need advise on a Maine Beach Vacation

[Tink3815]

Thinking of flying into Portland for a beach vacation in mid-June before the hotels rates go up for the tourist season. I am looking at the old Orchard Beach area (about 20 minutes from Portland) but am open to other areas if they are nice and not more than a 2-hour drive from the airport.

Looking for a hotel, motel or cabin that we could have a private balcony that looks out over the ocean with a beach. It's just me and hubby who enjoy watching the waves with a good book and exploring the history of New England. Don't really want to spend more than 125.00 a night. (Sat-Tues). if possible

Would also love suggestions of must do's and resturants along the coast of Maine.

thanks for any imput

 

[winniedapooh]

Love OOB and can recommend the Edgewater, the Gull, or White Cap Village. Have fun...I love walking the beach for hours during off season!!

 

[Tink3815]

Love OOB and can recommend the Edgewater, the Gull, or White Cap Village. Have fun...I love walking the beach for hours during off season!!

thanks for the info-any resturants you can recommend

 

[MichelleinMaine]

You probably realize this, but OOB is a pretty busy spot. If you're looking for quiet and the surf, may not be it. There is an amusement park, pier, etc there. Plenty to do, eat see. It's really within 10 minutes of Portland Jetport.

Pine Point is the opposite end of the same beach as OOB- it's in Scarborough. Alot quieter, still little restaurants around- most would be a short drive vs a walk. (Pine Point is one of my fave two beaches in the Portland area.)

Wells Beach is also good (also quite crowded, houses several deep on the beach.) Lots of restaurants right there, whole beach scene. That is probably 1/2 hour south of Portland.

Ogunquit, Kennebunk, though I doubt you'll find lodging that cheap there. (I have no idea on prices, these are all day trips for us.) Both of those have quaint little shops in town. Again, probably 1/2 hourish? Kennebunk's just north of Wells and Ogunquit just south.

Heading north- Popham Beach is my favorite place to go. I'm guessing it's an hour and a half from the airport? Mosly all highway but the last 20 minutes or so. There is a state park there which we love- but there are also various rental properties- those would all be quiet - you and the surf!

 

[Tink3815]

You probably realize this, but OOB is a pretty busy spot. If you're looking for quiet and the surf, may not be it. There is an amusement park, pier, etc there. Plenty to do, eat see. It's really within 10 minutes of Portland Jetport.

Pine Point is the opposite end of the same beach as OOB- it's in Scarborough. Alot quieter, still little restaurants around- most would be a short drive vs a walk. (Pine Point is one of my fave two beaches in the Portland area.)

Wells Beach is also good (also quite crowded, houses several deep on the beach.) Lots of restaurants right there, whole beach scene. That is probably 1/2 hour south of Portland.

Ogunquit, Kennebunk, though I doubt you'll find lodging that cheap there. (I have no idea on prices, these are all day trips for us.) Both of those have quaint little shops in town. Again, probably 1/2 hourish? Kennebunk's just north of Wells and Ogunquit just south.

Heading north- Popham Beach is my favorite place to go. I'm guessing it's an hour and a half from the airport? Mosly all highway but the last 20 minutes or so. There is a state park there which we love- but there are also various rental properties- those would all be quiet - you and the surf!

thanks for the info, can you recommend any place to stay in the Pine Point or Popham beach areas

 

[tekoa]

I personally do not care for Old Orchard, too honky tonk for me.
Kennebunk and Oqunquit are lovely, but the place we love is Boothbay Harbor.
Not many beaches, but we will get a room right in the harbor overlooking the water. Nothing better than sitting on the balcony and watching the boat traffic in the harbor. Our favorite is Fisherman's Wharf, but others I would recommend are the Rocktide, Boothbay Harbor Inn, The Tugboat.
Fisherman's includes a full breakfast in the rate. You park your car there and forget it till you leave. All the shops and restaurants are within walking distance.
You also can go for a whale watch, a puffin cruise or a harbor cruise. We like the cruise that goes up to Bath to see the Bath Iron Works.(Navy ships being built and worked on)

 

[JessM]

I'm sorry I can't give any suggestions on where to stay since I live in that are but I can help you with some restaurants/must dos!

If you are seafood people its worth the trip to eat up at the Lobster Shack in Cape Elizabeth (30mins from OOB). They have great seafood and its an incredible view! While you are in the area you should also check out the Portland Headlight. Its located in Fort Williams park also in Cape Elizabeth its great!

You will find the best restaurants in Portland. Flatbreads is located downtown on the water and it has the best pizza around. They use all fresh local ingredients when possible and they have a great deck looking out on the harbour. I would also try to Corner Room (Italian), Front Room (comfort food) or the Grill Room depending on what you are craving, they all have fantastic food. Also, for a quick lunch try Duckfat, best fries, milkshakes and sandwiches around! PM me if you want more ideas or specific cusine. My DBF and I live in the area and we eat out a lot haha!

I would also take a day and head down to Perkins Cove in the Wells area. There is a beautiful walking path along the ocean cliffs, and its a very picturesque little village.

