coast of maine?

[mom2my3kids]

Looking into next years off Disney vacation, best area, reasonable price any suggestions on what part to stay in?

 

[Pooh2]

Acadia National Park, Hermit Island Campground, York Beach, Moosehead Lake are some of our favorite spots!
Driving up the coast and stopping in various fishing villages is a fun way to spend a day.
We usually camp out so lots of reasonably priced, beautiful campgrounds along the way.

 

[Tattylou]

We go to York Beach every summer for the day or an overnight (We live about an hour to an hour and a half away). We've also gone up to Ogunquit, Kennebunkport, and Old Orchard Beach. There are lots of beautiful beaches and quaint shops along the coast. York has a small zoo and small amusement park (more for the 48inch and under crowd). We like the Union Bluff Hotel in York. It is right on small sands beach and walking distance to the main street.

 

[Shanti]

Looking into next years off Disney vacation, best area, reasonable price any suggestions on what part to stay in?

Mount Desert Island is awesome.

 

[leebee]

None of these places is cheap in the summer! I live outside of Bangor, and my family lives in York Beach. MDI/Bar Harbor is beautiful. THere's Acadia National Park, roaming around Bar Harbor, etc. I like Bar Harbor, but only for a couple of nights. If you are looking for a place to vacation, I'd head towards York Beach. We've stayed at the Lighthouse Inn & Suites, Anchorage Inn, Sea Latch, and Wyndham Microtel (which isn't near the beach at all). The first 3 are all small, independently owned hotel/motels. All are fine but definitely more of a 2 star accommodations. Sea latch and Anchorage are directly across from Long Sands beach and within walking distance of town. (Union Bluff is on Short Sands and is right IN the downtown area, as is the Sands Motel, which is OK according to some friends). Lighthouse Inn is about a 5 minute walk to the beach, but includes a continental breakfast. Lots of thing to do, and you can spend a day in Ogunquit, a couple of days in Portsmouth, etc. If you are looking for a week-long vacation, I'd definitely suggest York Beach rather than Acadia (unless you are really into hiking, kayaking, climbing, etc... plenty of that at ANP!)

 

[Zim]

If you can live out of a bag I like the idea of port hopping your way up the coast to Moosehead Lake / Acadia National Park. We just got back from a three day stop at Ogunquit which was beautiful and I highly recommend the Marginal Trail which starts in town and ends at Perkins Cove and offers stunning coastline views. If I had it to do again I'd stay one night there and keep traveling North to see more of the stops people mentioned above. Also, we aren't really beach people - we like one or two walks along the beach and we're good. But the beach in Ogunquit is nice although in Summer I'm sure it's swarming with people since most of the coastline is more rocky. I've stayed in the Moosehead Lake area and it's beautiful. A lot depends on the types of vacations you enjoy - mountains and trails, beach and ocean, cities with tours and museums. Maine has all of this...

 

[Princess Minnie321]

We live 45 minutes from York and we go all summer. Our favorite is short sands beach. It is very clean and has a playground and bathrooms. It is walking distance to the York Animal Kingdom which is a lot of fun for younger kids. My kids are 6 and 4 and had a blast there last weekend. The town is really cute with shops, candy stores, and good restaurants. There is one shop where you can watch them make salt water taffy.

 

[Disney & ME]

I've lived in Maine for 27 years and visited most of the state. York Beach is nice, but there is much more to Maine than just the Southern coast or Bar Harbor/Acadia. Central Maine has beautiful coastline too with great towns such as Belfast, Camden, Rockland, Boothbay Harbor, etc.

Moosehead Lake is great but inland and there are many other beautiful lakes. If you are looking to camp, I would suggest the Maine State Parks. They are reasonable and have some beautiful sites. Lily Bay State Park is close to Moosehead Lake and beautiful.

I guess it really depends on what you want to do on your vacation.

 

[Eureka]

None of these places is cheap in the summer! I live outside of Bangor, and my family lives in York Beach. MDI/Bar Harbor is beautiful. THere's Acadia National Park, roaming around Bar Harbor, etc. I like Bar Harbor, but only for a couple of nights. If you are looking for a place to vacation, I'd head towards York Beach. We've stayed at the Lighthouse Inn & Suites, Anchorage Inn, Sea Latch, and Wyndham Microtel (which isn't near the beach at all). The first 3 are all small, independently owned hotel/motels. All are fine but definitely more of a 2 star accommodations. Sea latch and Anchorage are directly across from Long Sands beach and within walking distance of town. (Union Bluff is on Short Sands and is right IN the downtown area, as is the Sands Motel, which is OK according to some friends). Lighthouse Inn is about a 5 minute walk to the beach, but includes a continental breakfast. Lots of thing to do, and you can spend a day in Ogunquit, a couple of days in Portsmouth, etc. If you are looking for a week-long vacation, I'd definitely suggest York Beach rather than Acadia (unless you are really into hiking, kayaking, climbing, etc... plenty of that at ANP!)

