Vacation in Maine...suggestions?

Fieldsy
Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
in Chit-Chat
My wife and I are looking to stay in Maine for next year in the summer. I was wondering if anyone who went there or lived near there who had any ideas on where to stay, what to do, etc.

We are most likely looking to stay in a hotel and want to be somewhat close to Bangor.
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Replies

  • AwesomelyAmber
    AwesomelyAmber Posts: 1,617 Member
    I live in Maine and I truly do love it here. "Maine Things To Do" is a great website! Check it out :flowerforyou:
  • Fieldsy
    Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
    I love seafood, love nature, love seafood lol.....I'd love to go camping, but I don't know how that would work while staying in a hotel....
  • Nerple
    Nerple Posts: 1,291 Member
    If you want to be near Bangor, then Acadia National Park is a must do. I love it there. Adjacent Bar Harbor is a great little town. There is camping near the National Park as well.
  • monicaroozo
    monicaroozo Posts: 200
    Plan a day trip to Porland's Old Port! Its a great, cute, quaint, cobblestone area with lots of restaurants & shops. Its also coastal and on the water.
  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
    If you want to be near Bangor, then Acadia National Park is a must do. I love it there. Adjacent Bar Harbor is a great little town. There is camping near the National Park as well.

    Bar Harbor is fabulous! If you stay there, you can hike Acadia. There are a ton of trails. My favorite was the Jordan Pond trail. My mom and I did it (it was a tough one, especially since I had three dogs and she had one). At the end, we were at the Jordan House restaurant. They seated us outside with our 4 dogs and put a bowl of water in front of each of them. They have crab cakes and popovers to die for!
  • Fieldsy
    Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
    I will keep all of this into consideration :)

    Keep them coming!

    I am already excited to go. My wife and I will be driving there from Philly :)
  • lilrette
    lilrette Posts: 23 Member
    My husband and I love vacationing in Maine. Don't forget to drive by Steven King's house in Bangor. The Lobster Shack is a pretty happening place to eat at in Cape Elizabeth. We stayed at the Union Bluff in York Beach and it was real nice. Have a blast!
  • supplemama
    supplemama Posts: 1,956 Member
    Boothbay Harbor is really nice!
  • Krissy366
    Krissy366 Posts: 458 Member
    If you want to be near Bangor, then Acadia National Park is a must do. I love it there. Adjacent Bar Harbor is a great little town. There is camping near the National Park as well.

    100% agree with this. My husband and I celebrated our 1st anniversary up there - spend the first night in a nice B&B along the way, camped two nights in Acadia and then stayed our last night in Bar Harbor. Wonderful time. We did a lot of hiking and site seeing. Acadia is absolutely beautiful.
  • BostonMatt
    BostonMatt Posts: 258
    Baxter state park
    Raft the Penobscot or Kennebec
    Hike Mount Katahdin
  • joy31021
    joy31021 Posts: 216
    whale watching
  • weighlossforbaby
    weighlossforbaby Posts: 847 Member
    Lived there for 22 years til I moved to Arkansas with my parents. Mount katahdin is amazing!!!!!!
  • _the_feniks_
    _the_feniks_ Posts: 3,412 Member
    Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor and Baxter State Park are musts.
  • Yogeros
    Yogeros Posts: 19
    We rented this place (Syb's Place), however, I am not sure if they sold their properties. We loved Maine. A lot to do and if you are a nature enthusiast, all the better, because there is so much to do outdoors. Good luck with your search!

    Here is the link:

    http://fhcrentals.concierge-worldwide.com/sybs.html
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    I've spent more than 30 summer vacations on Mount Desert Island (about an hour east of Bangor). I LOVE Maine and look forward to returning year after year.

    Acadia! Hiking! Whale Watching! Boating! Bike Rides! Wild Blueberries! Lobster! Ice Cream! Cool summer days!

    There really isn't anyplace I'd rather spend my summer vacation!
  • UpEarly
    UpEarly Posts: 2,555 Member
    My husband and I love vacationing in Maine. Don't forget to drive by Steven King's house in Bangor. The Lobster Shack is a pretty happening place to eat at in Cape Elizabeth. We stayed at the Union Bluff in York Beach and it was real nice. Have a blast!

    Don't you love the wrought iron 'bat fence' at Stephen King's house?! So cool!
  • equinescrapper
    equinescrapper Posts: 14
    I think there are a lot of great suggestions! I live an hour south of Bangor, but lived in Bangor for a long time (and my parents still live there). Definitely go to Bar Harbor. There are some great shops and restaurants (Epi's is my favorite for sandwiches and pizza). Acadia National Park has some great day/half day hikes.

