Family trip to Maine

[Princess Minnie321]

We live 45 minutes from York and love the beaches there! Short Sands is our favorite. The beach has a playground and bathrooms. It is also across from York Animal Kingdom. We spent a day there last year and loved it.

My parents usually stay at the ancorage at Ogunquit Beach and have said the motel is very clean. The beach is beautiful there and also lots of restaurants.

If you drive through Kittery and like seafood, Bob's Clam Hut is so good!

 

[leebee]

I live in the Portsmouth NH area which is right over the border to Kittery. On the Portsmouth side check out what is going on at Prescott Park. I'm not sure how early in June they start doing the play. There is also Water Country in Portsmouth. I'm not sure how it is now. I used to work there in the 90s. You may also want to go on a whale watch. I believe there is one out of Portsmouth. You may also want to spend time riding on a boat to the Isles of Shoals. Also there is Strawberry Banke. If you are going to Kittery be sure to stop at Yummies (candy store). In York there is a Stonewall Kitchen store and at certain times you can watch how the jam is made. Portland is also a fun place to go too. You may want to try Peak's Island. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peaks_Island,_Maine Others have made great suggestions too. The one thing to keep in mind is that not everything will be running on full summer hours until the July 4th weekend. Good luck!

These are great things to do in the Portsmouth area- I just was in brain fog when posting last night, so couldn't remember much! If you are on Rt. 1 in Kittery, checking out the outlet malls, keep going north. Yummies has PILES of candies- such fun! Further north you'll find "When Pigs Fly," where they make the most amazing breads. You are allowed to sample just about everything in the store, which is also yummy and fun. Further north on Rt. 1 in York (where it intersects with 95N) you'll find Stonewall Kitchen's flagship store. Once again, they want you to taste EVERYTHING, so you'll be able to sample jams, jellies, dessert toppings, salsas, sauces, etc. And PrincessMinnie321 is SO right about Bob's Clam Hut, right there in Kittery on Rt. 1!

Staying in York Beach is always fun. "Downtown" accommodations include the Sands Motel and Union Bluff. I haven't stayed in either, but have friends who have and they recommend either. We have also stayed at Lighthouse Inn a couple of times over the years, and it was nice. We've always stayed in the older rooms. It's within walking distance of both Long and Short Sands beaches (not too far, especially if you are OK with walking at Disney!), and they provide little handcarts for taking your stuff to the beach. Check tripadvisor for reviews on other hotels in the Portsmouth/Kittery/York area. Some are cool finds, some are places you wouldn't want to sleep, so read the reviews. Chain hotels in Portsmouth (maybe actually Newington?) that are out near the Red Hook Ale brewery are more affordable than those in the downtown area.

 

[Eureka]

Hmmm... Depending on where in CT you are, it's going to be about 6 hours of drive time, plus stops, traffic (Hartford, Worcester, Boston area). Recently DD and I visited CT and it was almost 7 hours home, from Manchester, CT, to Bangor, with stops and traffic. Bar Harbor is about another 75 minutes from Bangor, depending where on MDI you are going, without considering traffic. If you are only planning on 3 days/2 nights, I think you are going to spend a lot of your vacation time on the highway! I would consider going to the York, ME/Portsmouth NH area instead. It's about a 3 hour drive (once again, depending on where you are in CT) and there are lots of things to do in the area. My family lives in York, but when we visit we often stay in a hotel. We've stayed in the Microtel Inn & Suites in York and it was fine; clean, comfortable beds, free breakfast. We have also stayed at the Homewood Suites, Hampton Inn (downtown) and the Residence Inn (downtown) in Portsmouth, NH. Microtel and Homewood were affordable in the summer; Hampton Inn and Residence Inn not so much (but reasonable at Christmas), because of the downtown Portsmouth location. We've also stayed at the Anchorage Inn and Sea Latch Motel in York Beach. These places are clean but basic motels, their real selling point being they are located directly across the street from Long Sands Beach, which is a beautiful, mile and a half long, soft white sand beach. York Beach is a fun place to spend a few nights, even if the downtown area is a little honky-tonk-ish. Lots of touristy things to do, beautiful beaches, York's Wild Kingdom, Fort McHenry in Kittery, historic houses to tour in York Village, close to Portsmouth NH if you want to go to the Children's Museum or tour a submarine, wander through shops, see what is happening at Prescott Park (outdoor theater, oftentimes children's theater),etc. You can also check out the Ogunquit Playhouse and Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick. Maybe even drive up to Saco for FUntown/Splashtown. York/southern Maine seacoast might be a better destination, given your timeline.

