Trip to Maine
 

My cousin and I are both wanting to go to Maine next summer for our 40th birthday. We are big lighthouse fans. We are hoping to catch all the popular lighthouses that we can. We are thinking about staying 7 days.
Where should we fly into? Boston? She is coming from St. Louis and I'm coming from Texas. We would be renting a car of course.

Any suggestions would be Great!!!
Thanks,
Melissa

If you are flying from Texas you could probably get a cheap flight to Manchester NH since Southwest flies there. I like the Nubble Light in
York Beach. I also like the Union Bluff Hotel there, but only if you get a room with a porch that faces the ocean.

I was checking on the flight into Manchester and Southwest is cancelling that flight in Nov of this year. But the prices were about the same as for Boston.
Thhe Nubble light looks Fab !

What are some places along with the lighthouses that we will need to see??

York is only 1 hour 15 minutes from Boston and a great area. We have owned for 20 years there! See www.gatewaytomaine.com for information, and www.riversbythesea.com for weekly rentals. I have a place there but can't advertise, but a fabulous area!

I just ralized the site is www.gatewaytomaine.org .

Thank you thurstonbb, I've ordered a booklet from the gateway to Maine website.

ideally you should fly into portland, which is right on the ocean. driving into maine from boston can be torture. say all summer and fall. manchester is several hours west of the ocean.

owl's head light is one of my favorites, but here's a perfect site for you to plan you light trip around: http://www.lighthouse.cc/me.html
their map might be useful/fun as well.
many towns in southern maine especially will be booking now for next summer so the sooner you make some choices the better accomodations you'll find.

I agree with flying into Portland, you have so many options available within an hour's drive along the coast!

Maine is awesome!! Enjoy!


Layla %%-

Manchester airport is only about an hour west of Portsmouth NH which is on the coast. Because of prices a lot of people from Maine choose to fly out from there. I think one of the airports in Maine is going to have more competitive prices so I would definitely check Portland. You might find it cheaper on car rental, too. If you choose to fly into Boston, try to avoid a Friday because traffic will be extremely heavy heading to Maine esp in summer with backups at the toll booths esp the one in NH.
Here's a link to a living history museum lighthouse (Burnt Island)
http://www.maine.gov/dmr/education/l...useprogram.htm
Also look into cruises to see lighthouses offered by the Maritime Museum in Bath. The one we took several years ago was fantastic but it was an all day trip, we had perfect weather, and great narration. We love mid-coast Maine and I esp enjoyed our visit last year. We stayed in Wiscasset which made it convenient for travel north and south. Camden was an easy drive and our favorite lobster shack is near Owls Head Light. We enjoyed Bath's 4th of July events and did not find things extra crowded because of the 4th. There are certain areas like downtown Boothbay that are always crowded on weekends. On other visits we've enjoyed some quiet times reading and watching the ocean at a scenic spot (Mt Battie overlooking Camden harbor, Pemaquid Point Light House) so bring binnoculars, bag chairs and basic picnic supplies). If you plan on any boat rides it could be chilly so also bring light jackets, hats and sunglasses. It's much colder out on the water than on land.

I fly back and forth often to go to our place in ME from FL and always get great flights and prices to Boston. I have checked other options - Portland, Manchester, but never got anything good. It is a very easy drive...I'll be doing it next week! 1 hour and you are going over the bridge from NH to ME.

Funny, so will I! Well, I'm flying FL to Boston Saturday, and then meeting my husband (he drove up there a week ago) and we will be driving up to his parents in Maine.

Thanks for the replies, I'll look into Portland.

Well, I have checked airlines and the small airport close to me it looks like Boston is about my best bet. Unless, I drive to Dallas 5hrs away and then catch a different airline. American & Southwest are the only airlines that fly out of my area. Southwest is dropping their Manchester flight in Nov from our area.

I think looking around Boston for a day would be great as well.

What do ya'll think?