Thx Dfrostnh. Appreciate your note. We'll heed your advise and the good news is that in May the crowds will be far less than around July.

I agree with dfrostnh on the towns. (Sorry about the wrong name for Mt Battie.) Outside of Boothbay is the wonderful Maine Coastal Botanical Gardens. Also Waterman's is the best for a lobster meal with fabulous pie and driving on the peninsula is lovely. Port Clyde is a cute little town.
I always enjoy exploring the Harpswell peninsula and Bath is a great little town that seems to have very few tourists. One of my favorite B&B's in the area is Coveside B&B, http://www.covesidebandb.com, in Georgetown. It's about 15-20 minutes from Bath and maybe 5-10 minutes to Reid State Park. (Not sure when they open for the season).

Red's is controversial, but we love it and it's always a part of our trips to NE. We have stood in line, but think that it offers one of the largest and best lobster rolls.

Hi yestravel - thanks for the great info - we are really planning to fill up on lots and lots of seafood including lobster :) can't wait!

Ps - the cove side looks great but unfortunately does not open til Memorial Day :(

yestravel, we might have to get a lobster roll at Red's sometime. Many people love it.

swanner, keep in mind that even in May, weekend traffic is heavy in southern Maine. Not as bad as summer but still heavy. Very popular weekend destination or close enough for day trippers. OTH I remember an early summer trip and visit to Belfast where we found a shop closed with a sign on the door "gone fishing". It was probably mid-June.

Ackislander, what a sentiment! I know one family who moved inland from Bar Harbor because it was too crowded and another couple from a lobstering family who couldn't afford a house too close to the coast. I think I've read that none of the homes around Boothbay are owned by locals. Went on a benefit garden tour around Camden once and none of the wonderful gardens were owned by locals. OTH my FIL had a great time at Leonard's Mils Logging Museum (near Bangor) and visiting the Cole Transportation Museum (work vehicles rather than fancy cars). There were college teams competing in woodsmen events and the saw mill had been restored by volunteers. I've been chuckling over a recent question on chowhound about availability of clams in April. Who would dig clams in April was asked? Probably someone with a family to support.

oops, sorry to hijack thread

Hi Dfrostnh - thanks for the heads up re traffic :)

@dfrostnh - for us we are on vacation so not in any rush. Normally I don't stand in line for much of anything - hate it! But with Red's its become a tradition or something. One of us will often hold the place in line and the other walks about the town. Some cute stores to look into. We also end up chatting with everyone in line and hear about their travels and pick up hints on places to go. We seek out lobster rolls and for us Red's remains #1. ALso love Waterman's but generally get their lobsters.

Hi All- we were driving to Camden from Portland area - it was approx 5p on a fri (today) and we ran into Red's Eats. No line or wait - we each had a lobster roll. It was delicious!

Lucky u--no line and delicious Lobster!

Once you've had the big'un at Reds, it might be all downhill from there......