Flying into Portland from Chicago...how far from Bar Harbor?

Trying to decide between flying direct to Portland versus flying into Bangor or Augusta (which will require us to change planes). Thinking direct flights are better. How long a drive is it from Portland?

Thanks so much. I%26#39;d ask my husband all these questions normally, but I want to surprise him!!!

Flying into Portland from Chicago...how far from Bar Harbor?

I wouldn%26#39;t fly into Augusta -- very small airport. Portland is at least a three hour drive from Bar Harbor, two hours on I-95 and an hour plus on two lane roads from Bangor to Bar Harbor.

If the plane change isn%26#39;t too long, I%26#39;d opt for Bangor. It%26#39;s a nice airport and is just a bit over an hour%26#39;s drive to Bar Harbor.

Flying into Portland from Chicago...how far from Bar Harbor?

Bonnie, the problem is that there is only a 45 minute span between flights and if there is a hold up for any reason, I%26#39;m out of luck.

Plus it%26#39;s a very small plane that flies into Bangor. There used to be a non-stop to Bangor...not anymore, though.

Portland is about 3 hours to Bar Harbor if you take the highway. If you%26#39;re not in a rush I would suggest spending a day or so in Portland as it%26#39;s a great city and lots of fun. You can also take Rt 1 up from Portland and see some pretty cool places. Adds a few hours to the ride but you get to see Rockland, Rockport, Camden and the new Bucksport Bridge. Plus there%26#39;s always LL Bean in Freeport! There are a number of good places to eat, museums etc. We drive up from CT but always stop in Portland on the way up for a nite...continue on Rt 1 and then take the highway home.

Looking for accomodations: Please verify first impressions..

Local Experts:

We%26#39;ve finally nailed down dates we%26#39;ll be in Bar Harbor and are looking into accomodations. The bad news is that we%26#39;re arriving late August in high season. The good news is that we%26#39;re staying Sun. and Mon. night...which means there is still plenty of availability out there.

I%26#39;ve been reading T.A. reviews, checking out websites, and using GoogleMaps to figure out which way to go. Here%26#39;s what I%26#39;ve come up with followed by some questions..

1. There are a few hotels out there, but the way to go is B%26amp;B because of cost ($230 v. $150 on avg.), location (most are right off of Main St.), and personality (I%26#39;ve read horror stories about Harborside).

2. To stay around $130 - $175, the best options for value and location close to Main St. are Hearthside, Atlantean, and the Seacroft Inn.

3. Reading the reviews for the top 10 B%26amp;B%26#39;s (per T.A. contributions), I have not read one bad thing anyone has written about any of the B%26amp;B%26#39;s. Are they really that amazing to stay at or are there other reasons why there is not a single negative review. (Just compare the reviews for the Seacroft v. Harborside.) After reading so many reviews over the years, I%26#39;m accustomed to reading a few random negative posts like ';they lost my reservation';, ';it was too hot/cold';, or ';I found a hair in the sink.'; But, not one negative thing on the B%26amp;B%26#39;s. That just caught me as strange.

4. Can the noise off of Main St. be that bad? So many contributors mentioned this in one way or another (i.e. ';Location is close to Main Street but far away enough to be peaceful.';) Are there areas that noise or crowds will be an issue?

5. Are there any other factors we need to keep in mind in finding a place to stay? We%26#39;re in town only 2.5-days and we%26#39;re looking to relax, bike the carriage roads, take some daysails, and relax some more...

Thanks in advance for your help. I%26#39;ve posted to several Maine forums earlier this year and am very appreciative of everyone%26#39;s help. It%26#39;s really evident that the people who live in BH love it. We can%26#39;t wait for our trip.

Looking for accomodations: Please verify first impressions..

Note: The title should have read, ';Looking for accomodations: Please verify first impressions.';

I hate typos.

Looking for accomodations: Please verify first impressions..

I%26#39;ve seen a few negative comments about even the most popular Bed and Breakfasts. You can%26#39;t please every single person. I doubt you will find a comment about losing reservations or a hair in the sink, though. Most of the B%26amp;Bs are small enough and tightly owner-controlled that those issues are well taken care of.

There are also a few motels that are in the same price range as the Bed and Breakfasts. But it is true that if you would like to be right in the village and pay under $175, a B and B is a good route to take.

Depending on what kind of person you are, you might ask when you book a B%26amp;B if breakfast is served all around one table. Some people don%26#39;t like to interact with their fellow man early in the morning. Some inns have tables where you can sit two by two. You might also ask if there are public rooms where you can read a book on a rainy day and get some separation from each other. Or these things might not be of much concern to you.

The residential side streets in Bar Harbor are indeed quieter. There is some noise on the main streets up to around midnight as the art deco movie theatre lets out or people stroll the streets in search of an ice cream cone or a late night drink. There is also some noise from early morning delivery trucks.

The three B%26amp;Bs you mention are good. But there are others. The Ulikana, Aysgarth Station, and Anne%26#39;s White Columns come to mind. All good locations and pleasant innkeepers.

One consideration in booking a place in late August would be to have a parking spot right in the village, where parking is at a premium. Another consideration would be that you are in walking distance of the restaurants and of the free shuttle bus system which changes routes at the Village Green. All the B%26amp;Bs mentioned above would satisfy those two things. The free shuttle buses carry bicycles to the popular carriage road system in the Park. They are also convenient for a long, one-way hike. You can take the Sand Beach bus, for example, to the trail head of the North Ridge up Cadillac and take the Blackwoods Campground bus back to town some four hours later when you come off the South Ridge trail.

Thanks for the info!

Now, how is the Harborside really?

I%26#39;ve read that there is still construction at the hotel/resort and that service can be lacking. But, the pictures off of their website make it look great. Is it a chaotic scene during August? We figure the amenities sound great if we decide to go the ';hotel-route'; but will we be swarmed by kids and families?

Thanks again.

I can%26#39;t really say how the Harborside is doing with regard to service, not having any reason to stay there. You%26#39;d have to judge by recent reviews of it. I walk past it most days of the week. There is definitely ongoing construction on the site. I%26#39;ve never noticed it overrun by kids and families.

I will say that that stunning picture they use of their pool and the ocean is very misleading. In actuality, the pool is quite close to the road and to the paved area where people queue to get on the whale watcher. The grounds of the Bar Harbor Inn are a bit more secluded and peaceful. And the pool there is more private.

If you do end up looking for a B%26amp;B, of course checking with Trip Advisor reviews is a great idea. There are a lot of great B%26amp;B%26#39;s in Bar Harbor, just remember, like BOnniemaev says, you can%26#39;t please every single person. I just wanted to mention that there are several listings in the B%26amp;B section of Bar Harbor Trip Advisor, that are not B%26amp;B%26#39;s, or they are no longer open. There are a few places mentioned that are definitely small hotel/motels and one or two that might give coffee and a muffin but not a full breakfast. Make sure that you check this out before making a reservation, if that is important to you.

We loved the Quimby House Inn (much nicer than the tent on our honeymoon). Check our GoList for details...

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i12151-New_Engl…

I%26#39;ve not stayed at the Harborside either, but my work has taken me there. (No, I am not a hooker.:)

I have observed lapses in service, so I tend to believe what I read there. Plus, many of the rooms look out over parking lots.

And, the place is HUGE. If you have a problem and need to walk to the front desk to resolve it in person, you need a map and a water bottle.

But, more important than that to me, it%26#39;s very modern, shiny, etc., not what I personally like in Maine accommodations. I want something that looks old and classic Maine. Shingled. Genteel. Intimate. Relaxing.

The BHI has a better location, is a bit smaller/more intimate. I%26#39;d pick it instead. Much better waterfront.

easy hair and makeup ideas

Traffic from Boston to Bar Harbor on Memorial Day

We will be arriving in Boston around 11 am on Saturday (Memorial Day weekend). Not sure whether to take Route 1 or just I-95. How is the traffic on Route 1 during the weekend? Also would appreciate any advice on stopovers on the way to Bar Harbor.

Traffic from Boston to Bar Harbor on Memorial Day

I would do my best to stay off of Route 1. Traffic should be a horrible.

I%26#39;d advise getting to I-95 ASAP and staying there for most of the trip. Bring plenty of patience. :)

Traffic from Boston to Bar Harbor on Memorial Day

Really, Michelle?? I%26#39;m surprised. I would have said that for the July 4th time period. But way up here in Bar Harbor things are still pretty slow on Memorial Day weekend. I have no idea what things are like south of Portland. I made a resolution about eight years ago to never drive south of Portland again.

I would advise the poster to get on I-95 until Freeport, Maine and then take highway one if you want to. It%26#39;s scenic and there%26#39;s the pretty new bridge!

Stop in Portland, Freeport, Camden, and at the bridge observatory, just south of Bucksport.

My experience with holiday weekends is that traffic is multiplied on those weekends, and Saturday mornings are the worse. Seems like no matter what time of the day you drive, you%26#39;re running into folks coming up to Maine (from Boston, CT, NYC, Jersey).

South of Portland I%26#39;d be very worried about a bottleneck in Ogunquit. I for sure wouldn%26#39;t pick up Route 1 before Maine (not sure if the poster meant to take Route 1 from Boston or pick it up in Maine somewhere.)

You can sure venture over to Route 1 at Freeport or Brunwick and see how things are going and if it looks bad, dart back over to I-95 at Topsham.

I%26#39;d be tempted to take one leg of the trip via Belfast, however, so I could climb the new observation tower at Bucksport. Can%26#39;t wait to take in that view!

Does Route 1 north from Freeport have many traffic lights?

Not too many traffic lights once you get north of Bath and Brunswick.

One thing that may influence your decision is your eagerness to reach your destination - Bar Harbor - and how long your vacation is. Are you in BH for the long weekend or for a week?

