Delane

I have dreams of sitting in an open-air restaurant with a bib tied around my neck and eating fresh Maine lobster on the coast. Where is the best place to do this and when is the best time of the year?

Thanks for any suggestions!

Ruth

The best time is as soon as the Labor Day rush is over. September is absolutely perfect. Warm sunny days and no throngs of people. If you don't mind some chilly mornings...you could catch some gorgeous, changing leaf color in the late part of the month. October is nice also, but the "leaf peepers" all come during Columbus Day week.

Louis

The last posting is on the mark, but go before the Columbus Day weekend. That is the last blast for everybody in Maine and New England. It is crowded and rooms are hard to find. Lots of places close after that weekend.

Where the lobster boats come in at New Harbor, I like Shaws. The upper deck is outdoors looking over the harbor. This is real Maine near Pemaquid Point. While there visit the lighthouse.

I recommend a wonderful B&B and location in Maine that is central to most everything, the Mill Pond Inn at Damariscotta Mills. You can look it up at http://www.virtualcities.com/ons/me/c/nec95020.htm.

This is between Rockland (Farnsworth Art Museum a must) and the tourist center of Booth Bay Harbor. The village of Damariscotta a mile or so away is lovely and it has several fair places to eat. Backbay Landing is one of my favorites for steamed mussels which are farmed nearby.

Donna

Agree with above. Just after Labor Day is wonderful. The weather will still be nice enough for dining outdoors and taking open air boat rides, but the crowds and traffic will be gone. At most accomodations, the rates drop right after Labor Day. If you want to go before then, late June is quite nice as well.