trip plan for Maine for husband's 50th-need lodging and dining suggestions
Jul 28th, 2010, 07:16 AM
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trip plan for Maine for husband's 50th-need lodging and dining suggestions
I am planning a surprise 50th birthday trip for my sweet husband. We are active and like to shop, hike, kayak, drink and dine. We will have 7 nights/8days. I would prefer memorable lodging in each place that we go if possible. Any tips and opinions are very much appreciated!
So far, this is my loose plan:
-fly into into Boston mid morning on a Sunday, rent a car and drive up into Maine. I was thinking of spending the night in either Kennebunkport or Portland. I do want to have a leisurely drive and see the towns along the way. I would love some help with the first night as I am not sure how long doing these towns in a non hurried way would take us. I would love to have a great meal about an hour after getting out of Boston airport...a lunch or brunch to celebrate and kick the trip off in a great way. A place with a water/ocean view is what I would love.
-Spend 2nd night in Camden area after meandering up the coast and exploring towns/coast along the way.
-Spend 3rd and 4th night in Bar Harbor/Acadia--explore and hike this area for a a couple of days and then head back down to boston for a couple of nights. I have 1 more night that I haven't planned. I am thinking that the drive from Bar Harbor to Boston should be broken up some where along the way. I did want to take him to Sturbridge, MA I think, but am not sure that we need to spend the night there.
Any tips or opinions are much appreciated!
Lorrie
So far, this is my loose plan:
-fly into into Boston mid morning on a Sunday, rent a car and drive up into Maine. I was thinking of spending the night in either Kennebunkport or Portland. I do want to have a leisurely drive and see the towns along the way. I would love some help with the first night as I am not sure how long doing these towns in a non hurried way would take us. I would love to have a great meal about an hour after getting out of Boston airport...a lunch or brunch to celebrate and kick the trip off in a great way. A place with a water/ocean view is what I would love.
-Spend 2nd night in Camden area after meandering up the coast and exploring towns/coast along the way.
-Spend 3rd and 4th night in Bar Harbor/Acadia--explore and hike this area for a a couple of days and then head back down to boston for a couple of nights. I have 1 more night that I haven't planned. I am thinking that the drive from Bar Harbor to Boston should be broken up some where along the way. I did want to take him to Sturbridge, MA I think, but am not sure that we need to spend the night there.
Any tips or opinions are much appreciated!
Lorrie
Jul 28th, 2010, 08:25 AM
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When will this trip be?
It's about 1.5 hrs from Boston to Kennebunkport, 2 hrs from Boston to Portland. I'd say that Kennebunkport is much more scenic than Portland, though Portland itself has more things to offer.
Why Sturbridge? To visit Old Sturbridge Village? It's kind of out of the way, IMO. I would suggest you stop at Portsmouth, NH on your last day and visit the Strawberry Banke Museum instead. http://www.strawberybanke.org/
It's about 1.5 hrs from Boston to Kennebunkport, 2 hrs from Boston to Portland. I'd say that Kennebunkport is much more scenic than Portland, though Portland itself has more things to offer.
Why Sturbridge? To visit Old Sturbridge Village? It's kind of out of the way, IMO. I would suggest you stop at Portsmouth, NH on your last day and visit the Strawberry Banke Museum instead. http://www.strawberybanke.org/
Jul 28th, 2010, 08:38 AM
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I thought Sturbridge might be a good day trip from Boston once we got there at the end of the trip. I couple of people recommended it....said it was like a WIlliamburg type experience. But I am not married to it at all.
Jul 28th, 2010, 08:42 AM
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Old Sturbridge is nice but I agree with yk, it's too far out of the way. I would spend that time someplace in Maine. Maybe do Portland on the way back since the Old Port area is fun to wander and you might spend your last afternoon doing a boat cruise on Casco Bay.
