Maine in October - Hotel Suggestions
 

My husband and I are trying to plan a trip to Maine in October. I have done some research and we think we would probably like to stay in the mountains & lakes region, but were wondering if anyone has any suggestions for accomodations (hotels, b & b's, or otherwise). We don't want to bust our budget, and would ideally like to spend less than $100 per night on accomodations. Is this feasible? Any recommendations for places that would keep us within budget? Also, is October a good time of the year to visit? We are open to staying in other regions of the state. Neither of us have been there before, so we'd be happy to hear any and all advice!

Late October is too cold, early October is leaf-peeping time with tons of tourists packing into the area for fall foliage. If seeing the fall colors is your main goal, then you have no choice but to come in October, but if you want to visit for hiking and kayaking...by all means try to visit in September when tourists are few and the weather is generally the best of the year.

As for where to stay, will you be flying in or driving? And from where? And will you be visiting to just relax, or to hike, raft or swim?

See Moosehead before it gets ruined.
Stay here.http://www.birches.com/

We will be driving from Maryland. The goal is to relax, be in some peace and quiet, do some hiking, maybe some kayaking, etc. Any suggestions on the best areas to stay in (region-wise)?

The Sebago Lake region is gorgeous and it is in the somewhat more southernly part of ME, which is good if you are driving all that way from MD. One October, my family and I stayed in a cottage on Crescent Lake. I think it was actually called Crescent Lake Cottages in Raymond, ME. I don't have any contact info, sorry. But it was very peaceful, quiet and not a touristy area in any way whatsoever. Granted, we had to drive at least 20 minutes to go out to dinner or do anything other than relax around the lake and discover hiking paths off the nearby country roads, but is was definitely worth it! We all still talk about how we need to get back up there someday soon. I say, go for the foliage! Yes, it's difficult to predict when exactly the right time will be, but if you shoot for early-mid Oct, you should see <i>something</i>! And if you have never been to Maine before, you will discover how special it is at that time of year.

In 2004 we stayed at a great place in Rangeley lakes called Rangeley inn.It's not far from the White mountains of N.Hampshire. Paul

Definitely book as soon as you can - aside from fall foliage time, it is also college parents weekend time for many of the schools, - we have a son in Maine and book our college weekend already - so I wouldn't wait too long - b/c parts are so remote, we often have to drive 30 minutes to the college from a B &amp; B and we have yet to find a $100 room in the first half of October - so the more remote area you can go probably the better and less expensive.

Here is a place in Guilford, Trebor Mansion Inn, that I had found last year when we were looking for lodging in that area. We ended up not staying there because there had been a fire and renovations were going on. But it did look like a nice, unusual place.

http://www.trebormansioninn.com/

i think all those suggestions are excellent, but without knowing where you're coming from it's hard to say northern or southern maine, becuase paul bunyan was everywhere making those lakes! of places to stay, i have to say i loved the rangley inn, except the beds were uncomfortable due to old mattresses. driving into greenville where mooseshead is located is truly spectacular, only to be topped by the rangley lakes area. what if you booked a fishing cabin at grant's where there are cozy charming cabins with wood stoves, an excellent dining hall, all connected by a boardwalk, and they'll make your beds for you. it's in your price range. the town is oquassic. a wee drives west of oquassic is THE point of interest, called Height of Land, where you can see maybe five lakes: mooselookmeguntic, rangely, upper richardson, and others. truly spectacular. grant's may close early or mid- october for the season.
corwin

We are driving from Maryland, if that helps at all. We have 9 days total, and are actually now thinking of splitting time between Boston, Maine, and possibly driving to see Niagara Falls. Sound like too much? We love to drive, so that's not an issue, but we want to have time to enjoy things.

Niagras Falls is nowhere near Boston or Maine. Not only is it not on the way, its a days drive west. I don't think it's realistic at all to include it in this trip.

I would drive to Boston, stay a night or two and then spend another day reaching the Maine wilderness. You can do the same thing in reverse on the trip back. The bottom line is you will spend the better part of 4 days of your 9 driving.

Another, totally unrelated,option is to drive to Niagra Falls, Canada from MD (about 11 hours), spend the night and then enjoy Niagra Falls the next day. From there you are less than 2 hours from Toronto as well as some areas of the Canadian wilderness. Allow two days to return - stopover in Buffalo or someplace closer to halfway from wherever you end up past Toronto.

too much. agree wholeheartly with previous posters on appreciating a niagra falls visit from the unspoiled canadian side is only choice to make, as well as earlier to mid oct is by far best choice for reasons of cold season setting in with wet, damp, raw weather (not at all suitable for skiing!!!) and closings of uninsulated summer accomodations.

great kayaking most everywhere, but think you would want to chose sea kayaks or fresh water kayaks first, then move on to locations. on sea kayak jaunts you'll see lots of coastline that land-bound tourists will miss, so that will be both fun and exciting. if sea kayaking, i would chose casco bay or penobscot bay areas. if fresh water, i would haul up to the rangley lakes area (albeit there are ample other outstanding places), stop on route 17 at 'height of land&quot; lookout at the height of fall color.
relaxing stay at grant's in oquassic, or at lakewood must depart by boat from south arm as there are no other roads in, both right on the lakes. lobbies are typically rustic maine north woods dominated by massive fire places and bookselves of old musty books. scenery, hiking, fishing, boating along lakes and rivers (the kennebago in oquossic, rapid river for lakewood). just talking about it makes me feel a sense of anticipation for my own unplanned fall excursions to these places.

other places are less remote and just as relaxing. these are my favs.
corwin