I grew up in Bangor and never stayed overnight in Bar Harbor or Ogunquit until I was an adult. Was definitely spoiled living so close. I also agree about York Beach and Portsmouth being very nice areas.

 

[Eureka]

I've lived in Maine for 27 years and visited most of the state. York Beach is nice, but there is much more to Maine than just the Southern coast or Bar Harbor/Acadia. Central Maine has beautiful coastline too with great towns such as Belfast, Camden, Rockland, Boothbay Harbor, etc.

Moosehead Lake is great but inland and there are many other beautiful lakes. If you are looking to camp, I would suggest the Maine State Parks. They are reasonable and have some beautiful sites. Lily Bay State Park is close to Moosehead Lake and beautiful.

I guess it really depends on what you want to do on your vacation.

I always loved going to Camden and Boothbay Harbor as a kid. Also, keep in mind beach weather can be iffy in Maine for part of the summer, depending on how the year's weather trends have been. This year there have been some very cold summer days already. About 7-8 years ago, we were up in Bar Harbor doing one of the Harbor cruises and it was 50 degrees in July. It was still fun but we were huddled in blankets.

 

[leebee]

Weather? It was 94 in Bangor on Monday... today it's almost 70, and tomorrow it's not supposed to get into the 60s. As they always say, if you don't like the weather in Maine, wait a minute!

We live 45 minutes from York and we go all summer. Our favorite is short sands beach. It is very clean and has a playground and bathrooms. It is walking distance to the York Animal Kingdom which is a lot of fun for younger kids. My kids are 6 and 4 and had a blast there last weekend. The town is really cute with shops, candy stores, and good restaurants. There is one shop where you can watch them make salt water taffy.

The Goldenrod... I use to work there!

 

[disny_luvr]

We are going to Maine in about three weeks. We are staying in Ogunquit and Bar Harbor but plan on visiting York Beach (I've got to see Nubble Lighthouse), Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunkport, and Boothbay Harbor. I'll tell you, hotels are expensive. We paid more than I wanted to, but I don't foresee us visiting Maine anytime again soon, so I've come to terms with it.

 

[kj2mom]

We have a summer house in York (Long Sands) and am soo glad to see soo many others mention this area! We do all of what is mentioned above (and don't forget to go to Dunne's for ice cream when visiting Nubble)! We enjoy day trips to Portsmouth (my children love seeing whatever show is at Prescott Park), we love going to Ogunquit Playhouse (especially after the children's camp week because they put on a show), Perkins Cove (the cruise to see the back side of Nubble is pretty cool) Portland, Freeport etc.

I hope you have a great trip!

 

[disny_luvr]

We have a summer house in York (Long Sands) and am soo glad to see soo many others mention this area! We do all of what is mentioned above (and don't forget to go to Dunne's for ice cream when visiting Nubble)! We enjoy day trips to Portsmouth (my children love seeing whatever show is at Prescott Park), we love going to Ogunquit Playhouse (especially after the children's camp week because they put on a show), Perkins Cove (the cruise to see the back side of Nubble is pretty cool) Portland, Freeport etc.

I hope you have a great trip!

Did Dunne's used to be called Brown's? My mom was telling me about a really good ice cream place near Nubble that used to be Brown's but she couldn't think of the new name. Also, we were thinking about taking a lobstering boat tour from Perkin's Cove. Would you recommend a boat tour to Nubble over the lobstering tour?

 

[kj2mom]

Did Dunne's used to be called Brown's? My mom was telling me about a really good ice cream place near Nubble that used to be Brown's but she couldn't think of the new name. Also, we were thinking about taking a lobstering boat tour from Perkin's Cove. Would you recommend a boat tour to Nubble over the lobstering tour?

Yes! Dunne's is Brown's ice cream, same owner - same product just a change in name and location (it is now a little closer to Nubble than it used to be).

In terms of the cruises, they are both great. It really depends on what you are looking for. I have gone on both and taken the kids on both. It is really neat to see how the lobstering is done and if you are lucky they will pull in a pregnant momma for you to see (don't worry they put it back but it is an amazing sight). I would say stick with lobstering if that was your initial plan, you won't be disappointed!!!

 

[Tattylou]

Ohhh, Dunne/Brown's ice cream is soooooo good!!! We get a kid's size and it is humungous!!! Love that place!

 

[kj2mom]

Ohhh, Dunne/Brown's ice cream is soooooo good!!! We get a kid's size and it is humungous!!! Love that place!

Cookie dough is like a meal in itself it has soo much cookie dough! Heading up tonight after work and Dunnes will be our dinner!!!

 

[Tattylou]

Cookie dough is like a meal in itself it has soo much cookie dough! Heading up tonight after work and Dunnes will be our dinner!!!

I'm jealous! I love the cookie dough! We will probably plan a day trip once the kids are out of school (last day is Fri).