Vacationing in Maine, can you help?

[Laurajean1014]

I am looking for things to do, places to shop (outlets, too) and great food places in the Portland area.

We will be there on or around July 6-12th.

Do you have a good website I can check out?

Thank you.

 

[momrek06]

First of all, OP, I see you are from CT. and I assume you will be driving...that being said...as you head North to Maine and enter the state you will come to KITTERY...they are CHALK FULL of outlets. Stop there first and foremost. Bob's Seafood is right there next to the Kittery Trading Post so stop there as well for a quick bite to eat...fabulous clams and seafood. Spend sometime hitting all the shops...they are really awesome! Staying on ROUTE ONE
as you proceed North you will come to Ogunquit and Perkins Cove..more great shopping as well as ice cream etc. Just great little towns..head to Perkins Cove for the scenery. The ocean is right there and you can walk the MARGINAL WAY. Barnacle Billy's is a great restaurant in the Cove. They have sailing excursions as well that you can pay a fee (not overly pricey) and sight see on the Ocean. Heading North you will come to Wells,(the home of the FAMOUS "MAINE DINER"= great for breakfast), Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. Stop in Kennebunkport for more sightseeing and shopping and eating as well. Ice cream and candy are also favorite attractions in the PORT!
Summer home of THE GEORGE BUSH'S. Sailing excursions are here as well to look into. A favorite restaurant of ours is the Ardunel Wharf Inn...great food great prices.
My Mom & Dad live in the Summer in Maine on Drakes Island off of Wells. So after Kennebunkport I don't travel much North except for our yearly summer trek to LL Bean in Freeport. Which is BEYOND Portland.
So go online and check into Kittery, Perkins Cove and Ogunquit then Kennebunkport. This is called Downeast Maine and it is FABULOUS. I was just there all weekend and it was awesome. If I think of more for you to check out I will post back or PM you. Also in Ogunquit is the Ogunquit Playhouse...fabulous Summer Musicals and Plays and they have a website as well. As you travel along Rte One you will be parallel to the OCEAN which is just simply breathetaking.
Hope this helps, OP!

 

[Allie322]

Sorry I don't have much to add except to say that Bob's Clam Hut in Kittery is the best! Just going there is worth the trip! Yummmy!

 

[rparmfamily]

www.visitmaine.com is the state website. Lots of stuff to do, look for fairs/festivals, there are usually tons of them in the summer. I lived near Freeport, so I love that area. Have fun!

 

[luvwinnie]

We're going in Aug. so be sure to post about your trip! I head the Clam Shack in Kennebunkport has great lobster rolls. Where are you staying? We'll be at a campground near Kenn.

 

[luvwinnie]

http://www.visitthekennebunks.com/Pages/what_to_do.html

 

[luvflorida]

As a local, I've never really understood the appeal of the Maine Diner in Wells. I know tons of tourists flock to the place and the line stretches out the door. We've eaten there, but don't see what all the hype is about. Just my opinion, but there are many other restaurants with better food in the Ogunquit/Wells/Kennebunk/Kennebunkport area.

Someone mentioned that this area is considered Downeast Maine. It is actually Southern Coastal Maine. Downeast Maine is further upstate.

And this is my THIRD try at posting this, so sorry if I sound testy!!! Dumb server is busy message!

 

[Jen_in_NH]

I guess it depends how far you want to drive. The Old Port in Portland is really cool. Freeport is not too much farther north, and has really good shopping (LLBean 24/7 - need I say more?) Boothbay Harbor is really nice, as are Camden and Rockport, but I don't know how far from Portland they are.

Jen