Hello BBI,
My family wants to go to Maine this summer, they want to stay in a log cabin next to woods, enjoy nature..see a moose, but also have access to pools, rivers for kayaking, bike trails. I have never been to Maine, Any places that can offer this in Maine?
Thanks,
Marty
I went to school at Maine Maritime Academy, about an hour from Bangor. For me, Acadia is top of the list.
Not many moose in the Portland area.
The father north you go the better your chances.
You looking to camp or a hotel?
Outdoor activities over touristy stuff?
Again, if you want a real outdoor actual Maine experience go North.
Usually the Greenvile/Raymond and Moosehead Lake is a great touristy spot different than Portland but with a bustling touristy feel.
Except you are in Gods Country.
I still the Moosehead area is best for first timers.
for all the people in your party.
I think it maybe subject to change, but that's the plan right now for beginning 7/1.
I linked to their travel and tourism site.
as for moose, the best places are way up north - even a few hours north of Bangor.
but I went white water rafting on the Penobscot last year and they advertised moose sight seeing trips. I didn't go, but they look fun.
link - ( New Window )
I went to school at Maine Maritime Academy, about an hour from Bangor. For me, Acadia is top of the list.
I second this. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. You can rent bikes to bike all over the park. You can kayak in the bay. Lots of rental options. There are affordable cottages with common pools but I am sure you can find a log cabin as well. Nothing like a hike/bike through Acadia and then stopping in the middle at Jordan Pond for popovers
Camden is also a nice location. I have stayed at point look out cabins a few times—nice trails, cabins and other amenities.
You really can’t go wrong in Maine, but if it is your first time you can’t miss the coastline and Acadia is the best.
Point lookout - ( New Window )
Every August my family usually does a week trip to Sebago Lake. I haven't been the last 2 years, but was planning on attending this August pre COVID-19. I also have a cousin who lives in Kittery Point & he usually hosts a football weekend every fall. Depending on how this country looks come September, I'm hoping to make the trip up. This would be 15 years running.
I went to Acadia twice as a youngin & loved it.
If you're going to visit Maine, you're probably best suited to stay in southern Maine. No, you're not going to see a moose there, but that's the most touristy area of Maine. But if you're dead set on seeing moose, etc., head north.
They can sometimes chase you.
And they swim faster than you can panic paddle lol.
Thanks to Covid you actually have a chance of finding a cabin this time of year.
They are usually sold out for next summer by December.
The wøndërful telephøne system
And mäni interesting furry animals
Including the majestik møøse
A Møøse once bit my sister...
No realli! She was Karving her initials on the møøse with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given her by Svenge - her brother-in-law - an Oslo dentist and star of many Norwegian møvies: "The Høt Hands of an Oslo Dentist", "Fillings of Passion", "The Huge Mølars of Horst Nordfink"
The Northern Maine area is largely untouched right now and they will be enforcing this strictly (unless the tourism industry gets officials to cave further). I have no idea how they are going to enforce all of this, but my sister did mention that most places are requiring proof of the negative test results at the very least.
Even with a free place to stay up there and don't think this is an ideal summer to visit unfortunately.
The park is great. Short drive (10 min) from Bar Harbor. Hiking for everyone (easy, moderate, tough) picking wild blueberries as you go, biking, first sunrise on the east coast on top of Cadillac Mt. There is a beach and Jordon Pond serves the best popovers you'll ever have. You won't get the log cabin or moose on Mount Desert Isl., but there is something for everyone. Head to Baxter Park and Mt.Katahdin for that, but you are way out there.
On the way up there, hit Red's Eats in Wiscasset for the best lobster roll ever. Hit Freeport for LL Bean and the outlets and Maine Beer Co. Treehouse Brewery in south central Mass for the best beer, only available at brewery. You could even stay the night in Boston if you time it right.
Can't go wrong with Maine. If you go, I know you will enjoy it.
Go to the place across the street.
Same food. Less price. Less wait.
And L. L. Bean has become an overrated tourist trap.
Kids get easily bored there.
It is like bringing them to a Dicks that also sells sweaters and flannel.
What you want to experience depends on how far you want to drive.
Your car will knock out their legs and the entire weight of their body would collapse on your windshield.
So uh... please drive safely.
And yes Tree House is awesome (a MA brewery), but it's over 5 hours from Acadia (for example) to Charlton, MA where tree house is located. Sometimes people do not realize how big Maine is because it's tucked in with all the small New England states, but it's over 6 hours top to bottom. Acadia to Portland is around 3 hours. That said if you do go to Tree House go to BTs Smokehouse in Sturbridge (if it's open). It's BYOB, so you go to Tree House and bring your beer in and eat at the counter or a picnic table. I linked the Phantom Gourmet episode on BT's (3+min long), but I've gone sometimes just for cheesy balls. they're that good.
Portland, ME is sort of a beer town now too, with Aligash, Shipyard, and so many craft breweries like Bissell Bros (one of the favorites) but again I'd see what's open with COVID. In MA craft breweries are not open yet - only "curbside takeout" for cans and growlers.
BTs Smokehouse - Phantom Gourmet - ( New Window )
Go to the place across the street.
Same food. Less price. Less wait.
