5 days in New England
 

My husband and I are taking a spur of the moment trip. We are planning to fly to Manchester New Hampshire. Our thoughs were to go to Portsmouth and then to Maine coast for 5 days. We would like any suggestions on places to go and places to stay. Appreciate any help. Thanks!

Portsmouth is great. There are several theaters so you might want to take in a play or musical event. Strawbery Banke is the historic district/living museum. Directly across from SB is Prescott Park which has lovely gardens and overlooks the harbor. If you take Rt 1B it will take you over to Newcastle, a very old town with lovely homes. At one point on a narrow causeway you can see the old Naval prison in Kittery ME on one side, the newly renovated grand hotel on the other. You will want to keep driving so you can see that hotel, Wentworth-by-the-sea. Check the map for the route along the NH coast, Rye is lined with beautiful mansions.
Also, you can park in the parking garage and walk to the docks where you can take a wonderful cruise. Take your choice. Our most recent was the inland rivers cruise on the Heritage. Nicely narrated and we got a closer look at the waters we've been driving past for umpteen years. After the cruise, walk around the area and pick a restaurant. There are many to choose from. I like the Blue Mermaid which is pretty funky (might be a long walk) or the nearby brew house.
Camden Maine is probably the prettiest town in Maine. We usually get on Rt 95 and don't get off onto Rt 1 until we get to Brunswick. Camden harbor is where a lot of the windjammers dock. You can drive to the top of Mt Battie and watch the harbor. Bring binoculars. If you like art, visit the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland which features Maine artists, including all three Wyeths. If you like old cars visit the Owls Head Transportation Museum. The lighthouse there is also worth the short hike. Tremendous views. Our favorite lobster in the rough place is at Waterman's Beach. After you drive past the Owls Head Lighthouse, watch for the signs. Small and peaceful. Wear a hat and sunglasses if you want to sit at a picnic table that overlooks the water. There are also a couple of good lobster places in Round Top near the Pemiquid Lighthouse (find Damariscotta on the map and look for the point). Pemiquid is also a place where you might want to sit a spell and watch the ocean. We sometimes see art classes there.
If you want more action and a fancier restaurant selection, choose south of Portland in Kennebunk, York or Ogunquit. After York's sandy beaches, the coast gets pretty rocky and there is far less ocean swimming.
We usually camp but I'm sure others will have B&B or hotel recommendations for you. You can also do a search on Fodors, just highlight Maine or enter a preferred town and click go.

What WONDERFUL suggestions! Thanks so much. We are trilled to know about your advise on Portsmouth. It looks like we are going to Belfast, Maine for three days. Some frinds said that it was somewhat removed from the more crowded tourist areas so we thought that we would check it out.We have been to the lower coastal areas,ie. Kennebunk,etc. We have been to Camden too but when we were there several years ago the weather was rainy. We did go to the Farnsworth and LOVED it. We have some friends that are somehow related to the Wyeths though marriage. Do you know about the area around Belfast? Again we welcome any suggesstions and thanks again for your help.

I grew up in Maine, now live in MD...we got back every year to visit family. If you are going to be in Belfast, I'd have to suggest that you drive to Mt. Desert Island/Bar Harbor. It's highly touristy, but it's a beautiful little resort area with great restaurants and scenery. You might be able to catch a ferry to Vinalhaven Island and/or Isle Au Huat from around the Belfast area too. Oh, go see the "foot on the gravestone" in Searsport...jeez, or is it in Belfast...it is right on Rt 1 and it has a long history...kinda eery but a cool story. I grew up in Washington County...look on the Maine map then follow Rt 1 all the way up to about 1.25 inches from the Canadian border...the Machias area is where we are from. It's a long, long drive but wonderful because not too many tourist will venture that far east. Campobello Island is right by Lubec, that is where FDR had a cottage and the Bay of Fundy is there. I wouldn't recommend driving north to Moosehead Lake at all...it's a long boring drive...just my opinion though. Ok, that's all I know... Have a wonderful time!!!

We camped at Searsport Shores in June 2002. It's a small campground which hosted a player piano expert on Saturday nights. I only went to meet the other campers at the nice little rec hall but his lecture and playing was fascinating. As you drive past Camden look for signs to the Cellar Door Winery in Lincolnville but check ahead for wine tasting hours. Off the beaten path and we didn't expect a vineyard in Maine. We only spent a short time in Belfast and since then I've heard there are some great restaurants there. I do remember a great sandwich shop. My husband decided to get his haircut and we had a nice chat with the barber. Should you decide to drive further north, there's a great used books and antique shop in an old chicken coop on the way to Ellsworth. I agree with the other poster that if you've gotten as far as Belfast, you really ought to make a day trip to Mt Desert/Bar Harbor area.

You right, Belfast is definately a quaint little fishing village, not too touristy. But I would definetly drive up to Camden/Rockport or take a cruise up to Bar Harbor. Beautiful!!!