We will pick our rental car up at Boston airport at 9pm on a sunday night on the 4th October

We (2 couples) will drive to Marblehead to stay 1 night.
Next day we hope to look around Salem for the morning and then head north.
We are thinking of staying 2 nights in Portland. Is this a good idea or any other better suggestions. We hope to maybe stop at a couple of lighthouses along the way or any other points of interest. We are foodies so I have read that Portland is good for that. But its not a top priority.

Is Portland too big a city? Should we stay somewhere else?
Originally we had thought to drive up to Bar Harbour but now feel that this is too far. We hope to sample the local seafood also.

Our next 2 days after Maine we are planning to drive to maybe North Conway or somewhere in the vicinity to stop 2 nights.

Any suggestions?
Thank you

I would spend two nights in Ogunquit and enjoy the coast along there (including Kennebunkport) and the two nights in Bar Harbor.

Yes I think that Portland is more of a "city" than what you are probably looking for.

Juniper Hill Inn has good rates on those nights, and you can easily take the 30min drive into Portland for lunch or dinner on Tuesday if there's a restaurant you're particularly interested in.
http://www.ogunquit.com/juniperhill/index.cfm

Thank you for your replies

We will just have the 2 nights in somewhere on the Maine coast and then moving on to NH for 2 nights and then on to Woodstock Vt for 5 nights ( this is already booked as it is the Columbus weekend).

We live on the coast of Australia so do like the coast areas and we will be moving inland after that. We are probably looking for light houses and coastal walks and lobster! Just looking for somewhere to base for the 2 nights, but interesting things to see in the area.

I looked up Ogunquit, some suggestions for what to do in the area? I did look at Juniperhill. The prices are very reasonable, much cheaper than Portland.

So now I am not sure.

There are lots of nice coastal towns in southern Maine. Ogunquit is perhaps the most 'cutesy' with a fabulous beach, lots of good eateries, art galleries and gift shops. It is popular with both families and the gay community. There is a beautiful cliffside walk in the Perkins Cove section of Ogunquit known as Marginal Way.
Other towns to look at close by might include York, Kennebunkport and Cape Elizabeth. There are several lighthouses in the area - Nubble light may be the most scenic. Route 1, which is the major highway that connects these towns, is quite commercialized and often congested, but drive onto any of the smaller back roads and it is quintessential Maine. As you go above Portland, the coast becomes more rockbound with picturesque towns like Boothbay and Camden.

Ok maybe leaning towards Ogunquit.
The Marginal way looks like a nice walk.

I have been googling the lighthouses in the area, so may be able to include them in our itinerary.

We would definitely not be going further north than Portland.

Any other suggestions to stay in Ogunquit, I have looked at Juniperhill which was previously mentioned.

Unless it's a weekday, Rt 1 traffic in the Ogunquit and Wells area is very congested. OK, keep in mind I live in the country so any traffic is too much. Last fall friends and I stayed at the Elmwood Resort in Wells. An old motel but with condo amenities. Right on Rt 1 but would stay there again for convenience. Went to cooking demo dinner at Stonewall Kitchen one night (full dinner and fun demo) and theater the second night.

Rockland is about 2 hours from Portland. The easy hike to Owls Head Light is a nice walk. We haven't walked on the breakwater. Enjoyed a wine tasting at Breakwater Winery.

I don't think you should miss a mailboat cruise on Casco Bay. If you take the first one in the morning, you'll be back in Portland Old Port area for lunch. You can park in the garage next to the ferry terminal. You can find lots of dining recommendations on Chowhound. If you like ice cream, go to MDI ice cream in the Old Port Area. If it's not busy you can get some free tastings and then choose the sampler so you can have several flavors.

But when my husband and I vacation we head north of Portland. Don't usually get off I95 until we're in Brunswick. More driving but I don't think you should miss Camden and the view overlooking the harbor from the top of Mt Battie.

When you head north from Salem, do a short detour to the coast. Rt 1 thru Rye NH takes you past private mansions. Rt 1B goes thru the very old town of New Castle to the Strawbery Banke Historic Area of Portsmouth. At one point on a causeway you can see the old derelict Navy prison in one direction, and the distant view of the fabulously restored Wentworth hotel in the other.

