plr

Would love to hear everyone's experience of novice kayak half-day tours, and how satisfied you were with the area, views, amenities (?), etc. Also wondering where and how much value there is in catching a US Mail boat trip--and where these originate. Anywhere other than Portland area?

janie

Well I only know about the mail boat trip from Portland, but even that was not really what I expected.
Pluses: great way to spend 3 relaxing hours on the water. Nice views. Fun to see how the different islands have such a different small town feel even if they're only a few miles away from the city
Minuses--sort of. It's a pretty big ferry boat, not the quainter mail boat I had in mind. It's not an official US Postal Service carrier, just a boat that happens to carry mail and packages, and supplies that people staying on the islands want. Lots of shopping carts just packed with stuff!It does stop and let people on and off at several different islands and even stops at one for about 20 minutes. I guess I imagined something more like this:
http://www.cruiselakegeneva.com/walworthmb.php

It can get pretty crowded and even mildly rowdy. Lots of people had coolers with beer and were drinking away. It was over a holiday weekend so I don't know how typical that is. Also, a surprising number of people were traveling with dogs which might be a plus or a minus for some people

Would I do it again or recommend it: Yes but with more realistic expectations. And it is pretty time consuming, so some may opt for shorter boat rides depending on whatever else you wanted to do in the area

Hope this helps.

I'd be interested in any responses you get about kayaking trips, too

plr

Thanks, Janie--That's the kind of detail I was hoping for. And I am surprised & a little disappointed, compared with the descriptions I have read previously. Wonder if time of year matters (I'm going in mid Sept).

yk

If 3 hours is too long, consider taking the Diamond Pass boat cruise instead offered by the Casco Bay ferry company. We took it last month, and it's 1hr45mins long. Click on my username to find my trip report if you're interested.

starrs

I'd never heard of the mail boat trips.
Note to self - add to list...

elberko

There's a mail boat from Stonington to Isle au Haut(part of Acadia) which might be more what you're expecting.

I've also heard that Stonington is a "center" for Kayaking, but the only kayaking we're done is a half-day from a company in Bar Harbor. We decided kayaking wasn't our cup of tea, but it seemed like a good thing otherwise.

~Liz

plr

YK, thanks for the suggestion, but I won't be going to Portland this trip. Enjoyed your trip report.
elberko, thanks for the Stonington mail boat suggestion. For anyone else interested, here's the website link: http://www.isleauhaut.com/schedulerates.html
I am curious about what it was about the kayak trip that was not your "cup of tea." I'd hate to spend a half day miserable.

elberko

We're just not boat/kayak people, I guess! Husband has a tendency towards motion sickness, which doesn't help. Don't regret doing it, but have no wish to do it again.

I'd certainly suggest everybody give it a try-it's very safe, and most people enjoy it!

We did enjoy the trip to Isle au Haut, and hiking there-felt like we were almost alone on the island.

~Liz

plr

Thanks, Liz. It does help to have clarification about that. Was your trip to the Isle au Haut worthwhile for a half-day?

joesorce

For fans of "On Golden Pond"the Great Pond mailboat on the Belgrade Lakes is a lovely was to spend two September hours...and if you have the time I highly recommend you get off the coast and over to one of Maine's lake areas. Moosehead Lake is breathtaking in September and the Belgrade Lakes region is very nice too as the air is so crisp and clear and the leaves are just beginning to turn.

plr

Alas, Joe, it cannot be for this trip. I have every intention of getting "off the coast" on my next trip to Maine, but I had committed to doing the coast in depth this time, and to relax into the less traveled areas there. I'm making note of your recommendations!

elberko

pir,

As I said, we enjoyed Isle au Haut and the boat ride to get there. I'm not sure what would count as "worthwhile" for you, though!

BTW, we've been to Stonington twice, and I recommend it if you're looking for a place that's a lot less touristy, and feels like a "real" fishing village. We prefer the ammenities and restaurants in Bar Harbor for a longer stay, but Stonington has it's charms, too.

~Liz

dfrostnh

Perhaps instead of a mailboat ride, look into the light house cruises. We took an all day trip with the Maritime Museum in Bath several years ago that included a stop at a tiny island for a picnic lunch (BYO). I no longer see all day trips advertised but they have several shorter routes.