Renting Camping Equipment near Acadia?

My boyfriend and i want to camp in Acadia for one night during our vacation, but don%26#39;t have any gear....anywhere we can rent, maybe in town?

Renting Camping Equipment near Acadia?

I asked around today and got nothing encouraging in terms of local rentals.

Should you score some equipment, you also need to consider the availability of campgrounds. Camping is forbidden in Acadia National Park except for two venues---Blackwoods, which virtually is by reservation only, and Seawall, on the southern end of the island, which is first come, first served. There also are private campgrounds: %26lt;www.acadiamagic.com%26gt; will take you to many of those.

Renting Camping Equipment near Acadia?

Thanks. I am aware that we need to reserve space, either at Blackwoods or Seawall. We%26#39;re looking at camping on July 20th....so I will check into making a reservation in the next day or two. I have the ability to borrow someone%26#39;s gear, but they are not directly on %26#39;our way%26#39; to Acadia, so I was trying to decide what is easiest...sounds like it%26#39;s better to borrow gear, even if it requires an extra 30-45 minutes of driving...assuming we can reserve a spot. thanks

EMS in NY rents gear there may be more look in the phone book. I don%26#39;t know of any place in Acadia that rents.

Where should hubby and I go for a romantic trip to Maine??

We are from Massachusetts so we have been to Maine many, many time. We stayed in Ogunquit, Kennebunkport and Camden. Looking for somewhere new to go for a few days this summer. We like nice accomodations, walking, hiking, and great restaurants. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Where should hubby and I go for a romantic trip to Maine??

Bar Harbor (pick from any number of nice B%26amp;Bs or high end hotels)

Don%26#39;t want to drive that far? Go to Portland (stay in the Old Port or out at the Black Point Inn)

Where should hubby and I go for a romantic trip to Maine??

Hi Janiekins53,

How about staying at the Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth, just south of downtown Portland? Check it out at www.innbythesea.com.

I%26#39;ve stayed there a few times and love it. See if you can get one of the suites overlooking the water. These accomodations have everything you could possibly want and then some, plus lots of space, and they are furnished nicely.

There%26#39;s also a lovely boardwalk to beautiful Crescent Beach, and an excellent restaurant , the Audubon Room, that has great views, romantic ambience, and wonderful food. Ask for a window seat.

Along with the above there%26#39;s a pool, tennis, pretty gardens and it%26#39;s just a few minutes drive to Portland Headlight and the Lobster Shack which is great for lunch w/breathtaking views of the ocean and shipping lanes.

Daytrips could easily be made to the Old Port in Portland, LLBeans and Freeport, or even up to the Boothbay Harbor.

In Portland you could take the ferry to tour Casco Bay. And then try and get reservations for either Fore Street or Five Fifty Five for dinner. Both are excellent restaurants. Check out the Fine Art Museum. There%26#39;s a Frank Llyod Wright exhibit there now, along with lots of great Maine art. And of course, there%26#39;s lots of little shops and boutiques in the Old Port to explore.

A daytrip to Boothbay Harbor could include a harbor cruise of some sort (there are zillions); a trip to the Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens where there is a nice restaurant and visitor center along with many easy trails through theme specific gardens; hike one or two of the trails at the Boothbay Region Land Trust properties and bring a picnic lunch with you or dine at one of the restaurants. Great places for take out or dining for lunch are the Blue Moon Cafe, Ebb Tide, the Lobster Dock, or Robinson%26#39;s Wharf on Southport Island. All are very casual but have good food. And all are either directly on the water or in the Ebb Tide%26#39;s case, have a peek at the water and the busy street below.

Good luck with your plans and don%26#39;t forget to post back and let us know how things go :).

cozyharbor

I

Check out my trip review down below! Our whole trip was romantic, but we especially loved Bar Harbor and our stay at the Manor House Inn. We had a huge 2 person jacuzzi, loved it!

coupons

Freeport or Ogunquit?

Which one for a 1-night stay?

Freeport or Ogunquit?

If you like to shop, Freeport. If you like beautiful oceanside towns, go to Ogunquit. The town is pretty, the people watching is great and there are some fantastic restaurants! I live just about half way between them. You will enjoy either place, but my first choice would be Ogunquit.

Regards

Randy

www.RLAshey.com

Freeport or Ogunquit?

Both are nice, but Ogunquit is on the water and there is more to do. You can walk on the Marginal Way, a path along the water. You can shop or eat at Perkins Cove. You are close to sandy beaches.

There are places to go out for a drink.

Freeport has LL Bean and outlet stores, restaurants. Other than shopping, not much to do without driving 30 mins or more to another town. Beaches are farther away.

For a 1 night stay, Ogunquit would be more enjoyable and relaxing.

Popham Beach, what else to see near it?

