Debsie

I know I'm in trouble given Hotels have not been booked yet so help needed on itinerary so that can decide where to stay and for how many days.

We will be driving from Montreal and would like to spend some time hiking/biking in the Acadia National park area as well as do the scenic route including Kennebunk, Wells, Ogunquit etc. Freeport and Kittery outlets a muct given our recent move to the UK and insane cost of living here. Other suggestions are welcome.

Recomendations on hikes, biking trips, where to stay for how many nights so as not to move around too much as well as restaurants would be very much appreciated.

We like nice hotels/inns that are more upscale to ensure modern interiors and comfort abd prefer no noise and love good food. We're fit and in our mid 30s if that's any help.

Many thanks.

justme22

do a search for bar harbor in this forum. i'll be in maine in august but i have decided to rent a cottage for a week as a home base. there may well be upscale rentals left as some might be pricey and too small for more than a couple of people.

you can check that out at cyberrentals.com or greatrentals.com. there have been several posts that address your question about where to stay.

i would also suggest a whale watch tour, as an activity for a morning or afternoon.

tbelgian

Don't worry. Call around. You can get reservations in Bar Harbor or neighboring towns. I don't know about Kennebunk, Wells, or Ogunquit. I think you can still get reservations in Portland or Freeport. The only reason to go to Freeport is the outlet shopping. Portland has a lovely waterfront and the old port section that is fun to walk around. From there you can check out some light houses, Sebego lake, or take a ferry to one of the outlying islands for a hike and some dinner, or a cruse around to see seals and other wild life. My favorite is Acadia and Bar Harbor. It really is spectacular and from there you can take ferries out to outer islands or cruises for whales.... The biking is great at Acadia with the carriage trails or just bike around the island. If you can't possibly get reservations in any other places look to the Maine woods and moosehead lake. You can take a shuttle over to Mt Kineo and hike around that little mountain and island, and hike around gulf hegus for a lovely hike to some amazing waterways. The best restaurants will be in Portland; do a search of this site.

professors

I live in Portland and eat out a lot so I am happy to recommend a few favorite restaurants. Very good choices are Back Bay Grill, Cinque Terre (fancy Italian), Natasha's (fusion) and Hugo's. My friends swear by Fore Street and Street and Company. Both have very good food and high prices -- my complaint is that both are noisy. They have the same owner. If you want a simple but yummy meal of burgers and beer (they have lots of other options) go to the funky Great Lost Bear. It is off the beaten track for tourists (i.e. not on the "penninsula" and is where regular Portlander often eat. I go there on a weekly basis.

I was just in Ogunquit this past weekend and saw vacancy signs. I suspect that you can get reservations in Portland as well. The Armory is a very nice hotel, others swear by the Inn by the Sea in nearby Cape Elizabeth, very beautiful and certainly upscale. A couple of nice (I think) B & Bs in Portland are the Inn at Park and Spring and the Pomegranite (sp?) Inn.

I am sure you will love Maine and Portland. It is wonderful in the summer (although roasting hot at the moment, but that is atypical).

wickedwitch2

Debsie,

If you're interested in staying in the Kennebunkport-Ogunquit-Wells area, I ahve the perfect place: my favorite bed and breakfast inn (and I've stayed in dozens over the years). It's called Bufflehead Cove, and it's on a private road, half a mile from the highway (small highway) and on the banks of the Kennebunk River. From the wonderful, wraparound porch, you can see clear to "town." You can't beat the ambience, the outstanding breakfasts, or the warmth and graciousness of the hosts. They can fill you in on everything to see and do (restaurants, beaches, hiking, etc.) because both are natives of the area. The Freeport outlets are about half an hour away, which makes Portland about a 20-minute drive. I'm sure the hosts (Harriet and Jim Gott) would be more than happy to help you with questions about the Bar Harbor area. I've been there only once and found it lovely, but crowded. the Acadia National Park is wonderful, though.

Good luck. I'll be there FOR my annual visit in September, but you have me wishing it were much sooner!

tracys2cents

If you don't want the hustle-bustle of overcrowded Bar Harbor, stay at the Lucerne Inn...an easy day trip from Acadia, great dining room, and lots of shopping in nearby Bangor.

There are two or three lakes in the Lucerne area that make for nice day hikes.