US 1 route

Hello! I am planning my trip to Maine and I am so excited. On day 2 of my itinerary I am wanting to drive from Bar Harbor to Freeport. I am planning to take US 1. I plan to stop in Camden, Rockport, Rockland. What other towns are great for exploring for more than just picture stops. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.which are the best lobster shacks along the way. Thanks for any help you can give me.

US 1 route

I would recommend the twin villages of Damariscotta and Newcastle. From there, you could travel down the peninsula to the Pemaquid Point lighthouse. This is a great area for exploring. There are several fishermen%26#39;s co-ops and there is also Small Brothers in New Harbor for lobster.

Hotel Suggestions Portland

We had planned on booking Embassy Suites for the last leg of our trip on July 14-16. I was impressed that it was No. 1 on T/A - and on reading reviews it seemed to %26#39;tick all our boxes%26#39; - 2 rooms, fridge, microwave, comp breakfast and parking and even a reception thrown in each evening - all for as low as $169 per night for 4 of us. I have been getting negative feedback - not critising hotel but more advising we could do beter location wise.

We had planned on using the hotel as a base to travel around the area say from 9am -6pm each day - come back to the hotel - relax a bit - and then go and have dinner. I have checked out Regency,Hilton etc. and they are not suites - and all charge for parking, breakfast etc. Is the airport area very grim???? I really need to know. I know the port area would be great but I am wondering - would it be worth on average of $100 more per night???? Help!

Hotel Suggestions Portland

No, not at all grim. It%26#39;s just the typical area of chain restaurants and hotels, shopping mall and airport. If you were already planning on just using the room as a base and driving out and about for the day, you%26#39;ll be just fine. The hotels in town are, indeed, a lot more money. Be sure to check out the Old Port, perhaps you%26#39;ll come back again some day and decide you%26#39;d like to stay there. While not this one, I%26#39;ve stayed in various Embassy Suites. Very adequate. Save your worrying, and stick with the Embassy.

Hotel Suggestions Portland

I really appreciate the advice. I have not booked the Embassy Suites yet - and I dont mind paying a bit more for quality - at the end of the day - its not the bit extra you remember. We have been to New York a few times and I found we tended to spend the day out and about and then we just got back to the hotel - had a bath, a snooze and a take away (too tired to even go out!!!). While we will have the car and we wont be walking or standing about waiting for cabs, trains etc. - I still plan on doing a fair bit of walking etc. Again thanks for the advice - will chew on it over weekend and see the best deal we can get for a Port Hotel. Then we will make a decision.Thanks again.

The Embassy Suites is fine. If you have a car, it%26#39;s no big deal to drive into Portland or wherever else you want to go. It%26#39;s easy access to I-95, I-295 and route 1. There are plenty of chain restaurants there, and the surrounding area offers plenty of fine dining and casual options as well.

There is another new suites hotel near that location, although its address is listed in Scarborough. In that area, Portland, South Portland and Scarborough meet up. It doesn%26#39;t have a complimentary breakfast, but offers everything else you list. Here%26#39;s the link:

marriott.com/hotels/…

Proposed itinerary

I have posted so many questions over the past few months - and I think finally I have come up with a basic itinerary - accommodation wise at least. I will post it below and I would appreciate any comments as to how practical/good/bad or otherwise this plan is. Any advice or tips would be much appreciated - as nothing is set in stone (yet).

Arrive in Boston 30th June Overnight in Jurys.

1st July - explore Boston.

2nd July - pick up hire car. Travel out to Falmouth (Cape Cod). Overnight in Falmouth Heights Motel.

3rd July. Overnight in Falmouth Heights Motel.

4th July. Travel to rental house in Chatham for 7 nights.

11th July. Leave Chatham early. Travel to North Conway, New Hampshire. Overnight in Nordic Village Resort for 3 nights.

14th July. Leave North Conway. Travel to Portland Maine. Overnight in Embassy Suites for 2 nights.

16th July. Leave Portland. Travel to Boston. Overnight in Jurys, Boston.

17th July. Spend day doing last min shopping.

Return to Ireland late on Fri night.

(Sleep for a week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Proposed itinerary

The one thing that stands out to me is is your 7/4 travel from Falmouth to Chatham. It%26#39;s a Saturday, our Independence Day, and you%26#39;re on the Cape. What should be a trip of an hour or so is likely going to take you half the day due to traffic which will be especially heavy on the holiday weekend.

You said nothing is set in stone. Your visit to Maine will be so incomplete without going to Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park.

Proposed itinerary

Can I come? I think it sounds amazing. In comparison to your other accommodations, I think you%26#39;ll be underwhelmed with the Embassy Suites. Also, it%26#39;s location is by the airport/mall area as mentioned in other thread. If you stayed at one of the hotels in Portland%26#39;s Old Port, you could walk to so much, where as you%26#39;ll have to drive everywhere from the other.

