Early May Trip to Maine
 

Hello everyone! Thought maybe some locals or previous visitors of Maine could help me. I am planning my first ever trip to Maine for early May. I'll be flying into Portland and would like to drive south first - visit Kennebunk/Kennebunkport, possibly Ogunquit for the Marginal Way (is it worth it?) and thought about hitting Old Orchard Beach (also worth it?). The majority of the time will be spent north - along the coast. Is there anything I should definitely plan on seeing - besides Acadia National Park? What about Monhegan Island? None of the sightseeing boats/cruises are sailing that early in May, but I thought about taking the mail boat. Sorry for the long post, but I'm beginning to wonder what I should see and what I should pass up on this first trip. I'll be in Maine for a total of 6 days. Guess I should mention that I'm traveling with my hubby - no kids - and we're renting a car. Looking to stay in some B&Bs, maybe inns, not picky, and would love to see what Maine is all about. We're from the Midwest and this is our first trip to the Atlantic. Thanks again!

There are pluses and minuses to visiting Maine this early. On the plus side, there will be virtually no tourists to contend with, and the few inns and b&b's that are open will have off season rates. On the minus side, this time of year the weather can be very erratic - everything from cold rain to mild and sunny. You will probably encounter a lot of fog.
Yes, the Marginal Way is definitely worth walking. I would pass on Old Orchard - most of it will be boarded up anyhow. There are many, many scenic places to visit between Ogunquit and Acadia, places like Pemmaquid Point, Boothbay Harbor, Camden, etc. I've never been to Monhegan, but my neighbor loves it. Just realize that the drive from Ogunquit to Acadia is a long one, and not particularly scenic unless you get off the main highways and explore the meandering coastline. Just bring some good foul weather gear!

Thanks zootsi. I'm from the Midwest so I'm used to erratic weather and can withstand the cold. In fact, we are foregoing the usual vacation spots (Mexico, Hawaii, CA, Las Vegas, etc.) for Maine for this trip - to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. And I deliberately want to go before the tourist season - to avoid the crowds and such. I was planning on traveling Route 1 - is that what you'd recommend?

Yes, travel Route 1 and meander along. We like the Maine coast starting in Portland and heading north, best.
The downtown Portland seaport area is special, with wonderful shops and restaurants and a real nautical feel. The Portland City Market is very nice with good food to eat there or to take away.

Heading north, you will want to stop in Freeport just to see LL Bean and then drive down back of town to see the coastline back there.

Brunswick is next and is very interesting. Bowdoin College has a beautiful, historic campus. Then drive out to Bailey's Island, you will love it (if it's not too foggy!).

Bath has its Ironworks, and a great Maritime museum, and out from there, I think is Popham Beach on the rugged coast--well worth a detour.

Wiscasset is full of beautiful historic homes, a quaint feel and a great restaurant---LeGarage (I think that's it) also a great lobster roll walk-up place on main st. called Red's Eats, if they're open that early.

A lot of people like Boothbay Harbor, it is pretty but it's an absolute zoo in the summer so your timing is good.

Damariscotta is a quaint town, and then it's a bit of a haul up Route 1 to Thomasville, Rockland, Rockport and Camden which follow one after the other. Thomasville is full of old sea captain's homes and there is also the Maine State Prison shop on Main St. This prison was the setting for the film "The Shawshank Redemption," the great movie with Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins which was based on a story by Stephen King.

Rockland is a real fishing/seagoing town with good restaurants (Amalfi, Cafe Miranda, Primo http://www.primorestaurant.com/home.cfmand shops. Here is where the ferries go off to Vinalhaven, Monhegan, etc. Also in Rockland is the great Farnsworth Museum with the best Wyeth collection anywhere.

Rockport is so beautiful, the harbor where the famous Andre the seal used to return every summer. You have to get off 1 and take 1A I think.

Take the back road form Rockport to Camden and you will see beautiful homes and great views and a field full of belted Galway cattle. Camden is a charming town on the water. Great sailing boats go out of here on summer treks around Penobscot bay. Filmed here were Peyton Place, Man Without a Face and In the Bedroom, among others.

Our favorite restaurants here are Frogwater Cafe and the Waterfront, and there are lots of others.