Keep in mind that normal driving time from Boston Logan Airpport to Bar Harbor, no traffic, is aboout 5 - 6 hours. That is I-95 to Bangor and then state roads to BH. Take I-95 to Kittery, ME and then drive Rte 1 to BH, with no traffic, and my guess wouldbe to add an hour or more to the drive just because you cannot sustain 65mph and there are traffic lights. Make stops along the way and you have to add in that time. You are arriving at 11AM. It will take time to get your car rental, a bit longer if you check your luggage. So, maybe you begin your drive at noon or so. If you drive direct to BH, you get there at about 6PM, later if there is traffic, and later if you get off, drive Rte 1 and make stops to enjoy the views, shop, dine, etc.

If you are going to be in BH for the long weekend, I would get there as quickly as possible and enjoy it as fully as possible. IF you are there for the week, it is more of a coin toss. Your drive along the coast will more than likely have you arriving in BH after dark. If that is okay with you, then go ahead.

It%26#39;s not so much the traffic lights as it%26#39;s just the fact that you can%26#39;t--as another poster noted--maintain 65+ mph on Route 1.

Route 1 is predominantly two-laned, the speed limit drops as you go thru little towns, and some towns (Wiscasset, Ogunquit and Camden) are legendary for the traffic getting backed up.

Even out on the open road, the traffic slows with tourists rubbernecking and folks just out for a leisurely drive. Often it%26#39;s miles before you can find a good place to pass.

And, of course, there will be lots of places you%26#39;ll be tempted to stop. And, if you don%26#39;t stop, you%26#39;ll be beating yourself up for missing something.

When I first moved to Maine, I stopped at the Welcome Center to ask the distance to Bangor. A fellow behind the counter said very dryly ';its three HOURS if you stay on I-95 and three DAYS if you get off on Route 1.';

If you can afford to overnight somewhere like Camden, then take Route 1. If you need to get to Bar Harbor by nightfall, stay on 95 and make good time.

NextStopIs said ';...normal driving time from Boston Logan Airpport to Bar Harbor, no traffic, is aboout 5 - 6 hours. That is I-95 to Bangor and then state roads to BH.';

Mapquest estimates it%26#39;s a 278-mile drive, so that means 45-55 mph average speed without traffic.. A major part of this route is on an interstate highway 95 and the average speed should be around 65, right? So unless the drive from Bangor to Bar Harbor is with 20 mph speed, I found it%26#39;s hard to believe it could take 6 hours without traffic.

Any comments?

From Logan to Portland will take up to two hours, from Portland to Bangor is another two hours, and from Bangor to Bar Harbor is another hour. Consequently, it is a minimum of five hours from Logan to Bar Harbor, depending upon traffic.

';Mapquest estimates it%26#39;s a 278-mile drive, so that means 45-55 mph average speed without traffic.. A major part of this route is on an interstate highway 95 and the average speed should be around 65, right? So unless the drive from Bangor to Bar Harbor is with 20 mph speed, I found it%26#39;s hard to believe it could take 6 hours without traffic.

Any comments? ';

Just one.

You are basing the above on theory; what people on this forum have been telling you is from their experience. Take your choice.

Trying to book a date in October...

Just decided to make early October the time for our getaway.

But, I was wondering if the lst week in October ( 3 - 7th) is a good time since it%26#39;s Columbus day weekend. Is the town more populated during that time where it might be kind of crazy?

Is the weather still pretty nice temperature wise?

Thanks.

Trying to book a date in October...

The Columbus Day weekend has indeed become a favorite time to visit this area. Columbus Day usually falls pretty close to the peak of autumn foliage on the island, plus, CD concides with the Thanksgiving holiday in Canada.

That weekend, although fairly highly populated, is not as ';crazy'; as, say, July 4 or most of August---the difference being that relatively speaking, there are more adults and fewer uncontrolled children.

The weather tends to be good---one of my favorite times of the year on the island. It will be cool at night, definitely, and even during the day, the warmth will not come so much from the air as from the sun, so shaded areas will recognizably cooler than will sunny areas.

If you would really like a more quiet time, the week after Columbus Day would fill that. After Columbus Day, the Island Explorer Shuttle will not be running, but the park will still be very accessible, and the foliage should still be good.

Trying to book a date in October...

Do you think it will be too cold the week after Columbus Day?

Say...Oct. 10th forward? Just want to be able to enjoy everything as much as possible!

No, it won%26#39;t be too cold. The days are usually very pleasant. October is often a warmer month than May.

Good to know in terms of weather...thanks CW and Bonnie.

I did note that some hotel rates go down the 2nd week in Octobber, too. And, that%26#39;s a nice incentive to hold off a bit.

camping? Under a bridge close to Fort Knox

Several years ago we were visiting Maine and we found an awesome campgroup in the area of Fort Knox, tucked under a bridge of some sort. I cannot remember the name of the campground. Any ideas? We%26#39;re heading that way again this summer and would love to stay there again....

Thanks

camping? Under a bridge close to Fort Knox

The name of the campground is ';The Flying Dutchman';. It is in Verona right next to the Waldo-Hancock bridge, which has recently been re-done. According to an article in the Ellsworh American, the owners were concerned about the effects of the construction on their business, so you may want to call them to verify that they are still in operation.

Blue Hill as stopover?

Hi,

We%26#39;re staying a week in Maine this summer (we%26#39;ll be there in exactly one month yeah!!). We%26#39;re staying a few nights in Southwest Harbor and then we%26#39;re going to Camden for just one night. In Camden we would like to do a 2 hour sailing trip, probably with the Olad. My question is the following: is it worth it to stop in Blue Hill when we%26#39;re driving from Southwest Harbor to Camden? Its only 15 mins extra in driving time.. but we wouldn%26#39;t have much time to do anything, just see what it%26#39;s like and have a little stroll. Or is it better to just go straight to Camden? My guidebook is really enthousiastic about Blue Hill.. so I dont know what to do. Are the two towns really different?

Blue Hill as stopover?

Hi. Blue Hill is lovely but much smaller and less hectic than Camden. I%26#39;m not sure about 15 minutes though. If you are on Route 1, it appears that Blue Hill is 15 *miles* away, over the river and through the woods. I would allow 1/2 hour to get there and 1/2 to get back to Route 1 which may be absurdly conservative. Have a great vacation!

Blue Hill as stopover?

Blue Hill and Camden are very, very different. Blue Hill is also different from Southwest Harbor. Blue Hill is tiny. I%26#39;d be interested in what your guide book says that makes it sound so wonderful. There%26#39;s really not much there and it doesn%26#39;t have much of a waterfront either. Now, Stonington. That%26#39;s nice. But Stonington would be twice as far off of Highway 1 as Blue Hill.

Ok.. so I%26#39;ll guess I%26#39;ll just concentrate on Camden.. the guidebook thought it was very picturesque with great views.

Little extra question: we%26#39;re going to do a 2 hour sail trip in Camden, but my mum and I tend to get seasick (I know, weird to want to take a boattrip if you get seasick, but it looks so fun!). How much waves (and seasickness) should we prepare for? of course we%26#39;re going to take a pill, and I only get sick when the water is rough. I suppose that since the boat stays relatively close to the coast that it should be ok?

Can%26#39;t help you on the wave conditions. That will be completely dependent on the weather and winds. But you are correct that if it stays fairly close to shore or in sheltered bays, it can%26#39;t be too bad.

As for the guide book about Blue Hill, I%26#39;ll bet they were thinking of the Blue Hill area. There are lots of little peninsulas that have good views. But you don%26#39;t necessarily see that from the car or from a walk in the town of Blue Hill. Or maybe it%26#39;s just me. After the stunning scenery of Acadia National Park, the rest of the coast rather pales in comparison.

good makeup

Road trip from Ottawa to Bar Harbor with kids

Hello! We%26#39;ll be driving with our 3 and 5 year old boys on our first trip to Bar Harbor from Ottawa, Canada the last week in June.

We%26#39;re driving through Montreal, down to St Johnsbury VT the first day, then on to Bar Harbor the next day. We%26#39;re spending three days in BH and then following our tracks back.

First, can you tell me if there are any don%26#39;t-miss roadside attractions along the way?

Second, in BH we%26#39;re planning on doing some limited hiking (I%26#39;m also 10 wks pregnant), Pirate Golf and a whale-watching tour while in Bar Harbor. Any other suggestions for fun stuff for little kids?

Finally, we haven%26#39;t yet booked the final hotel in our return voyage. We%26#39;re looking at breaking the trip into two manageable bits and were considering the Fairbanks Inn in St Johnsbury. Any other suggestions for towns and/or hotels in that region?

Thanks in advance!! Can%26#39;t wait to get moving.

Road trip from Ottawa to Bar Harbor with kids

Ever thought of going back a different way? Through Burlington, take the ferry across Lake Champlain, then onto Lake Placid and then north back to Ottawa. It would be another boat excursion, possibly doing Ausable Chasm, or driving up Whiteface Mtn for a great view, High Falls Gorge, and then into an Olympic town, Lake Placid. Would seem to beat the ';re-tracing our steps';, flat-lander approach. ???

Mileage-wise, it%26#39;s virtually the same, if you have the time.

Alpine slides, over in Stowe, Mt Mansfield area. Time usually is an issue.

Road trip from Ottawa to Bar Harbor with kids

RE: hiking (low impact). At 10+/- weeks, presumably you won%26#39;t be into extreme verticality and a lot of scrambling over rocks.

With that in mind, consider the following hikes/walks.

Near Bar Harbor, there is the Great Meadow Loop as well as the series of (pretty much flat) trails that comprise the Jesup Path-Sieur de Monts-Tarn-Stratheden network.

On the other (quiet?) side of the island, there are two trails---Wonderland and Ship Harbor. Actually, you could combine both, but that would mean some scrambling along the rockly coast from Wonderland over to Ship Harbor.

