New England - Going to Maine

First, am I in the right forum??? Move if necessary, please.

Planning a road trip with my daughter - we are flying into Boston and
renting a car and just driving up the coast of Maine. No hotel reservations,
or B&B reservations - just driving for 5 days getting back to Boston on the
5th day.

So much to think about - but thought I'd ask for some special not-to-be-missed places to see. Antique Shop, place to eat, anything art glass or pottery, home tours, museums..........and what we can just drive past because it's a tourist
trap and not much fun, don't want to waste our time.

I'm open to any suggestions...........thanks!

First, am I in the right forum??? Move if necessary, please.

Planning a road trip with my daughter - we are flying into Boston and
renting a car and just driving up the coast of Maine. No hotel reservations,
or B&B reservations - just driving for 5 days getting back to Boston on the
5th day.

So much to think about - but thought I'd ask for some special not-to-be-missed places to see. Antique Shop, place to eat, anything art glass or pottery, home tours, museums..........and what we can just drive past because it's a tourist
trap and not much fun, don't want to waste our time.

I'm open to any suggestions...........thanks!

This will probably get moved to the New England thread even though Maine is technically not New England.

One suggestion: Boothbay Harbor.

This will probably get moved to the New England thread even though Maine is technically not New England.I've never heard of this. What is Maine a part of, then?

Thanks, now I'll have to go hunting for New England - must be here someplace.

Putting Boothbay Harbor on the list - what should we do/see/eat/stay there?

What time of year are you planning to go? It's pretty quiet until April or May. I was just in Boothbay Harbor two weeks ago and only two restaurants were open, one of them Chinese. The full-on tourist season in coastal Maine is pretty short... mid-May to Labor Day. I definitely don't recommend it in the depths of winter.

Recommended stops in more welcoming weather, working north:

Ogunquit for lobsters and the seawalk along Marginal Way
The Old Port neighborhood of Portland for restaurants and galleries / crafts
Freeport for L.L. Bean
Wiscasset for Red's Eats at the foot of the bridge
Boothbay for boat trips, clambakes, and more lobster
Moody's Diner in Waldoboro
Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island

Do you want to stay in conventional hotels and motels, inns / resorts, or B&Bs?

I love Maine...and live about 3 hours from there.

You don't want to miss York Beach, Wells Beach, and definitely don't miss Nubble Light! Even though Nubble Light is a tourist trap, it's just wonderful to sit on the rocks, feed the seagulls, etc. And close to Nubble Light is Brown's Ice Cream...SO GOOD...some of the best ice cream.

York Beach has good little shops...the taffy in the candy shops is just wonderful and just visiting the random shops is fun. It's best to park at York beach (short sands I believe, there are two, Long and Short sands), then walk to the shops. Very close by.

Also, if you don't mind a bit of a hike, there is a BEAUTIFUL, stunning walking path that walks up the rocky coast for about a mile...it's called Marginal Way at Ogunquit. More neat shops there too.

The Holiday Inn and Suites in South Portland, ME is pretty clean and we always return there. Short ways from there is a massive shopping area. Burlington Coat Factory is super nice. Don't forget to visit the Ihop if you've never been there. And Dairy Queen if you don't have one.

Oh yes! You'll probably want to visit the Kittery Trading Post. That's in Kittery, Maine, just over the border.

As for driving, if you want a scenic route, take Route 1 all the way up through.

If you want to go farther up, Boothbay Harbor is gorgeous.

In Rye, NH there is a very good Whale Watch...I don't remember the name of it but you'll want to try it. If you get sea sick, take some meds, because it's sooo worth it!

If I think of anything else for you to check out up there, I'll let you know!

I knew I came to the right place - thanks both of you for the great input!!

We are going Memorial Day weekend - coming on Friday and leaving on
Monday, or maybe Tuesday.

As far as staying - we are open to staying anywhere - we don't really
want to be tied to a reservation unless we really have to. Want to just
roam Hwy 1 and drive, stop, look, explore, and when tired stop for the
evening.

Given this weekend - do we need to make reservations now? Or can we
take our chances?

Don't forget Rockland and Camden. Both are on US Route 1. Great small towns.

If you have time Moosehead Lake is gorgeous, it is about 2 hours from Bangor (probably less if you have directions, we didn't). The drive is pretty boring.
If you are in the Bangor area (well this is actually in Brewer), there is a restaurant called the Eagle's Nest. It is small, but wonderful.

Just an FYI, Acadia will be PACKED over Memorial Day, as will Bar Harbor, parking there is at a serious premium. There's an ice cream shop called Ben and Bills that has lobster ice cream (which is okay), and amazing blueberry gellato.

