DaveAndMeg

Hello everyone,
My future wife and I will be going to Portland Maine for 2 days/nights following a week up near Acadia Nat'l Park for our honeymoon. I have a few questions for you guys:

Where do you recommend we stay (not chain hotels please)
Restaurants? (one of the main reasons why we chose Portland!)
Sites/ things to do?
Any spas for massages? (normally not on our to-do list but since its our honeymoon, what the heck)

It'll be the first week of July or so, I don't think on a weekend.

Thanks!
Dave

Luv2travel15

Hi Dave, congrats on your upcoming wedding/honeymoon. Acadia is a beautiful spot, hiking, etc.

If you want to spend two nights in Portland, can't beat that! Portland is one of my favorite places. We live in southern NE but visit there frequently. It's an easy city to get around, walkable, driveable, etc.

Here is a nice hotel that you might consider:
http://www.portlandharborhotel.com/?y=7&x=51

It is not on the water but walkable to it. Portland is pricey in the summer months so bear that in mind and especially if you don't want to stay in a chain hotel.

The Old Port area is my favorite as you can walk around and do some shopping and browsing. Here is a website for food:

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/422717

Here is a trolley tour schedule for you:
http://www.portlanddiscovery.com/tou...-trolley-tour/

We have done this tour and it's really fun. They offer several types of tours: land/cruise tour, Lighthouse tour, etc.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/trave...wn-waterfront/

Marriott Gets good reviews!

This would be a lovely place to stay, on the water, just a bit away from the city area, it's in Cape Elizabeth. Again, pricey!

There is so much to see and do in Portland and area. You can also stay in Kennebunkport area which is lovely, excellent restaurants. Not far from Portland, could easily drive there for the day.

Luv2travel15

Sorry, I forgot to put the link for this hotel:

http://www.innbythesea.com/

It's the hotel in Cape Elizabeth!

dfrostnh

Exploring every Chowhound reference to Portland is a good idea. Friends and I enjoyed the foodie tour of the Old Port area but you can visit some of these places on your own like the bakery near the brewery that is known for their whoopie pies. What I did not like about the tour was we didn't get a list of places we visited so it was hard to remember where we went (like the name of the bakery). The brewery was within walking distance of Duckfat which has great french fries. You can tour the brewery on your own. You'll want a few hours to explore the Old Port area.

DH and I enjoyed the mailboat cruise of Casco Bay. If you get the morning cruise you will be back in time for lunch. We did not get off at any of the islands but I have had several people tell me we should have explored Peaks Island. A lot of people who are going to work on the islands take the earliest cruise so that makes it more interesting. The boat also delivers things like washing machines. There is not a lot of narration but enough. You should also bring binoculars.

But I think a sunset cruise to see the lighthouses would be very nice.

I loved MDI Ice Cream on Exchange St. The only other place where you can get it is on MDI so you might discover it while you are in Acadia. They have lots of interesting flavors.

On your way south from Acadia, plan to have lunch at Waterman's Beach near the Owls Head Transporation Museum. To us, it's the nicest place with picnic tables. Not too busy. Maybe some people arriving by boat. It's very basic. Five islands might have a more interesting view but Waterman's looks out on open ocean without any other commercial activity around. There's a bit of a feeling of remoteness even though it's not that far.

Bath ME has a great 4th of July Parade and their Heritage Days is usually around the same time.

On both recent visits we stayed in the Wells/Oguquit area but that's really too far from Portland if you want to spend 2 days there.

wallaby

I second the suggestion of lunching at Watermans Beach Lobster. Great location, great lobster.
Portland has a nice art gallery if you are interested in that.
Fore Street is a perennial favourite Portland restaurant, great wood-grilled and wood-roasted food.

dmcq

fore street in portland is excellent for dinner, go early or late or make a reservation. flatbread is great for lunch. our favorites!mailboat cruise is fun, 3 hours..scenic and informative..

DaveAndMeg

Thanks guys, lots of great ideas for food. I am quite excited. After hiking in Acadia park, it'll be nice to get some great food. Any more ideas of a place/area to stay in Portland? $250 seems the going rate for early July right?

Thanks

Luv2travel15

Here is a great find for you! Gets good reviews and is located in downtown Portland area. http://www.innatstjohn.com/

I checked July 1st calendar and there is availability. If this is something that interests you, then I would not wait to book. Prices are much more reasonable than the chain hotels too. I would stay here myself. Go for it and have a great honeymoon!

Luv2travel15

Here's another nice website that has some nice inns:

http://www.iloveinns.com/portland-ma...breakfast.html

yestravel

Just want to add my endorsement of the suggestions of Waterman's and Fore Street. both are excellent. For Fore St you do need reservations and I think they are on open table. We also love Duckfat's for sandwiches and their great fries.

One very nice place we stayed in Portland was the Danforth...a lovely old mansion made into a BnB. We ate at the restaurant there, Carmen's, when it first opened. Good food.

The other place which is very nice is Morrill Mansion. Danforth is a bit more luxurious, but Morrill mansion is equally as nice.

Have a wonderful honeymoon.