We walked down the road a bit (less than 5 minutes) and had dinner at Angelina%26#39;s Italian Restaurant. No reservations were necessary since we got there early but if we had been much later we may have had to wait. The servers were great, but the host/manager was totally hovering over them the whole time. That kind of made me nervous and made me angry on their behalf. He was constantly whistling at them and snapping at them like dogs. He would come over while they were taking orders/answering questions and take over if he didn%26#39;t think they were doing it up to his standards. I really thought they were doing fine on their own (the tables were close together so we heard pretty much everything going on around us) but he just had to micromanage them all. Okay, *end vent*

The food was really good despite the slight craziness going on with the servers/manager situation. We both had a very good glass of pinot that the waiter recommended for us. The bread was tasty and our entrees were excellent. My husband had a seafood pasta that was a special that evening, and I had the rollantini di pollo, a fantastic chicken breast stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella with mashed potatoes and green beans on the side. Huge dishes so we took home leftovers. We splurged on dessert since we were celebrating our 1 year anniversary that evening. DH had a ricotta cheesecake and I had a chocolate raspberry torte. Both were delicious. Our server had a lot of tables to manage so it took a long time for us to get our dessert and our check and all of that but we didn%26#39;t mind lingering over dinner. The restaurant was nicely decorated and the accordion player was very good! We would go back for the food but that host/manager whoever he was messed with the vibe of the restaurant with his bossy style.

And that%26#39;s our trip! It was 9 days total and we enjoyed pretty much every second of it. I can%26#39;t wait to go back to Maine and revisit some of the same places. On a return trip we would probably cut out Portland and Ogunquit and just do Bar Harbor and Camden, mostly because we felt like we saw and did all we cared to do in Portland and Ogunquit on our first trip. Traffic on our way back was brutal and it took 12 hours to get from Ogunquit to D.C. It was basically backed up from NY through Delaware. Jersey was the worst. I hate that you can%26#39;t pump your own gas there and all the service areas had terrible food and were so crowded. We were glad to be home but I woke up this morning and definitely found myself missing Maine! Here is a collection of some of our favorite pictures from our trip.

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trip review, VERY long but w/pics

You are so good to post this informative---and entertaining!---trip report. I%26#39;m sure many people will find it helpful for planning their trips.

I had to laugh reading your description of Angelina%26#39;s. You will crack up yourself if you do a search on the Maine forums for ';Angelina%26#39;s'; Let%26#39;s just say that apparently your experience was not unusual.

trip review, VERY long but w/pics

Haha that was entertaining, good to know I%26#39;m not the only one that notice that issue. I forgot to mention that we didn%26#39;t get free dessert even though we mentioned it was our 1 year anniversary. That was slightly disappointing, but not every restaurant treats customers on special occasions, it would get expensive fast for them!

Thanks for your insights and observations. A timely follow-up after an actual visit provides a great help. Pictures, too.

Let us know of your next travelogue! Wish you many more.

What fun to read your travelogue and see your photos. Glad you had a great time. This June has been especially nice. I%26#39;ve taken several trips for business, and had time to be a bit of a tourist myself after hours, and I have noticed, like you did, how nice it is being a tourist in June!

On your next trip, you might put Kennebunkport in the place of Portland/Oqunquit. Since you liked Camden and Bar Harbor, I bet you%26#39;ll like Kennebunkport.

Hi Rose,

What a great trip report. I wish more people would do the same! I thoroughly enjoyed every description and insight posted.

Thanks so much doing so!

cozyharbor

Take a whole new look at the Victorian Inn!

The past negative reviews of the Victoria Inn are exactly that -- in the past. This Inn changed hands in Oct%26#39; 06, and the new owners provided absolutely top accommodations, attention, and warmth for my daughter%26#39;s Sunday River wedding on May 26, 2007.

Stacy, her husband Camile, and their son, Ben were pivotal in making my daughter%26#39;s wedding so special. Stacy was our informal ';wedding consultant'; from day one. She brought her long career of wedding cake designer in Ohio with her to Maine, and obviously enjoyed dealing with the bride, the wedding party, and the full house that resulted at the Inn. The rooms were immaculate, very tastefully decorated (as was the entire Inn), and we felt wanted and welcomed - from our initial contact months before the wedding, to the home made cookies waiting in our rooms on arrival.

The Inn hosted the Rehearsal Party, and it was delightful. Breakfasts were delicious and hardy -- and if you stay for lunch or dinner do NOT miss the expresso creme brulle.

This family has brought new life to the Victorian Inn -- Although Bethel offers many hotels, motels, and B%26amp;B%26#39;s, I can%26#39;t imagine even considering staying anywhere else... our next visit will just feel like ';coming home';, and we hope that is very soon.

Take a whole new look at the Victorian Inn!

Shill. That%26#39;s all I can say. Fake reviews are everywhere in Bethel - what%26#39;s up with that???

Take a whole new look at the Victorian Inn!

What does Shill mean?

From Wikipedia:

In online discussion media, such as message boards, discussion forums, and newsgroups, shills may pose as independent experts, satisfied consumers, or “innocent” parties with specific opinions in order to further the interests of an organization in which they have an interest, such as a commercial vendor or special-interest group. Websites may also be set up for the same purpose. For example, an employee of a company that produces a specific product may (directly or discreetly) praise the product anonymously in a discussion forum or group (often called spamming) in order to heighten and generate interest in that product, or a member or sympathizer of a special-interest group may pose as a highly-qualified expert in a specific field in order to give apparently disinterested support to whatever cause the group promotes.

Thanks Maine-ah!

Monday, December 12, 2011

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trip review, VERY long but w/pics

Take a whole new look at the Victorian Inn!

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