fran

I had a "best of maine" fall trip planned (in my head) and now my husband tells me he wants to go to the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem. So I've revised the itinerary to fly into Boston, spend 3 nites in Salem, then drive to the Inn at Long Lake in Naples, Maine, for two nites, and then I need a destination on the coast. Thinking either Kennebunkport or Freeport---to spend 3 nites before leaving from Portland, Maine. Any other suggestions for coastal Maine destination for the last 3 nites? We would need to be fairly close to Portland.

John

We always like to stay at the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport-- it is very nice and a short walk to town. Excellent dining in the Maine Dining Room.

Jen

Can we back up a little bit? Why are you spending 3 nights in Salem? Especially if you are there in October, during the Halloween season, it's Branson East, just one hokey tourist thing after another. The Peabody museum is wonderful, but not 3 days' worth.

joebob

Jen beat me to it. I needed all of 3 hours to see Salem. 3 days will be approx. 2.5 days too much. See Salem, and get up to Maine, Ogunquit,Kennebunk,Freeport, Boothbay, Bar Harbor and many others in between.

To reiterate 3 days in Salem would be a major blunder.

gc

Listen to Jen...3 days in Salem could be painful (if you need bedding, you could buy mattresses at Gardner Mattress in Salem, that would kill some time)
You might want to spend a day in Salem, a day or two in Kennebunkport a day or two in Freeport and/or a day or two in Camden or Bar Harbor and Arcadia National Park. That would give you a real feel for coastal Maine. Bar Harbor-Portland is under 4.5 hours, Camden - Portland is about three, I believe.

fran

I thought in addition to seeing the Peabody Essex Museum, we could use Salem as a base to see Rockport and Gloucester. What about the Inn at Long Lake in Naples,ME? Anyone familiar with that>

Melissa

Hi Fran;
Again 3 days in Salem is just TOO much!
Rockport and Gloucester could be seen in 1 day,IMO. Fly into Boston early, see the Peabody Museum the day you arrive, go to Gloucester/Rockport the next day. Not familiar with Naples Maine or the Inn. Choose Kennebunkport over Freeport. Agree with Bar Harbor suggestion. You will be doing yourself a major disservice if you plan a "best of Maine" trip and don't go experience "the best" at Acadia National Park.
happy Travels.

joebob

I need to place more emphasis on something. Bar Harbor absolutely must me included on the "best of Maine" trip. Acadia/Bar Harbor alone is worthy of the entire vacation, leaving out Salem and all the rest. However, if you must visit Salem, give it 1/2-1 day, and spend as much time as you can in Acadia/Bar Harbor (whale watching, dining, kayaking, biking, hiking, outstanding natural scenery.............)

MS

Fran,

Salem, Rockport and Gloucester are really tiny but, if you like to window shop, go to museums and maybe spend a couple of hours in a nice cafe then you might need to spend one night and two days or at the very most two nights and three days. Rockport is just gorgeous.

Please include Ogonquit in your itinerary, you won't regret it. It's a beautiful place in summer but it is also wonderful in Fall. Spend a full day there.

Go for a nice walk on the pristine 4-mile beach. The bluest ocean and the prettiest beach houses!

You'll love the charming shops, very nice restaurants and art galleries in Perkins Cove.

In the afternoon, take another relaxing walk along the Marginal Way. It's a mile long footpath that lies between a row of charming homes and the ocean.

Finish your day in Ogonquit with a memorable dinner at Poor Richard's Tavern (http://www.poorrichardstavern.com/) - excellent food and great service.

Oh, and if you go to Freeport don't forget to visit the L.L.Bean flagship store. It's open 24 hours. Top notch quality clothing, footwear, sport apparel (http://www.llbean.com/shop/retailStores/freeportFlagshipStore/retail.html)

Have fun!!!

GR

Everyone here is right on: Three days in Salem is way too long. Spend a night at the Hawthorne on the Common and consider spending a day or two in Portsmouth, NH, which is on the way to ME and (in my humble opinion) NE's jewel. I also love Portland. You may want to consider revising your schedule to fit in a meal or two there.

gail

Add me to the list - do not know what the attraction of Salem is, but the tourism board people in that city are doing a great job because everyone wants to go there. Same with Gloucester and Rockport - cute, quaint seaside communities, but not all that much to see compared to other places you might include on your itinerary.

Behind the tourist stuff, Salem and Gloucester are tired cities with a lot of hidden poverty, in part attributable to the shrinking fishing industry. Add more time in Maine or even a night or 2 in Boston. You could also do a search here on Salem and print out some comments for your husband - much of this has been said here before. No problem with Peabody Essex, but even that is not huge and unless you want to do the touristy witch museum stuff, continue on your way after that.

fran

Ok, you have all convinced me. We will spend one night in Salem, see the Peabody Museum, and then head for Maine. Wehave previously been to Ogunquit and Kennebunkport, so I think we will head for Bar Harbor. Will overnite somewhere along the way between Salem and Bar Harbor (any suggestions for a midway point?) and then four nights in Bar Harbor. Then one night in Portland before catching our flight back to AZ. Thanks, everyone.

gc

All right Fran!

Two spots come to mind...there's a resort in Rockland ME called Samoset...it's got a good reputation, fabulous location, though I've never been.
http://www.therealmaine.com/

Up the road a bit is Camden Harbor, which is gorgeous.( http://www.camdenme.org/ )
Also, depending on your interests, the Bath Iron Works ( http://www.gdbiw.com/ ) in Bath is a working shipyard whare they build Aegis class destroyers for the US Navy. I don't know if they'vr got a boat under construction now or not.