A Week In Maine (Portland, Bangor: rental car, rental, how much)

[tankratt]

My wife let me know my Christmas present early this year. A week in Maine, although I can spend any week in Maine and have a great time, my wife has never been and I want her to have a fantastic trip too. So What, Where and when is the advice of all you Mainers. I was thinking of the Lobster fest in Rockland but I don't know if I can wait that long,if I have to I have to, But this will be the trip to help her see that I am right about moving there. The plan is after my youngest daughter graduates High School in 2012 we will move, so alot of time for more trips but I want this one to be a home run.

[dmyankee]

International Seaplane Fly-In

Weekend after Labor Day

Moosehead Lake

[retiredtinbender]

The best time the DW and I have had was just riding around the state in May/June. We stayed in old time cabins and such. There's a couple hotels in Saco, good cabins north of Freeport, and in Edgecomb. Just stayed away from the antique stores art galleries except to just look. We ate at diners instead of resteraunts, hit the Desert of Maine, all the stuff my folks used to take to this side of NH. Did nothing but roam around all up and down Rt 1. If you don't feel the need to buy everything you see, its a nice ride.

Even now we take a day and drive to Lubec on the motorcycle. Course we go by way of Calais Alexander, Machias (Helens pie for strength) Cutler Lubec and then the ferrys home to Eastport.

Relax, enjoy. Take a load off and see the sights. Just don't try it from end of June thru Mid Sept.

[Maineah]

Start in Portsmouth NH and visit all of the Brewpubs between the NH and Canadian Border That will take about a week!

[chaosX5]

That is the BEST Christmas present I can think of!!! I, of course, have no advice but I look forward to what everyone will say

[mainebrokerman]

having visited or been in/thru most maine towns, one area of the state which is one of my favs is the pemaquid lighthouse area,,,you can drive right to a lighthouse,,walk around on the rocks with the ocean right in front of you,,,,you can rent cottages in that area,,,there is pemaquid beach,,,a small sandy ocean beach,,,,the nearby towns,,are boothbay harbor,,and south bristol (christmas cove) absolutely gorgeous areas!!!!

[island mermaid]

Hi Dave,

I think you and your DW should come during the "real" summer - in my opinion August is the best month. In August your less apt to be fogged in along the coast. July is usually nice but can be pretty iffy too. I'm just thinking that coming from Seattle, you might prefer nice warm sunshine and less rain. Of course I'm not saying it doesn't ever rain in August. The Lobster Festival can be fun but so can Windjammer Days, the local county fairs, taking in some of the central parts of the state like Moosehead are a great idea also. There are just so many choices, first figure out if you're going to fly into Portland or Bangor. It's been my experience that flying into Portland or even Manchester, NH is less expensive.
Maine is a huge state, figure out which parts are at the top of your list of intended potential places you'd want to live in. Does your DW prefer the coast or the rivers, lakes, mountains and streams? Are you an inland guy or a coastal guy? Do you want to be in a really remote area or closer to a little activity? Do you want to do the typical tourist type of vacay?

Give us all a little more info regarding what you're thinking you'd like for her to see and I'm sure we can clog up at least 50 pages of useless information. ( did I really just say that?)

[tankratt]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Start in Portsmouth NH and visit all of the Brewpubs between the NH and Canadian Border That will take about a week!

Now I could do that, its only a rental car right? lol just kidding

[Nor'Eastah]

The best way to tour Maine, CD-style:

1) Go over to Maineah's and have a look at that shootin' range of his that bothers his upscale neighbors.
2) Go over to Ranger's and have a look at that scarecrow he rigged up with a beer can in its hand.
3) Stop by Maine Writer's place and look at the greenhouses and the wreath operation.
4) Visit Starwalker's place and see how much she has cleared with her scythe.
5) Elston has done some landscaping at his place that ought to be worth a look.
6) Forest Beekeeper continues to work on his house, which should be worth seeing by now.
7) Boon Skyler has a nice cabin arrangement coming along on his homestead.
8) The Mermaid may be in town when you get here; she is a must-see and must-visit lady!
9) There will likely be get-together #3 going on in Bangor with all the CD members.
10) Stop by NMLM's area and have him show you around northern Maine. He knows where everything is, was, will be, and whether it's a good thing or not.

Those are the top 10 visiting spots on any CDer's visit to Maine! Have fun!

[island mermaid]

BIG reps coming your way, Nor!

All excellent suggestions! I can't think of a better way for anyone to want to spend a week in Maine than with all of the CD'ers!