My husband and I are considering a trip to Maine this summer. We are early 30's, no kids, and are considering renting a small cottage or staying at an intimate charming b&b or inn. We would like wherever we stay to be a little higher end, not necessarily ritzy, but a place with good service and charm - nothing too overun with kids or super touristy either. Our goal is to relax for a week, hike, kayak, read, and have some nice meals at night. While we like peace and quiet, we would love some choice of restaurants to go to at night for a nice meal...also a charming town to walk through would be ideal.

On another note, we're also considering brining our dog and wondering if anyone knows how friendly the parks are to bringing pets on hikes? Any advice?

I was going to suggest Kennebunkport (especially because of dining options...White Barn Inn is superb and Grissini is also really good), but then when you mentioned your dog and hiking I thought of Camden.

I'm not sure what dog frienly lodging Kennebunkport has to offer, but the Lord Camden Inn in Camden is dog friendly. And I believe you are allowed to bring your dog on some of the hiking trails near Camden, but you would need to check local park sites for details.

You might also want to check out: www.hikewithyourdog.com.

ttt

I would recommend Boothbay Harbor, but I'm not sure what you mean about going to "the parks". Are you looking for something close to Acadia National Park? Baxter State Park? Popham Beach State Park? The lake parks? Maine is pretty big!

Southwest Harbor on Mt. Desert Island may work for you. Its near Acadia but without the congestion of Bar Harbor. Haven't dined there but friends make it a point to go there for dinner every year we go to Acadia.

Here's a link that might be helpful


www.acadiamagic.com

Spent many summers up in Maine and would recommend that if you need services and dining that you stay south of Portland. If you want to have the "read books, stare at the water" type of experience, head north. Mt. Desert is a lovely place. The Blue Hill area near there is cool. I personally know Ocean Point which is near Boothbay Harbor. Here's a link to cottage rentals there:

http://brfrbo.com/OP%20Listings.htm -- Seascape and the Grimes Cove cottages are the places to be -- with unbelievable views of the cove or open water.

You can rent Kayaks in Boothbay and there are a number of places to drop in. But this is a self-serve place. And fine dining is that which you cook. Everyone has dogs, so you'll just have to check with owners if they're allowed in a rental.

Good luck.

We love the Balance Rock Inn in Bar Harbor. They allow dogs. It is very relaxing with wonderful service. Ask for one of the large, downstairs rooms. Acadia National Park is great for hiking and I always see dogs there.

Jenny.
Just went to Acadia area last year for 5 nights with friends and my husband. All of us are in our 30's. We also went sans our child, so we actually had an adult vaca...stayed in Southwest Harbor which we loved. It was about 20 min. out of Bar harbor which is nice but it can seem very touristy but like i said its nice...lots of shopping, pubs, restaurants and closer to much of acadia. In SW HBR we stayed at the Harborcottage inn in the Soutwester Cottage. Very very clean and nice...lots of privacy for 2 couples and included bkfst good one too! Good deal for I think $200 something a night maybe cheaper...we went kayaking near Stonington which I highly reco because its almost like a bay with many many tiny different little isles yet its the ocean...let me know if you want more info...there are tons and i mean tons of places to stay and one thing that we found is that Maine is alot nicer and cheaper than say Pa, or NJ or MD. Isle au haut has a cool inn on it that was booked...we hopped around a bit, SW Harbor, Camden, Stonington and the last nite was whereever the Maritime Academy is...cant remember the name..cute tiny town good for a stop.
Not sure what to tell you about your dog...there were lots of them around everywhere but alot of people have 2nd homes up there...i always feel bad about leaving her to go and do things she can be with us doing like kayaking or biking etc...
Also, some of the trails are not dog friendly in that they are hand over foot hiking with serious dropoffs...
Do I sound like a worrier? A bit, I am but just want to give you a heads up..you wont believe how beautiful it is up there til you see it for yourself.
Regards.

we bring our dog to maine all the time and we have a great time. we've never had a problem hiking with her and we also went to Acadia last year and you do have to be careful about the trails you pick that don't have pure rock climbing with iron rungs. she ate with us outside at jordan pond house and that was also a lot of fun. here is the post from one of our trips:
do a seach for "report from Camden trip with dog" sorry, I'm sure there is a better way to put the post in but I'm new at this.....

I agree. I've been going to Mt Desert every year for the last 25, it's a wonderful place, it always feels new. We never run out of things to do. Ckeck out this website www.mtdesertisland.net

Dog are welcome throughout AcadiaNP -- they'll even put water out for your pet while you enjoy tea and scones on the lawn of Jordan Pond House. Here are some links to vacation rental sites:

Coastal Cottages
http://vacationcottages.com/

The Davis Agency
http://www.daagy.com/

The Knowles Company
http://www.knowlesco.com/

Maine Vacations
http://www.mainevacation.com/

Prudential Northeast
http://vacationrentalsformaine.com/

Bar harbor manor is great in a quiet neighbourhood, walking distance of everything. They offer a special rate which includes lodging,whale watching trip and a lobster dinner;pAUL

The Maine coast is extremely friendly to trail dogs. Acadia National Park is hands-down the best US national park to hike with your dog. Although it's crowded you can take your dog into Bar Harbor and hike the Shore Path from the Town Pier. If you explore all the way to the Canadian border absolutely take your dog to the trails in Quoddy Head State Park. The Coastal Trail here goes along the easternmost land in the United States. Mid-Coast the must-go hike for your dog is in Camden at Camden Hills State Park. Take the Megunticook Trail to extended ocean views from 1300-foot Mount Megunticook. Take the Tablelands Trail back down and you'll have continuous open views of the Atlantic and this old Peyton Place town for awhile. On the southern coast stop in to the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge for a quiet one-mile hike. The beaches in Maine in places like York and Old Orchard Beach are mostly dog-friendly. Even in the summer you can take your dog to the beach in the morning and evenings most places. The greatest disappointment for dog owners in Maine is that the trails of the great Baxter State Park and the state's highest point Mount Katahdin are closed to dogs. As this is the northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail it is doubly disappointing.