Boston to Maine trip doable in a week?
Jan 14th, 2016, 07:56 AM
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Boston to Maine trip doable in a week?
I am taking my family of 4 teens/young adults to Boston and planning a few days sightseeing there. Then we plan to drive up the coast to Maine. Is this doable flying in to Boston for about 3 days, then driving to maine for about 3 days? Suggestions on what to do/see in Maine? Also thinking we will fly home out of Maine..thinking of the Kennebunkport area but would love suggestions of things to do or even if this is a great area to go to. Going the last week of July. Thanks!
Jan 14th, 2016, 08:40 AM
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Yes, it's doable and would make a nice blend of city and seaside. It doesn't take long to drive from Boston to Kennebunkport area so you might want to look into doing something along the way whether a side trip to Salem MA, day at Water Country just south of Portsmouth NH, or Portsmouth NH boat trip.
We don't like the southern coast of Maine because of all the traffic and people. If you like a lot of little shops, dozens of restaurants, and mobs of people it might be the place for your family. The beaches are wonderful and you might like a large hotel with a pool and things to do at night.
We prefer further north but still stay clear of places like Boothbay and Camden because they are crowded. We much prefer the lobster shack type places that are a little out of the way and never mobbed. I think there are also more opportunities for easy hikes. If you fly out of Portland you might want to spend your last night there and plan a full day to explore the Old Port Area and take a mailboat cruise of Casco Bay. Also, if you want to do some hiking you might consider making the boat trip out to Monhegan Island (pack a picnic lunch).
We don't like the southern coast of Maine because of all the traffic and people. If you like a lot of little shops, dozens of restaurants, and mobs of people it might be the place for your family. The beaches are wonderful and you might like a large hotel with a pool and things to do at night.
We prefer further north but still stay clear of places like Boothbay and Camden because they are crowded. We much prefer the lobster shack type places that are a little out of the way and never mobbed. I think there are also more opportunities for easy hikes. If you fly out of Portland you might want to spend your last night there and plan a full day to explore the Old Port Area and take a mailboat cruise of Casco Bay. Also, if you want to do some hiking you might consider making the boat trip out to Monhegan Island (pack a picnic lunch).
Jan 14th, 2016, 01:37 PM
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If you decide to stay in southern Maine, I've liked the Elmwood Resort in Wells. Not really a resort but a former motel/hotel changed into condos. You have a real kitchen and more than one bedroom. It's fairly quiet despite being on Rt 1. Clean and comfortable.
If you go as far north as Camden (hike Mt. Battie but we take the auto road), I've liked Glenmoor by the Sea in Licolnville. Various size/types of accomodations. On rte 1 but quiet. More recently we've stayed at Bay Leaf Cottages also on Rt 1 in Lincolnville. Rustic and clean.
Brunswick is a college town with lots of choices. East of Brunswick is the Harpswells area which is VERY quiet, lots of places to explore and do a little hiking. Most scenic was Giant Steps. You can get a map to the conservation areas. We really liked an isolated beach but the road in is very rutted and probably not suitable for a rental car. We were in a pickup 4z4. There were a couple of fishermen and maybe one family and us. We just sat a while and enjoyed. There's an easy beach right by the road that will be easy to find that's on the map. Favorite lobster place was Cundy's Harbor coop. Friends have stayed repeatedly at a small motel Quahog Bay Inn in Harpswell. This area is like the clock was turned back but it's also close to Brunswick which has lots of restaurants, downtown area, etc.
But our former favorite lobster place is Waterman's Beach which is near Owls Head Light and Rockland (about 2 hours north of Portland). We've never stayed in this area, just day tripped. Easy hike to the light. Husband loves Owls Head Transportation Museum. Last fall found McLoon's lobster place which we liked even better than Waterman's. This is picnic tables next to the water kind of place. Rockland also has the Farnsworth Art Museum which features Maine artists. Camden is where the windjammers are when they're in port. The harbor is very beautiful so worth a drive. Mt Battie overlooks the harbor.
I'm sure others will also have recommendations. We don't kayak and maybe you'd like to do that and stay where you can take a guided paddle.
If you go as far north as Camden (hike Mt. Battie but we take the auto road), I've liked Glenmoor by the Sea in Licolnville. Various size/types of accomodations. On rte 1 but quiet. More recently we've stayed at Bay Leaf Cottages also on Rt 1 in Lincolnville. Rustic and clean.
Brunswick is a college town with lots of choices. East of Brunswick is the Harpswells area which is VERY quiet, lots of places to explore and do a little hiking. Most scenic was Giant Steps. You can get a map to the conservation areas. We really liked an isolated beach but the road in is very rutted and probably not suitable for a rental car. We were in a pickup 4z4. There were a couple of fishermen and maybe one family and us. We just sat a while and enjoyed. There's an easy beach right by the road that will be easy to find that's on the map. Favorite lobster place was Cundy's Harbor coop. Friends have stayed repeatedly at a small motel Quahog Bay Inn in Harpswell. This area is like the clock was turned back but it's also close to Brunswick which has lots of restaurants, downtown area, etc.
But our former favorite lobster place is Waterman's Beach which is near Owls Head Light and Rockland (about 2 hours north of Portland). We've never stayed in this area, just day tripped. Easy hike to the light. Husband loves Owls Head Transportation Museum. Last fall found McLoon's lobster place which we liked even better than Waterman's. This is picnic tables next to the water kind of place. Rockland also has the Farnsworth Art Museum which features Maine artists. Camden is where the windjammers are when they're in port. The harbor is very beautiful so worth a drive. Mt Battie overlooks the harbor.
I'm sure others will also have recommendations. We don't kayak and maybe you'd like to do that and stay where you can take a guided paddle.
