Maine coast in the fall
 

We are traveling from Boston to Bar Harbor, Maine, this fall. Does anyone have any suggestions for quaint, scenic and affordable stops along the way? Thanks in advance!

If you don't have much time get on Rt 95 and don't get off onto Rt 1 until Portsmouth where you can enjoy walking a bit and finding a good restaurant. Strawberry Banke is a historical area but skip it if you don't have time for looking at historic houses. Drive thru Newcastle just to see the houses but get back on Rt 95 and stop for the night in a place like Kennebunkport or Camden. You should get off season rates at small hotels. Camden is home to a lot of windjammers and has a beautiful harbor. You can get on Rt 1 once you get north of Portland ME. Lots of good places to eat. If you like the looks of an area, drive around some side streets, stop for coffee and get a local paper or chat with a waitress. Have a wonderful time. <BR>

check out the Tides Inn by the Sea in Goose Rocks beach, just noth of kennebunkport on Rt 9. one of my favorite spots on earth! <BR> <BR>Pls say hello to Marie for me if you go... <BR>

An excellent scenic place to visit (though it's a little out of the way) is Acadia National Park. Look it up on a map of Maine to see it's position surrounded almost entirely by water...it's very inexpensive to get in, too--I beleive it was about $4/5 last year. The views and scenery are simply gorgeous. There are countless opportunities for beautiful pictures. Also, visit the LLBean store in Freeport--it's an experience!

we are going to bar harbor maine aug 5-12 and would like to go on a cruise out of camden. I phoned windjammer and they were booked. do you know if there are other lines we might use. thanks, janice garrison <BR>

<BR>You've chosen the best time possible to see our state. Try to be here the last 3rd of September for best foliage color. I highly recommend taking a cruise to Monhegan Island from the Boothbay or New Harbor area. It's a bit of a trip, about an hour, but you may see seals,puffins or whales on the trip. The island is magical...call the Boothbay Harbor Chamber of Commerce for literature. Also, Portland and it's waterfront area (Old Port district) are full of restaurants and shops that range from quaint to upscale-artsy, and D'Millo's Floating Restaurant (a converted, lovely boat) serves marvelous lobster and beef. <BR> The whole coastline is beautiful. Winterport is closer to Bangor, and the homes are true New England...white sea captains' homes, beautiful! <BR> There's lots to see and do, although many of the touristy places close after Labor Day. We think of that as a GOOD thing! <BR>Have a wonderful visit, and come back for all 3 other seasons, too! The Western mountains have their own charm, so don't overlook the area on your next trip.

We just returned from New England and saw the very southern tip of Maine. We stayed at the Stage Neck Inn in York Harbor, ME rated AAA 4stars. It's a beautiful little inn in a beautiful location perched on a rocky cliff right on the ocean. It has indoor/outdoor pools, hot tub, exerc. room, several restaurants, beach. We loved it there - a little pricey though $195/nt and doesn't include brkf, but has a great brkf buffet $8.95. Maybe rates are lower when you're going. Right up the road also with an ocean view was the York Harbor Inn - a B & B type place that looks very charming - rated AAA 3stars - around $100-$145/nt.. We ate a great lunch there. If you need a place to stay at the very southern tip of the Maine coast I would recommend either. We had never been to Maine, drove through Ogunquit & Kennebunkport and were glad we stayed in York Harbor instead of either of those. York Harbor is charming, it has the Nubble Light House which is beautiful and worth seeing. Enjoy your trip. Wish we had time to go further North like you!

I would like to take my mother with me on a short (4 day) vacation this fall, to the east coast. I am interested in the New England area. She is 56yrs and I am 28yrs. We would be interested in a B&B, on the coast, quaint and historic, and not alot of people but with plenty to do over those days. I would love some suggestions. <BR> <BR>Thanks!