Parents coming up here in August! (Topsham, Lisbon: real estate, rentals, houses)

[hays]

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if you could give me some information on some really nice vacationing spots here in Maine. My husband and I moved up here from NC in November and we haven't really gotten out much since we have a baby and my husband has been away on training quite a bit. My parents are coming up here from North Dakota at the end of August and they want to have a really good time and see things that they don't get to see there in the Dakotas. My dad loves the ocean and mountains. Could you all give me some information on great vacation spots here that will satisfy them and also be friendly for a 1 year old? Thanks so much!

I live in the Topsham/Lisbon area and I was wondering for myself if there are any nice little parks, beaches, and walking trails that would be safe for me to go to with my son? Thanks!

~Hayley~

[LovelyBeachGirl]

Hayley, I'm not sure exactly where you are, but we vacationed in Maine last year and absolutely loved Bar Harbor. We also spent a lot of time at Acadia National Park. You should get in touch with Maine's Bureau of Transportion, they have a huge book with all kinds of great information on the state.

[Toria]

go to this website, it is the official Maine tourism site and will probably give you more ideas than you'll ever have time for:

http://usa.visitmaine.com/

[mainebrokerman]

a few of my fav areas....pemaquid point, you can drive right to the lighthouse,,and walk and sit (picnic) on the large rocks,,and hear/see the waves crash in front of you,,,its about an hour and a half north of portland (summer traffic time)
caostal rte one,,,,past brunswick, bath , wiscasset, exit off the damariscotta/edgecomb ramp,,follow rte 130 to bristol/round pound. there is a pemaquid beach (ocean) and also a fort...but the lighthouse i love the best ,,drive right to it,,,,and the ocean in right in front..

rangely, and greenville are great places to visit,,,good chance to see a moose,,excellent camp grounds,,

[irishmom]

We have gone to Boothbay Harbor each year for the past 6 years and just love it there. Plenty of boating and fishing as well as quaint and not so quaint shops...great food and the people are extremely nice to be around. We have always rented seaside houses for lodging...try http://cottageconnection.com for rentals. The people there were truly helpful and super sweet to us.

Even though we won't be moving to Maine anymore we will still spend our tourist dollars there each year!

[DavidoftheNorth]

"Even though we won't be moving to Maine anymore we will still spend our tourist dollars there each year!"

IM - Just curious - what was the deciding factor(s) in your decision - if you don't mind sharing?

[hays]

WOW!!!! Thank you all so very much!!!!!! My parents are getting really excited to come. I emailed them the websites you all have supplied. That is such great information! Thank you so much! It helps out a lot!

~Hayley~

[DavidoftheNorth]

Originally Posted by hays

Hey everyone,

I was wondering if you could give me some information on some really nice vacationing spots here in Maine. My husband and I moved up here from NC in November and we haven't really gotten out much since we have a baby and my husband has been away on training quite a bit. My parents are coming up here from North Dakota at the end of August and they want to have a really good time and see things that they don't get to see there in the Dakotas. My dad loves the ocean and mountains. Could you all give me some information on great vacation spots here that will satisfy them and also be friendly for a 1 year old? Thanks so much!

I live in the Topsham/Lisbon area and I was wondering for myself if there are any nice little parks, beaches, and walking trails that would be safe for me to go to with my son? Thanks!

~Hayley~

Check these:

www.mooseheadlake.org (largest lake & medium mountains)
www.nps.gov/acad/ (ocean and hills)
www.sugarloaf.com (in mountainous region of Maine - very pretty)

[irishmom]

Originally Posted by DavidoftheNorth

"Even though we won't be moving to Maine anymore we will still spend our tourist dollars there each year!"

IM - Just curious - what was the deciding factor(s) in your decision - if you don't mind sharing?

Honestly we came to the conclusion that New Hampshire offered better schools in areas that the housing was affordable. The real estate taxes are comprable to the better areas of Maine and are offset by no income tax. The ability to commute to Boston to work (and the nonresident rate of income tax is sooooo much less than Maine's rate of income tax that we are still ahead in New Hampshire) was an added bonus that will insure our options are open. So my husband turned down the job offer in Maine because we didn't think it would be a good long term decision for us. Having a job and then possibly not having the ability to get another one or to advance because of limited opportunity was just too risky for us. So we have decided to go to New Hampshire. Live free or die!

[DavidoftheNorth]

Originally Posted by irishmom

Honestly we came to the conclusion that New Hampshire offered better schools in areas that the housing was affordable. The real estate taxes are comprable to the better areas of Maine and are offset by no income tax. The ability to commute to Boston to work (and the nonresident rate of income tax is sooooo much less than Maine's rate of income tax that we are still ahead in New Hampshire) was an added bonus that will insure our options are open. So my husband turned down the job offer in Maine because we didn't think it would be a good long term decision for us. Having a job and then possibly not having the ability to get another one or to advance because of limited opportunity was just too risky fo us. So we have decided to go to New Hampshire. Live free or die!

Thank you for sharing your decision process, IM. Your comments will be fed into our State computer system, analyzed by professional analysts, and undoubtedly will result in.....nothing!

But seriously, thanks for sharing, and I hope everything works out for the best for you and your family. I probably would have arrived at the same decision. Tally-ho!