Some of these are covered in a little more detail in the Overview section (top of page) of this forum.

As for the little ones, there is an Oceanarium on Rte. 3 between the Trenton bridge and Bar Harbor which has kid-friendly things.

Hi Dani

I just wanted to post a note about the whale watching trip. My husband and I took our 5 and 3 year old daughters last September. It%26#39;s a long cold trip out to where the whales are and a long cold trip back (a little over an hour each way). The scenery was nice for my husband and I, but the girls were bored. By the time we saw our first whale, both were asleep!

I would suggest taking the kids on LuLu%26#39;s Lobster Boat. We%26#39;ve done this trip a couple of times. Captain John is very knowledgeable about lobstering and he takes you on a scenic tour as well. It%26#39;s about 2 hours long and the boat doesn%26#39;t leave the calm waters of Frenchman Bay (which may also be nice for you if you are experiencing any morning sickness - I was also six months pregnant on the whale watching trip).

The Acadian Nature Cruise is also a great trip - it%26#39;s only two hours and the boat takes you along the coast and out to Egg Rock Lighthouse where you see seals, ducks, maybe dolphins, puffins, and eagles.

If you have your hearts set on seeing whales, don%26#39;t let me discourage you. The ones we saw were amazing and beautiful. I just wanted to throw out a little warning if you haven%26#39;t been before.

On a side note, I took the girls hiking up the South Bubble Trail and it was pretty easy for both of them. There are some rocky spots, but they managed fine. The views from the top were fun and they felt like they had climbed a mountain. The boys may also enjoy going to the little beach in Seal Cove or exploring at the Seawall Picnic area. It%26#39;s also a very nice walk across the sand bar and up to the summit on Bar Island. It%26#39;s an easy walk (about a mile) with wonderful views of Bar Harbor and the mountains behind. Just be sure to check the tide chart before you go!

I hope you enjoy your visit to Bar Harbor.

Wow, thanks for all the great suggestions! We%26#39;ve now altered our route so that we%26#39;ll travel through NY, to the Ausable Chasm and across Lake Champlain to VT on the way out, and then go back through Montreal on the way home.

Thanks, too, for the warning about the whale watching tours. I must admit, I have a strong fear of deep water, and the idea of being out of sight of the shoreline leaves me a little breathless, but I was working on challenging that fear for the whale watching tour. Maybe I%26#39;ll go with the Lulu Lobster boat instead... something to consider, anyway.

And thanks for the hiking suggestions, too. I%26#39;ve printed everything out and will bring everything along with us when we go.

in the bath tub

What restaurant for the best prime rib?

Looking for a restaurant to celebrate my husbands 50th birthday.

He absolutely loves prime rib! What would the best restaurant be in either Ogunquit, Perkins Cove, Wells or Kennebunkport?

What restaurant for the best prime rib?

We had an incredible prime rib meal at the Grey Gull Inn last summer, in Ogunquit. We were specifically looking for prime rib as well and there are a couple of other places, (can%26#39;t remember the names) but we tried this restaurant and were not disappointed. a bit pricey but worth it for a special occasion – it was our anniversary. It was served with delicious mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables.

What restaurant for the best prime rib?

The Grey Gull inn just so you aren%26#39;t confused is in Wells, not Ogunquit.

http://www.thegreygullinn.com/

I%26#39;ve heard good thing about Bintliff%26#39;s in Ogunquit

www.bintliffsogunquit.com/dinner_menu.html

Best Stopover City between Boston and Millinocket

We will be driving from Boston to Millinocket, but need to stop someplace for one evening, as we have an %26#39;extra%26#39; day. Any suggestions?

Best Stopover City between Boston and Millinocket

The whole dirve is only about 6 hours but if you want to break it up and get a chance to visit another area of Maine then I would stop somewhere along the southern Maine coast so you get to experience it a little as well. Anywhere south of Portland on the coast would pretty much be directly on route so you would not have to go out of your way. There are several nice towns along the RT1 corrodor south of Portland such as York, Wells, and Ogunquit. Is thare anything specific you would like to do for that one day, that may help better decide.

Best Stopover City between Boston and Millinocket

I don%26#39;t know that we have any specific expectations for this day--we are visiting Mt. Katadhin and then Bar Harbor and Camden later in the week. Is there anything else you think we should experience while we%26#39;re there?

If you plan to hike Katahdin, you better plan on spending the night close to the gate. The parking lots fill up fast!

Driving Route Suggestions

My wife and I are headed to Bar Harbor from NY metro area on Sunday July 1st. Staying for the entire week and looking forward to it. My question is should we stay on I-95 all the way up to Bangor and then get on local roads to Bar Harbor or is there a more scenic route that will not take an extra few hours considering we will have been in the car for a few hours already.

The map makes it look like getting on Route 3 at Augusta is a similar route on slower roads. I am curoius just how slow and how much more time that might add to our trip. And are the views worth it along that route.

Other route suggestions ar welcomed. Thanks in advance for any responses!

Driving Route Suggestions

Both routes (I-95 to Bangor and Rte 3 from Augusta) time out about the same per Mapquest.

The traffic on either route is unpredictable but may not be *too* bad on Sunday...figuring that most people will get away Fri night or Sat.

The Route 3 option from Augusta gives you a perspective of coastal living (and yes the views are worth it) that you will not see if only visit MDI/Bar Harbor. Route 3 may look much slower than the Turnpike but is in fact a major artery to/from the mid-coast to Augusta.

Whichever you decide, don%26#39;t forget, from Portland take I-295 to terminus at I-95 in Gardiner/Litchfield. That will save some time (versus I-95 Portland-Augusta) as shortest distance is a straight line.

Driving Route Suggestions

First, it is likely to be fairly congested from Boston on north and east.

As a reference, let%26#39;s consider the drive from Portland (in general terms, where your interstate/coastal alternatives begin) to Bar Harbor. Portland to Bar Harbor is roughly three hours: about two hours to Bangor, another hour plus a little to Mount Desert Island and Bar Harbor. There are many places where you can move away from I-95 and take Rtes. 1 %26amp; 3, once you get a bit north of Portland (one of the earliest of which is Freeport). Any of these will add at least an hour to your travel time.

As to scenery: it is a personal opinion, but to me, the scenery doesn%26#39;t substantially improve until you get east of Camden. Camden is a pretty village with a picturesque harbor, but alas, with execrable traffic in the busy season. The cutoff from near Augusta to the coast wil bring you to Belfast; from there on via Rtes. 1 %26amp; 3 to Ellsworth and MDI allows you views of the ocean and shore, the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge at Verona Island/Bucksport, and as you approach Ellsworth, distant views of MDI and its mountains.

A lot depends, obviously, on your personal fatigue factor in driving. The coastal route (Rtes. 1 %26amp;3), wherever entered will at times be slow-going as you pass through the centers or edges of many of the towns along the way. The interstate, from north of the Brunswick/Bath area is also very scenic in a ';north woods'; sort of way---and as one who travelled the interstates in your area for many years, considerably more scenic and less cluttered (we don%26#39;t allow billboards).

I always use route 3. In fact, I%26#39;ll be using it the day before you. The traffic moves along nicely, not at 80mph but usually 50 - 60 (not sure about the posted speed limit). Traffic should not be an issue once you are past Portland. I don%26#39;t think route 3 adds to your time. The drive is fairly scenic with mountains, lakes and coast at the end.

My parents made this trip every summer from Pennsylvania and I think they had to take coastal route 1 because 95 had not been finished. Imagine 4 kids,before the days of ipods and dvd players, in the car for that long.

Maybe I%26#39;ll see you on the trails.

1st ever trip to Maine: Penobscot Bay? Advice please...

Now that it%26#39;s unseasonably cold in the SF Bay Area, we%26#39;re taking the time to plan our big summer trip to Maine....and we need some advice.

Our tentative plans are to fly into Boston in August and drive up to Penobscot Bay. We would like to rent a vacation house for a week and spend the days relaxing and taking a couple of day trips to Acadia, ferry to an island, and go on a day-sail. I%26#39;m purely basing this on tourbooks and would love some inside info. Here%26#39;s some q%26#39;s; if anyone can help with any of the following, I would greatly appreciate it! (And maybe trade any info on our S.F. hometown.)

- Is it way to far to drive to Penobscot from Boston, or should we try to fly into Bangor?

- Is the Maine Lobster festival worth planning around? I love a good festival, but would rather have a more relaxing trip that resembles real life in Maine.

- Anyone have recommenmdations for house rentals? Is there a compelling reason to look at being closer to either Bay Harbor or Old Orchard Beach?

- Can anyone recommend a good opportunity for day-sailing? Windjammers sound fabulous, but we%26#39;re not looking for an overnight trip, and my wife hasn%26#39;t gotten her sea legs yet. I%26#39;d look for a more active experience than passive (i.e. pulling in sheets, tacking and jibing, etc.).

- Any other tidbits of advice or useful info for someone who rarely gets to the east coast would be so helpful. Anything that we just have to do when in the area?

Thanks!

1st ever trip to Maine: Penobscot Bay? Advice please...

Unless you have some compelling reason to be in Boston or southernmost Maine, your best bet would be to fly into Bangor. From Bangor to Bar Harbor (Acadia NP) is a little more than an hour; from Boston, it is five hours plus by interstate, six or more via the coastal route.

The Lobster Festival in Rockland gets mixed reviews. It is not the best venue for eating lobster but if you like festivals you might enjoy it. Rockland also has the Farnsworth Museum, which features works of art about Maine, especially coastal Maine, and the Wyeth center which features the works of the three Wyeths. Check out:

%26lt;www.farnsworthmuseum.org%26gt;

Penobscot Bay is a large area (and doesn%26#39;t include OOB) ;-). If you are interested in Acadia National Park, you would be better off to locate near the park, i.e., Mount Desert Island. There is a thread on the Maine forum fright now that lists some resources for house rentals near Bar Harbor. You might also check

%26lt;www.acadiamagic.com%26gt;

a good source for what is available and of interest here.