Do you live in Bangor?! I grew up there!

 

[revdisney33]

Do you live in Bangor?! I grew up there!

I grew up in Carmel, live in Winterport and work in Bangor......how long have you been gone?

 

[mrocco90]

Thank you everyone for the advice! It's been so helpful! I never thought of New Hampshire but I'm going to look into that too before I made a decision

 

[Princess Minnie321]

Thank you everyone for the advice! It's been so helpful! I never thought of New Hampshire but I'm going to look into that too before I made a decision

If you are thinking about NH, North Conway is great! It is so kid friendly. We have gone the past two years. My kids love storyland. There are lots of good restruants, echo lake is a lot of fun. It is pretty inexpensive too. We went for 5 days last year and with food, park tickets to storyland and Santa's village, the hotel, and the other activities we did, our trip was only $1500. That is a fraction of what this Disney trip is costing!

 

[leebee]

Do you live in Bangor?! I grew up there!

I grew up in Carmel, live in Winterport and work in Bangor......how long have you been gone?

We live in Orono. I work in Glenburn, DH is on faculty at Husson (in Bangor) and adjunct at UMaine! We really should start a "Maine roll call" thread to see how many of our fellow Mainers are also Disney fanatics!!

 

[revdisney33]

We live in Orono. I work in Glenburn, DH is on faculty at Husson (in Bangor) and adjunct at UMaine! We really should start a "Maine roll call" thread to see how many of our fellow Mainers are also Disney fanatics!!

That would be cool. I have several friends who are fanatics and I help several families a year plan their trips.... Some I don't know, but have been told I'm the one to talk to about planning a trip....haha

I worked for the Orono Parks and Rec for 13 years, been with Bangor Parks and Rec for almost 8.

 

[Eureka]

We live in Orono. I work in Glenburn, DH is on faculty at Husson (in Bangor) and adjunct at UMaine! We really should start a "Maine roll call" thread to see how many of our fellow Mainers are also Disney fanatics!!

Very cool! I've been in Maryland for 18 years now and went to college in MA before that, but my parents still live in Bangor and my sister and her family moved down to Scarborough last year. My niece goes to UMO though (old habits die hard, I know they don't really call it that anymore).

 

[leebee]

Very cool! I've been in Maryland for 18 years now and went to college in MA before that, but my parents still live in Bangor and my sister and her family moved down to Scarborough last year. My niece goes to UMO though (old habits die hard, I know they don't really call it that anymore).

( Sorry to hijack the thread, but...) So many people still call it UMO, although "they" push for the use of UMaine. Graduation was yesterday- so by tomorrow my sleepy Maine town will be back! I know Orono would be nothing without the University, but it sure is nice to have the peacefulness and lack of traffic that graduation brings! We are a bunch of UMaine grads- me, DH, DD23, my sister, BIL, SIL, DD's boyfriend (graduated yesterday) and his dad, grandfather, great grandfather- so definitely not slamming the University; I'm just really glad that it's almost summer!

