wendyj

hello everyone,

my husband and i are planning to take a week long camping trip the first week of June. We are leaving from Montclair, NJ (about 12 miles outside NYC). We would like to spend most of our time in Maine, but would like to see special areas along the way.

We really need some assistance planning our trip. Here are some other important details:

- Both of us are from California and have lived on the East Coast for 3 years. We have been to Boston, Cape Cod, southern Vermont and Mystic, CT. That is pretty much the extent of our New England experience.

- We have a car, and would like to tent camp. We have no trouble roughing it, but I do require a hot shower.

- We love the outdoors, hiking, photography, the ocean, etc. We would also like to sample some Maine lobster and perhaps stay in a bed and breakfast for a night or two along the way.

Basically, our desire is to see the natural beauty of New England, enjoy a relatively relaxing, low cost vacation, and spend time with each other.

If you had 7 days to plan a camping trip in New England, where would you go? Any campgrounds you've had particularly good experiences with? Any must-see drives, hikes, sites, vistas, etc.?

Thanks...and if I've left something out, please don't hesitate to ask me questions.

djkbooks

Highly recommend "Maine, An Explorer's Guide". If not on the shelves at your local booksellers, get a copy at one of the online booksellers. There's also an edition for each of the other New England states.

Sara

Although I don't have extensive camping experience, I have done a bit, so maybe my info can help. A few years ago we stayed at the Cape Ann Campsite (www.cape-ann.com/campsite/) in Gloucester, MA, and thought it was a very nice campground, Sites are wooded and reasonably private, and within a short walk to the restrooms/showers. It's just down the road from Wingaersheek Beach, a beautiful beach which is one of my favorites. Cape Ann has lots to do and see, such as Hammond Castle, the charming town of Rockport, Halibut Point State Park, which has lovely hiking trails, whale watch cruises out of Gloucester - you could easily spend a day or more here, and it would make a good stop on your way to Maine.

I hope that you will get a chance to make it to Acadia National Park, which is spectacular. We stayed at the Blackwoods Campground in the park, which is near the ocean, and pretty nice - the showers were with about a half mile of the campsites, I do remember riding my bike to them because they were kind of far from our site. Check out www.nps.gov/acad/ for more information.

If you go through Camden, drive up to the top of Mount Batty for a gorgeous view of Camden and Penobscot Bay.

dfrostnh

A B&B coming and going would be a good idea. Last year we spent a mid-June week at Searsport Shores, a wonderful small campground between Camden and Acadia. We did not go to Acadia on this trip but did explore the Blue Hill Peninsula area as well as places south of Searsport including the Owls Head Museum. Our favorite lobster place is Waterman's Beach (go past Owls Head Museum and watch for signs). No frills but they did expand to have a covered deck but you can pick a sunny picnic table looking out on the water. Make sure you hike out to the Owls Head Lighthouse which has a wonderful view. What impressed us about the campground was the friendly staff. Not many campers in June but there was a floorcloth painting class in the rec hall one day and a player piano recital in the evening. A local group held a sea captains baseball game on the little beach, anyone could join. Tenters had the option of a small secluded oceanfront area. Carts were provided for the short haul into the area so that area was vehicle free. Nice showers. No swimming pool but early June is too cold for swimming. It was pretty cold some evenings. You may be too early to see lupines in bloom but cross your fingers. One small town had a lupine festival. There's a big lobster place nearby, again no frills. We saw other people bringing their own tablecloths and extra napkins and side dishes. June is a great time to visit Maine before it gets so busy. I second the motion to go to the top of Mt Batty overlooking Camden Harbor. Check times and visit the Cellar Door Winery in Lincolnville for wine tastings. Our only mistake was not buying a case of our favorite!