At any rate, if the Acadia area is going to be one of your prime interests, I recommend that you locate east of Camden. August traffic along the coast can be heavy and slow-moving. It gets a little better the farther east you go, i.e., away from Rockland/Camden and towards Bucksport/ Ellsworth. Another possibility, if you really want to get away from it all, is to locate farther east---in the Hancock/Sullivan/Steuben area or on Schoodic Peninsula.

I%26#39;m hoping that traveltoo---a veteran traveller in these areas---will pick up on this; I%26#39;m not that familiar with those areas to provide anything specific.

1st ever trip to Maine: Penobscot Bay? Advice please...

As the previous poster noted, Penobscot Bay isn%26#39;t really a destination. It covers a huge area. Are you thinking of Blue Hill? Stonington? Bangor itself is just upriver from Penobscot Bay.

The drive from Boston to the Midcoast area of Maine can be long and ugly. The worst of the traffic is between Boston and Portland. I%26#39;d definitely try to fly into Bangor, Portland, or even Manchester, New Hampshire rather than Boston.

The best ';ferry to an island'; experience you will get in Maine is taking the ferry from Port Clyde to Monhegan Island. Port Clyde is a sleepy little town at the end of the peninsula from Rockland and Thomaston. Monhegan is ten miles off shore. It is an artist haven in the summer. In the winter, the hardy Monhegan lobstermen fish the area waters. There are no cars on Monhegan, merely some beat-up pick-up trucks that are put to use hauling things from the dock to the 50 or 60 houses and four or five lodging places. About 2/3 of the island is left wild with hiking trails. The entire island is only a mile long and a half mile wide.

I agree with the others, fly into Bangor. I take route 1A instead of going through Bucksport. This is a beautiful drive and the traffic is very light until you get to route 1. I have stayed in the Rockland area many times. You can rent houses from various sourses:

www.martinsvillemaine.com

Sorry, I hit the wrong key!!!

Other sources are the area chamber of commerce sites. A great souce is DownEast magazine, they have lots of listings, both private and real estate offices.

Sprucehead Island, Owl%26#39;s Head, Rackliff Island, Port Clyde, and Tennants Harbor all have rental houses and these are nice areas, away from the madness but a short (no more than 20-30 minutes) to Rockland.

Camden is a little harder to find rental houses, it has more b%26amp;b%26#39;s and inns. It is one of my favorite towns both for shopping and dining.

This year I will be staying in Belfast for 2 weeks. This town is on the water also and much hillier than the others. I rented through Jaret %26amp; Cohn real estate this year.

All of these areas offer sailing. There are several out of Camden. Go to the Camden,Rockport, Lincolnville website, they have lots of info.

In Belfast :

www.belfastbaycruises.com

www.friendshipsloopamity.com

www.touringkayaks.com

If you want to stay where things are a bit less ';crazy';, Downeast is the place to go.

I rented from www.heartsofmaine.com last year and stayed in a beautiful 5br. 3ba house in Rogue Bluffs.

The small towns and villages from Schoodic to Lubec are small, friendly, and very Maine.

There are not very many sandy beaches in these areas if that is what your looking for. For me, sitting on the granite boulders or the rocky beaches is the best in the world, looking out to the beautiful blues of the water, especially when the tide is coming in and the waves are splashing high on the rocks.

I have been to Maine from mid May to mid September and each month has it%26#39;s own special something.

If you enjoy your trip just a bit, I know you will be back for more.

Just check into the Chamber of Commerce sites for the areas that I have mentioned, they are a wealth of information.

You got a load of great info from cwvoigt, bonniemae and traveltoo.

If I can just add my .02:

If you are looking to stretch your buck, it%26#39;s much cheaper to fly into Manchester, NH or Boston than Portland and especially Bangor. Sometimes the price difference per seat can be over $100. That can go a long way towards renting a car for the week. (Are you going for one week, or more?) Speaking of rental cars, you might find a better car rental deal at Boston or Manchester. We used hotwire to rent a car out of Manchester and saved a bundle.

All things being equal, I would fly into Manchester, NH over Boston. Traffic from Boston can get hairy in the summer. Especially on Saturdays. I think the distance from either Manchester or Boston to Bar Harbor are comparable but Manchester might be quicker because of the traffic. Plus Manchester is very easy to get in and out of.

While it is possible to rent a house and take numerous day trips throughout the Midcoast and Downeast areas, I would seriously consider finding one area and generally sticking to it. Most of your driving would be up and down route 1 which can get busy in the summer. Route 1 is a beautiful stretch of road but you dont want to be spending time in a car while you could be out and about.

You mention a ';more relaxing trip that resembles real life in Maine';. Well I dont know about real life in Maine because every time I%26#39;m there I%26#39;m on vacation (ha!) but Midcoast and DownEast are much different than OOB. IMO OOB is more touristy and more ';typical beach'; than up North.

We love the whole Midcoast Maine area and especially Acadia. Either of those areas would give you the opportunity to do the activities you want.

We are also planning a trip to Maine this summer. We will be driving our Class A motorhome from the Cleveland Ohio area to Niagara Falls, New York the first two days of our trip and then on to Rockport, Maine from there. We have our trip intentionally planned the week of the Lobsterfest (August 2, 2007) so we can go there. Can anyone offer advice on the drive from Ohio to New York to Maine. Are there a lot of steep hills and mountains, etc on the way? Should we travel the coast of Maine later in the day to avoid terrible traffic? We also want to go to Bay Harbor for whale watching, any advice on this? Should I post a new topic for this question?

Lots of good ideas and info here. My wife and I rented a house some years back in Port Clyde, overlooking the harbor and bay. It was absolutely lovely. Quiet. Port Clyde is a great little town, and the peninsula it is on has many great little towns, plus, Camden, Rockport and Rockland. Very relaxing. Monhegan Island is a great day trip, or, if you are so inclined, spend a night or more in one of the inns. We went to Mt. Desert Island one day. I think it was a couple of hour drive.

That said, we also love Acadia/MDI. Great range and assortment of recreational opportunities, both passive and active to very strenuous, if you are so inclined. Great restaurants and shopping, too.

Regarding airports, I live in NH, and always fly out of Manchester, rather than fighting the traffic of Logan/Boston. But the drive from NH up the coast of Maine, especially on a Saturday, is usually quite congested in the summer, especially until somewhat north of Portland. It will not be much better than from Boston, but at least you start be being out of Mass. Check all your fare options. Flying into Portland or Bangor may be worth it. You will need to decide.

By the way, people have referring to a direction as Downeast. I dono%26#39;t recall if anyone mentioned that this means up the coast, away from Mass.

Since you live in on the west coast and flying cross country, you will want to decide fairly soon which area you want to make as a home base. House rentals start taking reservations a year in advance.

August is a busy month and the most expensive for rentals. Rates for all types of lodging are the highest the last 2 weeks of July and the month of August.

Living in Cincinnati and flying out of CVG I%26#39;m used to high airfares because of being Delta%26#39;s hub. I tried flying out of Dayton (an hour away) but it just didn%26#39;t make sense to me because you fly back to Cincy, get on another plane then fly to Bangor. I refuse to fly Northwest Airlines because of a very bad past experience. So, I just pay the price, and I like non-stop flights. A flight that takes 2 hrs. with Delta takes 4-8hrs. on other airlines. I also LOVE Bangor airport, it%26#39;s small, friendly, and comfortable. I never have trouble with car rentals from there. I also use hotwire, I usually save anywhere from $4 to 5 hundred dollars, but I%26#39;m renting from 18-24 days when I%26#39;m in Maine.

Decide where you really want to stay, I know it%26#39;s difficult, but you will be back again and stay in another area!!!

Just a quick note about flights. In general, it%26#39;s true that flights to Manchester, NH and Boston are cheaper than flights to Portland or Bangor. However, be sure to check out JetBlue to Portland. We are Mainers who lived for several years in San Francisco and Marin County. My brother-in-law lives in San Jose. My husband recently booked a round-trip flight on JetBlue from Portland to San Jose for $99 each way (plus taxes and fees). You have to change in planes at JFK. Of course, fares change and vary all the time, but it%26#39;s worth checking. JetBlue also flies into Logan in Boston. Unless I%26#39;m misremembering, I think they currently also fly into Oakland.

Just a quick note about flights. In general, it%26#39;s true that flights to Manchester, NH and Boston are cheaper than flights to Portland or Bangor. However, be sure to check out JetBlue to Portland. We are Mainers who lived for several years in San Francisco and Marin County. My brother-in-law lives in San Jose. My husband recently booked a round-trip flight on JetBlue from Portland to San Jose for $99 each way (plus taxes and fees). You have to change in planes at JFK. Of course, fares change and vary all the time, but it%26#39;s worth checking. JetBlue also flies into Logan in Boston. Unless I%26#39;m misremembering, I think they currently also fly into Oakland.

Deep Sea Fishing Charter

I need to book a salwater fishing charter for myself and two sons. I am having a difficult time finding a boat that books out of Bar Harbor. Any suggestions?

