Ronnietx

Ok my bestfriend and I are leaving March 6th to travel to up the east coast eventually landing in Maine somewhere. Does anyone have any hot spots or must see's that they would like to share. I do also have 1 kinda crazy question...being from Tx and all I was wondering if one could buy fresh lobster all year long or at least in March up and down the east coast? Thanks ahead of time.
Ronnie

tovarich

Bar Harbor Maine with the only National park in N.England:Acadia.Great place.Bar Harbor manor is a fine motel.You can order via internet a package deal :lodging,whale watching excursion and a lobster dinner.Paul

Ronnietx

There is whale watching in early to mid march? Thats great! Thanks for the news. Veronica

dfrostnh

Lobster is available year round but prices vary. Even local supermarkets will steam it for you. But the great picnic table places by the water won't be open until May. Doesn't matter. Acadia is very north. I would be tempted to go at least as far north as Camden for winter activities (see www.camdensnowbowl.com). I've read about them but we don't go to Camden in the winter. You could do some snow tubing and enjoy a lobster dinner. For the best variety of restaurants you only need to go as far north as Portland. Old Port area has fun shopping. Get a good guide to Maine events, maybe visit Yankee magazine's website, and don't ignore inland areas. Portsmouth NH is another don't miss area with some nightlife and great restaurants. We've also never taken a boat ride in March. June is cold enough! I might be tempted to see what Monhegan island is like in winter but don't know if hiking trails are open or safe. What you do is going to be weather dependent and we just had a northeaster. If you haven't seen mountains in winter, don't forget a trip over to NH's White Mountains. It's only about an hour or so from Portland Maine.

Ronnietx

Thanks so much for the info. We plan on hitting Annapolis, then Hershey PA, spend about 3 days in Boston area and just wonder around Maine we actually really dont have any plans set in stone as of now. Just vacation in the north for 20 days..My bestfriend has never seen snow..I do believe she is gonna have more than enough exposure this year.

GBelle

There was a recent post about driving in New England in winter and places to see: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=1

Ronnietx

So tell me some fun things to do in the Boston area, we will probably be there for about 3 days. We are not so big into clubs.

Sara

I'm sorry if you've been misled, but there will be no whale watches available in March. It's too cold for the whales to be that far norh that time if year. I don't know what will be open then, but the coast of Maine is very beautiful, and hopefully you will find enough restaurants, etc. open to make the trip worth your while.

Ronnietx

Sara,
Thanks for the whale watching news..I was not totally sure but had an idea that it was too cold for it what about the lobster?

tovarich

In Boston the best way is to take the Old town trolley on your first day. You can get on/off all day and the driver is a great guide. The following days you can then explore the things you really want to see in depth.It's cheaper to order your tickets for the trolley on the internet.For a reasonably prichotel check out Hotel Chandler.It's in a nice neighbourhood(cobblestones and trees).Paul

dfrostnh

You won't have any trouble finding lobster but the price varies all the time. For a casual lobster dinner I would head to Newicks (near Portsmouth NH)or a Weathervane restaurant. Personally, we prefer Newicks but that's because it's been around a long time. It's right on Great Bay, very pretty, unlike the Weathervane in Kittery ME which is on a highway. Newicks has a very extensive seafood menu but its a paper plate kind of place.
If you want a great tour of Boston's North End try Michele Topor's Culinary Tour. It's kind of pricey but lots of fun unless the weather is icky. Food samples and lots of history. If you don't do the tour you should at least explore the Boston's North End, find a great Italian restaurant or fill up on Italian pastries. I surprised myself by how much I enjoyed the Kennedy Library/Museum. See if you can get half price tickets to a show. Go to Chinatown. Shop on Newbury St.

zootsi

Realize that driving in Maine in early March may involve tricky winter driving conditions. If you are coming from Boston, you probably wouldn't want to go too much further up than perhaps Boothbay. Acadia is long 6 or so hours from Boston in good weather. There is plenty to see anywhere along the coast - it's all quite scenic from northern Mass, thru New Hampshire, and up into Maine. You won't have any trouble finding lobstah!

yellowbyrd

I am surprised that no one has mentioned Cape Cod. Actually one of the previous posters is mistaken because the Cape Cod National Seashore is part of the Federal Park System. If you want an experience you will not forget, huge coastal dunes, pristine beaches, undeveloped coast line, quant New England villages and lobster dinners, then Cape Cod from Eastham to Provincetown is the place to see. The advantage of going to Cape Cod is that it is only 2 ours form boston as opposed to the 5+ hour ride to Acacia on the Maine coast. And I think you will find that Cape Cod is a bit more "alive" in March than Bar Harbor is. To check out whale watches try www.whalewatch.com and for activities in the park use www.nps.gov/caco Also there is a lovely Audubon Sanctuary in Wellfleet that will give you a sense of Cape Cod Bay http://www.massaudubon.org/Nature_Co...leet/index.php
You could take a leisurely drive down Rt. 6A once you get over the bridge. That will take you through many old village centers and give you an idea why Rt. 6A is among the top 10 scenic "highways' in the country. Avoid the Hyannis Yarmouth, Dennis area where you will find that commercial development has spoiled the New England feeling.
For a real treat stay at the only lodging that is actually in the park..Fort HIll Bed and Breakfast on Fort Hill in Eastham. www.forthillbedandbreakfast.com If you stay in the Nantucket cottage you get a fireplace and ocean views. The antique house has two lovely suites, one for each of you, plus a dedicated guest living room with fireplace. It is our favorite place to stay because it is a piece of old cape cod..the way it was at the turn of the century, undeveloped and unobstructed ocean views. You will find that the outer cape is still sleepy in march but Orleans, which is just 2 minutes form Fort HIll, is a vibrant yea-round town with all the lobster dinners you can ever want! Actually, lobster is better in the colder months than in the summer so you are in for a real treat! From Eastham, you can easily take a drive 30 minutes south to Chatham or 30 minutes north to Provincetown. Both towns are worth a day and they are very different from each other. Chatham is very lovely and gracious (a wealthy "Republican" kind of town with a rich history in fishing) while Provincetown is very lively and diverse ( favorite place for gays with a long Portuguese fishing history). You can't go wrong going to Cape cod from boston...except that the Cape probably will not have snow...so plan on a long walk on the beach and bring a warm jacket with a hat or hood to keep the cold sea air from chilling you!