I%26#39;m planning a trek to Popham Beach. Any pointers? (someone told me to bring a fleece).

Also, is there anything to do near Popham besides the beach?

Thanks!

Popham Beach, what else to see near it?

Popham is very close to the towns of Bath and Brunswick, so I suggest you look at posts under those areas to see things to do in the area. However, I will mention that Bath has a nice, old-fashioned downtown if you%26#39;re inclined to do a little shopping. It%26#39;s also home to a maritime museum and you can go on some boat tours from Bath. There are evening band concerts on some nights in both Bath and Brunswick. Both towns also have farmer%26#39;s markets. Brunswick%26#39;s is on Tuesday and Friday on the town green. Bath%26#39;s is on Wednesday (I think) and Saturday on the waterfront. Brunswick has a larger farmer%26#39;s market on Saturdays at Crystal Springs Farm, which is between Brunswick and Freeport.

Loads to do in Brunswick. If you like theater, check out the Maine State Music Theater.

Popham is gorgeous. It can be pretty chilly anywhere on the Maine coast, depending on conditions, so bringing a fleece on your trip is always a good idea. Popham can be crowded on weekends and holidays, so if it%26#39;s a great looking beach day and it%26#39;s a weekend or holiday, don%26#39;t wait until too late in the day. Also, at high tide there is actually not all that much beach at Popham, though it%26#39;s still a beautiful place to see.

Anna%26#39;s Water%26#39;s Edge is a seafood diner close to Popham. See www.thewatersedgerestaurant.com.

Reid State Park is another beach in the vicinity. Unlike Popham, it has a lot of rocky areas that are fun to wander around on and that make great classic Maine photos. It has a mile-long sandy beach and a half-mile beach. It also has a lagoon where the water is warmer. Reid sometimes has a lot of sand flies. It is rare that Reid runs out of parking, so if you have any problems with Popham, consider Reid as a backup. Another attraction of Reid is the Five Islands wharf, which is just a mile from the turnoff to the park. There is a good lobster shack and takeout diner with fried seafood and burgers, hot dogs, etc. Also an ice cream place. It%26#39;s a gorgeous site and you can take your food and eat at an outdoor picnic table while enjoying the beautiful views.

If you re-post with some information about the kinds of things you enjoy, I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll get more suggestions of Popham-area attractions.

Have a great visit!

Popham Beach, what else to see near it?

Popham has two forts. The first is Fort Popham, a big stone fort very easy to find at the end of the beach overlooking the Kennebec River (drive past the state park entrace to the end of the road to the other public access point to the beach.) Also, less well known, is Fort Baldwin, which is sitting in woods about a half-mile up the road from Fort Popham. See …about.com/cs/mainebeaches/a/PophamBeach.htm To get to Fort Baldwin, drive back abour 1/4 mile from Fort Popham and look for a road that turns off to your right. Go to the end of that road, look for a small parking area and a sign and then hike up the hill. The bunkers built into the hill would probably be fun for little kids to explore.

Also in the Popham area is the Morse Mountain Conservation area, see http://www.bates.edu/morse-mountain.xml

On the ride to or from Popham, detour thru itsy bitsty center of Phippsburg village. Mapquest your route and look for Parker Head Road. There are some lovely old homes, and very old cemetaries, on this route. Parker Head Road will take you thru the tiny village center. Park at Church Lane and get out and look at the gorgeous little church.

The Martime Museum in Bath is a good stop, and you should ride by the Bath Iron Works and gawk at the operations there. http://www.gdbiw.com/ Most times you%26#39;ll see a range of vessels on the waterfront from teeny red tugboats to huge naval destroyers.

If you like architecture, explore Bath byfoot or by car. it%26#39;s streets are lined with impressive old sea captains%26#39; mansions in a whole range of architectural styles from Federal and Greek Revival to Carpenter Gothic. The best two streets are High and Washington.

Forgot to mention that if you can plan you Popham visit around low tide there is an island along the beach (roughly midway between the state park entrance and the Fort Popham entrance) that is accessible only at low tide. Definitely walk out and explore there. Also, there is a very photogenic converted lifesaving station (sort of like a light house, but not really) on the Fort side of the beach.

Because of Maine%26#39;s very pronounced tides, I prefer to visit Popham around low tide. Much more beach is revealed making walks more interesting.

As you might be able to tell, I%26#39;m much more partial to Popham than to Reid, tho I do like the Five Islands Area and the little lobster pound there has to be one of the most scenic places you can eat lobster. http://www.fiveislandslobster.com/

(P.S. If you are travelng with a dog, you%26#39;ll have to use the entrance by the Fort, as the state park restricts dog traffic.)