If your hubby is really into watching the waves it also might be worth a trip over to Peaks Island. You can take the ferry from Portland over and its a nice relaxing ride. There are several restaurants with ocean views but you can also rent bikes to explore the island. Its beautiful! I hopes this helps!

 

[Eureka]

I love Ogunquit and Perkins Cove. Much quieter than Old Orchard, although it's been years since I've been to OOB. The place we stayed at, The Admiral's Inn, in Ogunquit is not on the beach, it's up on Route 1 but you can still walk to the beach from there. I don't remember the prices but it was a cute place.

Also, I don't know where you are from, but remember that while Maine can get hot in the summer, the water is almost always really cold. (I grew up there and the ocean was always freezing)

 

[MichelleinMaine]

thanks for the info, can you recommend any place to stay in the Pine Point or Popham beach areas

I'm sorry- Both are near enough to be we would just day trip them. Both have some smaller hotels, but rentals would probably be a good options, too.
FYI Pine Point is like 5 minutes from Old Orchard (lots to do/eat) and 10 maybe to South POrtland (mall/etc). Popham is way at the end of a pennisula- 20 minutes+ to the nearest decent size town (Bath.) If that is important to you!

Here's Tripadvisor for Pine Point area (Scarborough)

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q...-search=SEARCH&geo=1&pid=3825&returnTo=__2F__

(thumbs up to both Ken Place and Clambake for yummy, family style no fuss seafood. Clambake is walkable from the beach. Ken's is a short drive, near Scarborough Marsh (Audobon site where you can walk/canoe through the marsh.)

Here's the Popham area (Phippsburg):
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Search?q...-search=SEARCH&geo=1&pid=3825&returnTo=__2F__

(I don't know any specific places to eat there- we picnic when we go there and then stop and get ice cream at the Dairy Queen on the way home

 

[rosanne91]

What do you think would be better! Renting a house or a hotel room??

 

[TheShea's]

Ogunquit for us. Nice town, lovely beach, Marginal Way & Perkins Cove and great restaraunts. So much nicer and quaint than OOB.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Ogunquit for us. Nice town, lovely beach, Marginal Way & Perkins Cove and great restaraunts. So much nicer and quaint than OOB.

Is Ogunquit going to have something on the water less than $125/night though? (I don't know, I've only stayed there in January with a group.)

Ogunquit definately has the quaint/charming "cute little town" feel. Kennebunk/Kennebunkport too. Those places definately more expensive though.

 

[dhuba]

Many years ago we went to OOB at the end of June and all I remember is the freezing water temperatures and the breeze. I believe the ocean was in the low 50's and my husband took the kids on the banana boat out in the water and of course it tipped and in they went. Needless to say I was glad I stayed on shore. I remember getting great big clams down near the pier and to this day we still talk about them and think about making a trip just for the great seafood up there.

 

[Eureka]

Check this one out, it's right on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, we wanted to stay there but it was full for our weekend. Rates vary but are less than I'd have expected for summer. A little more than $125 though.

http://www.anchoragebythesea.com/anchorage_ogunquit_maine_coastal_resort_rates.html


And this is where we stayed. Further away from the beach but convenient to the town and especially if you go to the Ogunquit Playhouse for a show, you can walk there.

http://www.theadmiralsinn.com/rates.html

 

[wiigirl]

What do you think would be better! Renting a house or a hotel room??

Thats a hard call...but house?

 

[TheShea's]

What do you think would be better! Renting a house or a hotel room??

Renting a house in the summer season for anything less than a week may be tough to find.

 

[Firefae]

I agree with the other posters that oob might not be the beach your looking for. It is often loud and with the amusement park and bars not a very conductive environment for reading a book and relaxing. Ogunquit ia very pretty. I live in southern Maine so I don't have any recommendations on where to stay. good luck and enjoy your vacation!

 

[Tink3815]

thank you all for the great info on ME and the Portland area
we have decided to do Old Orchard Beach. Since ME schools will still be in session that week, hoping it won't be too hectic. Got a really good rate for a motel on the beach. We would like to take a boat cruise around the area to see the various lighthouses and other water sites. Can anyone recommend one. It can be based out of Portland or any other area close to region
also, if anyone has been to Bath for the shipping building and museum , would like to know what you thought of it-is the trolley tour worth the extra expense?

 

[3boymthr]

Check this one out, it's right on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit, we wanted to stay there but it was full for our weekend. Rates vary but are less than I'd have expected for summer. A little more than $125 though.

http://www.anchoragebythesea.com/anchorage_ogunquit_maine_coastal_resort_rates.html


And this is where we stayed. Further away from the beach but convenient to the town and especially if you go to the Ogunquit Playhouse for a show, you can walk there.

http://www.theadmiralsinn.com/rates.html

In New England summer rates don't really start until the end of June/first week of July because most schools are still in session until then. Our HS school doesn't let out until June 21st and the elementary is going until the 24th. OTH - I get to take advantage of swing/off season rates down south as our kids don't start back until September 4th.

OP - just remember as PP mentioned the water up there will be COLD. Even in August the water will still be cold but in June it's bone chilling even if it the weather is really hot.