There is a sardine and blueberry museum east of Bangor, and north of Ellsworth. I couldn't tell you where exactly.

I split my time between WI and Bangor. There is definitely a lot more to do when it is warm out.

I...Burlington Coat Factory is super nice. Don't forget to visit the Ihop if you've never been there. And Dairy Queen if you don't have one....


I go to IHOP because I like seeing foreigners. :o:o

honestly, there are enough "mom and pop" restaurants to completley avoid all type of chain restaurants. Unless we're in a rush, we've generally been able to avoid chains.

As Maine is most often discussed in the Travel->New England forum, I'll move this thread there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

We are going Memorial Day weekend... we are open to staying anywhere... Given this weekend - do we need to make reservations now? Or can we take our chances?

You might want to make some bookings -- that's a really big weekend. And the lodging picture thins out considerably north of Bath / Boothbay or so. I know that takes some of the spontaneity out of the trip, but frantically calling around for a room as the sun goes down takes some of the fun out of things too.

If you are open to conventional hotels there's an excellent Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport... I've been back there about ten times.

Portland Maine is one of America's underrated cities.

Glad you've found your way to the New England forum, hitherandyon, despite InkUnderNails claiming that Maine is not in New England. :rolleyes::confused:

I agree with BearX220, DO make reservations. Memorial Day weekend is VERY busy in Maine, with it being the rather unofficial start of the summer.

If you're looking for sort of "quintessential" coastal places to go in Maine, I would recommend spending time in Kennebunkport, Boothbay Harbor, or the Camden/Rockport area. If you're interested in scenery that does not involve the ocean (but beautiful nonetheless), I would highly recommend a drive up US Route 201 to Jackman, and over to Greenville from there on the Trans-Maine Highway. There are places to stay on Moosehead Lake, which is a popular destination (and again, I would HIGHLY recommend a reservation there).

Portland is a great city and there are myriad dining and entertainment options in the downtown area, especially in the "Old Port" area, roughly the area between Commercial Street and Congress Street North/South and Central Street and Franklin Street East/West.

Castine is perhaps my favorite coastal town. It's less crowded than perennial favorites such as Camden, but still quintessentially coastal Maine.

I first posted late last night and only read a few before going to bed.

Thanks to everyone!!

Not going to places like IHOP and Dairy Queen - have been many times at home, I want something more area-like.

My daughter doesn't like lobster - what's up with that?? You're in Maine!

My daughter doesn't like lobster - what's up with that?? You're in Maine!

Believe it or not, I don't do lobster either. And it's not from overexposure in the area, I've never really cared for it.

I first posted late last night and only read a few before going to bed.

Thanks to everyone!!

Not going to places like IHOP and Dairy Queen - have been many times at home, I want something more area-like.

My daughter doesn't like lobster - what's up with that?? You're in Maine!

There's lobster. And then there is it was swimming in the sea this morning lobster.

This will probably get moved to the New England thread even though Maine is technically not New England.
Umm.... what?

This will probably get moved to the New England thread even though Maine is technically not New England.Do tell us, which states constitute New England? Fire away!

hitherandyon, we've got some great threads which might be helpful for you. We have a bunch of threads in which FTers have asked for advice in helping to plan a trip to Maine.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/1226752-maine-summer.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/475404-what-must-do-things-do-see-weekend-portland-me.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/714465-maine-nicest-thing-do.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/1127570-bar-harbor-me-recommendations.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/970294-july-4th-weekend-maine.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/827204-hotel-recommendation-maine.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/625157-portland-maine-road-trip-advice.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/698201-suggestions-southern-maine-coast.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/new-england/454901-lobster-bar-harbor-portland-maine.html

The Maine Coast is pretty much divided between the southern coast (below Portland, sandy coast), Midcoast (less touristy), and Down East which is pretty much Bar Harbor/Acadia and east. I can't recommend enough your taking the time to drive to Acadia National Park and see the beauty that is the Maine coast — mountains and the ocean. Great hiking trails, great biking, horseback riding, sailing. You've got the touristy Bar Harbor plus the great national park that is Acadia. Bar Harbor has the touristy attraction Boothbay Harbor has but unlike Boothbay Harbor, you've got a treasure in Acadia right there.

Camden, Rockland, Castine....gorgeous.

Portland is a fun little city.

Memorial Day weekend is sort of what they call 'the shoulder season'. High season is July-Labor Day. I recommend whatever you do, that you do make reservations at whatever kind of lodging you like.

