Katerbug

Hiya! Hubby & I are flying into Boston from the West Coast to spend a few days of sight-seeing that great city before driving to Bangor, Maine to board a friend's expedition ship. Never been to the East Coast, but of course have heard of several towns (Portland, Kennebunkport) along Highway 95/295; any suggestions for a lunch stop, quickie sight-seeing? We leave Boston Mon morning 9am Aug 10 to arrive in Bangor by 4pm same day. Any hidden gems/don't miss spots? Thx so much!

joesorce

Highway 295 has a big construction project going on between Freeport (LLBEANville) and Gardiner. I think you'll have to take 95. If you leave Boston at 9am (actually you should wait until 9:30 at least....)you could get off Rte 95 around Westbrook and head out for a drive around the Sebago lakes area, just beautiful. You could hook back up with Route 95 in the Gloucester, Lewiston area. Up through Raymond and Poland Springs. Maybe an hour detour for sightseeing and 45 minutes for lunch would put you into Bangor by 3:30.

nyer

Kennebunkport and Portland are both nice places to stop, eat, and walk around, but on very different scales.
Portland is a small city that feels much bigger. Walk around the Old Port area and there are many good places to eat. Kennebunkport is much smaller and vacationy. Just a few blocks, plus some nice drives for a few miles, past the Bush compound on Ocean Drive, and passing through scenic Cape Porpoise
If you leave Boston 9 or 9:30 ish, you'd be arriving in K'Port or Portland a little early for lunch. Maybe stop at a lighthouse along the way--Nubble Light in York, before you get to K'port, or Portland Head Light outside of Portland.

Katerbug

Thx to both of you! I've located your ideas on my AAA maps. Your time-frames are very helpful. We'd like to stay on the coastal route but weren't sure if it'd take all day. Like our Highway 1 here in California-it's beautiful but it adds hours onto your trip! Too bad about the construction, but glad we know about it so we can avoid it! Would like to visit a lighthouse or 2 so we'll go to York. joesorce: where would we lunch if we took your Sebago Lake route?

dfrostnh

Rt 95 is going to be a long stretch of greenery, no ocean views. My vote for best view from Rt 1 would be getting off Rt 95 in Brunswick onto Rt 1. You'll pass thru quaint town of Wiscasset, narrow bridge over saltwater river, recommend short detour to Owl's Head Light in Rockland. Short, easy hike, great view. Continue on Rt 1 thru downtown Camden, home to several windjammers, (best view is the auto rd up Mt Battie which could be a quick drive) then head to Bangor. You would probably need to stop for lunch before getting to Brunswick. It's 133 miles from Boston to Wiscasset. You can get a quick, casual lunch at the Sea Basket in Wiscasset (closed on Tuesdays). It's right on Rt 1, order at the counter type of place. Recommend skipping the baskets and plates (you know what french fries taste like) and going for 'servings' of fried clams and scallops. Side of onion rings and share a lobster roll. A lot of people will recommend a lobster roll at Red's which is a little shack on Rt 1 just before the bridge. Lines can be long. If you want to stretch your legs walking around downtown Wiscasset (it's small) and you've left room for an ice cream, there's a homemade ice cream counter in the basement level of the store next to Red's. They make some unusual flavors as well as the old standbys (still wish I hadn't skipped the vanilla with candied daisies but Maine Mudflats was pretty good). The trouble with the coast of Maine is most of the very scenic areas are out on those long peninsulas that will had time to your driving. Would you consider at 6am check-out from Boston hotel? lol

Katerbug

Maybe you're right, an earlier checkout might be better so we are able to take more of the coastal route you mention. My hubby's niece mentioned Camden and Belfast to us but we didn't think we could visit that area, but if we leave Boston earlier, it seems like we can! What about the road construction joesorce mentions-we don't really want to go to Sebago Lake.

gyppielou

How about, get off at York Ogunquit exit of of 95 - look at a map and take yourself from left onto Rt 1 to Cape NeddickRD and the left onto Shore road into Perkins Cove Ogunquit. Park, take a stroll on the marginal walk and have a chili dog at the Lobster Shack. From there you can do a quick driveby of Ogunquit Beach, traveling north on Rt 1 towards Wells. Take a Right on Bourne and then follow Ocean Ave thru Moody and Wells, hugging the ocean until Mile Rd, where you go left to return to Rt1. A few miles north you can reconnect with 95.

Katerbug

Thx! I'll check these 2 options closer. We leave Fri Aug 7!

dfrostnh

that's a great suggestion, otherwise it's a long drive up Rt 95 without seeing any coastline

gyppielou

yours is too, dfrostnh!

If she picks mine and is making good time, they can always continue on to Kennebunkport via rt 1and 9, take a stroll at Rachel Carson's Sanctuary on 9 and pick up 95 from Kennebunkport.

Hope you have a fantastic adventure Katerbug!

joesorce

I don't think you wanna exit the freeway at York Ogunquit at this time of year. Not if you expect to be in Bangor by 4pm. Route 1 is a cluster.........from now until Labor Day.

gyppielou

On a monday morning going the route I suggest, I must disagree joesorse