Deep Sea Fishing Charter

Bar Harbor is not exactly a hotbed of saltwater angling. I found one reference from last year in this forum that may be of help:

%26lt;http://www.downeastwindjammer.com/BarHarborFishingTrips/index.html#sched.%26gt;

Deep Sea Fishing Charter

Hi. The Masako Queen runs out of Southwest - about 20 minutes from Bar Harbor. 207 244 5385. Hope this helps.

good makeup

dog

intinery

We arrive in Ogunquit on 9th July for a 4 night stay. can anyone suggest an intinery so we can see as much of the surrounding area and Ogunquit as we can. is there any MUST sees or MUST do%26#39;s. we have booked the playhouse show one evening but that is all so far. any/all suggestions wecome , we will have a hire car

intinery

Anyone ?????

intinery

My MUSTs are:

- the beach, of course, Footbridge is a bit quieter so preferred and definitely swim in the ocean - it is cold at first but if you duck your head completely in your body does get used to it and it is so worth it

- walk the Marginal Way

- Ogunquit Museum of American Art

- a boat tour (from Perkins Cove)

- a lunch at MC Perkins Cove

- a breakfast at the Egg%26amp;I

- antique-ing starting at Jorgensen and north on Rt 1 almost to Kennebunk

- Hardings Bookstore in Wells

- The Museum of Lighthouse History in Wells (and the Lighthouse stuff store next to it)

- The Scoop Deck ice cream in Wells

- dinner at the Grey Gull in Wells

- the beach beach beach -- stay for a while and relax!!!

- a walk at Beach Plum Farm

(I think those are my highlights)

I agree wholeheartedly w/all of the previous posters suggestions! Absolute must-do%26#39;s on that list for me would be walking the Marginal Way, the Ogunquit Museum of Art and the boat tour from Perkins Cove. A couple of things I might add would be eating lobster, and a drive south on Shore Road from Ogunquit to the Nubble Light House in Kittery. It%26#39;s a beautiful drive, and you can get a nice ice cream at the light house!

Diane

Thanks

It all sounds wonderful

Greetings from an ex-pat! All the things the other 2 posters suggested, plus, try to get to Kennebunkport...it%26#39;s only about a 15 minute drive north of Ogunquit (on the right side of the road!) There is a Trolley tour that leaves from Kennebunkport and takes you round all the sights in the Port and Kennebunk (beach, Bush%26#39;s estate etc). Well worth it. If your looking for a casual lunch or dinner, try the Clam Shack on the bridge into Kennebunkport. All done take out style and the seafood is fresh and delish!

Enjoy!

Caterer or private chef

Hi,

My family group of 20 would like to hire a private chef or caterer to fix a dinner in celebration of my dad%26#39;s 81st birthday. We have a big house rented near Bar Harbor and would have the dinner there on a Monday evening in late August; cooking could be on or off site. I%26#39;ve searched the web but am not turning up any ';inside information';! Does anyone know anything about Island Catererers, or Morning Glory Bakery and Catering, or have any other recommendations? Thanks! 3rdDaughter

Caterer or private chef

Hi there! My vote for a caterer would be Amanda at Sassafrass Catering (I think her website is www.sassafrasscatering.com). She is in Bar Harbor and uses lots of local and organic ingredients. I have been at things she has catered and she does a wonderful job! I think that she would be available because it is on a Monday night.

For a great birthday cake, try Delice Bakery 207-288-9895. Laila, the owner of Delice has worked with Amanda before for events that included a celebratory cake. Her cakes are delicious and beautiful!!

Hope your Dad enjoys his birthday!

Caterer or private chef

Jennifer Worcester who has a catering business and also owns SIPS cafe in Southwest Harbor on MDI, is very good. Haven%26#39;t used her personally but have been a guest where she%26#39;s catered. And she can probably recommend someone if she can%26#39;t do it. Good luck!

Burlington, VT to Bar Harbor, ME route?

My wife and I and our two kids are taking a trip this August (07) from Burlington, VT to Bar Harbor, then down to Boston. There doesn%26#39;t seem to be a very direct route, and we%26#39;d like to see the sights along the way anyway. We are not on a tight schedule. Can anyone recommend a route?

Burlington, VT to Bar Harbor, ME route?

From Burlington, take the Interstate to Montpelier. Then 302 to the border of VT and NH. Take the Kancamagus Highway across New Hamphire. Very scenic. Watch for moose. In the Conway, NH area pick up 302 again. Follow that to 117. Follow 117 for awhile, through a pretty lake district. Get yourself to Augusta, Maine and then take 3 to 1 and follow 1 up to Bar Harbor. There%26#39;s a beautiful new bridge in Bucksport. Park at the Fort there and for $5 a person you can go up to the observation deck and get an incredible view of coastal Maine.

Burlington, VT to Bar Harbor, ME route?

Thanks Bonniemaev! That sounds like a nice drive, away from the Interstates. We will need a meal along that route... any suggestions? We are pretty adventurous eaters and include one easy-to-please vegetarian.

I can%26#39;t give you the name of a particular restaurant. But the Conway, NH area would have a wide choice. Belfast, Maine would also have some good choices.

When I made trips from Bangor to Montpelier, I took the route that you%26#39;d get if you Mapquested your drive (via US Route 2 and I-95). This is the shortest route.

However, the Kancamagus Highway is a lovely drive and if you%26#39;ve never taken it, it%26#39;s certainly worth the extra time. And, if you like outlet towns, it%26#39;s hard to beat North Conway. (No sales tax in NH.)

A great ';sight'; not far off either of those two drives is Mount Washington, the highest peak in New England. You can go to the top of the mountain by foot, by a cog railway or via an auto road. IF the weather is clear (so that you could see from the summit) I highly recommend setting aside a couple of hours to take in Mt. Washington.

Just a note. Bonniemaev refers to the Kankamagus Highway from Rte 302. You will want to take Rte 112 from Woodsville, NH. The Kanc is the section of 112 that goes from Lincoln/Woodstock to Conway, but the whole length of 112 is very scenic.

No matter how you map it, the drive from Burlington to Bar Harbor is many hours on winding 2 lane roads, much of it scenic, passing through many small towns which will slow you down. This can be a long and tiresome one day drive, but definitely doable. I would have to gues at 10 hours or so of driving. If you want to see sights along the way, you may want to plan on an overnight. How many days do you plan or want to take? What sights do you want to see?

The fun and adventursomeness of dining along this route will be to identify the local diners and restaurants and take your chances. Many towns will have their local breakfast/linch diner/cafe where you can get a great meal, or highly predictable fare. It all depends. There will also be all kinds of local restaurants and inns serving dinner that can range from American Church Supper style to excellent gourmet. The fun thing about dining in rural New England is that you never know what you%26#39;ll find.

Thanks everyone for the info.

I would be very open to making a two day drive of it and seeing the sights along the way. It looks like there are plenty of interesting little towns to explore.

How about the opposite? How many hours will it take from Bar Harbor to Montpelier along Rte 2? Our vacation will be almost over so we won%26#39;t have time for the longer scenic route via Mt. Washington, etc.

Will we still have a chance to see a moose?

Traffic in weekends July

Hi,

How much traffic should I expect on a weekend in July between Southwest Harbor and Camden? It should take 1h40 to get to Camden, but since we%26#39;re there in the weekend I%26#39;m not sure how much traffic to expect.. and we%26#39;re going sailing so I can%26#39;t be late..

Thanks!

Traffic in weekends July

Weekend traffic in July is really no different than weekday traffic between those two points. There will definitely be lots of traffic in July. But it won%26#39;t be bumper-to-bumper or anything like that. We just drove that route this past Wednesday morning and came across construction at several points. Generally, they don%26#39;t work on weekends. So you%26#39;ll probably be better off. I %26#39;d plan on two hours.

Traffic in weekends July

Thanks a lot for the information!

First time to Downeast Maine & Nova Scotia

My husband %26amp; I are flying into Bangor and then driving first to Nova Scotia for 5 days then back to Lubec (have a rental cottage by the ocean) for a week...this is our firm time in the area and would appreciate any suggestions about the places to visit for day trips from Lubec..restaurants in the area (we will be cooking our meals in the evening)..and in Nova Scotia...smaller coastal towns..B%26amp;B%26#39;s, restaurants, things we should definitely see...we love seafood, easy walks, great views of the water. Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

First time to Downeast Maine %26amp; Nova Scotia

Hi Dallasites,

Can%26#39;t say I know a whole lot about Nova Scotia or Lubec. However I%26#39;ve been to Cape Breton Island (which is part of Nova Scotia) a few years back and drove the Cabot Trail. The views were often stunning from high atop mountains and then out to sea. I also remember stopping at the Keltic Inn just to take a peek at it and wow, what a location. The lobby was beautiful and the grounds were gorgeous along with the views. I%26#39;m assuming the rooms have the same high standards, so it might be worth checking out on trip advisor if you haven%26#39;t booked anything yet.

Regarding Lubec. I%26#39;d highly recommend touring Campobello, President Roosevelt%26#39;s summer home. Also think of checking out West Quoddy Light. It%26#39;s a pretty drive out and from what little I could see(it was VERY foggy while I was there)there were probably nice views too!

Wish I had more info to share, but my time in NS and Lubec was very limited, plus it was foggy the whole time! Consequently I hope others who are more familiar with the area will respond and give some great ideas on what to see and do, etc.

Meanwhile, good luck with your trip :).

cozyharbor

First time to Downeast Maine %26amp; Nova Scotia

Not sure of your travel route to Nova Scotia but I assume on the way back you will cross into Maine at Calais. If you have a few hours to spare I would reccommend seeing Hopwell Rocks and Funday National park in New Brunswick on the way to/back from Nova Scotia and or the Funday Trail Parkway also in New Brunswick. Northern Nova Scotia, the aforementioned Cape Breton/Cabot trail, are absolutely beautiful.

As far as Lubec I live only about 1/2hr from there. The best thing to do there is to RELAX.

