Hi, we want to spend four days on the coast of Maine in August and don't want to spend more than $90-100 nightly. Can anyone recommend an inn, b&b or hotel. Other considerations: will be flying into either Portland or Boston and it's a long flight from the west coast so we would like to keep driving time to a minimum. Prefer scenic coastal town. Thanks.

Can't help answer your lodging questions, but you'll have no problem finding lobster!
Just a suggestion to look into flying into Manchester NH also. I would not recommend flying into Boston unless you plan on spending part of your trip there. You'll probably find the fares are lower to Manchester also.

Which town to choose depends on how you plan to spend your time. If you are looking for an active, outdoorsy vacation, Bar Harbor and Acadia NP should be at the top of your list.

Is lobster out of season in August? I remember hearing somewhere that lobster is only edible in months that have an R in them......

Have spent several vacations in ME in late August and had no problems having lobster at least 1X daily. Southern maine is nice if you only have a couple of days-Kennebunks, Oqonquit, even Old Orchard Beach (more run down, but has a certain atmosphere-that of a run down former popular beach town), Wells, if you don't want to drive further up the coast. We like a little town called Scarboough, which is next to OOB, not many places to stay, but theres a copule of family motels.

I think you're confusing lobsters and oysters. There's an old saying that you should (or shouldn't) oysters in months with an "R" in them. But in August, in Maine, you'll see lobsters everywhere.

If money is a big issue, you can take Southwest Airlines from several California cities to Manchester NH and drive from there. Far more pleasant, IMHO, than getting in and out of Boston.

If you want an authentic maine town you'll prefer Boothbay Harbor, Camden, or Bar Harbor. If you want a little cheesy & probably more night life, Old Orchard Beach/Scarborough is better. I agree, fly into Portland or Manchester. Portland to Boothbay Harbor is about 1 1/4, 2 to Camden. If you plan on Bar Habor you might try the Bar Harbor airport. Except for winter you can ALWAYS get lobster in Maine & far cheaper. August lobster is soft shelled which more peopel prefer, sweeter & easier to crack the shell. I am more familiar w/ Boothbay so could tell you that they have lots of places where you can get lobster right on the dock & cook it right there. boothbayharbor.com has hotel info, but I am sure any coastal town has a website with hotel info. Have fun!

Traditionally, lobsters are considered soft shell with months without the letter "R' in them (meaning that they have shed their old shell and are growing into their new shell). So, lobsters are more dense in months with the letter "R" and are called hard shell. I've heard all types of stories about sweetness, but I don't know if that is so true. If you look at pricing, it used to be that the lower weight lobsters were considered to be sweeter as they are considered younger, but now, you will see that the heavier the lobster is the more expensive it is. If you're looking to save a few bucks and you're going to a lobster shack, buy culls (the lobsters with either only one claw, or one claw that is much larger than the other). My only other piece of advice is to never eat a boiled lobster that has a straight tail (the tail should be curled after it is boiled) -- it means that the lobster was boiled after it was dead and there is the potential that there is unsafe bacteria in it.

on the way up to Maine, on the coast is Kittery, there are all the outlets like calvin klein, DK, Polo etc. but most important, there is the lobster shack at Chauncy creek. You sit outside facing the creek, pick your lobster out of the tank. You can bring anything they don't sell, like beer, wine your ouw salad. Say hello to Ron, the owner and his wife Jean, a very welcoming family.lots of people bring tablecloths and flowers for birthdays etc and candles after dark. It's fun!

Try Trenton Lobster pound before crossing over to Bar Harbor. We've been to Maine two different Julys. Both times lobsters were abundant and softer shells were 2 lobsters for $14.00! needless to say, we thoroughly enjoyed them. Check The Lobster pound near Lincolnville on the water's edge .I believe it was between Rockland and Camden(or on the way to Camden)The pounds are not fancy, but the clams and lobsters are out of this world. Ther is a book that I borrowed from the library-Exploring Maine. I believe it was written by Christina Appletree & another author. It's an excellent resource . It describes dining & accomodations in each section of Maine. Enjoy!!!

The coast of Maine is one of my favorite places to visit. My wife and I honeymooned there (in August) and have returned several times over the years.

If you fly into Manchester, NH (which I've done twice) and are concerned about the drive time, I would recommend Kennebunkport. We spent a lovely long weekend there a few years ago. Nice selection of shops and restaurants. While it was expensive (and I had to borrow a jacket), dinner at The White Barn Inn was one of the best I've ever had. And Nunan's Lobster Hut in nearby Cape Porpoise is a place we went to twice -- and I'd definitely go back. There are also plenty of activities -- sunset sails, whale watch cruise (and, yes, we did actually see whales).

I've driven through some of the other towns suggested, such as Ogunquit, but I found the Kennebunks to have the most to offer along the southern coast. Kennebunkport is also relatively close to Portland if you decide to fly into there.

If you do fly into Portland, I would also consider Boothbay Harbor. Similar to Kennebunkport in terms of having a very nice selection of shops and restaurants, as well as multiple purveyors of lobster. Among the activities I'd recommend are a day trip to Monhegan Island and the Cabbage Island clambake (be sure to make advance reservations). We enjoyed our stay at the Spruce Point Inn -- just up the road from the center of town with a great sunsets -- though this would be beyond your stated budget.

I also have fond memories of Camden, though I haven't been there since 1991. Took a wonderful sail on a Schooner.

The city of Portland is also very quaint and also has great restaurants and shopping in the historic Port area.

Also, Acadia and Bar Harbor are great locations -- especially if you're looking for more outdoorsy things while staying on the coast -- they're just not as convenient to the larger airports.

Whatever you decide, you really can't go wrong with 4 days on the coast of Maine. Enjoy!