Could anyone offer advice for 6 nites of lodging, within walking distance of the ocean, in a ME location that is somewhat centrally located for day trips? We would prefer 1 bedroom, condo-style, reasonably nice, but not B&B or gourmet quality. We would like to make day trips to Moosehead Lake, Arcadia and LL Bean. We would like to try for 8/30-9/6. Thanks!

I think you are trying to do something unrealistic. Picking a place somewhat centrally located on Maine coast such as Rockland, you are 3-4 hours from Moosehead Lake, about 1 1/2 hours from Freeport (where LL Bean is located) and about 3 hours from Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor (it is Acadia, not Arcadia).

In addition, you are trying to do this on short notice over Labor Day weekend.

In my opinion these distances, except perhaps for LL Bean, are too great to do reasonable day trips and enjoy anything when you get to Moosehead or Acadia - Maine is bigger than you think. (And this does not even take into consideration whether or not you could find lodging at this late date, less than 1 week away).

So I would decide what are your priorities regarding what you want to see, revise your plan, and hope there are reservations available.

You might try the Glenmoore-by-the-Sea in Lincolnville just north of Camden. They offer a range of lodging from cottages to motel rooms. Acadia would be a long day trip but do-able. If you're driving, I'm assuming from the south, visit LL Bean on your way coming or going. I think the Glenmoore has some ocean frontage but it's a long walk from the main office area. I liked the Wiscasset area better for exploring but that's too far south of Acadia. More convenient to LL Bean, though.

You should do Camden/Lincolnville for 3 nights (Glenmoor is a good suggestion) and then Bar Harbor for 3 nights with your day-trip to Moosehead from Bar Harbor. LL Bean could be visited on your way up to Camden or as a day trip I suppose.

At any rate, you're talking Labor Day weekend, a week from now, so you'd better get crackin'!

tracy & dfrost, thank you very much. We are in the elderly parent stage-causing everything to be last minute. Your advice was perfect-haven't decided what to do but we're finding some vacancies-apparently because so many schools start on or before 8/28.Trying to recreate a Boy Scout trip w/my son for my wife without packing every nite! Thanks