Meandering up the coast may be deceiving since Rt 1 does not follow the coast. You should choose a peninsula for a drive, preferably one with a good lobster meal at the end of it. When are you coming? The bare basics kind of places with not much else besides lobster and with picnic tables are usually only open on weekends after Labor Day and close after Columbus Day. In June we started driving south from Portland after a late lunch. We tried to stay as close to the coast as possible and did get some nice views but most was just nice country roads. We enjoyed the drive but got back on Rt 1 to get to Ogunquit at a reasonable time to check into the Dunes and go to dinner.
When heading to the mid-coast area we usually stay on Rt 95 until we get to Brunswick and then get off on Rt 1.
Meandering up the coast may be deceiving since Rt 1 does not follow the coast. You should choose a peninsula for a drive, preferably one with a good lobster meal at the end of it. When are you coming? The bare basics kind of places with not much else besides lobster and with picnic tables are usually only open on weekends after Labor Day and close after Columbus Day. In June we started driving south from Portland after a late lunch. We tried to stay as close to the coast as possible and did get some nice views but most was just nice country roads. We enjoyed the drive but got back on Rt 1 to get to Ogunquit at a reasonable time to check into the Dunes and go to dinner.
When heading to the mid-coast area we usually stay on Rt 95 until we get to Brunswick and then get off on Rt 1.
Jul 28th, 2010, 08:47 AM
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Sorry to report, but good food and good views are pretty much mutually exclusive when it comes to Greater Boston area restaurants.
If you're looking for a very fancy, spare-no-expense celebratory dinner in this area of Maine (both are closed at lunchtime, if memory serves), consider either Arrow's (in Ogunquit) or the White Barn Inn (in Kennebunkport). Have been the former, though not the latter -- and the food I had at Arrow's was memorably terrific. Bring appropriate clothes and a very healthy wallet.
If you're looking for a very fancy, spare-no-expense celebratory dinner in this area of Maine (both are closed at lunchtime, if memory serves), consider either Arrow's (in Ogunquit) or the White Barn Inn (in Kennebunkport). Have been the former, though not the latter -- and the food I had at Arrow's was memorably terrific. Bring appropriate clothes and a very healthy wallet.
Jul 28th, 2010, 09:07 AM
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I'd suggest staying in less places, since some of these towns are only a few hours apart, I wouldn't change hotels so often.
Most people agree that moseying along route 1 is not as scenic, interesting as one might think.
Finally, you'll probably regret not spending more time in Acadia.
~Liz
Most people agree that moseying along route 1 is not as scenic, interesting as one might think.
Finally, you'll probably regret not spending more time in Acadia.
~Liz
Jul 28th, 2010, 09:37 AM
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Hi turkpatterson,
I live in central Massachusetts. Like many others on this post, I suggest skipping Sturbridge. I would add more time to Acadia / Bar Harbor. I will be there myself for six nights in early September.
This might get you started on lunch on the first day part of your question - we have enjoyed good meals at the Dockside in York Harbor, Maine.
Here is the link (not opened for lunch on Saturdays as they are usually booked for weddings):
http://www.docksidegq.com/dining.htm
The bridge closest to the Dockside is under contruction so if you decide on this restaurant please pay attention to the directions / slight detour on the website.
Please let us know when you are planning this trip. Some of these places are seasonal.
I live in central Massachusetts. Like many others on this post, I suggest skipping Sturbridge. I would add more time to Acadia / Bar Harbor. I will be there myself for six nights in early September.
This might get you started on lunch on the first day part of your question - we have enjoyed good meals at the Dockside in York Harbor, Maine.
Here is the link (not opened for lunch on Saturdays as they are usually booked for weddings):
http://www.docksidegq.com/dining.htm
The bridge closest to the Dockside is under contruction so if you decide on this restaurant please pay attention to the directions / slight detour on the website.
Please let us know when you are planning this trip. Some of these places are seasonal.
Jul 28th, 2010, 09:50 AM
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Two more lunch spots for you to think about:
Blue Sky
York Beach
http://www.blueskyonyorkbeach.com/about.php
Pier 77
Cape Porpoise (Kennebunkport)
http://www.pier77restaurant.com/
Blue Sky
York Beach
http://www.blueskyonyorkbeach.com/about.php
Pier 77
Cape Porpoise (Kennebunkport)
http://www.pier77restaurant.com/
Jul 28th, 2010, 10:35 AM
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I am actually surprising him with it on Saturday and we leave Sunday! Working on all reservations today and tomorrow. Thank you for the tip on skipping Sturbridge and spending more time in Bar Harbor and Acadia. Any cozy hotels or inns that you would recommend for that area. I have been to Boston before, but my husband has not.
