Vacation Ideas (Portland, Kittery, Old Orchard Beach: real estate, to rent, motels)

[N.J.Prisoner]

Hi everyone, It's that time of year again to start planning a vacation to Maine ( I can't wait for the day I'm taking vacations from Maine, but until then....) I have been looking for vacation ideas for this year. In the past I've taken the family to Portland and Belfast. We've visited Camden and Bar harbor. Anyone got Some suggestions I can look into for this year? Maybe a great place to rent a cottage or a house or even a resort area ect.... Thanks for any suggestions.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by N.J.Prisoner

Hi everyone, It's that time of year again to start planning a vacation to Maine ( I can't wait for the day I'm taking vacations from Maine, but until then....) I have been looking for vacation ideas for this year. In the past I've taken the family to Portland and Belfast. We've visited Camden and Bar harbor. Anyone got Some suggestions I can look into for this year? Maybe a great place to rent a cottage or a house or even a resort area ect.... Thanks for any suggestions.

That's actually a harder question to answer than you might think! There's soooo much going on around here in the summer months and into the early fall it really depends on what you're interested in. Are you interested in the many festivals held in Maine. There are summer festivals from Fort Fairfield to Kittery and everywhere in between. Potato blossoms, lobsters ,clams, logging,
beans, you name it we have a festival for it. You've seen the coast, how about a nice camp on a lake for a week or two? The real estate guys on here can steer you in the right direction though I imagine booking right away would be necessary. Listening to loons as the moon rises, kids catching sunfish under the dock,a morning paddle around the shoreline in a quiet canoe, or just sitting on the porch reading a book while the kids swim. It's all good! Tell us what you're interested in doing and we'll tell you how to get theah from heah!

[N.J.Prisoner]

Thanks for the response, I was actually trying to be vauge about the type of vacation because I didn't want the responses limited to one type or area. I'd like to get a variety of ideas then take a look at them. You're right I have seen the coast up to Bar harbor but I haven't been north of there or just about anywhere inland.

[dmyankee]

How about...Moosehead Lake!

Fishing, swimming, hiking, boating, rafting, moose watching. Lodging ranges from camping, to elegant B+B's, to rustic lake shore cabins. Plenty to see and do.

[mainesnowflake]

Bethel/Newry area is beautiful and would make a nice weekend getaway. The Golf course there is phenominal and a must play track if you're
a golfer. There are other fun things to do and great trails for hiking or white water rafting. visit the Bethel chamber of commerce for ideas, beautiful country.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by dmyankee

How about...Moosehead Lake!

Fishing, swimming, hiking, boating, rafting, moose watching. Lodging ranges from camping, to elegant B+B's, to rustic lake shore cabins. Plenty to see and do.

Plus the Moosehead Fly -in with tons of sea planes, bean hole beans and lots of fun!

[dmyankee]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Plus the Moosehead Fly -in with tons of sea planes, bean hole beans and lots of fun!

Weekend car racing, golfing and chairlift rides up Squaw Mountain, golfing and hiking at Mount Kineo, hiking the Grand Canyon of the East...Gulf Hagas, 3-6 hour rides up the lake on board the Steamship Katahdin!

Plenty of restaurants, pubs, stores, outfitters, guides, a well stocked cigar store.

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by dmyankee

Weekend car racing, golfing and chairlift rides up Squaw Mountain, golfing and hiking at Mount Kineo, hiking the Grand Canyon of the East...Gulf Hagas, 3-6 hour rides up the lake on board the Steamship Katahdin!

Plenty of restaurants, pubs, stores, outfitters, guides, a well stocked cigar store.

Now you have wanting to vacation there again!

[CALIMAINER]

I agree with the Mooshead Lake area. Beautiful and you see moose all over the place, which is really exciting! (well, WE think so anyway ) Also farther north, Caratunk, Jackman. Really quiet, peaceful places.
You can find camps/cottages/campgrounds/motels.
The north coast of Maine is also lovely, minus the touristy Bar Habor vibe (and don't get me wrong, I really love Bar Harbor, but it is a more "typical" vacation destination). There are several websites that cater to tourism in Maine, you should check them out.
I've lived here 8 years and still haven't seen 1/2 of what this state has to offer. Every year we try to pick a few new places to visit, along with old faves (Bar Harbor, Old Orchard Beach).
Let us know what you decide.

[zoe456]

I echo the comments that suggested you venture farther "Down East" than Bar Harbor. It's much less touristy and very beautiful. I favor the Schoodic/Sullivan/Gouldsboro areas (I'll come clean, my family has a camp on Flanders Pond in Sullivan).

From this area you can go to Bar Harbor, or venture more Down East and visit Winter Harbor (Schoodic Point is part of Acadia National Park), Machias (a great state park is close by), Lubec, and Calais. These are the last remaining unspoiled areas of Maine's coast.