And L. L. Bean has become an overrated tourist trap.
Kids get easily bored there.
It is like bringing them to a Dicks that also sells sweaters and flannel.
What you want to experience depends on how far you want to drive.
To be fair, LL Bean is more of a destination for adults instead of pandering to the little ones.
All I know is that we went to Maine 5 years ago, went to the shops in Freeport and my work backpack, my wife's work backpack and my kid's travel backpacks from LL Bean are still going strong and none of them was over $70.
Want a Tourist Trap, go to South of the Border on I-95 where Pedro says, "AHA Suckers!"
And yes Tree House is awesome (a MA brewery), but it's over 5 hours from Acadia (for example) to Charlton, MA where tree house is located. Sometimes people do not realize how big Maine is because it's tucked in with all the small New England states, but it's over 6 hours top to bottom. Acadia to Portland is around 3 hours. That said if you do go to Tree House go to BTs Smokehouse in Sturbridge (if it's open). It's BYOB, so you go to Tree House and bring your beer in and eat at the counter or a picnic table. I linked the Phantom Gourmet episode on BT's (3+min long), but I've gone sometimes just for cheesy balls. they're that good.
Portland, ME is sort of a beer town now too, with Aligash, Shipyard, and so many craft breweries like Bissell Bros (one of the favorites) but again I'd see what's open with COVID. In MA craft breweries are not open yet - only "curbside takeout" for cans and growlers.
BTs Smokehouse - Phantom Gourmet - ( New Window )
Maine Beer Company is a must. Their Lunch IPA is delish.
IMO Maine is as much York, Wells, Ogunquit, as it is Acadia and Bar Harbor and the lakes.
If you have kids a nice trip before heading north would be Old Orchard Beach. Sort of Maine's version of the Jersey Shore. Amusement park, boardwalk, "carnival" food and drink.
It's cleaned up a lot too. Maybe 15 years ago you could see it was on the precipice, supposedly a big heroin spot. I was with my family two summers ago and the kids wanted to go so I said F-it, and I was amazed at the transformation. It was clean almost like a Disney park. still had that "jersey shore" like feel to it, but cleaned up a ton.
once you get past Portland-ish the majority of Maine's coast is rocky. People mentioned Rockport or Camden on here. There is a nice ferry ride you can take from Camden to some of the coastal islands. I went to one called vinalhaven and on the ferry ride we must have seen 1000 seals (even saw a Nat Geo moment when a shark ate one).
anyway, as a frequent Maine visitor I like Southern Maine too and definitely WOULD NOT avoid Portland.
I could see skipping Freeport - it's mostly shopping, but also has some good restaurants.
First of all, forget the moose. At the end of the summer, they will be tick-infested and retreating to remote swamps and backwaters to seek relief. Go to a zoo.
For a first trip I would stay in the southern area... Sebago Lakes would be ideal. Close enough to Portland and southern coast for day trips. Lots of stuff for kids and families to do.
Three lesser known spots that are good for families for day trips:
Mount Blue State Park: Swimming, picnicking and hiking.
Reid State Park: Miles of protected sandy beach and dunes. Really nice saltwater swimming area. Water warms up to bearable, unlike the open beach.
Maritime Museum in Bath. Near the Bath Ironworks shipyard.
If you do decide to venture into the vast spruce swamp that is Maine North of Augusta, prepare to bathe in DEET and wear insect netting. Black fly and mosquito season lasts from frost to frost and they love tender flatlander flesh.
Enjoy
Quote:
You may not see moose there, but it's gorgeous.
I went to school at Maine Maritime Academy, about an hour from Bangor. For me, Acadia is top of the list.
I second this. Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. You can rent bikes to bike all over the park. You can kayak in the bay. Lots of rental options. There are affordable cottages with common pools but I am sure you can find a log cabin as well. Nothing like a hike/bike through Acadia and then stopping in the middle at Jordan Pond for popovers
Camden is also a nice location. I have stayed at point look out cabins a few times—nice trails, cabins and other amenities.
You really can’t go wrong in Maine, but if it is your first time you can’t miss the coastline and Acadia is the best. Point lookout - ( New Window )
I 3rd this. We did a NE road trip last year with the family...biggest regret was we only did 2 nights in Bar Harbor. We should have spent the entire week there.
it is being managed at the hotel/campground/air bnb/rental level. It's not a joke. New Hampshire I think has something similar too. Maybe other states, not sure.
When you check into a rental or Hotel, they are supposed to have you sign a certification that you have been tested and had negative results within 72 hours of arrival. They may also ask to see the results. I don’t think the State is tracking people down, but compliance by Hotels and rentals will be the key. You cannot go to Maine and expect to self-quarantine for 14 days in a Hotel, they won’t allow that. Issue now is if you can get a test being asymptotic and then obtaining those results within 72 hours of arrival?! Still a bit difficult for tourists if you ask me. We’re going up the end of September and I hope that they change the policy before then, as well. May have to stay with family.
I went to school at Maine Maritime Academy, about an hour from Bangor. For me, Acadia is top of the list.
+1
no restrictions as far as I know for staying in a personal residence. Not sure how they'd ever be able to enforce that.
One other cool Maine note, fireworks stores are now open.