Maine Vacation Help!!!

[Snow_White]

Hi there!

I have a big favor to ask....my fiancee and his father are planning a trip to Maine in August, so I was wondering if anyone from that area could help me out with some specific tourist places/activities to suggest to them. His father is slightly older (he is 69) and not in the greatest shape, so things that aren't too strenuous are good His father is a big fan of lighthouses, so visiting one of those is a must, but other than that, they're unsure of exactly what else there is to do there. His father has always wanted to visit Maine, so my fiancee decided to try to make this happen in August for him!!

THANKS!
Jenn

 

[winniedapooh]

Maine is a BIIIIIGGGG state. Where in Maine are they planning to go. It has some beautiful coastlines and wonderful towns. Route 1A is gorgeous.

 

[Snow_White]

Hi! The only thing my fiancee knows is that his father wants to see lighthouses, other than that the vacation is wide open. I guess they would like to stay by the coast, because of the lighthouse thing! They will have a car, so driving is not a problem. Any suggestions on vacation spots/towns/anything are welcome! THANKS!!

 

[NHAnn]

There are a number of "Mainiacs" on the CB.....like my friend pumba, that could help.

How long will they have to visit? What's their starting point? (Are they driving in from the southwest corner from NH, or are they flying into Portland and renting a car?)

Coastal Maine IS lovely but there are an awful lot of options...

Check this out!
Maine Lighthouses

That can get you to the Maine State Tourism home page too.

If your Dad likes baseball, take in a SeaDogs game in Portland...they are a very popular minor league team! Portland is a great little city to visit. You can take ferries to soem of the little coastal islands and the gamblign ship excursion up to Nova Scotia too....

 

[Snow_White]

Originally posted by NHAnn

How long will they have to visit? What's their starting point? (Are they driving in from the southwest corner from NH, or are they flying into Portland and renting a car?)

Thanks for the reply! They are going to be driving to Maine (we live in MD, so they'll just drive 95 all the way up). They plan to stay for about a week or so. What are some of the more popular tourist towns along the coast line?

Thanks!

 

[keerymom]

My family and I travelled to Maine for the 1st time last year and although we didn't see much, what we saw was beautiful. There is a beautiful lighthouse in Portland (I think it's even on the back of Maine's quarter). Kennebunkport and Ogunquit were absolutely gorgeous as well. I wished we'd had more time in these two towns.

 

[RUDisney]

We'll be going to Ogunquit in a week for our 8th annual vacation there. My DH doesn't want to go anyplace else. Ogunquit is a nice town and has trolleys to get you from one place to another, so father won't have to walk so much. It is also in good proximity to many lighthouses and the restaurants are wonderful.

 

[NHAnn]

What are some of the more popular tourist towns along the coast line?

Southern Maine....York, Ogunquit, Kennebunk/port, Old Orchard....then the greater Portland area...then up the coast further Boothbay Harbor, Camden....

 

[winniedapooh]

York also has a beautiful lighthouse with a restaurant nearby. I think it is Nubble Point? sorry brainfreeze. The towns that NHann listed are gorgeous and there is something to do for everyone. Time of year is also a consideration as the traffic can get pretty backed up during the Summer. I don't mind it, it gives me more to look at , DH, however has this thing with sitting and "looking" lol. I would go to the different towns NHann listed and look up their Chamber of Commerce sites for more information. For example in Ogunquit there is a well known play house that does some wonderful summer theatre. In OOB there are Fireworks on the beach every Thursday night during the summer. In areas of Portland there are some great little shops and places to see. Once again it is a big state lighthouses and sites and all!

 

[nealymouse]

Hello Jenn.

My grand parents lived in York. My bedroom as a child looked out on the Nuble Light (House). I grew up scared to death of that light. Being a kid and trying to sleep with a red light and that waaawooo sound was enough to drive me crazy LOL. As an adult I was married with the light house as our back drop so I did grow to love the place.