There are very few restaraunts in the area, there is currently only one small open in Lubec itself, there is normally another one that opens for the summer near the marina. Definately go over to Campobello to Roosevelts cottage this is only a 10-15 min drive at most. Go to West Quoddy light and see the lighthouse and the great view of Grand Mannan island. Not sure how much hiking if any you want to do but both the West Quoddy head state park and the nearby Bold Coast trails in Cutler offer wonderful hikes along the rocky coast I have often seen whales from atop the cliffs there. Machias is the closest town where you will find a couple restaraunts and it is about a 1/2hr drive.

You do not say when you are coming there may be some interesting local events while you are here.

I would strongly recommend taking the St. John - Digby ferry rather than driving all the way around the Bay of Fundy. Nova Scotia is gorgeous. The faster you get there the better. And the ferry is a very pleasant ride across the Bay.

I%26#39;d recommend staying one night in Wolfville while in Nova Scotia. It%26#39;s not all that far from Digby. They have some very nice B%26amp;Bs. It%26#39;s a small, friendly town. You can travel to Cape Split from there. There%26#39;s a nice hike on the Cape -- great views of the Bay of Fundy.

I%26#39;d definitely get to Truro in Nova Scotia to see the tidal bore which is when the river fills from bank to bank with the incoming tide. A standing wave is formed as the tide rushes up the river.

Cape Breton is also stunning. There is a nice drive around the Cape. It%26#39;s like the Smokey Mountains surrounded by the bluest ocean you%26#39;ve ever seen.

You can skip Peggy%26#39;s Cove in Nova Scotia. It%26#39;s nice but it is way too crowded with bus tours and wall to wall tourists.

While in Lubec, definitely get over to Campobello Island. There are quite a few nice hikes over there.

When you go to Campobello, do more than just the Roosevelt cottage. There is also a provincial park with a nice beach, and you might enjoy driving through the other small communities on Campobello. It is really remote/hard scrabble.

One thing that I really liked abot Campobello is the EAST Quoddy Lighthouse. If you haven%26#39;t already gotten your quota of Canadian lighthouses from Nova Scotia, you might enjoy vising this one. It is actually on a small island, but since the tides are so extreme, the isalnd is accessible by foot at low tide. (So plan your visit around the tide charts.) The footing is a bit sketchy in parts--over rockweed, and rusted ladders, but if you are up for the adventure you can walk over to the ';island'; where thelighthouse is and explore it.

Eastport is also interesting. There might be ferry that will take you directly from Lubec. Otherwise, it%26#39;s an hour by car.

Another outting you might enjoy is an Atlantic Puffin Cruise. http://www.boldcoast.com/ I took this, thought it was worth the cost.

You will not save any time by taking the ferry to Digby from Saint John if you are going to the Northern part of Nova Scotia i.e. the Cape Breton area. If you want to see points farther south in NS then it might be a good idea. Maybe take the ferry one way and drive back. Also there is no ferry out of Lubec to anywhere anymore.

Thanks so much to each one of you...great ideas and terrific suggestions. We will be in Nova Scotia from Monday, 8/7 and then returning to Lubec on Friday, 8/11...and will be there until 8/18. We will be getting into Bangor around 7 PM..and plan to drive to Calais...or as far as possible on Highway 9...is this highway a good road to travel on?

The Puffin tour is definitely something we plan to do..not something you would find in Texas!

Looking forward to hearing more great suggestions! Thanks, again.

I%26#39;m not so sure it%26#39;s such a good plan to head out at night on Highway 9 after a day of air travel. It%26#39;s a very rural highway. Once you commit to it, you won%26#39;t find any motels until you get to Calais. It would be a long, dark, twisting drive.

I agree with driving route 9,we left Prospect Harbor last year and had to drive back to Bangor airport. We decided to take the back roads to get to route 9 because we wanted to see Maine. It was during the day and there are lots of twists and turns and because it was daytime, lots of logging trucks!!

In Lubec at the intersection to go to West Quoddy Lighthouse the is a small village restaurant that has good food with locals that are very friendly. Stop at West Quoddy gifts on the lighthouse road. They have some very good Maine made goodies and gifts.

You can find out lots of information if you put in a search for Quoddy Loop,Maine. I%26#39;m not at home or I would be able to give you the exact website.

The more I think about your schedule the more I think it would be wise to take a ferry to Nova Scotia. If you aren%26#39;t getting in to Bangor until 7 p.m. on August 6th, you could just drive the 70 minutes to Bar Harbor that night. You could have a good lobster dinner, walk around town, drive through Acadia, and the next morning hop on the 8 a.m. ferry to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Yarmouth has a wonderful information center. Pick up a few maps, drive through the province, spending a night a Wolfville, a night in Lunenberg, a night in Cape Breton, and a night in New Brunswick near Fundy National Park as you drive around the Bay of Fundy to come back to Lubec.

Then you can collapse for your second week in Lubec and simply rest and relax.

Thanks so much for the heads up about Hwy. 9...and the idea of going to Bar Harbour, having lobster dinner, and then the ferry...definitely sounds like a better plan..

programming

Bar Harbor Inn filled up overnight - where next?

Yesterday I called and got a quote and was told there was plenty of availability...and, today I was told they are full...kind of disappointing as I love the view/location, etc. With so many choices, it%26#39;s so easy to get overwhelmed. It%26#39;s an anniversary trip and was hoping to stay somewhere nice and have an ocean view. Any suggestions?

Thanks much.

Bar Harbor Inn filled up overnight - where next?

It might be worthwhile to check back with BHI to confirm that they are fully booked.

Beyond that, and if water views are a high priority, check with Saltair and with Balance Rock Inn. Both of these are within easy walking distance of the village center.

Bar Harbor Inn filled up overnight - where next?

Thanks...that%26#39;s what I decided to do. In fact, I was able to get a room with 1 Queen bed (not a big deal) ...but, with an ocean view for 2 nights...then switch to another room with a garden view for 2 nights. Not a big deal and at least I can stay in the same hotel for the duration.

Things do have a way of working out....

good makeup

Please Help Me Decide Where to Stay!

We will be visiting Acadia National Park October 5 - 8 of this year for my husband%26#39;s 40th birthday - and we are leaving the kids behind! I have researched several places and am stuck on trying to decide the best place to stay. Can you help?

My husband and I enjoy historic hotels/inns. We have not had too much experience with B%26amp;B%26#39;s but we are mostly looking for a relaxing, comfortable, lovely place to stay for 2 people who don%26#39;t get away from the kids that often! Beautiful views are a plus.

I have identified 4 places that have received great reviews and are within my budget. Can you offer me pros and cons as to these specific hotels? I appreciate all the help I can get.

Coach Stop Inn in Bar Harbor

Cleftstone Manor in Bar Harbor

Kingsleigh Inn in Southwest Harbor

Claremont Hotel in Southwest Harbor

Please Help Me Decide Where to Stay!

First, all four of your candidates are well regarded.

Coach Stop may be the most historic, i.e., the eldest. It is not in the village of Bar Harbor but rather in the town (township) of Bar Harbor, about half-way between the bridge to the island and the village of Bar Harbor. It is located right on Rte. 3, the major highway on the island. Views, negligible.

Cleftstone Manor is located on Rte. 3 in the village of Bar Harbor, directly across from the campus of College of the Atlantic. It is one of the larger B%26amp;Bs in the area. It dates back to the glory days of the village and is one of the relatively few ';cottages'; (16 rooms +) that somehow survived the great fire of 1947. It was the inn that we stayed in during the approximate 20 years that we were tourists here. Relative to the village center, where the shopping and most restaurants are located, it is about a 20-minute easy walk. Views---well, from the topmost rooms you can get a glimpse of the harbor.

Kingsleigh Inn is on the main road through Southwest Harbor and is virtually in the village center. I%26#39;ve never been in it, so I can say much about it other than that it is close to some the hiking/waliking trails of that end of the island (and it%26#39;s within two blocks of one of my favorite restaurants--Red Sky). Views---none that I%26#39;m aaware of.

The Claremont, I believe, is one of the two oldest surviving hotels on the island (the other being the Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor). For views, this would be the best of your candidates. Among other things, it is host each summer to a hotly-contested croquet tournament. It has spacious grounds that go down to the water.

Having said all that, and considering what you say in your second paragraph, I think that Cleftstone Manor and the Claremont would be your top two choices. Cleftstone offers more ready access to the village center of Bar Harbor and to the major portion of Acadia National Park; the Claremont offers more of a ';get away from it all'; opportunity.

Please Help Me Decide Where to Stay!

My husband and I just returned Tuesday from our third stay at the Kingsleigh Inn. The Kingsleigh is very inviting and relaxing, you definitely feel like you are at home, it keeps us coming back! We have stayed in the Turret Suite twice, breathtaking views, as well as the Chelsea that has a spectacular view as well. Their website shows the views from the rooms.

I personally think Southwest Harbor is prettier than Bar Harbor. Also, Southwest Harbor is on the quiet side of the Island away from the tourist traffic of Bar Harbor, which is a big plus if you are looking for a memorable, unforgettable getaway. The Kingsleigh is walking distance to what I think are the best restaurants on the Island. Walk to dinner at Red Sky, Fiddler%26#39;s Green or Cafe 2, they are all right there and then walk down to the harbor afterwards, very romantic.

If you haven%26#39;t had much experience with B%26amp;B%26#39;s, this would be a special treat for you and your husband. You won%26#39;t find better hosts than Dana and Greg, they are absolutely the best. My husband and I only stay at B%26amp;B%26#39;s and none compare to the Kingsleigh; all the little extra luxuries that Dana and Greg provide to make you feel welcome and pampered and you certainly won%26#39;t find all this in a hotel.

Breakfast at the Kingsleigh is a work of art. Not only is breakfast very pretty and creative, it%26#39;s absolutely delicious! Dana also offers yummy afternoon nibbles to enjoy.

I could go on and on why I feel you would enjoy the Kingsleigh. I do hope wherever you choose to stay, you and your husband enjoy your trip to Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island.

Hope this helps.

