I love Maine! Well in the summer, spring and fall. While all of Maine is great, try and get to Northern Maine if you can or at least North of Portland or better yet, North of Augusta or Bangor. The coast and the interior in Northern Maine are great.
I also enjoy Northern New Hampshire and Northern Vermont or what they call the Northern Kingdom in the St. Johnsbury area. IMHO, Burlington, VT is the best small city in the USA.
Explore, drive around, it’s a beautiful area of the country.
I live in Tennessee but a part of my heart will always be in Camden, Maine. It doesn’t get any prettier or classier.
I can’t remember if it’s the village green or the harbor park there that was designed by the same person who designed Central Park. Walter Cronkite used to own the village newspaper. Artists and writers live there and many a movie has been filmed there.
Two of my favorite things to do: 1) Shop in the Smiling Cow and then have coffee on the back porch which is over a waterfall that flows into the harbor. 2) Go to the top of Mt. Battie behind the village and look for tall ships sailing Penobscot Bay.
As Finagle said, you can take schooner trips out onto the bay. You will also be in a good position to travel up to Acadia National Park. Watching the sunrise there on Cadillac Mountain is special because that is the place where the sun first hits the United States. You will also be able to travel South to Boothbay Harbor and Freeport. LLBean doesn’t even have locks on its doors.
Just ten miles south of Camden is Rockland with a worthwhile art museum. They can give you directions to the Olsen house (the setting for many of Andrew Wyeth’s paintings, including Christina’s World. The house is open to the public.
You won’t have any trouble finding lots of seafood, antique shops, bookstores, artisans, and interesting natives.
I recommend White Hall Inn. A local girl named Edna St. Vincent Millay recited a poem there one night and got quite a bit of encouragement for her career. 
So many good ideas here. Be sure to have a lobster roll from one of the millions of roadside stands. And stay as far away from Freeport and L.L. Bean as possible. The store is cool, but summer traffic is murder. Last time I went it was midweek in March and it was still crazy.
Heading to Maine?
Ya Cannah get theyah from heyah…
I totally have to second this. When you get into Maine, keep driving for the first hour. The most southerly part of Maine (below Portland) is mostly for the tourists. You might as well go to the Jersey shore; at least the water’s warmer there. Further up north is much wilder, prettier, and real-er.
If you go to Freeport, just don’t try to drive through town. There’s free public parking on the outskirts of the shopping district. Yes, it’s comparatively trafficky for Maine, but that means that it’ll take you five minutes to get where you want to go rather than three.
I think we should invade both Maine and New England, create regime change, and establish democracies.
Thanks for all of your ideas. One of us will post answers and (possibly some more questions) later, when life is a little less crazy (Yay for moving!).
(I really only de-lurked to provide some vital information about vampires, but I can’t help but weigh in on this one.)
Maine rocks!
The best vacations of my childhood were spent in Maine.
You only have a week, so you can’t do everything, but I’ll tell you some my favorite things.
One year we spent 3 days in a rented cottage on Peaks Island in Casco Bay. Wonderful. Island life is super laid-back. Went to the beach several times a day, rode bicycles around the island (they came with the cottage), watched the tourists get off the ferrry, ate lobster literally right off the boat. I definately have to go back there some day. (The fishing wasn’t that great though. We did catch one, er… vaguely fish-shaped creature, with lots of extra… appendages.)
It’s pretty late to book a cottage like that, I would imagine. And besides, 3 days is a lot to spend if you only have a week. But you could do a day-trip, that’s pretty fun.
Actually, speaking of day-trips to islands, Monhegan Island is a good destination. It’s an ‘artist colony’ (read ‘tourist trap’) about 2 hours ferry ride from Port Clyde. It’s got a hotel, so you could book an overnight stay, but honestly, a day is plenty. They have a little village where the main source of income is selling crystals and kitchy things made of bark. And they have nature, which is the cool part.
I’ve made it sound cheesey, but the cliffs and the ‘cathedral woods’ are majestic and well worth it. Romantic too, and I suspect that’s the sort of thing you’d be into on an anniversary trip.
Riding the ferry around Casco Bay is lovely. And one of the cheapest forms of entertainment available anywhere. (It’s probably not that fun to the locals, I certainly would find it odd for some turist to ride around on the local bus system for recreation.)
Or you could go all upscale and get a guided boat tour of the bay, where they point out all the old forts and stuff, if you’re into that. Also, there are old forts and stuff, like everywhere.
That’s mostly Portland adjacent. There’s also Bath, which has a shipyard museum and Freeport has already been mentioned (it’s fun, once). And a trip on the Scotia Prince is not to be underrated. (Oops, I just googled them and they’ve canceled 2005!)