See: tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g40827-i176-k16665…

If it were me, I%26#39;d cut the North Conway and Portland stays to just one night and spend the saved time in the Acadia National Park area of Maine. It%26#39;s the best of coastal Maine and very different from the Atlantic coast on Cape Cod.

I am so confused now - I want to see everything and go everywhere!!!!!

I think you have a good plan. Acadia National Park is beautiful, but it%26#39;s out of the way from your other locations. North Conway doesn%26#39;t just offer great tax-free outlet shopping. There are also the mountains with incredible views and/or hiking, kayaking, riding one of the scenic railways, etc.

Portland will be a good base for getting out on the water, checking out some lighthouses and lobster, browsing through some funky stores and studios, etc.

On July 16th, when you are heading to Boston, if you%26#39;re not ';shopped out'; yet, you could detour through the outlets in Kittery. Easy on and off the highway.

chin blackheads

Surfing classes?

I am visiting portland maine and was wondering if anyone knows of any surfing classes? as well of any tattoo shops that are really good artists? much appreciated for any help.

Surfing classes?

I just Googled maine surfing lessons and it confirmed what I thought: most places are south of Portland - Kennebunk, Wells and Old Orchard Beach. None are far and have access to the best waves in Maine. If you try a similar search, I%26#39;m sure you%26#39;ll find one that suits you.

Surfing classes?

Higgins Beach is more or less the surf capital of southern Maine. Check out their live webcam!

You don%26#39;t mention when you are coming.....parking there is problematic in the summer.....but many of the %26#39;regulars%26#39; there welcome newcomers and you could pick up a private lesson.

Cess is right, Higgins Beach is the surfers beach , as I live here and see it daily. There are lessons given at Scarborough at times in the Summer.

Touring Main Coast

We are planing on flying into Boston or Manchester airport on June 14 and leaving on June 30. We want to see Cape Cod and MV. We would also like to up the Maine coast. Do we need reservation for accommodations? or can we wing it. Looking for any suggestions on how far up the coast to go and what to see.

We have are family with kids.

Thank you,

Jack

Touring Main Coast

What about flying into Bangor and go south and leave from Boston.

Where to stay in Maine

Hey All!

My husband, my 11 month old daughter and I plan to take a trip to Maine June 25-29. I%26#39;m looking for lots of shopping (antiques, interesting stores, etc.) and loads of lobster!

I%26#39;m also looking for really beautiful sceneries as well. I have no idea where in Maine we should look for a hotel. We won%26#39;t have a car, we%26#39;re flying in.

I read about the LuLu%26#39;s Lobster Boat ride and I%26#39;m really interested in that. I know its in Bar Harbour so with what I%26#39;m looking for is it wise to stay in Bar Harbour?

Thanks! Any info is greatly appreciated!

Where to stay in Maine

To be more specific I%26#39;m more interested in mountains, forests and lakes and less interested in beaches. I definitely don%26#39;t mind beaches but they%26#39;re not something I seek out.

Thanks!

Where to stay in Maine

Bar Harbor definitely has what you are looking for although the antique shopping may have to be a day trip down the coast to Searsport or at least to The Big Chicken Barn just south of Ellsworth.

Bar Harobr is one of the gateway villages to Acadia National Park which has mountains, hiking trails, and small lakes and ponds. Acadia has one short, sandy beach. The rest of the shoreline is rocky with the ocean waves splashing high against the granite rocks.

Bar Harbor in late June is also some place where you don%26#39;t really need a car because you can easily walk to everything in the vilalge and there is a free shuttle bus that will take you to various points on the island and in the Park.

There are lots of places to eat lobster, either as whole lobster, lobster rolls, or more interesting preparations like lobster crepes and lobster omelettes.

One great thing to do, besides the Lulu Lobster Boat, is to have tea and popovers and lobster stew out on the lawn at the Jordan Pond House, overlooking the mountains and the pond itself. A nice hike around the pond before your lunch makes you feel like you deserve those popovers.

Excellent! Thank u so much for your input! I%26#39;m getting very excited!

Hi.

We stayed in Camden and drove up to Bar Harbor for the day. I would highly, highly recommend the Lord Camden Inn, try to get a harbor view.It was a lovely drive up to Bar harbor and we enjoyed wandering around (lovely walking) even though we went in early April and very little was open including the national Park. I would recommend hiring a car for the day.

If you are based in camden you could visit the state park and go on tours from the harbor.

How in the world are you going to get to the mountains, forests and lakes without a caahhh?

pitstop and whalewatching

hi,

i will be driving from albany and where is a good place to stopover (other than boston, portland) before i head for bar harbor? I am thinking of gloucester....

is there a better place for whale watching other than gloucester this May? any recommended budgeet lodging in gloucester?

Many thanks!

pitstop and whalewatching

You might post this to a Massachusetts forum instead of a Maine forum.

pitstop and whalewatching

Oops! thanks :)