We loved the Quimby Inn but the Bar Harbor Inn has an amazing location. Check out GoList...

tripadvisor.com/GoListDetail-i12151-New_Engl…

Would you say any of these places had prettier grounds than any of the others?

In terms of the grounds, I would say that the Claremont is by far the best.

for sure teh Claremont on that list- I also think you should look at Linddenwood Inn in SW Harbor- or Maison Suisse in Northeast Harbor- don%26#39;t even THINK of going to Bar Harbor- way too touristy- drive there for a nice dinner- but you don%26#39;r want to hang out there- like Coney Island!

You%26#39;ll have to excuse riri, folks. It%26#39;s hard to recover from the sumptuous cuisine of NEH, as exemplified by the Tan Turtle Tavern.

Coney Island, indeed.

Coney Island my..a..ummm. bum.!!

Lisde- I also prefer the SW side, but keep in mind it%26#39;s all the same island. A quiet 10-15 mintues from one side to the other. Don%26#39;t agonize. Pick one. You%26#39;ll be happy either way.

Seeking advice for ideal Bar Harbor experience over July 4th

My wife and I are looking for some insight from folks on the week of July 4th up in Bar Harbor. We have decided to take our summer vacation this year up to Maine. We have never been to Maine and wish to stay in the Bar Harbor/Acadia area.

Any insight on where to stay if we are seeking something nice, but not too expensive since we are outdoor folks and will not be in the room too much. Are the little cottages a ';Maine experience';? Are local hotels better? Or should we do B%26amp;B in the area?

How about local restaurants? It appears that Havana is a must. Any other local ';hole in the wall'; recommendations?

Lastly, any must see items in the area? We enjoy hiking, biking and kayaking. Plan to do those activities. Any insight on other tourist activites that you enjoyed are appreciated!

Thanks,

RD

Seeking advice for ideal Bar Harbor experience over July 4th

I can%26#39;t speak about 4th of July in Bar Harbor/Acadia since we are annual September visitors. All I can say is that you are headed there for one of the busiest times of the year.

Our lodging needs are pretty much the same as yours. We ended up settling in a small hotel called the Acadia Hotel for the past 7 years or so (check reviews by clicking on Bar Harbor Hotels in the strip on the left). The rooms are nice with certain caveats (small tv doesn%26#39;t matter since we%26#39;re out and about most of the time, smaller room with a king bed and limited closet space (always an issue in lodging that has been converted from a residence somewhere in its past). But we really love the place. And the location just off the village green is perfect. You are no more than a minute from the Island Explorer bus stop at the village green and the IE will be important in getting you around that time of year. It also allows for easier end-to-end hikes since you don%26#39;t have to worry about getting back to your car. Last year we used IE to get us the the Cadillac North Ridge trailhead and pick us up at Blackwoods Campground after decending the South Ridge. Same for ascending Champlain on Bear Brook Trail and descending on Bowl Trail to Sand Beach.

Regarding food. Again check some of reviews but I would recommend the following:

For breakfast try Cafe This Way just around the corner from Acadia Hotel; Jeannie%26#39;s on Cottage Street and Two Cats also on Cottage. If you find yourself over Southwest Harbor way, try Eat-a-Pita for breakfast or lunch.

For dinner, go to Maggies for the lobster crepes and Mache Bistro for the seafood stew. If you are into experimentation and willing to try vegetarian cuisine, a visit to Eden is worth your while. And if you head into Southwest Harbor again, Red Sky is great.

That should get you started.

Also if you haven%26#39;t found it yet, visit www.acadiamagic.com.

Seeking advice for ideal Bar Harbor experience over July 4th

IMHO, there is nothing more like the %26#39;Maine experience%26#39; than a cottage on the water - a cup of coffee on your private deck as you watch the tide change *and* the ability to make your picnic lunch so you%26#39;re not losing precious vacation time waiting. There are many options and acadiamagic is a great suggestion. You may try VRBO or cyberrentals for cottages in all locations in all price ranges. The Chambers of Commerce will have choices as well. If you haven%26#39;t already, check a map so that you can search the little villages like Bass Harbor (of course), Bernard, Southwest Harbor, etc - all on the quietside. It will not be high season until August so you may find friendly rates. The Island Explorer goes through out the Island and is helpful. Being out on the water is wonderful and the scenery is gorgeous - Island Cruises from Bass Harbor or the Mailboat to Cranberry Island. Sips in Southwest is new and great - open now for breakfast, lunch and dinner in an abbreviated winter schedule. Thurston%26#39;s Lobster Pound in Bernard is also recommended. Flying Mountain is an easy hike with scenic vistas from the top. Have a great time.

Fourth of July week will be a busy week- make your reservations ahead of time- we are quite happy with the Bar Harbor Motel- this was rated as one of Trip Advisor Best Hotel buys- and it is very fairly priced. It is a couple of minutes before the town of Bar Harbor, and there is a trail leading from the Motel right into the park. Try to get one of the rooms in the upper part of the motel- preferably with the big common deck.

Little cottages are definitely nice too- especially if you%26#39;d like a kitchen. To minimize driving I%26#39;d recommend staying close to Bar Harbor if you want access to restaurants.

Alternatively, there are a couple of great campgrounds! And there are definitely some nice B and B%26#39;s.

recommend AMC book on Acadia National Park- The park is great for hiking, mounatin biking and kayaking.

Check out the material in the Overview section (top of this page) on walks, hikes, restaurants, recommended reading.

To echo some of what%26#39;s already been said, the 4th is a busy day. Among the community activities in Bar Harbor are a blueberry pancake breakfast, a parade, and a lobster feed---all this before the fireworks.

I would also highly recommend using the free Island Explorer shuttle---it even has a service to transport bikes to one of the favorite carriage road access points. See:

%26lt;www.exploreacadia.com%26gt; for more details, route maps, and schedules.

To echo paflyfisher, www.acadiamagic.com is a good source for general park information, lodging, and activities. If you are interested in exploring some of the B%26amp;B possibilities, see:

%26lt;www.sleepbarharbor.com%26gt;

In terms of the type of lodging and presuming that you want to make Bar Harbor your central point,, one thing to keep in mind is that the cottages are well out of Bar Harbor.

I think a Bed and Breakfast accommodation would be the perfect thing for you in Bar Harbor. As you said, you won%26#39;t be in the room that much anyway. At a village B%26amp;B, you will be in the center of things, get a good breakfast, and be in easy walking distance of everything.

That last thing will be important on the 4th of July. You will very definitely want to park your car at your lodging and walk to the festivities! All week long, you won%26#39;t have to hunt for a parking spot in the busy village center because you can park it at your B%26amp;B and leave it there to walk to dinner or to walk to the Village Green where the free Island Explorer buses will take you into Acadia where you can do a one-way hike and another bus will bring you back.

I%26#39;d recommend, in no particular order, The Hearthside, Aysgarth Station, Anne%26#39;s White Columns, the Primrose, and Cleftstone Manor. The Hearthside and Aysgarth are on quieter side streets. White Columns and the Primrose are on busy Mount Desert Street. The Cleftstone is on a hill just a half mile out of the village center.

As for restaurants, Havana%26#39;s is a bit tired. There are some new restaurants coming to town this year. Your best bet is to ask your Innkeeper what has been getting good reviews as the season gets underway. One of the big benefits of staying in a B%26amp;B is the good information you will get from the Innkeeper.

Bar Harbor is a WONDERFUL place to visit in maine. My wife and I traveled there a few years ago and are trying to plan another trip back! As far as a place to stay...

Acadia Hotel - Luxury on a budget

Primrose B%26amp;B - A beautiful little B%26amp;B

you can find a complete guide to lodging (and attractions) at a website called NEgetaway.com www.negetaway.com/maine/staydowneast.html

If you like the outdoors... Acadia National Park is the Best outdoor destination in NE. The mountains meet the sea. Wait until you see the view atop Catilac Mountain!

ENJOY!

All of the above. The AMC guide is a must if your are interested in hiking, biking and kayaking. The Moon Handbook for Acadia National Park is also a must for its info on loding and dining. Rely on the Island Explorer for your transportation needs. Be warned that the Island Explorer basically does not run on the morning of July 4th. All their routes run through Bar Harbor, which closes its streets for a fabulous parade.

Cafe This Way and 2 Cats, as well as Sips in Southwest Harbor are great places for breakfast. There are way too many great places to go for dinner in Bar Harbor - one of our favorites is Lompoc Bar and Grill, and I second the recommendation for for Eat a Pita in Southwest Harbor. The above recommended lobster pounds are good, as is the Trenton Bridge lobster pound. Our particular favorite is Abel%26#39;s lobster pound between Somesville and Northeast Harbor. In my opinion, avoid the restaurants right on Main St., with the exception of Galyn%26#39;s.

If you want a seaside cottage experience at a relatively (we%26#39;re talking July in Bar Harbor) modest price - modest accommodations too, try Emery%26#39;s Cottages on the shore. Some of the campgounds, all served by bus, are near the water as well. In particular I can think of KOA right off the bridge, Mt. Desert Narrows, Mt. Desert at the head of Somes Sound, and Blackwoods and Seawall, which are in the Park.

As for hiking and biking, the Island Explorer provides access to just about all the hiking trails and carriage roads. The carriage roads will be crowded in July, so get an early start. There are about 45 miles of car-free carriage roads for your biking pleasure. You can get to the carriage roads from Bar Harbor by biking up West St. Ext. or by putting your bike on one of the shuttle buses, which start running around 8 o%26#39;clock. An 11 miles long, very scenic, and strenuous ride is Around the Mountain.