    Katahdin is an all day adventure in Baxter State Park. It is NOT for the faint of heart and if you are not in decent shape (sorry if this offends anyone, that's not the intention) it will be very very difficult. It may also get you hurt and having to have the park rangers help down the mountain. If you don't get there around 5 or 6 am, the parking lot closest to the trail head will be closed and you won't be able to get in there. However, BSP has TONS of other trails for beginner/novice hikers. I am actually staying at Kidney Pond the beginning of August this year. Can't wait to go!!

    The Folk Festival is fun if you are going to be in Bangor the end of August. Definitely eat at McLaughlin's Seafood! Yum (although I don't like seafood, lots of folks that I know do). They have picnic tables where you can eat right there.

    Camden/Rockland are great coastal towns about an hour or so from Bangor. Taking a windjammer cruise might be fun too. Jenkins Beach is not far at all and a good little swimming place. Fort Knox is in Bucksport (some great history here) and you might want to go up to the top of the new Penobscot Narrows Bridge. There are some awesome views there!
  • equinescrapper
    equinescrapper Posts: 14
    You also might be able to find a place to rent sea kayaks and go kayaking (Blue Hill comes to mind for this)
  • bcollins500
    bcollins500 Posts: 9 Member
    I live near Bangor and have a summer property for rent in the summertime on Philips Lake in Dedham, ME. It is about 45 minutes from Acadia National Park and many other attractions. There is also the oudorr summer concert series in Bangor too with many national acts that come to town. Bangor also offers Hollywood Casino and is the home of horror writer Stephen King. It is a great area to vacation in. If you want to know about some specific attraction or more, please send me a message.

    Bill
  • cms721
    cms721 Posts: 179 Member
    Acadia National Park for some nature. Bar Harbor for Touristy things. Whale watching is great if you can take the rough ride (up and down).
  • wolfi622
    wolfi622 Posts: 206
    Highly recommend the town of Hallowell on the Kennebec and the Bed and Breakfast there called the Benjamin Wales. Our son just spent a few days there. Really, the small village side of Maine, even inland near the lakes and rivers, can't be beat.

    Oh, and don't miss, near Portland, at a little chocolatier, Lenny, the only life size solid chocolate Moose.
  • gomisskellygo
    gomisskellygo Posts: 635 Member
    I have a house in Southern Maine (Wells Beach). I LOVE the area. I would suggest for Southern Maine, Ogunquit, walking the Marginal Way, eating at The Olde Village Inn. I would also reccomend The Cape Arundel Inn, and Federal Jack's in Kennebunkport, as well as Allisons's (awesome nachos) you can see the Bush (George) family compound..

    I LOVE Maine.
  • amandammmq
    amandammmq Posts: 394 Member
    Definitely marking this thread to peruse later... I live not too far away, but am looking for "staycation" ideas for this summer!

    I personally love Portland - a great port city with good walking around stuff, good restaurants, etc.
  • juliecat1
    juliecat1 Posts: 3,450 Member
    Another Bar Harbor suggestion from me! It's some if the most beautiful land I've ever seen. The people are cool and the shops are killer. Nemos is a restaraunt I'd suggest. It looks like a dive. Well..., it is a dive. But do good and a zillion things to look at and take in.
  • gdr1976
    gdr1976 Posts: 460 Member
    Freeport for LL Bean and shopping. Also the Maine Desert is Freeport too
  • Fieldsy
    Fieldsy Posts: 1,105 Member
    I think a cabin rental would be awesome! We do need to visit someone in Bangor...so around there would be perfect.

    If anyone has been to any good cabins around there, feel free to chime in :)

    thanks!
  • Nerple
    Nerple Posts: 1,291 Member
    Freeport for LL Bean and shopping. Also the Maine Desert is Freeport too

    Good Call, especially as the LL Bean Flagship store is just a short detour off 95 on the way to Bangor, and it's open 24 hours a day, there are no locks on the main doors. I love that store. There is also a fair amount of other shopping in the neighborhood as well.
  • Colbyandsage
    Colbyandsage Posts: 751 Member
    2 things are my favorites when I visit Maine... portland and lobster rolls. OMG! Lobster rolls are sooooo good!
  • takingnameskickingbutt
    takingnameskickingbutt Posts: 231 Member
    If you are looking for an amazing place, Midas Lodge on Lake Segago is wonderful! I have been to a few weddings there! I also went to camp (a long time ago) on Sebago!
  • trblmakr23
    trblmakr23 Posts: 44
    If you're going to be by Bangor, then I'm betting once you visit Mt. Desert Island and Acadia National Park...you'll spend most of your time there. It's breathtaking and absolutely beautiful, used to go there every Memorial Day weekend to go camping.

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