Bar Harbor or Burlington? (or somewhere else?)
 

My wife and I are planning a trip (probably 4 nights) in early June and the main two things we're looking for are hopefully some cool/mild weather & some quiet. We live in Texas and have 3 kids under 4 so during the summer, those two things are hard to come by.

After doing some Internet scouring, Burlington, VT and Bar Harbor, ME keep coming up as places that might be able to provide those things.

We're not terribly outdoorsy, so our outdoor activities would probably be some light hiking and then plopping down and reading a book. Or maybe trying our best not to fall out of a canoe.

I know the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival happens in June, so that'd be fun, but also, we're trying to find a place that's not terribly crowded, so not sure how crazy Burlington gets. Also, I've heard that Bar Harbor can be a little touristy, we're trying to avoid that as well.

All that to say, for those who are local to the Northeast, or have traveled to either or both of these places, do you have a favorite? Or do you have a favorite destination outside of these two? Thanks!

Lake or ocean? That is the question.

Otherwise, look at some YouTube videos of both places, read about nearby sights and activities, and decide.

Asking the preference of people whose tastes you have no clue about always seems silly IMO.

For such a short trip, I would think proximity to an airport with flights to your home airport would be a big consideration.

Early June weather can be iffy in the Boston area, temperature-wise, and more so in Burlington and Bar Harbor.

I don't think either location would be crowded at that time. It is definitely not in-season for Bar Harbor.

Cape Cod would be warmer, but not necessarily beach weather (but it could be). It would be okay to walk on the beach, play in the sand, and take short walks on nature trails. If that interests you, look at the National Seashore website for their calendar of activities and trail options.

Lodge at the Cove in Kennebunkport Maine is a fave, and though the area is touristy, it won't be in early June as kids are still in school in New England. Rooms are lovely and each front porch has curtains for a little privacy. Quiet serene setting yet a fairly short walk to the center of town.

http://www.booking.com/hotel/us/kenn...in-street.html

I think the deciding factor could be LOBSTER!

We did mid-June in the Boothbay and Rockland ME areas last year. Even Boothbay wasn't crowded but we usually avoid that area because it is mobbed in summer. Our favorite lobster shack was open (McLoon's) and the flowers were beautiful at Maine Coastal Gardens. Our visit timing was based on availability at some rustic cottages I had read about in Yankee Magazine's article on hidden gems. The weather was wonderful. Warm enough to sit outside at a picnic table eating lobster. In Boothbay we found a take-out place so we could take our lobster rolls to a little picnic place we had found. It was a tiny island connected to a parking lot by a short pedestrian bridge. There was only one other couple there (keep in mind kids are still in school). We watched some kayakers put in. The weather was warm enough to put our bag chairs in a scenic spot to watch the ocean and read. In summer we usually look for a shady spot but in June full sun was good.

We usually don't go as far as Bar Harbor and haven't spent an early June there in a long time. It was very quiet but I don't think you have to travel that far to find peace and quiet. Last year I also spent Mother's Day weekend in the Wells/Kport area. We usually avoid southern Maine because of the crowds but it was fine. We much prefer the mid-coast area but we like casual eating spots. If you want fancy restaurants I would chose someplace from Portland to Kittery.

I agree with the point about choosing a place convenient to an airport. You don't want to spend hours driving to a place. There's some great light hiking in other places in Maine. There are a lot of airb&b and VRBO places available in June. The hidden gem last year had a little private beach and our cottage overlooked the ocean. Each tiny cottage had lawn chairs etc. We also prefer to cook our own breakfasts and have a kitchenette.

In southern Maine we have stayed off season at The Dunes of Ogunquit but mid-coast is much quieter.

It would be ideal if you could fly into Portland but if not, Manchester NH adds maybe 1 1/2 hours to your drive to Maine if you are going north of Portland. If choosing southern coast, MHT maybe just as convenient (and cheaper maybe).

If you choose Burlington, I recommend a drive from north to south thru the Hero Islands. If you time it right, you can be in Burlington for lunch. The islands are very beautiful and quiet. If you want a peaceful location in an old inn, the Norwich Inn is on the NH/VT border and much closer to MHT. It's a nice area for exploring with a great farmers market on Saturday mornings.

I hope I have given enough detail to explain our tsstes.

These are two very different places. I live in Burlington in summer and fall and have visited Bar Harbor. I think Burlington might be a better match for you (granted, I am biased)...

Burlington airport: easy connections to NYC, Phila, other hubs (but not Boston)

The city: it's a lively place, several historic neighborhoods, a university and two colleges, quiet spots along the lake front for bicycles and picnics and renting canoes and sailboats; ferries for scenic 2-hour tours along the lake.

June weather: very beautiful and the area is turning green green green.

Jazz Festival: it's fun, if you want to take part, but it doesn't make the town crazy crowded. Most of the activity is along the waterfront and the Church Street pedestrian area.

Light outdoor activity, hiking: you have several villages and small towns within a 20-30 minute drive from Burlington, good for wandering around--Richmond, Huntington, Hinesburg, others, with village greens, little churches, good cafes, etc. In an hour drive you can be in the Green Mountains. A little more driving would put you in reach of the Green Mountain Trail (you can drive up Mount Mansfield from Stowe and walk along an easy horizontal part of the trail--good for young children; great views)

Mom and Dad: good brew pubs in Burlington, and the foodie scene in general is very good.

Re the Hero Islands, I don't understand dfrostnh's comments--to get to the northern part of these islands you would have to drive north from Burlington, either by I-89 and come down, or go up state hwy 2, then turn around and come back down, retracing your steps. But the islands are worth of visit. Nice scenery, apple orchards, farm stands in the summer.

Therefore...one vote here for Burlington.

Great recommendations for Burlington, EYWandBTV.

Yes, I meant to drive north (we were staying in Fairfax so already north of Burlington) maybe rt 7 and then drive south thru the islands on Rt 2.

If you're in Burlington and like museums, the Shelburne Museum is a must. One could easily spend the day there.

Thanks so much everyone for the help. I'm definitely intrigued by these places and this part of the country, but as some have pointed out, given our limited time frame, it might not make the most sense to travel this far.

So we've changed our search to something with nonstop from DFW, Jackson Hole is our top option now.

But hopefully we can make it up to the northeast next year!