Calling all Manieites!
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Momsminutes · 01-25-2005, 10:31 PM

Hello! I have the post Disney blues and am trying to throw myself int planning for my next trip! I am lost with out the details found in a Passporter

We are going to Maine and have never been there....soooooo... We are thinking 4 days beach side in as non touristy local as possible ( not crowd people ) then 4 days in land....just a relaxing week....prob the 1st weeek of June. Any and all info will be GREATLY appriciated!

Thanks , Patty

jakenjess · 01-26-2005, 05:01 PM

Hi Patty!

The first week of June will be good as far as crowds go, as things don't get really crowded until late June/early July. However, the weather may not be really hot yet, either. It can go either way that time of year. And the ocean water will be COLD!!! As long as you don't mind that, it's a great time of year.

Where you go depends on what you like to do. If you like to shop, Kittery and Freeport are the outlet heavens, and Freeport of course has the flagship LL Bean store. When it comes to being touristy, avoid Old Orchard Beach, as that is about as touristy as it gets. Most of the coastal towns are just gorgeous -- York and Ogunquit are my favorites for sandy beaches. If you want just coast, not necessarily sit on the beach type places, head further north to places like Boothbay Harbor or even all the way up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

If you have more questions, fire away!

arielrocks · 01-26-2005, 10:07 PM

My brother and his family went in August. They went to some beach side resort and then took a boat out to see the whales migrate. They were awed. I'd love to see Maine and am definitely going to plan that one after we get back from Disney Land in 2006. I love planning trips, don't you?

crystalloubear · 01-26-2005, 10:46 PM

We stopped at BarHarbour on a cruise once. It was a great little town and Acadia National Park was just gorgeoues!! You could walk all around the town - there were all kinds of cute little shops and eateries. My favorite store was "Bark Harbour" with all kinds of neat dog collectibles. We went on a trolley tour that you booked it town and they took you around and told you all kinds of stuff then up to the park. It was absoltely breathtaking.

**HiddenMickey** · 01-27-2005, 01:25 PM

When I was in high school I worked at a camp in Maine for the summer. The places I got to visit were: Camden, Rockport, Damariscotta, and Bar Harbor. Each place was wonderful and different. All are on the water and each has its charms. It's been a long time and I'm sure things are quite different now, but look into them in your research.

-HiddenMickey

simbarel · 01-27-2005, 01:31 PM

Actually, we prefer to be referred to as "Maine-iacs."

Popham Beach near Bath will have more locals, less tourists. We like to go to Ferry Beach in Scarborough for evening walks. Higgins Beach is nice, too. You could also take a ferry out to some of the islands off of Portland... I'm not too-too much of a beach person--Portland is really my specialty; if you have any questions about Portland I'd be glad to help.

joyjoy · 01-27-2005, 03:43 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, we prefer to be referred to as "Maine-iacs."

[/ QUOTE ]

That's better, cuz I read the title of this post as "Calling all Manatees!".

Y'all have fun!

Momsminutes · 01-28-2005, 02:48 PM

I am so glad to have found some Maine-iacs! Can I be alittle more specific? We are a faimily of red-heads so beach lounging is NOT our thing..(that type of behavior leads straight to the emergency room!) What we are hoping to find is a nice quiet hotel or cottage overlooking the ocean. We want to spend a few quiet days soaking up the beauty of waves crashing against the shore reading our respective novels and taking the occasional trip for "touristy" sight seeing missions. Our last vacation was a "commando" 2 week Disney trip in Nov. so this trip is all about laying back and absorbing the atomsphere! Manie-iacs please reveal your secrets!
Thanks, Patty

simbarel · 01-28-2005, 04:12 PM

I fantasize about spending our anniversary here, but there are many, many places to spend your vacation. Anyplace on the coast will be nice (Ogunquit, Scarborough, Camden, Boothbay Harbor, Bar Harbor.) You might have to "explain things" in Ogunquit (high gay population) but it is absolutely gorgeous and has nice theatres and playhouses.

My aunt managed to marry the part owner of The Atlantic Oakes in Bar Harbor. It has varying rates and accomodations (relatively cheap to OMG This-Is-Nice) and we've always enjoyed our stays there. Have fun, family of redheads!

**DopeyGirl** · 01-29-2005, 02:52 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Actually, we prefer to be referred to as "Maine-iacs."

[/ QUOTE ]

Good suggestion about Popham Beach, Rachel! I didn't even think about that!!! (And I lived in Brunswick for 4 years and have been to Popham Beach a bunch of times!!! DUH!) We went a lot of places while we lived there, but it seems the main things that ever stuck in my head was that "I lived in Brunswick, shopped in Portland, and worked at various times in Yarmouth, Freeport and Pownal!"

And there always seemed to me to be more "Maine-iacs" in southern Maine than Down East where they were all "Maine-ahs, ayuh"

PATTY --- have you visited the Maine tourism website?

I used to live in Brunswick, which is a little north of Portland. We used to drive out to Bailey Island quite a bit and I know there were a couple of places out there.

The Driftwood Inn had cabins and guest rooms and always looked like nice to us. It's on the water (Casco Bay) --- not the beach, but it's still very pretty out there!

Also, the Ocean Point Inn in Boothbay Harbor is real nice, but it is fairly spendy!

Even though it is in the hustle and bustle (and holiday shopping insanity inducer) that is Freeport, I

the Harraseeket Inn!!! We had a Christmas party there one year and I didn't want to leave!!!

I know I am not too much help, because after having lived away for a year and a half, my brain is mush!!! I hope I was at least a little help, though . . . and that I gave you some info to add to your list!

Oh, and be sure you take a whale watching excursion if you can while you are there. We have taken a few . . . with both with Boothbay Whale Watch and Cap'n Fish Whale Watch. They were so cool and so much fun!!! Just remember your Dramamine!!!

jakenjess · 01-29-2005, 07:23 AM

Rachel and Sarah gave you a couple of great places in the Black Point Inn and the Harraseeket! They're both pricey, but gorgeous!!

If you're not into lounging on the beach, I'd head further north on the coast. That's where you'll see more of the rocky coast than the sandy beaches. Places like Boothbay Harbor and Bar Harbor sound more like what you're looking for.

Hope you have a wonderful time!

Momsminutes · 01-29-2005, 11:58 AM

Now this is starting to feel like I am getting somewhere. Some of these places are beautiful! Now to show my ignorance, I have only ever seen the Atlantic from the Southern beaches, the pictures I am seeing of the Maine coast don't show alot of "wave action". I love to watch the waves break on the shore, does the Manie area have less of that because its a bay or am I just seeing calm pictures? OK you guys can quit laughing now! (hee hee~!)
Patty

debsta922 · 01-29-2005, 12:22 PM

You had also mentioned going in-land for a few days... my only advice for that is to bring bug spray... I'm not positive but I would say that a few of our NH black flies probably will venture over the state line so you may want to avoid wooded areas.

simbarel · 01-29-2005, 04:16 PM

I

the Harraseeket too!

There aren't many waves here for surfing, and I really don't spend all that much time on the coast...but when we go to Two Lights (in Scarborough) it's right up against the rocks and there's plenty of crashing waves that you were looking for. There's also plenty of tourists. I'm sure someone else will know a better location for you.

Blackflies are the state bird. Bring plenty of bugspray.