Maine for a week - what else to do? (Portland: rent, shop)

[Serious Conversation]

Flying into Portland next Friday night. Looks like the Old Port festival is Saturday. I’ll probably do that and a Sea Dogs game. Thinking of maybe spending Sunday in Portland area too for brews and baseball. I went to Ogunquit several years ago and loved it, and plan on going back. Acadia and Bar Harbor on agenda.

Interested in beer, hiking, swimming, kayaking, and beach. Any other recommendations?

Ignore shorthand - on iPad.

[OutdoorLover]

I'd spend at least one night in Camden and Rockport... check out both harbors, leave a block of time and some energy to hike to the top of Ocean Overlook in Camden Hills State Park one day, and the next day, walk in the Fernald's Neck Preserve, if you're feeling up to it, go for a swim in clear Megunticook Lake there... plenty of good places to eat and have a drink... PM me if you want specific suggestions.

[britt_brt]

Camden is wonderful - that was my first thought.

Have you considered Western Maine? The Forks area has mountains, lakes for swimming, hiking/ trails, rivers, waterfalls, and rafting. Check out Moxie Falls. do a rafting trip - they include a dinner, lobster bake/ cookout. Look for moose - they are all over that area. It’s rural and sort of isolated, in a peaceful way. A few towns up and you’ll be in Canada. Western Maine would be a nice change from the busier, coastal (touristy) towns.

[Cuffler]

Don't overlook the Owl's Head Transportation Museum just South of Rockland and, when in Acadia, I can not more heartily recommend the Seal Cove Auto Museum. It is one of the preeminent antique car museums anywhere with #1 Stanley Steamer (Jay Leno is drooling over it).
Neither one of these is your old, typical stodgy museum. They are incredibly innovative. Great for a rainy day.

Owls Head Transportation Museum | Owls Head Transportation Museum

https://www.sealcoveautomuseum.org/

[woxyroxme]

If you are driving then you should take US 1 up the coast instead of I-95, there is a lot of good coastal scenery the whole way up, it will take longer but well worth the extra time.

[TRlaura]

In Maine you simply get out your Delorme atlas and start exploring

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by britt_brt

Camden is wonderful - that was my first thought.

Have you considered Western Maine? The Forks area has mountains, lakes for swimming, hiking/ trails, rivers, waterfalls, and rafting. Check out Moxie Falls. do a rafting trip - they include a dinner, lobster bake/ cookout. Look for moose - they are all over that area. It’s rural and sort of isolated, in a peaceful way. A few towns up and you’ll be in Canada. Western Maine would be a nice change from the busier, coastal (touristy) towns.

I'm from the Appalachian part of Tennessee. I haven't thought about western ME - not opposed to it, but I have a lot of similar stuff at home.

[massnative71]

All kinds of breweries to check out in Portland, if that's your thing.


Pretty limited on sandy beaches in between Portland and Bar Harbor. Two nice ones that come to mind are Popham and Pemaquid. Expect cold water, especially this early in the season.

[OutdoorLover]

For swimming, you're best off going in a pond or a lake, the ocean never really gets comfortable to swim in - even on Labor Day it's pretty chilly, and in June, it's straight up frigid. Around Camden I'd suggest Megunticook Lake - either on the public beach at Barrett's cove, or off some of the rocks in Fernald's Neck on your walk (probably the prettiest)... or Hosmer Pond (near Camden Snowbowl), or Chickawaukie Pond on the near side of Rockland. Even these lakes will be "refreshing" this time of year ... it's only June 3rd and the ice probably just melted out in late April, by the way.

People do swim in Camden Harbor at Laite Beach, and in Rockport Harbor right behind the Harbormaster's building is a little beach... I'd think it would be too darned cold in June tho.

The ocean waterfront and harbors, sandy or rocky, are still beautiful to walk along though, and on a hot day, you might wade up to your knees or thighs comfortably, or just take a quick plunge.

P.S. You can rent a bicycle, canoe or kayak at Maine Sport in Rockport (great shop!), and they also run group trips.
https://mainesport.com/

[MATJ20]

If you're interested in maritime history/culture the Maine Maritime Museum in Bath is a lot of fun.