Does this sound better?
-Kennebunk/or kennebunkport for night 1
-Camden- night 2
-Acadia for nights 3, 4 ,5
-Boston for nights 6 & 7
Thank you!
Does this sound better?
-Kennebunk/or kennebunkport for night 1
-Camden- night 2
-Acadia for nights 3, 4 ,5
-Boston for nights 6 & 7
Thank you!
Jul 28th, 2010, 11:28 AM
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Nice gift!
For Bar Harbor, you might try the Bass Cottage Inn:
http://www.basscottage.com/
Gets very good reviews on tripadvisor. We always stay at the Bar Harbor Inn. Cannot beat the view from your private balcony in the Lodge Building...but I don't know if it fits your defination of "cozy".
Check out the reviews on tripadvisor and see what you think.
In Camden we stayed at Inn at Blackberry in the "Tree Tops" room. Not on the water, but a very nice inn and a great room and breakfast was very good.
http://www.blackberryinn.com/
For Bar Harbor, you might try the Bass Cottage Inn:
http://www.basscottage.com/
Gets very good reviews on tripadvisor. We always stay at the Bar Harbor Inn. Cannot beat the view from your private balcony in the Lodge Building...but I don't know if it fits your defination of "cozy".
Check out the reviews on tripadvisor and see what you think.
In Camden we stayed at Inn at Blackberry in the "Tree Tops" room. Not on the water, but a very nice inn and a great room and breakfast was very good.
http://www.blackberryinn.com/
Jul 28th, 2010, 12:28 PM
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Slim pickings for this Sunday in southern Maine, looks like the Kennebunkport Inn has a one-nighter available. I think I would just zoom to Kennebunkport from Logan airport and enjoy the afternoon and evening. If you stop in York or drive up route 1 through Ogunquit on Sunday afternoon you are going to hit the dreaded bumper-to-bumper parking lot and waste most of your afternoon.
Jul 28th, 2010, 12:33 PM
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Also, after you have a great breakfast in Kennebunkport and enjoy the morning there, you'll have a nice drive to Camden but won't arrive until afternoon and will wish you had 2 nights there. I would book two nights, then leave early on morning 3 and get up to Acadia to spend that afternoon and two nights. I understand that you want more time in Acadia, but I think that starting off your trip with two one-nighters is a little hectic. And one-nighters might be hard to book in Camden at this time of year.
Jul 28th, 2010, 12:50 PM
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Jul 28th, 2010, 12:58 PM
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Lord Camden Inn has the shop & dine package available including dinner at Peter Ott's, and wine & gourmet chocolates in the room on arrival, and their famous breakfast. Check the excellent reviews for this place.
Looks like the Bar Harbor Grand may have availability on Wed and Thurs, or for more modest accomdations the Wonder View Inn.
Looks like the Bar Harbor Grand may have availability on Wed and Thurs, or for more modest accomdations the Wonder View Inn.
Jul 28th, 2010, 05:55 PM
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Regarding stopping on a Sunday for a waterside brunch...this could really slow you down due to Sunday traffic at the beaches. Breakfast/brunch spots tend to have long waits on Sunday, and you're only allocating one day/night for the southern coast of Maine.
Newburyport might be a decent suggestion, because it is close to Boston and you'll be there early just as they open for lunch. Michael's is the type of place you're looking for and it's just off route 1 at the wharf...quick and easy for you to get back onto 95North to Kennebunkport.
www.michaelsharborside.com
Newburyport might be a decent suggestion, because it is close to Boston and you'll be there early just as they open for lunch. Michael's is the type of place you're looking for and it's just off route 1 at the wharf...quick and easy for you to get back onto 95North to Kennebunkport.
www.michaelsharborside.com