And I’ll cast my vote for the Desert of Maine, too. It sounds a little ‘worlds biggest ball of twine’ but it’s actually quite interesting, if you like geology and history and black and white photos of buildings getting buried by sand dunes. (Which I do.)
There are tons of other ones, like the state parks, which are all good, just pick one and go there. And the Portland Head Light is worth seeing, (You’ve seen it before, it’s on all the postcards.)
If you end up south of Boston, I’d recommend visiting “Plimoth Plantation” (two miles south of Plymouth). It’s a tasteful and informative recreation of the Plymouth settlement a few years after the Pilgrims arrived. Each person working there represents a historical person, and will answer your questions appropriately. Most interesting are the Native Americans – I’m afraid the tribe’s name escapes me, it starts with a “W” – who are really local Native Americans, and who can talk to you about their lives today as well as their traditions.
And – if you end up in Somerville/Cambridge (just north of Boston), I recommend eating at a fanstastic tapas restaurant called Dali’s.
The Wampanoags.
My daughters *loves[/i this place, especially the Native American Village. She keeps peppering the Wampanoags and the Plantation settlers wth questions. Most of the time, they all stay “in character”, so the results are interesting.
Soo mmy post above – there are several other “Villages” to see in New England, as well…
First, visit Boston: don’t park your car illegally (you will get a $150.00 fine plus towing charge)-and there are 8 cars for every parking space in the city. Have an overpriced lobster dinner at “Pier 4”-served by surley waiters. Walk the Boston VCommon-and avoid the homeless beggars who are sucking down bottles of thunderbird wine. Next, take a ride on the S.E Expressway (Rt 93)-and see where your $15 nbillion went (the leaking “Big Dig Tunnel”). Get stuck in traffic-and visit the scenic North End (where a slice of mediocre pizza will set you back $3.00).
Finally, listen to the anarchists raving in Harvard Square (Cambridge), and avoid the aggressive drunks/panhandlers.
Now go north…visit Gloucester/Cape Ann-where many of the locals resemble the zombies of Arkham. Further north, visit Hampton Beach,NH-and have some overpriced cotton candy-do try the saltwater taffey-it willpull all the fillings out of your teeth!
Now on to Maine-and lovely Portland! Try the lovely beaches…the water nevr gets abobe 50 F! Pick up a few pricey souvenirs as well…and get stuck on Rt 1 (AKA, the Maine “cut price” outlet alley.
Discouraged enough? Stay home!
I second the motion for the Casco Bay islands reached by (car) ferry from Portland. Peaks I is the biggest from which dozens of school kids commute to the mainland by ferry all winter (!!!). I lived in Portland for 7 months way before all the waterfront refurbishment that has taken place. I was there on 11/22/63 when State Trooper Ben Bean told me and my cow-orkers that JFK had been assassinated. Now lots of yuppy tourist restaurantsthere but I haven’t been there in 30 years. Big hotel on high hill in middle of downtown had a restaurant/bar on the top story (Top of the East at the time-was Eastland Motor Hotel, later the Sheraton, probably something else now). The ferryboats make regular scheduled runs to all of the many islands. Other islands reachable by rude wooden bridges from the coast north of Portland. Northwest of P’land we used to go to beach at Sebago Lake State Park.
Just south of P’land lie several beaches, one, Old Orchard Beach is (was) a mecca for all of the Canadians during either the month of July or August. There is/was a long pier with amusements/eateries, etc. But take your dry suit if you want to go in the ocean water. They used to post a sign with the water temperature. I went in for about 5 minutes on July 4, 1963, when it said 45 degrees. (Watched a full eclipse of the sun that day there, too, IIRC.)
If you’re into historic architecture don’t miss Salem and adjacent Marblehead, Mass. (northern part)-lots of 17th century homes in fine shape but off the beaten path. The original 8’ x 10’ Spirit of '76 hangs in its town (Abbot) Hall, a monstrous gothic red brick structure overtowering the old town.
Boston will be a bitch to drive in, I left it after 13 years in/out of it but very interesting historically and culturally.
Lots of mountains in NH, VT and hills in w. Mass. Cog Railway goes up Mt. Washington, NH.
Enjoy and bon voyage.
Wow.
Well, the Kangaroo_in_Black has indicated that he’d like to go to Boothbay. He spent three years of childhood there, and has some fond memories. (That’s a big part of why we’re going now.)
We currently live in D.C., but I’m originally from New Mexico and the Kangaroo_in_Black is mostly from Kansas. He wants to do mostly coastal things, and I’m all for it. I could watch the water for hours.
