Maine Trip Suggestions

Question

I'm driving to Maine this October from Philly. We may make a few stops on the way, but we really want to tour around Maine. We have about 9 days total. I think we might get as far north as Acadia and then loop back down. Any suggestions on places we should see? I'm using a travel book, but it's really tough planning this trip!

Answer 1

york and ogonquit area are popular but i never visited there so dont know specifics

--definitely stop in portland: visit the old port, Portland headlight lighthouse

--stop at popham beach state park --a MUST

--travel up the coast to boothbay harbor--take the ferry to monhegan island

--then continue further north to acadia/bar harbor

--if time permits, head even further north about 1 1/2 hours to machias/culter and  visit the Bold coast/cutler coast trail

---at some point you should head inland to see some famous new england fall foliage--

fyi--i also strongly recommend a side trip to new hampshires white mountains and drive up the mt washington toll road--its only about 1 1/2 hours from portland maine so can be included

Answer 2

Every Summer my family goes to Bar Harbor and we always go to Jordan Pond and hike around, what a gorgeous area. You can't miss with anything around that area. And Ruth and Wimpy's Restaurant is AMAZING!!!

Answer 3

The slight problem with your situation is timing.  They literally start rolling up the sidewalks in Maine after labor day.  The last big tourist thing before we all hibernate is leaf peeping - which is pretty much over in Maine by Columbus day.  Just consider that not everything that you might want to see will be open.

Personally, I think Boothbay Harbor is the quintessential Maine seaside town.  So I would recommend a trip to Boothbay.

The other place, that is truly God's country is the Moosehead Lake region, Greenville.  If you go there, and it's during peak leaf peeping time - take a flight to view the scenery.

Basically you want to stick to the coast unless you go to Greenville.  Freeport and LL Bean is a must stop.  Harraseeket lobster pound is a great stop in Freeport, it's right on a fishermans working dock.  Bailey's Island is another good place to go for lobsters.  

If you're from Philly you must know of Holly Moore?  Check out his eating the coast of New England reviews at www.hollyeats.com.  

Portland's old port is another touristy area.  South of Portland you might drive out Rt9 to Biddeford Pool, Fortunes Rocks, eventually getting to Cape Porpoise - take a left off Rt9, just past Bradbury's in CP and head out on Wildes District Road, take a left at the fire station on to Ocean Blvd for the scenic ride into Kennebunkport. (I'm assuming your heading south).

Ogunquit is another good spot.  Two eating places of interest here are Wells Diner (intersection of Rt9 and Rt1 in Wells) and Arrows Restaurant in Ogunquit.  Arrows is the best restaurant in Maine.

Another great area to check out is York Beach, the Nubble Light, and take Rt103 from York to Kittery.  Portsmouth, NH is another spot worth spending an afternoon/evening in.

The best examples of chowder are - Seafood chowder at the Wells Diner and seafood chowder at Petey's Summertime Seafood on Rt1A on the beach in Rye, NH.  Note - seafood not clam chowder.  

If you go to Portsmouth, go to Strawberry Bank.  You might check out the Albacore submarine just off Market Street (exit 7 I95), and take Rt1B from Portsmouth through New Castle and eventually at the traffic circle Rt1A that goes along NH's 17 miles of coastline.  Much of the coastal scene can be viewed from the comfort of you car.  

Between Jennes State Beach in Rye and Atlantic Ave in North Hampton, NH - see if you can figure out which house belongs to Dan Brown (author of Di Vinci Code).