TerriJ

This fall, we will be traveling toward Boston from Bar Harbor (after flying into Boston, going through Manchester, Berlin & Bangor). Our plan was to stop in Portland and spend 2 nights but now we are thinking we would rather not stay in a big city since we will be staying in Boston later.

Does anyone have recommendations for a smaller coastal town south of Portland? We are considering Ogunquit, Kennebunk, Old Orchard Beach. We plan on spending time in Portsmouth on the way to Boston. Thank you!

wsm2004

The Cape Ann area is very pretty, with great beaches - you could look at Newburyport - or Salem - which is also nice with museums (the house of the 7 gables and the Essex Peabody )

wyatt92

Kennebunkport is very nice. Although, it's only about 30 minutes or so from Portsmouth.

Cape Ann is very nice as well, Newburyport, Marblehead, Rockport, all gorgeous. But again, all within about 45 min of both Portsmouth and Boston if that matters to you.

wyatt92

Oh, and are you planning on stopping in Manchester, Berlin and Bangor? Or is that just your driving route. None of those places are particularly interesting.

Also, Portland is the largest city in Maine but it doesn't necessarily feel big city-ish.

MBnancy

Our favorite town is Kennebunkport, and staying at the Breakwater Inn.

http://www.thebreakwaterinn.com/

TerriJ

Our plan is to stay at Lake Winnipesaukee our first night (north of Manchester). Berlin our second night and then over to Bar Harbor via Bangor for 3 nights before heading back towards Boston for our flight home. We don’t have all of our hotel reservations set yet (except at the lake) so I can easily change the itinerary at this point. The reason I picked Berlin is that I had heard that area was nice (White Mountains) and it would break-up the long drive to Bar Harbor. I am open to suggestions on this.

I will be looking into the places suggested so far. Thanks.

djkbooks

Depending on your "fall" dates, you may want to head for the mountains in western Maine or the White Mountains in New Hampshire for the glorious fall foliage.

Portland is definitely not a big city. It's small, charming, scenic, chock full of amazing restaurants and terrific live music venues.

Also depending on your dates, there may not be much going on in the seaside towns farther south.

TerriJ

Oh yeah. As far as my comment about stopping in Portsmouth. We will just be spending probably a few hours there hopefully on a boat. We won't be spending the night.

nyer

Portland is certainly not a "big city" but it is defiinitely
city-ish rather than than the resort town feel of Kennebunkport and Ogunquit. Old Orchard Beach is much less upscale than the other two.
Both Ogunquit and Kennebunkport have lots of nice inns,restaurants, and beach/ocean vistas, and both are good choices, IMO

Dreamer2

I would stay at the Black Point Inn in Scarborough. Close enough for a day trip to Portland or to K-port. If you want more of a "village," Kennebunkport is probably preferable. (I concur with the Breakwater or the Yachtsman. You could also check the Arundel Inn which is across the street from the Bush complex.)

So your stay on the coast is on your way back to Boston?

I don't think there is any reason to stay in Berlin.... Could your cross over route bring you through Bretton Woods for a stay at the Mount Washington Hotel? That would be lovely. Or just try to get all the way over to coastal Maine and stay in Rockport or Camden for a night before continuing up to Bar Harbor.

dfnh

The White Mountains are nice but I'm not sure about Berlin since it's been a long time since we've driven thru. I think most of the paper mills have closed down and there's lots of unemployment. Check your map. Berlin is really too close to Lake W, you would still have a long drive. Wolfboro to Portland is around an hour. A friend who lives near Conway goes shopping there. We've stayed at a basic hotel in Bangor next to Dysart's truck stop (reliably good food).

djkbooks

The Moose Tours in Gorham (near Berlin) are awesome.

sanschag

I agree about skipping Berlin. (My dad's family is from there and I have spent a lot of time, especially before collage.) I wouldn't consider it a "tourist" spot (aside from my 2 German friends who "had" to stay in Berlin). As mentioned, one of the paper mills is closed, the other is nearly so, and the city overall is somewhat depressed. I would suggest Lincoln or Conway if you want to stay in the White Mountains. (Actually, I would probably drive up to Lincoln and then drive the Kancamagus over to Conway.) Jackson, a bit north of Conway, is also supposed to be a nice village, though I haven't been there (or at least not in many, many years).

TerriJ

Everyone, thanks for taking the time to give me some great advice and suggestions. Obviously, I have never been to this area (New England).

Since I have no reservations set yet (not even flights) the itinerary is changing constantly. Now here’s what we are considering (at least for the next ten minutes):

Day 1 (Oct 4): Fly into Manchester. Drive to Lake Winnipesaukee, spend the night. (see about a cruise on the lake)

Day 2: Continue north to the Bretton Woods/ White Mountain area (not Berlin, I had randomly picked that spot) & stay the night. (look into the moose tour and/or cog railroad)

Day 3, 4, 5: Drive to Bar Harbor/Acadia. Spend the next 3 nights

Day 6, 7: Drive south. Spend 2 nights somewhere before Boston (Portland, Scarborough, Old Orchard Beach, Ogunquit, Kennebunkport,(still deciding))

Day 8, 9,10: Drive to Boston. Spend 3 nights. Fly home from Boston.

One concern would be if the drive from the White Mountain area to Bar Harbor will be too long?

Thanks again!

dfnh

Book SOON!!! That's the busiest week in the mountains and probably for the lake, too esp if the weather is good. The Mt Washington docks at Weirs Beach which is a funky beach and arcade area. There's also a railroad. There's a lot of traffic congestion around this section of the lake and to Laconia (south). Meredith is nicer to stay. Wolfboro on the north side of the lake is even nicer. Also closer to the mountains esp to the North Conway area. Meredith is closer to rt 93.
Sat travel from MHT north is going to be heavy but not as bad as Friday night when there's a combination of commuter and weekender traffic. If you have any trouble getting in late or getting reservations, MHT is only about an hour from the lake. An easy drive the day of a boat cruise. Foliage may be just changing that early in the month in the MHT area but should be really good in the mountains. Different trees change at different times. Expect heavy traffic around North Conway and on the Kancamangus hwy. Start out early to beat the people coming up for the day. I didn't care for the cog railway because they don't give you much time at the top and we went when the sky was absolutely clear. The Flume is lovely and very popular. It will be a long drive to Bar Harbor but do-able.

TerriJ

hmm, So now I wonder if we should stop somewhere between White mountain area & Bar Harbor to break up that drive (I’m guessing it would be at least 4-5 hours?). Any suggestions that are not on the coast since we will be coming down it on our way to Boston?

I have a room at the lake (Weirs Beach area) and a room around Betton Woods being held (not secured yet).

Thanks again for the valuable advice.

MBnancy

The Harraseeket Inn in Freeport, on the way to Bar Harbor!!! Right down the street from the quaint outlet shops and wonderful dining. We've stayed there a dozen times.
Book now.

http://www.harraseeketinn.com/