 

[snowwite]

We have camp in Oxford. You may want to check online for rentals in Thompson Lake or one of the cottages at Poland springs resort. More commercialized area with arcade, boat rides etc is Naples and rentals are more reasonable.
The Oxford Plains speedway is fun. There are kids activities like mini golf, mini race cars, paint ball. Local farms have ice cream, petting zoo, mineral/ gem dig. The Gray animal park is awesome for kids. If you drive to Bath the Maine Maritime Museum and boat ride was reasonable and best museum.we head to Maine most weekends. Get off I95 in Wells/ Ogunquit (just before tolls) and head to route 1 and have a meal at Maine Diner or Wild Willys Burgers. The Marginal Way and Wells area is great but even motels are over $100/night that time of year. It is abou an hour scenic drive from Oxford to White Mountains NH. We used to take day trip and head up Mt Washington. Lots of options!

 

[razsav]

If you are thinking about NH, North Conway is great! It is so kid friendly. We have gone the past two years. My kids love storyland. There are lots of good restruants, echo lake is a lot of fun. It is pretty inexpensive too. We went for 5 days last year and with food, park tickets to storyland and Santa's village, the hotel, and the other activities we did, our trip was only $1500. That is a fraction of what this Disney trip is costing!

Totally agree with you about NH. The White Mountains are beautiful. We've gone the last four years and we're in MI. The Golden Gables Inn is an affordable and nice place to stay. I love Santa's Village. Storyland is nice and a few years ago they sold Dole Whips. Don't know if they still have them. North Conway is a very friendly area. We liked eating at the Muddy Moose and Delaney's Hole in the Wall.

 

[snowwite]

Totally agree with you about NH. The White Mountains are beautiful. We've gone the last four years and we're in MI. The Golden Gables Inn is an affordable and nice place to stay. I love Santa's Village. Storyland is nice and a few years ago they sold Dole Whips. Don't know if they still have them. North Conway is a very friendly area. We liked eating at the Muddy Moose and Delaney's Hole in the Wall.

NH is great. We used to go to Indian Head Resort which has an all inclusive meal option, pool, views of mountains, mini golf and kids activities. They have some cottages and some hotel rooms. It is close to white mountains, loon mtn which has a tram and Highland games, Clarks Bears which has train ride, amusements and live bears shows. There was a water park nearby and further away was story land and Santas village. We also went horse back riding up there.

 

[snowwite]

Totally agree with you about NH. The White Mountains are beautiful. We've gone the last four years and we're in MI. The Golden Gables Inn is an affordable and nice place to stay. I love Santa's Village. Storyland is nice and a few years ago they sold Dole Whips. Don't know if they still have them. North Conway is a very friendly area. We liked eating at the Muddy Moose and Delaney's Hole in the Wall.

If you like Dole Whips we found them at Fielders Choice in Sabattus ME but I would guess they have at their other locations like OOB too.

 

[clutter]

My dd just finished up her first year at UMO (UMaine), and I happily spent more time there than I intended! Acadia is beautiful, but I would avoid it in the middle of summer. (I went in late August, and it was fine. Not crowded at all, except for sunset on top of Cadillac.) It's so beautiful there. Both Orono and Bangor are wonderful towns. Love the Bangor Police FB page, and am craving a duck of justice tee shirt.

A couple of my own food highlights: donuts from Holy Donut in Portland, blueberry if it's summer. And Gifford's ice cream. Still looking for a cheap lobster, although I've had them with family that lives there.

 

[Sagginit]

I did a trip up to Acadia about two years ago. We were adults so we went the week after labor day. still warm but lower rates. on the way up we stopped here:

http://railwayvillage.org/

I got a groupon (I think it was a BOGO for adults) and I would say you could spend 1-2 hours there. We had fun looking at the old trains, vehicles, and exhibits. I loved Acadia, it was very beautiful. It is touristy so there is plenty to do outside the park. We stayed at a holiday inn and it had a nice heated pool so we spent the evening taking a swim overlooking water. If you have kids you may want to spend more on a hotel with a nice pool vs. motel with basic accommodations.