Fall Foliage Trip - Maine
Mar 9th, 2002 | 07:35 AM
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Fall Foliage Trip - Maine
Hi everyone. I would like recommendations for a fall "leaf peeping" trip. I've experienced Vermont and New Hampshire in the fall. I am thinking about Maine. Any suggestions for quaint villages or towns and what would be the best time to go for maximum color?
Mar 9th, 2002 | 04:18 PM
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
I've been summering in Maine for 20 years and have just moved here year-round. Besides summering, I've been to Maine in every season. Maine is beautiful, especially in the Fall. There are so many beautiful little towns to pick from, that it's difficult to pick the best ones for a fall foliage trip. But I would choose Camden. It's about 4 hours north of Boston.
Camden is on the ocean and has a small little harbor, but is surrounded by mountains. You can either hike or drive up Mt. Battie (which is about 3 minutes outside of town)and see the open ocean, islands, and Camden and Rockport Harbors to the south and east, and the mountains to the west and north. The views are just spectacular!
The town itself is small, very New England. It has white steepled churches, wonderful old homes, and twisting and winding streets. There are tons of shops, excellent restaurants, galleries, and gardens to visit. There are also some beautiful drives that wind on down to Rockport, another pretty little harbor town. Bayview St., right off the main road has gorgeous older homes, farms with cows, huge old trees, etc.
15 minutes away is the town of Rockland, where you can visit the Farnsworth Art Museum and view a wonderful array of paintings from the artists that dominated the luminist era or visit the Wyeth Wing and see Jamie, Andrew, and NC Wyeth paintings. The museum itself is in a beautiful old church that has been converted to a light and airy stage for all the great art. You can even take a day trip from there and visit the Olson House (about 1/2 hour's drive) site for the painting, Christina's World, by Andrew Wyeth who sold the painting for over 20 million dollars. The house and property are like stepping back in time and the lawn leads down to a pretty little cove. After that, if the weather co-operates, you can walk out to Rockland Lighthouse on it's mile long jetty, out to what feels like the middle of Penobscot Bay and view the mountains, open ocean, island, and other lighthouses from there.
There are plenty of places to stay in Camden, but B&B's dominate. Each one prettier than the next.
I know most people wouldn't think of coming to the coast of Maine for fall foliage, but it is spectacular. There's something about the light here that time of year; the colorful trees in contrast to the dark green of spruce and fir trees, and the royal blue color of the water, that contribute to the beauty of it all. Good luck!
Camden is on the ocean and has a small little harbor, but is surrounded by mountains. You can either hike or drive up Mt. Battie (which is about 3 minutes outside of town)and see the open ocean, islands, and Camden and Rockport Harbors to the south and east, and the mountains to the west and north. The views are just spectacular!
The town itself is small, very New England. It has white steepled churches, wonderful old homes, and twisting and winding streets. There are tons of shops, excellent restaurants, galleries, and gardens to visit. There are also some beautiful drives that wind on down to Rockport, another pretty little harbor town. Bayview St., right off the main road has gorgeous older homes, farms with cows, huge old trees, etc.
15 minutes away is the town of Rockland, where you can visit the Farnsworth Art Museum and view a wonderful array of paintings from the artists that dominated the luminist era or visit the Wyeth Wing and see Jamie, Andrew, and NC Wyeth paintings. The museum itself is in a beautiful old church that has been converted to a light and airy stage for all the great art. You can even take a day trip from there and visit the Olson House (about 1/2 hour's drive) site for the painting, Christina's World, by Andrew Wyeth who sold the painting for over 20 million dollars. The house and property are like stepping back in time and the lawn leads down to a pretty little cove. After that, if the weather co-operates, you can walk out to Rockland Lighthouse on it's mile long jetty, out to what feels like the middle of Penobscot Bay and view the mountains, open ocean, island, and other lighthouses from there.
There are plenty of places to stay in Camden, but B&B's dominate. Each one prettier than the next.
I know most people wouldn't think of coming to the coast of Maine for fall foliage, but it is spectacular. There's something about the light here that time of year; the colorful trees in contrast to the dark green of spruce and fir trees, and the royal blue color of the water, that contribute to the beauty of it all. Good luck!
Mar 10th, 2002 | 07:20 AM
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
hi tracey,
we went to maine last october to see the leaves. since we were driving from newport, rhode island, the town of ogunquit, maine was about as far as we wanted to drive. we based in ogunquit and drove to a neighboring town on the southern coast each day. my favorite was kennebunkport. i have no doubt that camden is beautiful, but if you don't want to drive that far and still want to see gorgeous leaves and scenery, then ogunquit or kennebunkport will meet your expectations.
we went to maine last october to see the leaves. since we were driving from newport, rhode island, the town of ogunquit, maine was about as far as we wanted to drive. we based in ogunquit and drove to a neighboring town on the southern coast each day. my favorite was kennebunkport. i have no doubt that camden is beautiful, but if you don't want to drive that far and still want to see gorgeous leaves and scenery, then ogunquit or kennebunkport will meet your expectations.
Mar 10th, 2002 | 07:50 AM
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Hi Tracey,
I think you're choice of Maine for fall foliage is a great choice. We spent a long weekend there a few years back, and we're going back again this fall. It was truly beautiful. We divided our time between some lakes inland and the coast. This time we're planning to get as much in as we can along the coast. I didn't make it to Acadia Nat'l Park last time, so I have that at the top of my list. The foliage is beautiful, the coastline is so impressive and the lobster was excellent. On our first trip, we were a week or two too early for peak foliage. I'd recommend the first two weeks of Oct.
I think you're choice of Maine for fall foliage is a great choice. We spent a long weekend there a few years back, and we're going back again this fall. It was truly beautiful. We divided our time between some lakes inland and the coast. This time we're planning to get as much in as we can along the coast. I didn't make it to Acadia Nat'l Park last time, so I have that at the top of my list. The foliage is beautiful, the coastline is so impressive and the lobster was excellent. On our first trip, we were a week or two too early for peak foliage. I'd recommend the first two weeks of Oct.
Mar 10th, 2002 | 04:14 PM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Melanie-after reading your reply , my husband and I looked at Camden, using www.mainevacations.net.It is a great site for ideas and info,but I wanted to tell you that Thanks to your lovely description we are going to be visiting Camden very soon! You should write for a travel magazine
Kate
Kate
Mar 10th, 2002 | 04:23 PM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
If you have done the coastal thing (which is amazing!)...try some of the in-land views...take a drive up through Bethel...there is a beautiful covered bridge at Newry, Maine (just past Sunday River ski resort)...then meander over Route 302 into the White Mountains of New Hampshire...see beautiful Fryeberg, Maine (eat at the Oxford House) or go north to Waterford to see a real New England town...white churches and mountains in the distance...(eat at the Lake House)...Maine is beautiful in the fall and the inland, mountain areas are perfect for leaf peeping!