You can climb or drive up Mt Battie for a panoramic view if you like.

Just north of there is Lincolnville Beach where you can get some great lobster, buy a beautiful hand crafted Windsor chair, and catch the short ferry ride to Isleboro where John Travolta has a place (call ahead to make sure he's there.)

That's all I can offer for now.

hikerboy gives a great description of the drive up the coast. 6 days isn't very long and, unless you like a whirlwind vacation, I'd stick to the Portland north route for more of a real Maine feel. Camden has some nice B&Bs and you should find a few open that early without a problem. Same goes for Bar Harbor. May can be beautiful here....and it can be foggy, rain and rotten. Of course, that can happen any month of the year so what the heck! Expect to dress in layers and be sure you have rain jackets. Enjoy your trip to Maine - it really is "the way life should be"!

Thanks so much to everyone who offered suggestions. I really appreciate it! I'm so looking forward to this trip and all the wonderful things we'll see, do and eat! One quick last question, how long do you think it will take us to visit Bailey Island, Bath and Popham Beach State Park - 2 days? and should we stay somewhere in that general vicinity before heading towards Rockport/Camden? It seems the hardest part of planning this trip is alloting enough time to see things and then deciding where to stay before moving on. I've heard there are quite a few motels/hotels along Rt. 1 (like Holiday Inns, etc.) You wouldn't foresee any problem getting a room last minute, would you? Thanks again everyone!

Depending on how early you arrive in Portland, you could spend a day or a day and a half there. If you go south to Ogunquit/Kennebunk, head down in the morning and keep your lodging in Portland, coming back there that evening. Head north to Freeport early next morning ( LL Bean is a 24/7 operation, the other shops open around 10 if that's an issue).

As to your questions, north of Brunswick on Route 1, you will see signs for Orr's/Bailey's Islands (Route 24). Turn off here and drive on out. You may spend about an hour, give or take. You may see a nice place to get some chowder, or you may see some fishermen or lobstermen you can stop and chat with (unless Sir Paul & Heather have been there first and alienated them).

The museum in Bath is really interesting for about an hour and a half, and then its 15 miles to Popham and a bit of a look around. You may want to find lodging around Wiscasset, as it will now be getting a bit late in the day. http://www.visitmaine.com/home.php
the Maine tourism site, will give you some ideas for lodging options.

Have a great trip!
(And let us know all about it when you're done)

I meant to give you a link to the Vinalhaven Ferry Schedule: http://www.state.me.us/mdot/opt/ferr...vinalhaven.php

There are particulars of interest, and a map.
Also forgot to mention the Owl's Head Transportation Museum (planes, trucks, automobiles, bikes, motorcycles). Just fascinating, and not to be missed! (If you like that sort of thing). http://www.ohtm.org/

hikerboy - thanks so much for all the useful information. My plans are really starting to come around (that is, being finalized) because of all the great information and ideas all of you have been giving. What a great site! I definitely like the suggestion of staying in Portland and driving down to Ogunquit/Kennebunkport for the day and then back to Portland for the night. How many days do you suggest for Acadia National Park? Thanks!

Have a look around this site and decide what you want to see in Acadia National Park.

http://www.nps.gov/acad/index.htm

Bar Harbor is pretty and worth walking around. The ferry to/from Nova Scotia comes in here and there are lots of shops & restaurants. There is a lovely Park Loop drive, about 20 miles or so, and a drive up Cadillac Mountain (or you can hike up if you want the challenge). Great views on a good day.

Outside of the park, the drive around the coast to Southwest Harbor, Seal Cove and the other villages is nice. You can have seafood on a pier if those places are open. Martha Stewart has a place along here, so if you're a fan, and if the locals will tell you where the place is, and if she isn't in the Big Apple going toe to toe with the Donald, and if her staff don't run you off (as they are wont to do), you may catch a glimpse of the Domestic Diva!

Another area that I really like and that is pretty low-key even in summer is Deer Isle and the fishing village of Stonington. You need to go back to Ellsworth, then to Blue Hill and take #75 out there.
http://www.deerislemaine.com/
From there, you may want to visit Castine, a quaint seaside village with nice B&B's and shops. It's also home to the Maine Maritime Academy and they will probably have their training ship tied up at the wharf.