Cadillac Mtn. will be crowded Champlain and Dorr Mtns. would be a little less crowded. Try the Beehive for a short but precipitous hike. Sargent Mtn. (the mountain of the Around the Mountain bike ride) is a fabulous hike. A great loop hike from Jordan Pond is to walk norh along the pond%26#39;s shore trail, ascend the Deer Brook trail, turn right on the Sargent Mtn. East Face trail to Sargent Mtn., head south to Sargent Mtn. pond, and then descend the long, open ridge of Penobscot Mtn. back to Jordan pond. Pemetic Mtn. lies between Cadillac and Sargent with great views but not much crowding.

If you like biking, I would highly recommend taking the island explorer to Eagle Lake - you can ride the south side of Eagle Lake to Jordon Pond and stop there for tea and popovers. Then continue around Jordon Pond to Bubble Pond and finish on the other side of Eagle Lake. It takes a few hours and parts are strenuous but it%26#39;s one of my favorite routes.

Also, for ice cream you should check out Mount Desert Island Ice Cream on Firefly Lane (next to the police station and across from the gazebo in the village green.) although I have to disclose that I own the place so I%26#39;m a bit biased!

My husband and I are not from Maine we are from New Hampshire but we go to Bar Harbor all the time we went there for our honeymoon goto www.hinckleyscottages.com they ar e cabins with a kitchen porch and they are only ten minutes from downtown bar Harbor. They are really nice people and there cabins are very affordable and cozy.

-- New Hampshire Couple

Couple of notes: Acadia Hotel is the nice smaller place close to town. The ACADIA INN is a bigger place, looks relatively new, near Jack Russells and College of the Atlantic about a mile outside of town. I noticed the difference today. ANyone headed into the Acadia Hotel, is likely to find the Acadia INN first and could get confused not knowing the difference.

July 4th is a killer week. I stay clear. But, if you want a quiet place, very ';mainey'; , other cottage options are at the campgrounds. Commonly known, my fav is at Bass Harbor Campground. Not everyones taste. But clean, comfortable beds and cottages. Bring your own pillow and sleeping bag or bedding for the beds. Clean bathhouses and the place is really inexpensive. Like 40-60 a night or something like that. It%26#39;s a bit outside of town too. Like I said, not everyones kinda place, but I love to wake up with the ocean breeze. (not far from teh Seawall campground). I think smugglers and maybe Hadleys has cottages for the week also.

Weather

We will be in Boothbay/Bath area for a week 7-19/28. What will the weather be like?

Weather

Hi tvsv,

There%26#39;s no predicting Maine weather! However, the one constant is that it rarely gets hot and sticky, though it does happen every now and again.

Most days, the temperatures range anywhere from the mid 60%26#39;s to high 70%26#39;s and sometimes the 80%26#39;s. This can include sun, rain, fog, or mist. If it%26#39;s rainy or foggy it%26#39;ll feel much cooler than the temperature due to the ocean%26#39;s influence and the wind off the water.

The evenings can get pretty cool and temps may drop to somewhere in the 50%26#39;s. It%26#39;s not unheard of to light a fire in the fireplace to warm things up a bit in summer cottages that haven%26#39;t any heating system. I%26#39;ve done this many times myself!

Your best bet is to bring shorts, pants, and definitely sweaters and/or jackets, especialy if you plan on getting out on the water where it always feel cooler than on land and for the evenings. And don%26#39;t forget an umbrella and rain gear.

Have a great visit and don%26#39;t forget to post back and let us know how it went :).

cozyharbor

Best Place to Stay With a View?

Looking for recommendations for accomodations in Bar Harbor preferably with a view and within walking distance of shops, etc. Looked at the Harborside, but would prefer to not pay $400 a night. Suggestions?

Best Place to Stay With a View?

I%26#39;m not sure exactly what their rates are, but you might check with Bar Harbor Inn and Balance Rock Inn, both of which are in the Bar Harbor Hotels list. Both are located on the Shore Path and in easy walking distance of the village center. Also, both are somewhat more quiet than would be the Harborside.

Best Place to Stay With a View?

Don%26#39;t forget about the Saltair Inn. They have fantastic views, walking distance to everything and I know that they aren%26#39;t $400.00 per night. Give them a try, they have gotten really good reviews on Trip Advisor.

I just called the Harborside a few minutes ago. They have an available ocean front King room for $239/night. The Saltair mid price room is going for $295/night.

Hi M19,

I just checked the rates for the Bar Harbor Inn and they range from $199 to $379.

I%26#39;ve stayed there several times and absolutely love it. So have good friends who own a string of shops on the Maine coast and stay there when they%26#39;re checking in on their store in BH.

Bottom line is that the location can%26#39;t be beat as it%26#39;s right on the water and it%26#39;s a stone%26#39;s throw from all the shops, etc. Yet it%26#39;s more quiet than you would think. Plus it just has great ambience, is very pretty, and the service is wonderful.

It also has a nice restaurant and a variety of accomodations to fit any need and I think most rooms have either a water view or one of the pool area (which is really quite nice).

Check out their website at www.barharborinn.com and see if it%26#39;s for you. Good luck and let us know where you%26#39;ve decided to stay :).

cozyharbor

com and interop

Colonial Inn?

I am staying at the Colonial Inn on Shore Rd. this upcoming weekend and was wondering if anyone has stayed there before and their experience? I am staying in one of the Main Inn Rooms. I%26#39;m hoping it will be a nice weekend and getaway.

Colonial Inn?

I have not stayed there myself, however if you read the reviews on this web site, 2 out of the 3 reviews for the Colonial Inn were pretty bad.

Colonial Inn?

I am hoping those 2 were just an aberration, as I am looking forward to a relaxing weekend. If anyone else had any further insight, it would be greatly appreciated...room size, ammenties, I know the Inn is pretty much in the middle of everything being on Shore Rd.

I too am staying there in July for a couple nights and also would like to know if anyone has stayed recently

lodging on the water and jumping off rocks

Visting Boothbay in July before heading to The Forks for white water rafting. Looking for a place to stay right on the water (kids have never seen the ocean). Any suggestions? Also boys (ages 14 and 12) love jumping off rocks into the water, anywhere they can do that?

lodging on the water and jumping off rocks

Boothbay is a harbor, and a busy one. You should look at heading down one of the peninsulas to get an open ocean feel. Check out Spruce Point Inn, Newagen Seaside Resort, Ocean Point Inn (great location!). For a sandy beach you could take a drive down the Georgetown Peninsula to Reid State Park, one of the nicest (and few sandy) beaches in Maine.

As far as jumping off rocks into the water goes, a note of caution here. This is a very rocky coast - be sure you know what is lurking below the water. I hate to be a killjoy, but a broken neck can really wreck a vacation.

lodging on the water and jumping off rocks

Northbound: I appreciate the accomodation ideas, I will definitely check them out. As for the rock warning, thanks. I knew it was rocky, however, I thought there might be a specific place where it is known to be safe to jump into the water. We will be careful. Thanks again.

Of the three places mentioned, I think that Ocean Point Inn would be by far the best choice. It is the only one with a beach (can%26#39;t remember if it%26#39;s on the grounds or just a very short way away.) It won%26#39;t be wide and long beach as in Reid State Park or Popham Beach, but folks will be swimming there.

Has a great sunset view...

Jumping off Rocks etc... do that in freshwater. There will be lots of places along the river to enjoy but follow locals advice and where as there are deadheads everywhere.

Hi Needaholiday,

There%26#39;s quite a few hotels right on the water in BBH. If you want to stay right in town and be where the action is (and I%26#39;m betting with 2 teens, they%26#39;d love it), try either the Tugboat Inn, Rocktide, or Browns. All 3 places are right on the water, have great views, are family friendly, have good reputations, and nice restaurants. The Rocktide has an indoor pool.

If you%26#39;d prefer a more quiet location with a real Maine feel to it, try the Ocean Pt. Inn. It%26#39;s about a 10 to 15 minute drive down Linekin Neck and sits across the street from the water with spectacular views to islands, boating activity, open ocean, and 4 lighthouses. It also has an outdoor pool and access to tennis courts. In addition, it has a nice restaurant with lovely views. I cannot say enough good things about the location of this place :). Check out their website by googling Ocean Pt. Inn and see what you think.

As for jumping off rocks. Not a good idea in Maine! However, my boys when younger, used to love jumping off the footbridge in town into the harbor. There are also a couple of very small beaches you can drive to that they might enjoy.

The first is a 5 to 10 minute walk from the Ocean Pt. Inn on Grimes Cove. It has some sand, lots of rocks, basically no waves, but is fun for swimming and puttering around.

The second is on Southport Island and about a 15 minute drive from downtown BBH, on 27 south over the Townsend bridge. It%26#39;s called Hendricks Head Light Beach. It is more sandy than Grimes Cove and one can walk out to a small island, climb the rocks to the top which affords lovely views. Right next to the beach is Hendricks Head Light.

Both beaches are best used at mid or low tide. If not, there will only be a very narrow strip of sand in which to sit! When here, purchase a copy of the BBH Register (a great news and activity source) and check the tide tables. Or you can always ask at the desk of your hotel.

cozyharbor

Thanks Cozy Harbor for your comments.

We have, in fact, booked the Ocean Point Inn for our one night stay in Booth Bay Harbor. From everything I have read on this forum, this is is wonderful place to stay. We will also definitely check out your recommendations for visits to the beach. We will be careful with the rocks!!

I grew up here and the two places that I grew up swimming at are Barrett%26#39;s Park and Hendrick Head. They both have places where you can jump off the rocks at high tide. Barrett%26#39;s Park is on Lobster Cove Road in Boothbay Harbor and Hendrick%26#39;s Head is on Beach Road in Southport off Dogfish Head Road. Ask any locals and they%26#39;ll be able to direct you to them. As to the person who said don%26#39;t jump off the rocks, I grew up jumping off them at these two places, and I never hurt myself.

Hope you have fun!

good makeup