Going to Maine

[kksfish]

Hi everyone!
In July the DW and I will be taking the month to travel to Maine, our first visit !

Looking for a recommendation on where to go and where to stay for a week or ten days? Hoping to avoid some of the crowds and more interested in dining, micro brews, and scenery plus some local or regional activities. Would appreciate any info on CG near that area as well. We will take a week to drive there and a week home...and yes I am familiar I-95 and will avoid traveling on it! That’s why I am taking a week for travel in both directions....

Thanks in advance for the recommendations

[Pull Toy]

Orchard Beach is a must. Several good cg’s In the area. Make sure to reserve a full day for Portland Downtown. Also make sure to go “Down East” to see the rocky coastline. BarHarbor is a must see, but...Ya can’t Thea frum Hea! lol

Have a great adventure!

[Maineiacs]

The Bar Harbor area is a great place to visit. Lots of craft brewers and lots of interesting places to visit.


Same with the Moosehead Lake area. Also true of Southern Maine - Portland, Old Orchard Beach, Kennebunkport, etc.


What type of campgrounds do you want? Resort style with hundreds of sites or smaller more rural and less expensive ones?

[Maineiacs]

This might interest you. The Maine Beer Trail Challenge! More than 100 to visit.

https://mainebrewersguild.org/visit-...ail-challenge/

[Roscommon48]

lands end is a great place to visit and do lunch


http://redapplecampground.com/ nice area too

[Dave W]

If you are sticking with the coast, you can start at Kittery (Kittery Trading Post). We stayed a bit away at a CG in S Berwick last year. Moving further up, Saco/Biddeford area. Unless you have kids that NEED to stay near the Old Orchard Beach attractions, I recommend staying at either KOA Saco or Homestead on the River. OOB is only a few miles away.

Freeport and LL Bean and other outlet shopping is a must. We usually stay at the Freeport-Durham KOA along the 'B' row. It's about 5-6 miles to freeport

Booth Bay is tough - CGs are full and the driving can be nasty. We will stay near Portland or Freeport then drive up the few miles.

Next in line is Acadia NP. Lots of CG though we generally stay at Timberland Acres. Most of their sites are huge. It's about 15 miles to Acadia and Bar Harbor (where the parking is next to impossible). There are several other good CGs in the area. Excellant restaurants in Ellsworth

Further up is Harrington. Small quiet CG, Sunset Point. Npt musch except sight seeing. We stay there and enjoy a lobster dinner that the CG owner will cook and bring to your trailer. Last fall, just over 3 pounds of lobster dinner was $28.

Next - Lubec and Roosevelt's Campobello Island summer home, New Brunswick (need a Passport). Not a lot of CGs nearby but the one we stayed in was OK, but we had some heated discussion with the manager that kind of spoiled our stay due to the tight site and their lack of action. Others love it though.

Lots of sight seeing but you do need to trave back roads to get near the shore. Many good restaurants as well - don't miss the seafood

CGs in the South tend to have RVs lined like cordwood and are $$$ plus huge summer traffic

[kksfish]

Originally Posted by Dave W

If you are sticking with the coast, you can start at Kittery (Kittery Trading Post). We stayed a bit away at a CG in S Berwick last year. Moving further up, Saco/Biddeford area. Unless you have kids that NEED to stay near the Old Orchard Beach attractions, I recommend staying at either KOA Saco or Homestead on the River. OOB is only a few miles away.

Freeport and LL Bean and other outlet shopping is a must. We usually stay at the Freeport-Durham KOA along the 'B' row. It's about 5-6 miles to freeport

Booth Bay is tough - CGs are full and the driving can be nasty. We will stay near Portland or Freeport then drive up the few miles.


Next in line is Acadia NP. Lots of CG though we generally stay at Timberland Acres. Most of their sites are huge. It's about 15 miles to Acadia and Bar Harbor (where the parking is next to impossible). There are several other good CGs in the area. Excellant restaurants in Ellsworth

Further up is Harrington. Small quiet CG, Sunset Point. Npt musch except sight seeing. We stay there and enjoy a lobster dinner that the CG owner will cook and bring to your trailer. Last fall, just over 3 pounds of lobster dinner was $28.

