We will be in DC for one weekend, and Boston the next - and would like to spend time in Maine for the 4-5 days in between, what is the best way to do that - where should we go...Neither of us have ever been to Maine. Thanks so much!

When will you be coming to Maine? During leaf season (seems early this year, so maybe early October), hotels will be more crowded.

Portland is 2 hours by car from Boston, and to explore beyond Portland, you'd need a car. It is a wonderful small city on the bay with a world-wide reputation for great restaurants. You could explore Portland's museums, galleries, stores, etc., or take a relaxing mailboat ride to the islands in the bay, or take the 20 minute ferry out to Peak's Island to get a feeling for island life (and have lunch at the Inn on Peaks.) Portland also has wonderful beer. Freeport, with outlets & LL Bean, is 25 minutes north.

Another prime Maine experience is the 3 hour drive to Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park. You could take the coast road and drive through beautiful coastal towns like Camden, Rockland, and Belfast. Acadia is breath-taking and Bar Harbor has many b&b's, shops, and restaurants.

You could split 4-5 days between these two locations and get a feel for Maine ... then come back next summer to explore the mountains & lakes!

Will need a little more information Peggy. When? How are you getting from DC to Boston, by train? Are you wanting to continue up to Maine by train, or are you going to rent a car? What are you intereted in seeing, rocky coastline or beautiful beaches? Serene golden ponds and fall colors? Hiking, golf, shopping, seafood? Budget motels or quaint B&Bs?

We will be traveling the first week of October. WE are visiting a son in DC for the first couple days, and then another student in Boston. starting to think that Boston should be mid week, as geographically otherwise we will be going back and forth. We're not sure - we are planning on renting a car, figured that we we could stop where we want etc, however is train something that we should consider? I assumed that would be slow and expensive! (I sound like someone who's never traveled dont I!)...this is just an area of the country that niether of us know (from Chicago)...as for what we would like to see-fall colors, rocky coast, cute towns, just always hear Maine is beautiful and want to see it while out there. I was thinking Bar Harbor and Acadia, then drive down the coast from there...thank you!

After travel from DC to Boston I would go to Ogunquit Maine area to Portland Maine otherwise that you will be spending most of your time in the car and not enjoying the area. A car rental would be good. Ogunquit is less than 2 hours from Boston.

We stayed a few nights in Rockland, which along with Camden is a quaint, typical Maine area. We stayed at Berry Manor Inn and they have FREE PIE and ice cream 24/7 A great B&B with wonderful hosts:

http://www.berrymanorinn.com/

That's "fall colors" time of year so you should probably book accomodations pretty soon if you're fussy. If you don't mind clean mom-and-pop roadside motels in the coastal areas you'll be fine. It's not a difficult area to navigate with a good map.
Watch the weather and wing it. Put some of these places in the "search the forums" box at the top and you'll read some great ideas and trip reports:

OGUNQUIT KENNEBUNKPORT CAMDEN BOOTHBAY

With the short amount of time, I agree, Bar Harbor/Acadia is too far. Camden was voted one of Yankee Magazine's top 25 foliage destinations but it could be an easy visit from Rockland. The B&B DebitNM suggested sounds great and Rockland is a great area. With an early start from Boston you could have lunch and a walk on the Marginal Way in Ogunquit on your way to Rockland. On the return trip visit Portland and do an early boat trip with lunch in Portland.

If you like "off the beaten path" places to visit, I can recommend The Desert of Maine, located in Freeport (home to L.L. Bean).

http://www.desertofmaine.com/

I was there 40 years ago and found it to be a fascinating quirk of nature. I recently recommended the Desert to a friend of mine who was camping in Maine with her husband and another couple. All four of them enjoyed visiting and learning about this strange phenomenon.

Whatever you decide to do, have a great time and a safe trip.

Robyn