Anonymous

You'll want lots and lots of bug repellent, since you're traveling during the infamous Black Fly Season. Here's a set of maps-by-week showing past years' experiences:

http://www.mainenature.org/blackfly.html

zootsi

The campgrounds in Maine vary considerably as far as ambiance and facilities. There are some places (espcially near Well/Ogunquit and Old Orchard) that are just grassy areas right near the highway; there are others that are very nice, with quiet, woodsy tent spots and modern facilities.
We haven't camped in several years, but I do remember a place called Sherwood Forrest near Pemmiquid as being pretty nice. The Pemmiquid area is scenic and quiet. The campgrounds in Acadia National Park are first rate, but realize this is a long ride from southern Maine. As someone above mentioned, early June is blackfly season in northern New England. Anywhere near woodsy areas, you are bound to encounter these pesky biting gnats. Also realize that this time of year the ocean is bitter cold - definitely not swimming weather! There are some beautiful spots on the Maine coast, and this time of year will be less crowded than mid summer.

wendyj

hello everyone,

thanks for your responses! i didn't know about the black flies...yikes! Bugs love me, so I'm starting to wonder if we should choose a different time for our trip. We picked June because we thought it would be less crowded than the other summer months. We don't mind the colder evenings and the cold water - we weren't planning a beach vacation (I am also very sensitive to the sun/heat).

Has anyone ever stayed at the Camden Hills Campground? I read something about it that said it was very scenic - a forest meets the ocean type place.

We definitely want to get to Acadia National Park. And thanks for the lobster and wine tasting recommendations, dfrostnh - we love wine tasting!

Also, how long does it take to drive from southern Maine to Acadia park?

Thanks everyone!

wendyj

here's a possible itinerary:

Leave NJ and drive to Portsmouth, NH. Stay in a bed and breakfast. Any recommendations?

Drive up to Camden Hills State Park. Spend 2 nights camping, hiking up to Mount Batty, etc.

Continue on to Acadia. Stay at Blackwoods Campground for 3 nights.

Start for home, making an overnight stop in Kennebunkport. Another b&b.

Continue on home to NJ.

Any feedback?

elberko

That should work wendyj.
On our trips from Phila. area to Acadia, we stop in Portland on the way up, and Boston or Hartford on the way down.

I also vote for NOT June: we've found mosquitoes to be a problem until late summer.

mm

I recommend picking up Rt.93N into NH and staying a night or two in the area of Franconia Notch State Park. A good private camp ground in Franconia is called Fransted. Franconia Notch State Park has a tram to the top of Cannon Mt., a paved bike path that is about 4 miles of downhills (fast and fun), the Flume, and dozens of tremendous hiking trails, pools, and streams.

Then take the Kangamagus Highway from Lincoln to N. Conway. After passing N. Conway and stay on Rt 16 through Pinkham Notch for views of Mt. Washington, which is reputed to have the most extreme weather in the world.

From there it is a very scenic drive along Rt. 2 into Maine and on to the coast.

Once in Maine, hit the coast and follow Rt1 south to find the best seafood in the world.

Have fun.

MM

wendyj

ok, if not june, when? we would like to avoid the heavy crowds...

dfrostnh

Camden Hills RV Resort is listed as 2 miles west of Rt 1 on Rt 90 in Rockport. If you mean the state park in Camden/same location as Mt Battie, we drove in and thought it was a very nice state campground. It is not on the water. I vaguely remember mosquitoes in the evening mid-June but not black flies but we were out and about every day. The day we toured a garden it was raining. Black flies are daytime creatures. We picnicked on top of Mt Battie and there weren't any bugs. They may not be as bad on the coast or we were lucky and by mid-June they weren't noticeable. It was pretty chilly at night. We took a boat ride from Belfast and they passed out blankets. We have also camped in Maine in late August. Downtown Camden and places like Boothbay are crowded but Maine is big and there are plenty of places without crowds. In August there will be people along Rt 1 selling fresh blueberries!

Anonymous

If not June, then September or October. Actually, the very best time is in the fall, during foliage season but after the first frost has killed off mosquitos and other bugs. But that can be a bit tricky to plan in advance! First 2 weeks in October would be a good bet.

elberko

I wouldn't worry about crowds TOO much. We've been in Acadia in August when the loop road was packed, but get a few hundred feet onto a trail or carriage road and the people disappear. I think 90% of Acadia visitors never get out of their cars...

zootsi

A little clarification on the black flies: they are creatures of the woods - they hatch from mountain streams. If you are right on the seacoast they shouldn't be too much of a problem. However if you hike into the woods, you could be engulfed in them, depending on the conditions. Here in central NH they are out from late May thru early July.
Another consideration on the Maine coast in June - you will often get heavy fogs due to the very cold ocean meeting with warmer June air. It can be sunny and in the 70's inland, but in the
50's and grey along the beach.