Next - Lubec and Roosevelt's Campobello Island summer home, New Brunswick (need a Passport). Not a lot of CGs nearby but the one we stayed in was OK, but we had some heated discussion with the manager that kind of spoiled our stay due to the tight site and their lack of action. Others love it though.

Lots of sight seeing but you do need to trave back roads to get near the shore. Many good restaurants as well - don't miss the seafood

CGs in the South tend to have RVs lined like cordwood and are $$$ plus huge summer traffic

Dave, that huge lobster dinner sounds VERY interesting...think he would bring an ice cold IPA with it for me!😁

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by kksfish

Dave, that huge lobster dinner sounds VERY interesting...think he would bring an ice cold IPA with it for me!😁

I think that the IPA has to be your choice - I developed a taste for Bar Harbor Ale but they do have an IPA (http://www.atlanticbrewing.com/our-beers/0. This is one of the best seafood restaurants we have eaten at - ever - in Maine:https://lobsterpot.com/ - and you have to get there early or wait. There are several other decent seafood places on the road between Ellsworth and Bar Harbor as well.

Since you will be at Acadia, there is another part of it across the bay called Schoodic and it too is worth a day trip.

Dang but you got me thinking that maybe the DW and I should go back again this year before or after our other trip which is yet to be planned

[kksfish]

Originally Posted by Dave W

I think that the IPA has to be your choice - I developed a taste for Bar Harbor Ale but they do have an IPA (http://www.atlanticbrewing.com/our-beers/0. This is one of the best seafood restaurants we have eaten at - ever - in Maine:https://lobsterpot.com/ - and you have to get there early or wait. There are several other decent seafood places on the road between Ellsworth and Bar Harbor as well.

Since you will be at Acadia, there is another part of it across the bay called Schoodic and it too is worth a day trip.

Dang but you got me thinking that maybe the DW and I should go back again this year before or after our other trip which is yet to be planned

Beer and lobster! What’s not to like.....

If your DW changes your mind we may see you there!

[kksfish]

WOW! Thanks for all the good info everyone....a beer trail sounds really interesting to me , maybe not so much to the DW but she is willing to learn!

The DW has narrowed her choices to either Bar Harbor or Portland with trip to Acadia NP as well....our CG needs are FHU w/50 amp.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by kksfish

WOW! Thanks for all the good info everyone....a beer trail sounds really interesting to me , maybe not so much to the DW but she is willing to learn!

The DW has narrowed her choices to either Bar Harbor or Portland with trip to Acadia NP as well....our CG needs are FHU w/50 amp.

If you are at Acadia, then you are also at Bar Harbor, both being on Mt Desert Island. Make sure you take a full tour of the island and maybe even a whale watch or boat ride to another island trip. We did that island boat trip 3 years ago and it was a nice day.

Portland can be a great time with interesting shopping and restaurants. You can stay either in the Saco/Biddeford or Freeport area as they are both within 15 miles

Depending on time of year, you may not need 50 amp service. I'm not sure I even dragged that nasty coiled 50 amp anaconda out last year, using only my 30 amp cord.

My wife has stronly hinted that we go back again this year. Having worked in Maine for a couple years in the early 1990s plus vacationd there since the '70s think we need a break, but SWMBO may make the decision .....(maybe)

Oh and send for the Maine touism guide https://www.mainetourism.com/travel-planners/ and https://visitmaine.com/

[kksfish]

Thanks Dave, the tourism site is something i hadn’t even thought to do!

Which of the two do you guys think would be the least crowded in July Portland or Bar Harbor.

[Dave W]

Originally Posted by kksfish

Thanks Dave, the tourism site is something i hadn’t even thought to do!

Which of the two do you guys think would be the least crowded in July Portland or Bar Harbor.

Maine in July is a zoo!!! I-95(Maine Turnpike)/US1 can be bumper to bumper on a weekend. We usually go the last wek in August, first week in September to avoid the crowds.

I would look in the Bar Harbor (Ellsworth/Acadia) area first as there are lseveral good CGs. For many folks from the Boston area, that's just too far for a weekend while the usually filled $$$ Kittery to Portland CGs is just about right for them. Maine is a BIG state. You need to look at the mile scales vs NH and Vermont - they are different.

