kittenlover5

This is what we were thinking. Arrive in Bar Harbor approx 3 p.m. Saturday.
Spend Sat and Sunday night in Bar Harbor.
Leave Sunday morning to drive down the coast. Visit Camden and Rockport (should we visit anywhere else) and arrive in Portland later in day. Spend Sunday and Monday night in Portland.
Monday in Porland.
Leave Tuesday for Cape Cod area (not sure where to stay here. Outside of town or closer to the point)
Wednesday in Cape Cod area.
Thursday in Nantucket
Friday head for home to Michigan. (Is there anywhere I should visit on the way home?)

kittenlover5

Is more time needed at any of these towns or a stopover somewhere we didn't mention?

kittenlover5

Rockland not Rockport

emalloy

When are you planning this trip?

If it is summer:
while in Portland, do take a boat ride (perhaps a mail boat) and visit Portland Head Light, head to Two Lights and eat lobster while looking out at the rocky coast.

while on the Cape, I prefer the National Park area with a hike down to the water and through the dunes. Lots of options for eating and a bit of fun in Provincetown. You might want to stay close to the ferry the night before your day in Nantucket so you can catch an early ride out. If you're up to it, rent bikes and explore the island. Some places will have a two night minimum, so consider doing the NP/P'town area first and staying closer to the ferry both nights.

kittenlover5

Do you suggest I do the 2 nights in Bar Harbor and 2 in Portland? Or less nights with a night somewhere else? We are going in June.

Ackislander

Well, Rockport, Maine, between Camden and Rockland isn't very big, but it has a charming harbor. You can drive through on the way between the bigger towns.

How are you getting to Bar Harbor?

How are you getting from Cape Cod to Michigan?

This is a LOT of travel in six days.

All the places you are going are fun -- and I might add the LL Bean store in Freeport -- but I would drop Nantucket on this trip even though I live there and would like to see you visit and bring $$$ to the economy, it is just one place too much.

On the Cape, I would probably try to stay on MA 6A between Sandwich and Brewster. Lots of things to see and away from the honkytonk. It is likely to be too cold to swim at the beach in June, unless you are from the UP, but you can enjoy a visit to the National Seashore.

dfrostnh

I think I already recommended a stop in Portsmouth NH and a boat ride. I liked the mail boat ride but the Portsmouth trips have more narration.

Time your lunch break for one of the great lobster shacks if you're looking for steamed lobster. Some of the shacks offer a wider menu, some don't. Check ahead.

We did the ferry to Martha's Vineyard and had to plan an early morning departure because we did not stay close to the ferry plus we had to park in a remote lot and take their shuttle bus to the dock/ticket place. We booked a van tour of MV plus did a lot of walking. It was fun but we had a whole weekend in September when things weren't so crowded. Someone else will have to point out why and if Cape Cod beaches are nicer than southern Maine. For your limited time, I think you are spending too much time in the car getting to places.

kittenlover5

I have booked 2 nights in Bar Harbor, 2 nights in Portland, and 2 nights in Eastham, Cape Cod. We will spend 1 night part of the way there and 1 night part of the way home.

SambaChula

I think your visit is likely to be much too rushed if you can only devote 2 nights to the Cape, and are coming from Maine to do so. The Cape is a very diverse place, each village having its own unique character, as well as each trail, pond, and beach. It's not a place that really lends itself to a drive by.
Coming down the coast of Maine into NH and MA, you do not have on your schedule Kennebunkport, Laudholm Farm in Wells, Marginal Way in Ogunquit, classic Nubble Light, Portsmouth (as mentioned), Newburyport and Plum Island, Rockport, Gloucester, and more, before you even head south of Boston.

moosey

It all depends what you like to do, but I would spend three nights in Bar Harbor and one in Portland, or stay in Wells or Ogunquit instead of one of the Portland nights. No knock on Portland - it is a cute little town - but since your time is so limited, you could spend one of those nights somewhere else. BUT if you are not into hiking, beaches, outdoors, you may prefer an extra night in the city. Portland has a lot of amazing restaurants, so that is one benefit to two nights there. (Again, this could be preference - you might rather eat every meal at a lobster shack - I know my husband and son would!)

Traffic from the border of MA to the Cape may be rough in June - worse the later in the month you go, when schools let out. Tuesday will not be as bad if you are not driving during rush hour (which lasts until about 9:30 in the morning and can really be any time from 3 - 8 in the evening). Leaving the cape Friday you may be okay once you get onto the highway since you are going against traffic.

I am normally the type of traveler to cram a lot into a trip, but this sounds tight even to me.