what to pack for Maine in July
 

We are visiting Maine in mid-July. Summer in New Orleans is soooo hot, and I can't get my head around how to dress in Maine. Help!!

Best bet is to check the forecast on weather.com, accuweather.com, etc., to finalize your packing. Pay attention to the lows - the highs generally apply only to a few hours in the afternoon. Mornings/evenings can be quite cool, even on the hottest of days. It will be a lot less humid than in New Orleans, and there are usually cool ocean breezes at all times, if you're near the ocean.

When I visited New Orleans in May, I thought it was much more uncomfortable than the hottest weather I've ever experienced during the summer in Maine!

Shorts, sandals, etc., are fine during the day. But, you may need slacks and sweaters mornings and evenings, especially if you're staying near the ocean.

And, restaurants tend to be overcooled, so you could freeze in a strappy sundress and sandals.

But, don't overpack. There is no shortage of sweatshirt shops all over!

I agree.... for example, just check out the LLBean catalog. Now you konw why they offer long sleeves in the summer catalog. :-) Maine summers are wonderful and not nearly as humid as New Orleans

Don't forget the bug spray.

Enjoy your trip. It's great to be here in the summer.

I agree too........And do take a windbreaker/rain proof jacket. Not that I'm predicting rain, but if you have it you will have better weather, somehow if you don't you'll need it. If you are going to northern Maine or near the water, you will need it often even in August. If you are doing the coast much above Portland, expect water temperatures to be much colder than is comfortable for most of us.

Enjoy the beauty of this special place.

We camp in Acadia for a week every year in early August. When my boys were young I would always tell them to pack at least one pair of long pants, one long-sleeved shirt, and a sweatshirt or fleece jacket, even though they wear shorts in the coolest weather. I would say "its never too hot in Acadia". Then we had a year with temps in the high 80's and it was almost too hot to sleep in the tents at night! So much for Mom's advice!

Just be prepared for cool and wet and hopefully you will not need the clothes. As one poster said, you may want to pick up a souvenir sweatshirt or fleece, and there are LLBean outlets in Portland, Freeport and Ellsworth!

We have frequently hit heat waves with temps in the high 80's in Maine in July or early August. It's certainly not as umcomfortable as the heat in NO and not humid, but it can get toasty esp during the day. OTOH I have had to buy heavier clothes, such as a warm sweatshirt on other trips. We haven't had much rain -- a shower once in awhile but that's it. Maine is a beautiful state--enjoy your trip!

Unless you grew up in Maine or a similar climate, leave the bathing suits at home. It's fun to go to a beach in Maine or Canada and see the locals nonchalontly enjoying the water (they think if there's no ice, then it's <i>warm</i>) while all the out of town vacationers are freaking out at how cold the water seems.

It is especially fun to be a Mainer and watch the tourists freak out while your sons happily parade in and out of the ice cold water at Sand Beach in Acadia! What a hoot!

Thank you all for the helpful info. Now, please tell me special attractions, things to do, what not to miss, etc.

What part/areas of Maine will you be visiting?

What areas of Maine and how many days in Maine total?

Don't forget the appropriate footwear. You will get little use out of strappy, open sandals in Maine. You will need sturdy sneakers that tie, possibly hiking boots, and socks. Loose, slip-on plastic shoes, such as crocs, are downright dangerous for climbing around on the rocks!

Even in mid July I would pack a fleece jacket if you plan on a boat trip. It can be pretty cold out on the water. If you go to Monhegan Island you should wear sturdy sneakers or hiking boots. I can hike in good Teva like sandals but boots are better for preventing stubbed toes. For a day trip to Monhegan we took a picnic lunch and binnoculars and did a hike up to and along a cliff.
We're headed to Wiscasset mid-July but we're camping and will only be visiting casual restaurants. We're headed to the Camden House and Garden tour on July 16. We usually take a picnic lunch and bag chairs to the top of Mt Battie via the auto road to enjoy the incredible view looking out on the harbor and then head a little north to Lincolnville and a wine tasting at the Cellar Door Winery. This year there is too much to do on the 16th since there's a great looking lighthouse cruise with the Bath Maritime Museum to the Boothbay Harbor area. We went on a similar boat trip several years ago and it was great. Hope the same person is narrating. DH wants to go to the Owls Head Transportation Museum for the antique truck and airplane show. They really fly the planes and some of them are very old. Then we will go to our favorite lobster shack where hat and sunglasses are required to eat on a picnic table by the water. I think we will also explore the Harpswell area again and eat at the Dolphin Marina.
If you are head to Acadia there's a great used bookstore in an old chicken coop right on Rt 1 just south of Ellsworth. The first floor is antiques. Another place to just sit a spell is Pemaquid Lighthouse. Again, bag chairs, drinks and snacks. Found a nice place in the shade. There was a painting class set up there, too. The Farnsworth Museum in Rockland is very nice since it features Maine artists.

We live in Texas and go to Maine every June. I always wear 1 pair of jeans and pack a pair, plus 2 capris, 4 shirts, a fleece vest (I bought in Acadia years ago). I also take one warm nightgown and one light weight. I've learned to pack light as we always hit the grocery store on the way to the island. And invariably I pick up a couple of tshirts at the Acadia park store and one at the 2Cats B&B. I also always take a lightweight rainproof jacket :) Enjoy!

Cannot reinforce too strongly the need for real shoes. Sandals, flip flops and crocs are fine on the streets - but when you're climbing around on rocks - or walking on unpaved trails they are not only uncomfortable but really dangerous.

As for swimming - if your hotel has a pool that's fine. But the water is cold (even to a New Yorker used to the north Atlantic and who thins water in FL is way too hot to be comfortable. Count on a little wading - but not much more - in the ocean.

I echo the advice to pack a warm jacket, especially if you plan to go out on a boat trip. It can be surprising how fast the temperature can drop when you leave shore, even on a hot day!

Bookmarking. :)