I've not stayed at Juniperhill, although it looks nice enough from the road - but on the road. There are lots of great options in Ogunquit. A lifetime of visiting the area, we love sea chambers.com for a number of reasons. The location, the pool, the views, the everchanging views from adirondack chairs and the dock. It is a very big tide, so the view is ever changing across to Moody Beach/Ogunquit Beach, as the river swells and the tides change and the beach goes from wide to tiny. Amd Marginal Way starts just next door at Sparhawk - lots of great memories there too.

On that famous Ogunquit traffic, mid week may be fine, but we always cut over to York and take Shore Rd into Ogunquit. We also do this when heading to Kennebunkport and do the ocean side entry into town rather then the maine road then gets congested easily.

There will be no "Ogunquit traffic" on October 5 and 6. But Shore Road from Ogunquit down to Nubble Lighthouse is a very scenic drive in spots.

Another nice spot in Ogunquit that usually has some good rates mid-week: www.terracebythesea.com

Thank you all for your information.

And for the accom recommendation at the Sea Chambers and Terrace by the sea. They both look good with nice views.

I have sent an email to both enquiring about availability. The rates look good too.

We will be there mid week so hopefully traffic in the area will not be a problem. The changing tide sounds like it will be interesting viewing and Nubble Lighthouse is on the list. We know we will only be getting a short "taste" of Southern Maine but don't wish to spend all our time driving. Especially on the other side of the road!

We hope to also taste some lobster, as lobster in Australia is very expensive. So any restaurant or eating places would be appreciated.

Fox's Lobster right there by Nubble Light is very good, also right there is Brown's Ice Cream...not sure if either is still open in early October. Footbridge Lobster has delicious "famous Maine" lobster rolls, or Cape Neddick Lobster Pound if they're still open. Lobster is not inexpensive even in Maine, however.
If you have rooms that have a dining table or refrigerator/kitchenette...Perkins Cove Lobster will deliver cooked lobsters right to your room.

The two males in our party love ice cream, so they will enjoy sampling some.

A couple of accommodations that we are looking at have kitchenettes and refrigerators, so thanks for the Perkins Cove Lobster delivery idea.

Yes, I have not visited Perkins Cove Lobster - seems reasonable. Do they charge for steaming? I have had Mike's in Wells complimentary steam a couple hundred lobsters over the years. Call up and order a half or dozen bugs and send the boys for pickup. Always do a great job - even with steamers.
http://mikesclamshack.com

We have also gone to Perkins Cove Lobster Shack for decades - not for lobster, but for their chili dog. Love that place! And they usually run a lunch special of lobster roll and chowder.

http://www.lobster-shack.com

You can burn it all off walking the Marginal or the 3 mile hard sand beach. Watch the tide chart to enjoy

Those bugs are steamed at the fish market at Mike's. We've often stopped over at the restaurant to pick up some fries and chicken tenders for the non lobster eating kids. Or an order of fried clams.

Mmmm it all sounds yummy!

I have never eaten clams, looking forward to sampling lots of Maine fare.

Chili dog? Is that a hot dog?

lots of good seafood in Maine. I love broiled cod with butter and lemon, or broiled scallops. a chili dog is typical American comfort food, a hot dog covered with chili and sometimes melted cheese and onions.

If you enjoy lighthouses, I wouldn't miss the Portland Headlight....perhaps the most famous and picturesque lighthouse in this country. It is an easy hour drive north of Ogunquit and easily enjoyed before heading to North Conway. There is a lunch wagon that sells wonderful lobster rolls near the headlight....not sure if they are still there in October...but certainly worth the experience if they are!!!

The food truck is Bite Into Maine. They have a facebook page you could check. Very unusual to offer 5 kinds of lobster rolls. Most places only offer one. The soda they sell is very good, too. Fort Williams park has a wonderful view of Casco Bay. There's also a walk along the cliff.

Thanks for the suggestions,

Not sure if I would like a hot dog with chili but I am sure hubby would have a go. But I love scallops.

The Portland lighthouse is on the list and a good suggestion to do it on the way to New Hampshire and lobster rolls sounds yum!