Just found the tide chart online

http://www.maineharbors.com/julpop07.htm

being from a more landlocked area...i admit I%26#39;m not too confident in my tide chart predicting or reading. For example the best time to go low tide on July 7th would be between 10:55am and 5:20pm correct?

thanks for the pointers!

10:55 is when the tide will be the lowest and the most beach will be exposed.

I%26#39;m not a expert on tides, either, but I%26#39;m guessing that from about three hours before 10:55 to about three hours after 10:55 would be the time to catch the most exposed beach (and access to the island).

Maybe take an early picnic lunch to the island?

the thing with popham is it takes a while to drive out there and its beautiful and all but by the time u get out of the peninsula half the day is gone

u get the same expansive ocean feel if u go to two lights in south portland or portland head light or the northeast shoreline of peaks island

you%26#39;re right...it does take awhile to get there. i was planning on going to freeport on the way back, then downtown portland things. but i%26#39;d have to start super early in the morning to get that all in.

would crescent beach be a nice substitute for popham?

found this link - its reeeeally complete

just click on the drop down menus for greater portland and midcoast

http://travel.mainetoday.com/todo/beaches/

crescent is nice becuz its protected and it has a snack bar and changing areas - not nearly as big as popham but much closer

Just got back from this area. We planned to go to Popham, but a wrong turn brought us to Reid State Park instead. It is on the next peninsula and we were told, just as beautiful.

We loved the beach at Reid, especially the views from the rocks.

We were surprised at the difference in temperature though. It was about 20 degrees cooler on the beach than it was in Freeport, where we were staying. We wished we had sweatshirts.

We would visit again. We would also like to find Popham next time!

Quiet beachfront lodging in or near Ogunquit?

I%26#39;ve been reading all the very informative posts about lodging in the area and it seems most people want to be near town, but it also seems like the town is a zoo in the summer! We will be visiting friends in Kittery and would like to find a lovely B%26amp;B or inn where we can relax, walk on the beach, maybe even have dinner without having to go into town (we will have a car however). Does such a thing exist within a half hour or so of Kittery Point? Two adults, no children, flexible budget, prefer adult-oriented rather than family-type places. Thank you from Northern California!

Quiet beachfront lodging in or near Ogunquit?

The Southern coast of Maine is beautiful and has many places that are quiet. In Ogunquit, The Cliffhouse is a large hotel that sits on Bald Head Cliff.. very beautiful and is known for their spa. If you would rather a B%26amp;B, go to the B%26amp;B site and check out Ogunquit and Kennebunkport. Both have great inns, quiet with wonderful ocean views. York Beach is very close to Kittery and it has many B%26amp;Bs on the point out to Nubble Light, one of the most photographed lighthouse in the country. I%26#39;m sure York Beach has a website that could put you in the right direction. I think staying on the beach in York might be a little ';honky-tonky'; for what you appear to be looking for. Enjoy!

Quiet beachfront lodging in or near Ogunquit?

There are several places you could stay in York, down by York Harbor. There is the York Harbor Inn, http://www.yorkharborinn.com and The Stage Neck Inn. www.stageneck.com/ and I think the York Harbor Readng Room is right there. There could be a few other upscale hotels or B%26amp;Bs in that vicinity, but I haven%26#39;t been down there recently and just can%26#39;t recall.

Just adjacent to the Stage Neck there is a public beach you can walk. This is not the same thing as the more crowded York Beach further north. You might call the The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center, (207) 363-4422 • or E-mail: info@yorkme.org and ask them to give you the names of other lodging choices in the vicinity of the Stage Neck/York Harbor.

Also in York, the Dockside Guest Quarters%26amp; Restaurant has a very nice secluded spot not on a sand beach, but on the water where you can sit in an adirondack chair and just soak up the surroundings. Look at their web site. www.docksidegq.com/

FWIW, the Cliff House is not on a beach, and you%26#39;ll have to get in the car to do anything. It%26#39;s way out of town.

Thanks for all the great suggestions, and yes, there are lots of B%26amp;Bs so I%26#39;m checking them out. I%26#39;m looking for a nice room, maybe with a balcony we can walk out on to see the water. We%26#39;re not actually beachgoers, but we%26#39;ll be in the Boston/NH area for a week and my husband needs to do some resting and reading, and I thought a nice, quiet room with a serene view of the water would hit the spot. I found a new place called Cabot Cove Cottages in Kennebunk that looks interesting. The managers used to have a B%26amp;B called The Ocean View. Any intelligence on this?

They say on their web site that they are featured in the April issue of Coastal Living magazine, so you should run out an pick up a copy.

Will say from the map on their web site that as a plus they are out from the middle of town, so the location should be relaxing. However, the water they are located on looks to be tidal inlet, not the ocean. So, you will not hear waves lapping on the shore if that%26#39;s what you have in your vision.

