Need some vacation destination ideas. (Portland, Rockland: hotels, camper, restaurants)

[CBaillo]

Hi all, family and I relocated to upstate NY last year from the west coast, and part of the reason was to see this beautiful region, that we've always wanted to see. One of the states we always wanted to get a chance to see was Maine...we always thought it would be cool to eat fresh lobster on the coast of maine. Anyway i'm doing my research now for a possible extended summer weekend trip this year.

I'm looking at Portland and Rockland right now, with the only reasoning being they are in maine and on the coast. Any help available from the locals as to a good vacation place on the coast for a family? We aren't rich, so no references to 5 star hotels or anything..just your average middle class family. Any places that maybe locals may know about that might not be as swarmed w/ tourists, or might be cheaper than the main tourist spots?

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

[Mainer61]

I am from Rockland...In July there is the North Atlantic Blues Festival and in early August the Maine Lobster Festival. Both are crowded and popular with tourists. There is the Samoset Resort where you can golf, swim in the pool, use the gym, or walk the mile long breakwater to the lighthouse. or there are B&Bs (Berry Manor Inn and the Limerock Inn). There is a ferry to Vinalhaven and to North Haven...beautiful rides in nice weather.

Boothbay Harbor is another nice spot. The Anchor Watch B&B is nice and there are more restaurants there (Brown Brothers, Lobsterman's Wharf, the Tugboat, etc.)

[Taxed in Maine]

Portland is just another small city on the ocean. Really nothing to see, from a tourist POV.

The Camden / Rockland area is far nicer. Don't leave out Acadia national park.

[AustinB]

Grab your tent or camper and go to Cobscook Bay State Park. It's downeast, no tourists to speak of, and the food in the local restaurants is cheap and good. The scenery is good also.

[mainebrokerman]

boothbay harbor was a good suggestion,,

and up the coast from boothbay harbor, is the town of south bristol, a beautiful small maine fishing town, which features christmas cove.
the next town up the coast is pemaquid
you can drive right to pemaquid lighthouse, and fort pemaquid and pemaquid beach

to get to these three coastal towns, go up (north) rte 1 from brunswick, thru bath, thru wiscasset, (take a right off rte 1 (think its rte 27 to boothbay)
to pemaqud, and to so bristol, go further north on rte 1 and take the damariscotta exit , go thru town, and turn right onto rte 130/129 and follow to coast

[arzachena]

Don't forget Belfast/Searsport/Stockton Springs/Prospect and Northport/Lincolnville.

Beaches, ferry over to Islesboro or camp at Searsport shore. Check out the observation tower at the new Penobscot Narrows bridge in Prospect. Sandy point beach, Belfast city park or Lincolnville beach.
Eat seafood at Young's Lobster Pound in Belfast.
Check out waldocountymaine.com

Plus Hancock and Washington counties have some of the best Maine can offer...but that is just my opinion.

[maine4.us]

I am partial to Washington County, Eastport, Lubec, and north of Machias. Lots of things to see, not crowded, and reasonably priced.

[Mainer61]

We used to camp at Cobscook every year. Then it got into Downeast Magazine and we could never get a half decent campsite. We went to Baxter after that.

[Abbymoulton]

[quote=Mainer61

Boothbay Harbor is another nice spot. The Anchor Watch B&B is nice and there are more restaurants there (Brown Brothers, Lobsterman's Wharf, the Tugboat, etc.)[/QUOTE]


Amen to that. I agree Boothbay Harbor is the greatest. We go any chance we get.

[Elcarim]

I second the Downeast area suggestion. I've never been so moved by nature that when standing over the cliffs in Acadia. I can't really even put it all into words!

I would say start at Belfast and head north and east, breathing in everything you see between there and Canada!