However, some of the New Hampshire things look interesting too.
The only thing that is guaranteed is that we’re going to stop in Rhode Island to visit some friends from NM. We’ll likely only spend a night and half a day, but that’s “set in stone” as it were.
Cheap is also up our alley. I’m a grad student, and he’s basically supporting me. Especially right now, when there’s no school (read: no stipend and no teaching hours). We’ve been saving though, as this is something we’ve wanted to do since our last anniversary trip.
I suspect we’ll hit a lot of the National and State Parks that are listed. I’m kind of a “nature girl” and he’s just plain laid back. The whirlpool mentioned above sounds very interesting.
I’ve never been on a boat. I might try that.
I think we’ll probably limit this to Maine, at this point. We can do more New England later. Or we can just go as the mood takes us. But I really appreciate all of the suggestions, and would love to hear more (Maine in particular or New England in general). Thank you all.
So Ralph Not a fan of the old northeast eh?
Kangaroo Gotcha covered…
If you’re coming from somewhere south (i’ll make the assumption) Spend a night in Boston. Catch the ‘T’ from outside the city (do not. attempt. to park.) and spend time walking around. Quincy Market is a VERY neat place to shop, eat, and watch the people. There’s a LOT of history in Boston, that is, if you’re into history, which I am, hence the effort to tell you about it.
After Boston, head north on 95 to Ogunquit, ME. A very nice, very quaint little town with charm to spare. The beach is VERY nice, and huckleberrys right next to the Norseman Motor Lodge serves up a mean lobster roll. Ogunquit is home to Perkins Cove, the quintessential New England town. Clapboard businesses, neat restaurants (Crabby Bills and Hurricane are two of note. Hurricane is highly recommended.)
I’ve also got to recommend the Kennebunks, though this WILL be the busy season. Lot of history there too. On the way out of Kennebunkport, there’s a little shack on the left side of the road (the right side’s a salt marsh) that serves up the best and freshest fried seafood I’ve had. Ever. See Bush 41’s place, it’s neat to look at, just do so from a distance, and ignore the secret service wonks posing as tourists.
If inland is your poison, Vermont is the place. Smugglers Notch near the picturesque town of Stowe is an awesome place to visit, but use caution on the drive through the notch, the road is VERY curvy, and VERY tight (down to one lane in some places) Drive slowly, and leave your lights on. The drive can be harrowing, but the reward is great.
After the drive, stop at Pie in the Sky for wood-fired pizza on the way through, and do check out the General Store downtown, past the bridge. Very quaint. On the outskirts of Stowe, the Cold Hollow Cider Mill is a tourist trap, but damned if it isn’t nifty anyhow. See the whole process, from apples to cider, and drink your fill of the stuff, cold or hot. (that’s best in the fall, though, the hot stuff). Even though it won’t be fall when you’re going (presumably) drive Route 100. Incredible vistas. Really.
If you get south enough, Stop in Woodstock. F.H. Gillingham and Sons General Store is chock full of provisions (both gourmet and otherwise) that will help pass the time, and put a smile on the kisser. The Shire Apothecary is a neat place in it’s own right, even though it’s just a drug store. While in Woodstock, see Our Lady of the Snows Church. While it’s not breathtaking, it is a beautiful and comfortable place to be in. If youre feeling haughty, stop in the Woodstock Inn & Resort right around the corner, and just sit in the comfy lobby. You’ll dig it (probably).
On the way out of Vermont. See Queechee Gorge in White River Junction. THAT is breathtaking, again, moreso in the fall and winter, but still.
Oh, I almost forgot!!!
If you’re in the spirit for some ice cream, the Ben and Jerry’s factory tour is awesome (it’s in S. Burlington though) and stop at the Cabot Outlet if you’re cheese fans. They make the best around. It’s in Waterbury Vt.
Anything else, don’t hesitate to ask!
Ben and Jerry’s is my favorite! I forgot they were based out of Vermont!
::BlueKangaroo dashes off wildly to speak to another kangaroo about ice cream.::
There is ice cream around here that is better than Ben & Jerry’s. There’s a place in Cambridge called Toscanini’s, the main shop (I think) is near central square, and there are smaller ones at MIT and Harvard Square. If a strawberry leads a good and virtuous life, the greatest reward it can hope for on being picked is to end up in Toscanini’s strawberry ice cream.
And if a ginger snap is…well, snappy and sassy, it can hope to end up in Toscannini’s ginger snap ice cream. Yum!
Please come!
We need the tourists:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050526/ap_on_re_us/gloomy_new_england