If your vision for this vacation is hearing the surf pounding, you would do well to look for a place with seaside rooms right on the Gulf of Maine (the beach or rocky shoreline).

Sounds to me that Cliffhouse in Ogunquit is what you want. Away from the crowds but only 15 minute drive to Perkins Cove and Ogunquit shopping area. Less than 30 minutes to York Beach with shops, etc. Has balconies looking over the crashing surf on Bald Hill Cliffs. Has fine dining, a couple of pools, tennis, spa, etc. If relaxing is what you want, check out their website.

From what I can tell on the websites, Cliff House looks a little too big and resorty for us, but York Harbor looks just right. Many thanks for everyone%26#39;s help!!

Regarding the York Harbor Inn, I can comment from 1st hand experience. The ocean view from the Side building isn%26#39;t bad. The Innkeeper himself (dominguez) is an arrogant obnoxious pretentious jerk. He and a desk clerk hindered what could have been a nice stay there in early spring 2006. I%26#39;ll never stay there again.

Regarding the Cliff House, prior posts speak for them selves. it may have been a nice place years ago, but apparently the current owners are more $ conscious the guest happiness. driving to this place isn%26#39;t bad, but once you get there, the jury%26#39;s still out. Old place and the side building shows it%26#39;s age.

Tha Anchorage By The Sea is INCREDIBLE!!

We%26#39;ve gone to the Dockside for lunch, and though I%26#39;ve never stayed there, have always thought the place was absolutely charming, esp the adirondack chairs looking out on the harbor. It%26#39;s like a postcard!

Diane

The Cliffhouse in Ogunquit has the best view of any place in the whole area. You must stay in the Cliffscape building and request DIRECT OCEANFRONT view ( not side or coast view). We go to Maine often and have waterfront homes in several parts of the country and love spectacular views. Cliff House sits high on a cliff looking down on the ocean. The resort is in a very upscale neighborhood. Surrounded by mansions on cliffs looking down at the ocean! Very private setting! Most places in Ogunquit, York are run down, touristy and none have this view!!!!! I haven%26#39;t found a B%26amp; B with a oceanfront balcony. Most sit farther away from the ocean. You won%26#39;t get the large crashing surf hitting the rocks at any other location. We have stayed in York, York Beach etc. and the view is not as spectacular because you are not on a cliff. Be careful most places south of Ogunquit are very run down! In Cliffscape building you will get a balcony with chairs and a fabulous view of a lighthouse and can watch lobster boats go by. We went on a sightseeing tour out of Perkins Cove and it goes by the Cliff House.

Marginal Way is right down the road. It is a great walking path along the ocean on a cliff! Fabulous! perkins Cove is right there also. Waterfront dining!

Bike Rentals and Trails

I am coming to BH for the first time with my 3 kids, ages 12 (twins) and 13 the second week in July. We are staying at the Wonderview Inn. We would like to rent bikes for either part of or the whole week. Are there bike rental places nearby? What are some good biking areas? Are there trails?

Thanks,

jersey girl

Bike Rentals and Trails

There are several bike rental places in Bar Harbor and the surrounding area; two of the most popular are Acadia Bike and Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop, both on Cottage Street.

See:

http://www.acadiamagic.com/stores.htm

for their links. That same site (acadiamagic.com) provides information on Acadia National Park (the carriage road system, hiking trails, etc.)

You might also check the Overview section at the top of this page for information on hikes and walks, restaurants, etc.

In the park, there are roughly 45 miles of carriage roads open to pedestrians, cyclists***, and horses (no motorized vehicles) and 120 miles of hiking trails that range from low-impact to challenging in their difficulty.

When you get here, pick up a copy of Diana Abrell%26#39;s ';A pocket Guide to the Carriage Roads of Acadia National Park.'; It costs $4.50 and is available at Sherman%26#39;s bookstore and several of the outdoor/sporting goods shops.

***A small part of the carriage road system that is on private land on the southern end of the island is closed to bicycles.

One word of advice: the access to the park from Bar Harbor via bike is an uphill grind (you%26#39;ll understand that when you get to the Wonderview). If you do not have a bike rack for your vehicle, rent one where you rent the bikes. Also, ask the folks at Wonderview to show you the ';back-door'; route into the village or to West Street Extension (a park access route). This will minimize the amount of time you have to bike on Eden St. (Rte. 3), which is not a good route to bike.

I would also suggest that as much as possible, you use the Island Explorer shuttle (see: %26lt; http://exploreacadia.com%26gt;) to get into the park. The shuttle also runs a bicycle express (a trailer and van) than goes from the village green to the Eagle Lake access of the carriage road system.

Chair / Umbrella Rentals

Is there anywhere in Saco to rent beach chairs and umbrellas weekly?

Chair / Umbrella Rentals

There are plenty of places in Old Orchard