If you're running out of time, you could stay overnight there, or make a bee-line for Bangor on # 15 or 1-A, pick up I-95, and head back to Portland. It will take you about 3 hours that way, or about 5 hours (I think) if you retrace your steps on Route 1.

Some are saying,"Go from Portland, north". I agree with the people that say stay over in Portland the first night but be sure to take a day trip to Nubble light in York beach and then Perkin's Cove, Ogunquit and then Kennebunkport. Can all be done easily in one day. I'm originally from Wells and these are some of the best sights in the state.May is a great time-but weather can be wonderful or terrible. If you don't like it-wait a few minutes. (You can walk the Marginal way from Perkin's Cove to Ogunquit beach and it's definitely worth it- a wonderful look at the rocky coast-up close and personal!) Forget Old Orchard! Don't waste your time!

Thanks mebeachcomber! I noticed quite a few people were telling me to skip Ogunquit and such, but I really had my heart set on it and thought I could make a day trip out of it. Is there anything you think I might miss out on besides what you've already mentioned?

Ogunquit is a very cutesy,artsy & quaint seaside resort town with possibly the best stretch of white sand beach in all of Maine. It's fun, but not the 'real' Maine - all the hardware stores and tackle shops are now art galleries and botiques. If it's a nice day, a stroll on the Marginal Way and down on to the beach can be unforgettable. Rte 1 in this part of the state is very commercialized, and lined with motels and restaurants of every description - but it's still a fun area.

I went to college in Maine and worked in Ogunquit summers and loved it. I particularly like Poor Richards Tavern for dinner. http://www.poorrichardstavern.com/

One year while I was in school, it snowed 6 inches on May 31st, so be prepared for anything weatherwise.

Have fun!
((S))((*))

I'm 71 and lived in Maine most of my life-never heard of snow that late-unless it was in the northern part of the state. I worked at Poor Richards for several years-when it was at a different location. It always was excellent but I went last September and the meal was not up to the usual. Could have been an off night. Ogunquit has always been artsy because that's where many famous artists formed an art colony about a hundred years ago. Perkins Cove was a bunch of shacks where artists spent their summers.Now it's gift shops and restaurants. You can get boat rides there on the Finestkind(see how lobsters are trapped and harvested) and there are several boats that take you deep-sea fishing for the day. There are trolleys that take you around the town but they may not start until Memorial weekend. In Kennebunkport--of course - many tourists like to see the Bush compound . It's a beautiful drive from the town to the home--a couple of miles. You really could spend more than a day doing York, Ogunquit and K-port but it depends on what interests you.You can walk miles on white sandy beaches in Ogunquit and Wells. There are lots of interesting towns north of Portland but the road does not always follow the coast in most areas--you have to drive several miles to get to the shore. Camden is a pretty area where the movie "Carousel" was filmed. The fellow that owns Poor Richards in Ogunquit-Richard Perkins- is related to some of the characters in that show. His mother was a Snow , related to Mr Snow of clam chowder fame.She was invited to attend the opening of the stage show in New York many years ago. Boothbay Harbor is a place not to be missed--We like it better than Bar Harbor. Bar Harbor is a lot farther up the coast.Maine is a huge state and there are great stretches where you won't see much of interest.6 days is not very much time to see all there is to see .Hope you have a great trip.

May is a good time to visit Maine -- beat the mobs. I would spend a couple of days in Portland, see Kennebunkport if you desire,and then head up to Acadia. That would give you a good overview and you won't be cramming in too much. Acadia would be great to visit while the traffic is more sparse. Also, there are some nice restaurants and hotels on the island (Mount Desert Island).

ttt

As far as weather- it can be 90 degrees or 32, be pack to dress in layers. It can also be black fly season if your inland..don't forget your bugspray!

You won't want to miss Kennebunkport! Many stores and restaurants will be open by then. Go to www.visitthekennebunks.com for more information.

To [email protected]:We plan on visiting ME in later part of June. My 10 and 13 y.o boys would love the to see the lobster trapping on the Finestkind in Perkins Cove. Where could I get more info re booking a spot/schedule for this?