Three Day Trip to Maine - Portland and Northern Maine (Rockland: home, live)

[balatro]

Hey everyone, wife and I are headed to Portland for the City and Colour and Noah Gundersen concert. We plan on spending the first day in Portland, then heading north along Route 1. It'll give us a full day Wednesday to explore, then part of Thursday before we head back to Syracuse.

I realize that to get the best views and see "real" Maine, you have to get off Route 1.

Any suggestions for our Wednesday or Thursday trip? I've been reading up some responses and suggestions on TripAdvisor and Maine websites but most of the responses are 5+ years old and geared toward Fall travelers, so I wanted to check here too.

[Fern435]

One recommendation: Reid State Park is a beautiful place to walk along the beach and scramble across the rocks. Take Route 127 south from Woolwich and follow it to the sign for Reid State Park/Seguinland Road. At the end of Route 127 is Five Islands Lobster Company. Enjoy the uniquely Maine scene with the islands and ocean while eating delicious seafood.

The Dairy Queen at Route 1/Woolwich/Route 127 is also recommended! Great blizzards and caramel moolattes.

[balatro]

Looks like we'll be in Maine all day Wednesday and Thursday too, decided to head back Friday.

[Brodels]

What sorts of things do you like to do? Knowing more about that would help us provide suggestions that are tailored to your interests.

[jonesg]

Originally Posted by balatro

Hey everyone, wife and I are headed to Portland for the City and Colour and Noah Gundersen concert. We plan on spending the first day in Portland, then heading north along Route 1. It'll give us a full day Wednesday to explore, then part of Thursday before we head back to Syracuse.

I realize that to get the best views and see "real" Maine, you have to get off Route 1.

Any suggestions for our Wednesday or Thursday trip? I've been reading up some responses and suggestions on TripAdvisor and Maine websites but most of the responses are 5+ years old and geared toward Fall travelers, so I wanted to check here too.

To reach N maine you're better off getting on 95, drive north 4 hrs then get back on rt 1.

[balatro]

Originally Posted by Brodels

What sorts of things do you like to do? Knowing more about that would help us provide suggestions that are tailored to your interests.

We certainly both love seafood and are looking to find unique places to eat it. That said, we like visiting breweries as well. I especially love trying unique foods of places that I visit. When visiting China I ate my fair share of organ meats and bugs, for example. I have a rather strong stomach and like trying exotic things.

I enjoy walking the streets of unique coastal towns and popping into museums that cater to local history and culture. I especially love visiting beautiful churches. The wife is more into small galleries, local music or live music venues, and just about anything artistic.

We're looking for more quality over quantity as far as towns to visit/things to do. So, we've tentatively discussed trying to keep our trip between Portland and Bar Harbor, as we'll be back closer to October.

[corgis]

Try Eastport - a fishing village with a vibrant arts and food scene.

[Cuffler]

On Wednesday from Portland stick to Rt. 1 and follow the coastline. In Owl's Head you'll find a place to visit called the Transportation Museum. Trains, planes and automobiles all running and working. After that, continue on Rt 1 toward Rockland, Rockport where you'll have a hard time not finding someplace to stop and eat, and finally Camden. Camden is the quintessential Maine village with a stunningly beautiful harbor full of a huge variety of boats. In Camden, see if you can get a room at the "Towne Motel" which is within walking distance of the harbor area and a ton of shops and outstanding food. We've stayed there a number of times.

Thursday grab breakfast in town and then continue up the road and drive to Belfast, Me. That town is really something. Do yourself a favor and do a Google Search on them. While you are looking for lunch/dinner, you can find Young's Lobster pound across the bay. They have thousands of Lobsters and assorted other seafood available for lunch/dinner there right on the bay.

Need a place to stay that night? A bit further up the road is a throwback to years past; a cottage setup called Colonial Gables right on Rt 1 and the ocean but the rates were excellent. You'll have a drive home on Friday to NY but you'll have seen a lot of the best that Maine can offer. Next trip go to Acadia and Bar Harbor and then further North to Lubec, Campobello Island, and Eastport as suggested. Have Fun!

Remember my mantra for Maine as you go: A Lobster A Day Cooked Any Way!

Rome (I'm from CT but I spend a ton of time up there and we're moving there soon)

[balatro]

Thank you two very much!

[inthetrees]

Originally Posted by Cuffler

On Wednesday from Portland stick to Rt. 1 and follow the coastline. In Owl's Head you'll find a place to visit called the Transportation Museum. Trains, planes and automobiles all running and working. After that, continue on Rt 1 toward Rockland, Rockport where you'll have a hard time not finding someplace to stop and eat, and finally Camden. Camden is the quintessential Maine village with a stunningly beautiful harbor full of a huge variety of boats. In Camden, see if you can get a room at the "Towne Motel" which is within walking distance of the harbor area and a ton of shops and outstanding food. We've stayed there a number of times.

Thursday grab breakfast in town and then continue up the road and drive to Belfast, Me. That town is really something. Do yourself a favor and do a Google Search on them. While you are looking for lunch/dinner, you can find Young's Lobster pound across the bay. They have thousands of Lobsters and assorted other seafood available for lunch/dinner there right on the bay.

Need a place to stay that night? A bit further up the road is a throwback to years past; a cottage setup called Colonial Gables right on Rt 1 and the ocean but the rates were excellent. You'll have a drive home on Friday to NY but you'll have seen a lot of the best that Maine can offer. Next trip go to Acadia and Bar Harbor and then further North to Lubec, Campobello Island, and Eastport as suggested. Have Fun!

Remember my mantra for Maine as you go: A Lobster A Day Cooked Any Way!

Rome (I'm from CT but I spend a ton of time up there and we're moving there soon)

This all sounds perfect, but if you make this trip, make sure to take a trip up Mt Battie with your car. You will drive thru the town of Camden already. The view up there is very similar to Acadia .

If in Camden for lunch, check out Scotts place in the Renys parking lot. Nothing fancy at all, but fresh and good quality food.