[kksfish]

Originally Posted by Dave W

Maine in July is a zoo!!! I-95(Maine Turnpike)/US1 can be bumper to bumper on a weekend. We usually go the last wek in August, first week in September to avoid the crowds.

I would look in the Bar Harbor (Ellsworth/Acadia) area first as there are lseveral good CGs. For many folks from the Boston area, that's just too far for a weekend while the usually filled $$$ Kittery to Portland CGs is just about right for them. Maine is a BIG state. You need to look at the mile scales vs NH and Vermont - they are different.

Wow, thanks for all the really good hints Dave
I think you have talked the DW into Bar Harbor....now I will start on choosing the CG AND I will plan on arriving on a Monday or Tuesday to avoid some of the traffic congestion!

[flybouy]

DW and I have been talking about heading "down east" for a few years now. She had an aunt & uncle that lived in Boothbay Harbor. They lived above the VFW hall at the end of the walking bridge that crossed the harbor. Her uncle Free (Freeman) showed us how to use a spinner to fish off the floating pier when the tide was coming in. We would walk a couple of blocks to the dock where the lobsterman would unload their catches. They had lobster tanks outside with seawater flowing thru and you could pick out your lobster and they would steam it while you waited.
Cabbage Island tours had a lobster bake on the Islands beach. Her uncle Free hated the "outsiders" as he was a "Mainiack".

[barterry46]

Camping at Hadley point campground near Acadia would be good choice. Not fancy, family run, close enough to Bar Harbor and entrance to Acadia National park. I hope they are still in business. When we lived in Maine (for 35 years) that is where we camped...even about 3-4 years ago we camped there. At that time there was a place across the road that offered delivered love bster with all the fixings. Best i had ever had.
You will encounter crowds, there in a a shuttle bus to take you along the coastal road in Acadia, saves driving and finding places to park. Downtown BarHarbor has numerous places that serve micro brew beer. Hope you enjoy your trip, have a happy and safe one.

[kksfish]

Well you guys have certainly given me a lot to think about! I thinkI will plan on a shorter travel time in order to spend more time actually in Maine...

Thanks everyone for the info and reviews of campgrounds!

[CWtheMan]

Originally Posted by kksfish

Well you guys have certainly given me a lot to think about! I thinkI will plan on a shorter travel time in order to spend more time actually in Maine...

Thanks everyone for the info and reviews of campgrounds!

Here is a glimpse at our whale watching adventure.

As a youngster I spent many long days aboard lobster boats out of Kennebunkport. So in my youth I had seen Humpbacks up much closer than the one in this picture. However, it was Linda’s (my wife) first trip off the coast of Maine and we had an ideal day for it with just the normal ground swells for her to deal with.

In the whale picture I just missed its surface blow but you can see the mist from it in its wake.

Our guide had a PhD in marine biology and had been following the Humpback migration for seven years. She had loose leaf three ring folders full of their pictures and could name every one that surfaced.

[oldnjrver]

We stayed at the Bar Harbor campground, last September.. It was only a few miles outside of the city.. Very nice, clean and reasonably priced.. They had a shuttle bus that would take you into the city if you liked.. Take the bus tour up to Cadillac mountain. The tour guide/bus drivers are a Hoot!!!

Just check the prices if you decide to stop in town for lunch.. I went into one bar (don't remember the name) that sold tickets for the tour bus and ordered a JW Black on the rocks while waiting for my wife to finish her shopping tour and it cost me $17.00!!!
Needless to say, we didn't have lunch there and found some good food at more reasonable prices nearby..

Safe and happy travels..

[kksfish]

Originally Posted by oldnjrver

We stayed at the Bar Harbor campground, last September.. It was only a few miles outside of the city.. Very nice, clean and reasonably priced.. They had a shuttle bus that would take you into the city if you liked.. Take the bus tour up to Cadillac mountain. The tour guide/bus drivers are a Hoot!!!

Just check the prices if you decide to stop in town for lunch.. I went into one bar (don't remember the name) that sold tickets for the tour bus and ordered a JW Black on the rocks while waiting for my wife to finish her shopping tour and it cost me $17.00!!!
Needless to say, we didn't have lunch there and found some good food at more reasonable prices nearby..

Safe and happy travels..

Wow! That must have been a heck of a good drink! Fortunately you enjoyed it prior to getting the check....right?