Boston to Bar Harbor drive...where to stop?
 

We will be visiting Boston and Bar Harbor in late July. We will be traveling with our three boys and so I am guessing the best route to take from Boston to Bar Harbor is straight up I95. Maybe not terribly pretty but it should be fastest. My questions is where to stop to break up the trip a bit? Somewhere in Portland for the boys to walk around and grab lunch? Or is there somewhere else along the way that is fun and memorable? Also, is there a short cut or backway to get there that might be a better choice?

Thanks so much for any advice you might have.
taitai

Yes, 95 is really the best/fastest way. To Bangor, where you catch Rt. 3.

Portland is good, or maybe LLBean in Freeport, just north of Portland.

What day of the week will you be doing this drive? The time of morning that you try to get out of Boston might be important.

I don't think "fastest" is a good idea for this drive. Seeing some more of Maine would be nice. Headed up 95, you could get off at Route 3 towards Belfast, then stop at Lori's Diner in Liberty for lunch. John's ice cream is next door and Lake George State Park is just up the road if you want to take an hour for a dip in the lake to break up the drive. Moose Point State Park is further up the route just north of Belfast, no swimming but there are trails along the oceanside. You could also stop at the Observatory near Bucksport.