Short Sands beach is in town (York) and has several shops to visit. The Golden Rod candy shop is still my favorite. Dont leave with out getting salt water taffy. They make it in the front of the store so you can stand on the side walk and watch. The Bowl-o-rama was built and run by my grandfather.

I still live in Southern Maine. I drive into Portland at least twice a week and its a very beauitful coastal city. They have a restaurant called Dimillos the Floating Restaurant in the Old Port. Its a boat on the water, food is good and the floating you feel while you eat is fun.

You can take day trips on the ferry over to the Casco Bay islands, Peeks, Long Island ect. a ticket costs about $6.00 round trip.

Ogunquit is beauitful. It is known for its gay community. That has never bothered me but some people wont go because alot of business's are owned and operated by them. We have a gay couple who are friends that own a beauitful shop just out side of town.

Kittery is where I grew up and is known now for its outlet shopping malls. They are every where.

LL Bean is off 295 in Freeport. If you like shopping the store is fun and its the flag ship store so its the big one with the fish pond in the store. Congress St in Portland also has a LL Bean out let store right past Dunkin Donuts.

While in Portland head to Cape Elizabeth, Williams Park. This is where the Portland Head light is. I feel one of the most beautiful off ALL light houses. It is well worth the trip and your FIL will love it there. Very scenic, Very coastal Maine.

If you really want to do some traveling head to Bar Harbor. its about a 4 hour drive from the southern tip of Maine. Once there head to Acadia National Park. HUGE WOW factor. Acadia is so beautiful I almost cry every time I visit because its a place to make a Mainer proud to be blessed with living in this Beautiful state

Boothbay, Rockland are also very beautiful. If you dont get up to Bar Harbor at least go to Boothbay.

I can send you pamflets if you want them. PM me if you would like.

I have been all over the world and Maine is still my favorite place on this earth to be

Have fun

 

[Figment22]

Originally posted by nealymouse
The Golden Rod candy shop is still my favorite. Dont leave with out getting salt water taffy. They make it in the front of the store so you can stand on the side walk and watch.

Oooooh, you've got my mouth watering now. I LOVE Goldenrod's Taffy! The peanut butter kisses are my favorites. I Googled them and found that they're available via mail order!

http://www.thegoldenrod.com/

The Nubble Light is one of my favorite spots. I have a photo of it in my screen saver slide show.

BTW, excellent review of the area. Coastal Maine is positively gorgeous!

 

[nealymouse]

Thank you. Peanut butter is also my favorite !!!!

My Mom and Aunts 2nd Job ever was at the Golden Rod. Having a
Dad that owned a business in town had to be their 1st but after working for him they quit LOL.

I did not know as a child that not everyone looked out their window at night and DIDNT see a light house. I was born blessed by having grand parents who lived with the ocean as their back yard.

My Mom told me that when she and my aunt were teenages the Coast Guard worked the Nubble light. My Mom and Aunt would wade over at low tide, hide in the rocks till the tide came in and then have to have the Coast Guard guys give them a dingy ride across the water to land. THEY LIVED FOR THIS intill they called my grand father and told him what was going on LOL.

My Mom and Aunt would laugh intill they pee'd thir pants telling us kids this story LOL

 

[Snow_White]

Wow wow wow, thanks for all of your help!!! I'm emailing my fiancee a link to this thread right now so he can get busy planning his trip!

Jenn

 

[LOVETHATMOUSE]

Originally posted by nealymouse
If you really want to do some traveling head to Bar Harbor. its about a 4 hour drive from the southern tip of Maine. Once there head to Acadia National Park. HUGE WOW factor. Acadia is so beautiful I almost cry every time I visit because its a place to make a Mainer proud to be blessed with living in this Beautiful state

This is where I am from - although I live on Long Island now, I still do that 480 mile trek every summer to the family home for a two-three week vacation. Will be leaving end of July this year until mid-August. We live in Southwest Harbor. Acadia is the most beautiful place in the world to me. Someday we will move up there,but for now I have to enjoy the time we have every summer. There is a lighthouse in Bass Harbor (if you go there, check out Seafood Ketch - a restaurant I worked at years ago). You can actually climb down the rocks on one side and take your pic in front of the lighthouse (use extra caution - it can be very slippery). There are tons of trails for walking and biking - so much to do. We have friends that come up and visit us and they love it too. If you need any info on this area, you can pm me - I can tell ya all about the "secret places" that most vacationers never hear about.

