We are a couple in our early 70's planning a trip to Maine in mid September. We have 15-17 days available and enjoy easy hikes, small town charm, wildlife viewing, some museum visits and great ocean and mountain views. Can you please review the itinerary that I've put together for a 1st cut and let me know what you think. What would you change - add or delete days in locations mentioned.

We will be flying into and out of Portland, ME and plan to spend most of our time along the coast.

Days 1-3 - Portland. Visit Old Port and other popular Portland sights and on day 3, drive to Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunkport & Ogunguit. Return to Portland hotel.
Day 4 - Drive to Freeport to visit the LL Bean store and then maybe take a whale watching tour; then drive to Brunswick & Bath where we plan to spend 2 nights.
Day 5 - Visit the Maritime Museum in Bath and take a cruise around the area
Day 6 - Drive to Wisacasett for lunch and then on to Boothbay Harbor - spend 2 nights in Boothbay Harbor
Day 7 - Look at a Windjammer cruise or whale watching tour, Permaquid Lighthouse Point
Day 8 - Drive to Rockland & visit the Farnsworth Museum then on to Camden for 2 nights
Day 9 - Visit Rockport & Camden Hills State Park
Days 10-14 - Bar Harbor - Arcadia National Park sites (5 nights)
Day 15 - Drive to Moosehead Lake area; book a moose safari for today or tomorrow
Day 16 - Baxter State Park in Millinocket if time
Day 17 - Drive to Portland for late afternoon flight home

I appreciate your feedback and recommendations.

Sounds good. Some of my favorite Maine destinations. Do check out the schedule for the Ogunquit Playhouse, venerable regional theater. In Portland, visit the Maine Head Light which is interesting and provides a great view of the Portland skyline. I know that there is renovation going on, but the Portland Museum of Art is world-class as is of course the Farnsworth in Rockland. Rockland also features the Maine Center for Contemporary Art as well as galleries. There is a small Ogunquit Museum of Art with a beautiful setting, not far from Perkins Cove. In addition to lunching in Wiscasset, take some time to stroll around as the town offers lovely architecture as well as many ceramic places. Still use a ceramic trivet or a spoon rest actually that I bought in Wiscasset many moons ago.

En route to Boothbay you will want to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. In Boothbay, we also have lobsters at Robinson's Wharf. Have taken many boat rides over the years from Boothbay and from Portland as well as Bar Harbor but that one was a long time ago and if I recall it focused on seeing the historic Maine "cottages" from the water, but never did a windjammer cruise. Just outside of Camden, you want to drive up to the panoramic view of Penobscot Bay from Mt Battie State Park.

Don't forget to get a glimpse of Walker Point, the Bush family compound when in Kennebunkport and of course in Ogunquit, the Marginal Way. There is also a scenic drive from Ogunquit heading south on Route IA, I believe it is which bypasses busy Route I en route to Kittery.

Keep an eye on the situation at Acadia National Park over the coming months. Budget and staffing cuts could result in a critical loss of services and access.

I really like boat trips in Maine but perhaps you don't want to do a lot. Consider the Casco Bay cruise out of Portland. It's a working and commuter boat so it's different from most. My husband liked watching things unloaded. It goes to the various islands in Casco Bay. If you take the first one in the morning there will be people on it going to work on an island. This fall we're thinking of getting off on Peaks Island where a friend has vacationed but we would just take a golf cart tour of the island.

Don't miss the view of Casco Bay from the park and lighthouse in South Portland. You can get lunch from the Bite Into ME food truck.

Make sure Marktime Miseum is doing a cruise in september.might be weekends only. Good view of the shipyard as well as lighthouses. Do not miss exploringmthe Harpswell area which is east of Brunswick. You can download a guide to the conservation areas and hikes. Giant Steps. Lots of lobster places. Uncrowded.

Good lick if you are planning to eat at Red's. We've only been once when there wasn't a long line. It was very good but we don't like long limes. Agree with visit to Coastal Gardens. You could also make a day trip to Monhegan Island for some hiking and a visit to the little museum.. we took a bag lunch to eat while sitting on the rocks.

Loved the Farnsworth. My husband loves the Owls Head Transportation museum. They have special activities on weekends. We saw antique airplanes flying and a restored Lombard Log Hauler. There is aso a hike to Owls Head light. No view until you get to the lighthouse. The very best place for lobster is McLoon,s. Outdoor tables, wonderful view. No long lines. Might ne weekends only in September. There is a nice little marina in Rockport. Just north of Rockland Claws is another outdoor covered porch place overlooking the working harbor.

Love,top of Mt Battie. It's where we sit to enjoy a rest and the view. Don't forget binnoculars.

We spent a week last May in Surry so visited the Acadia area a couple of days. Cottage owner highly recommemded finding the Raven,s Nest overlook on schoodic the quieter area of the park. Visited Charlotte Rhodes butterfly garden and very good auto museum. First time visiting a car museum where there was some informational displays. The docents were great. Our son took his family to Acadia several years ago and was disgusted by the crowds on top of Cadillac. Not like the womderful late June weekend teip we made in 1997. He did not want to bike the carriahe roads despite being an avid biker. He was reluctant about visiting Memorial Day weekend but we had chartered a boat so our grandson could go fishing and lobsterimg. Well worth the splurge and we got 7 lobsters to take back to the cottage. Find outwhen the cruise boats arein town and try to avoid those crowds. A friend and her family go camping every summer and enjoy it but I think with young grandchildren they do a lot at the campground

Despite living not too far away we have not been to Moosehead. If you get rain while at Acadia comsider a day teip to Bangor's Cole Transportation Museum.

Easy hikes that we always enjoy in Central Maine are:

Wolf Necks Woods in Freeport.
Popham Beach, Reed State Park, Morse Mountain in the Bath area.
Take Parker Head road to Popham or Morse.

All of the above are more interesting at low tide.

Lie Nielsen, a maker of fine woodworking tools, has a showroom where you can try their tools in Warren.
Shelter Institute, a timber framing school and business has a store and school on Rt.1 in Woolwich.

In Wiscasset do yourelelves a favor and skip Red's. I like Shannons in BBH. Quiet lobster roll shack right near the waterfront. Excellent lobster roll, shorter line, and you're not standing in line waiting, then sitting and eating right next to a busy road.

There are a couple of cute boutique ships in Wiscasset, plus a large restaurant called Jodie's Cafe and Bakery. We used to frequently stop at the place that was in the same building for decades - I think it was called Shaws - had good seafood chowder and other Maine lunch fair. I haven't been to Jodies.

In BBH we enjoy the 2-3 mile round trip walk at the end of Ocean Point. It's not a hike, but rather a walk along the coastal road with great views of the harbor.

If you like raw oysters, then be sure to stop in the Shuck Station in Damariscotta. Everything they serve comes straight from the Damariscotta river right in front of you - there are oyster farms up and down the river and the brininess of the oysters depends on the location / distance from the ocean. Also in Damariscotta is a short hike where you can see pre historic middens - massive heaps/piles of oyster shells. https://www.mainetrailfinder.com/tra...-historic-site

Thank you to everyone for your recommendations!