We will be making our first trip to Maine in Mid-September. We prefer to have a water view room or cottage. We will be driving up and down the coast so we have no certain destination. Willing to do a hotel, resort or cottage up to $150/night. Any suggestions?

Well, the Coast of Maine is a very broad destination.

Are you driving, flying?

Our favorites are Ogunquit and Boothbay Harbor. Camden is terrific as well. So is the seaside small city of Portland.

The rates drop significantly right after Labor Day.

If you're really serious about it, I highly recommend "Maine, An Explorer's Guide" which is incredibly comprehensive in every way imaginable. Best bet for determining the most appealing destination/lodging/seeing/doing for you.

www.beloins.com

Spruce Point Inn in Boothbay Harbor would be an excellent choice.

Check out the Samoset in Rockport. Their mid-week rates might meet your price range. The resort is lovely and the view is fabulous.

The Ocean View in Kennebunkport.

Not that I wish for Belfast, ME to become like the more tourist-visited towns along the coast, but I highly recommend a stop here. It's a lovely small, friendly town with an old-timey feel and great food at Chase's (lots of vegan goodies, and a daily a.m. delivery of fresh organic produce from the family-owned farm). The Gothic is a cozy ice-cream/coffee shop. There's a beautiful harbor, quiet storefront shops, weekly farmer's market by the docks, the annual Belfast Bears (think artistic renditions in every imaginable place - "find them all"), and close proximity to a must see - Acadia!

During our stay last year, we drove to Bar Harbor and were in love with the beautiful homes and inns, but were scared off by the endless crowds - presumably, they'll thin out by September when the kids are back in school. We were happy to return to our "hometown" of Belfast, and the simple, quiet atmosphere. Enjoy!

Beware! Maine can be very foggy on the coast.(We went there in July) We paid for Oceanfront in Bar Harbor. We stayed there three days . The day we were packing,the fog finally lifted . We were surprised that there were islands near us across the water. We never saw a clear oceanview! Just something to keep in mind.

Candy makes a really good point. We, too, paid extra for a room on the Frenchman Bay side for the view. The fog was so thick we couldn't see the shrubs outside our window. And, the fog never did lift before we left.

Though, the farther north, the more likely you'll have fog.

Check out the Cliff House in Ogunquit.