 

[Ronda93]

Hi. I see some Maine expertise showing on the CB. We are also planning a fall trip to Maine. The bulk of our time will be spent in Bar Harbor, but I could use recommendations for the following:

one night's lodging (Saturday night) in/around Manchester (the Best Western in Seabrook is getting good marks)

one night's loding in/around Freeport/Portland

dining in Ogunquit. We're flying to Manchester and driving up the coast.

Route help... from Manchester to the coast, would you take 101 or down the interstate towards Lowell?

thanks for any insight,
Ronda

 

[DisneyAddict_M]

Visit Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth. http://www.portlandheadlight.com/

Cape Elizabeth is absolutely gorgeous.

 

[castlegazer]

Nealymouse has outlined a very good driving vacation for you. My family's summer home is in York Beach right off of Long Sands.

I wanted to add that Pemaquid Point is one of our favorite lighthouses and going there is beautiful as you get to drive out onto those fingers of land that Maine is most famous for. Its off of Rt. 1 before you get to Boothbay Harbour. You will get to drive through Wiscasset, again, a very beautiful and typical Maine Harbor town.

I would highly recommend getting them up into Camden or Rockport. Its just not a full Maine vacation until you get up there and see how beautiful it is and sit out on the docks eating lobster fresh off the boats.

 

[Trish Bessette]

Oh how fun seeing this thread. I just got back to work today after spending a week in York Beach, Maine.

Nealymouse really did a great job describing York Beach. The Nubble Lighthouse is beautiful! There is Fox's restaurant right there so you can get a bite to eat while enjoying the lighthouse.

The small town "Short Sands" is the best! It has shops to see and the famous Goldenrod Taffy store. You can stand outside the windows and see it being made. The town is not big, wonderful size for your father in law.

We stayed at the Sands by the Sea hotel. Located right in the short sands town. Directly across from Short Sands beach. Only a few miles from the Nubble Lighthouse. We love it as we can walk around town, cross the street to the ocean, get a bite to eat and even enjoy the free concerts on the green that play most every night without having to drive to enjoy all these things!

You do have to check out Ogunquit...just north from York on Route 1A. Great shops and drive down to the point and you can see the lobster boats coming in A big hit with my kids.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. Enjoy your trip!!! This was our 8th year going.

 

[castlegazer]

Originally posted by Ronda93
Hi. I see some Maine expertise showing on the CB. We are also planning a fall trip to Maine. The bulk of our time will be spent in Bar Harbor, but I could use recommendations for the following:
dining in Ogunquit. We're flying to Manchester and driving up the coast.

The Hurricane Restaurant in Ogunquit. Make reservations far ahead in season. $$$$

 

[pixiemomma]

Originally posted by LOVETHATMOUSE
This is where I am from - although I live on Long Island now, I still do that 480 mile trek every summer to the family home for a two-three week vacation. Will be leaving end of July this year until mid-August. We live in Southwest Harbor. Acadia is the most beautiful place in the world to me. Someday we will move up there,but for now I have to enjoy the time we have every summer. There is a lighthouse in Bass Harbor (if you go there, check out Seafood Ketch - a restaurant I worked at years ago). You can actually climb down the rocks on one side and take your pic in front of the lighthouse (use extra caution - it can be very slippery). There are tons of trails for walking and biking - so much to do. We have friends that come up and visit us and they love it too. If you need any info on this area, you can pm me - I can tell ya all about the "secret places" that most vacationers never hear about.

Its worth the trip just to have a Seafodd Sandwich from Seafood Ketch! I haven't been able to get that sandwich out of my mind for 2 years!