If you don't like lobster, it's ok. Tell your daughter that! There are other choices. :)

If you don't like lobster, it's ok. Tell your daughter that! There are other choices. :) Stand your ground, young lady. I hate lobster too, the whole yucky ritual of it, and I get clams or fish and chips instead. But I always tell people who raise their eyebrows at me that if meat came to your table in the form of little five-inch-tall flash-fried cows whose heads and bellies you had to tear off and dismantle to get at a few bites of sirloin, I wouldn't eat meat, either.

Castine is perhaps my favorite coastal town. It's less crowded than perennial favorites such as Camden, but still quintessentially coastal Maine.

I fondly remember my stay at the Pentagöet Inn (http://www.pentagoet.com/) in Castine.

This will probably get moved to the New England thread even though Maine is technically not New England.



Ummmmm actually it is...

New England is Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. The state that most people think is in New England but really is not is New York. Heck, I live in Vermont, and I still think of New York as New England :o

... DO make reservations. Memorial Day weekend is VERY busy in Maine, with it being the rather unofficial start of the summer.

Portland is a great city and there are myriad dining and entertainment options in the downtown area, especially in the "Old Port" area ...

+100x on lodging plans & confirmed reservations, unless your plan B is for sleeping in your rental (minivan or folded rear seat for a flat surface ...) Sleeping bags can be picked up at LL Bean/outlet stores along with other camp essentials, LOL.

Tons of traffic going up/down the I-95 corridor along the coast, folks with campers & boats heading to their summer residence, and, of course, tourists. Without confirmed lodging plans, you might end up seeing "No Vacancy" signs everywhere and/or be prepared to pay for pricey holiday weekend rates. Toll expressways also translated into miles & miles of stop-n-go traffic and watch your speed and flow with the rest - state troopers out in full force with lasers to boost revenue. ;)

If you are into fresh seafood including lobsters - Bayley's Lobster Pond at Pine Point, ME (Saco/Old Orchard Beach exit on the Maine Tpke is excellent for takeout/picnic with outdoor tables. Three Sons Lobster & Fish in Old Port, downtown Portland at the waterfront next to the ferry terminal is great, they will cook to order & pack it to go - they also have 2 or 3 tables outdoor for on the spot picnic dining (their prices are among the best in the area & loved their 2.5 - 3.5 lbs. soft shells in season - lobsters are said to be at its best in May) Equally excellent - jumbo pawns, sausages, mussels, clams, salmon, chowders and sweet corns, potatoe salads & garlic breads to top it off.

For something different, check out nearby - Que Huong Vietnamese Restaurant at 49 Main Street, Biddeford, ME for big bowls of Pho or beef noodles soup, Cha Gio or spring rolls and Ca Phe Sua Da or French/Vietnamese drip coffee.

There's lobster. And then there is it was swimming in the sea this morning lobster.

Don't I know it - fresh lobster is the best! That's okay, I've finally gotten her to try the clams and it's nice to see her eat fresh fish too.

hitherandyon, we've got some great threads which might be helpful for you. We have a bunch of threads in which FTers have asked for advice in helping to plan a trip to Maine.

Analise - wow, this is fantastic, I have much reading to do and plans to be made for our trip.

+100x on lodging plans & confirmed reservations, unless your plan B is for sleeping in your rental (minivan or folded rear seat for a flat surface ...) Sleeping bags can be picked up at LL Bean/outlet stores along with other camp essentials, LOL.

Tons of traffic going up/down the I-95 corridor along the coast, folks with campers & boats heading to their summer residence, and, of course, tourists. Without confirmed lodging plans, you might end up seeing "No Vacancy" signs everywhere and/or be prepared to pay for pricey holiday weekend rates. Toll expressways also translated into miles & miles of stop-n-go traffic and watch your speed and flow with the rest - state troopers out in full force with lasers to boost revenue. ;)

If you are into fresh seafood including lobsters - Bayley's Lobster Pond at Pine Point, ME (Saco/Old Orchard Beach exit on the Maine Tpke is excellent for takeout/picnic with outdoor tables. Three Sons Lobster & Fish in Old Port, downtown Portland at the waterfront next to the ferry terminal is great, they will cook to order & pack it to go - they also have 2 or 3 tables outdoor for on the spot picnic dining (their prices are among the best in the area & loved their 2.5 - 3.5 lbs. soft shells in season - lobsters are said to be at its best in May) Equally excellent - jumbo pawns, sausages, mussels, clams, salmon, chowders and sweet corns, potatoe salads & garlic breads to top it off.

For something different, check out nearby - Que Huong Vietnamese Restaurant at 49 Main Street, Biddeford, ME for big bowls of Pho or beef noodles soup, Cha Gio or spring rolls and Ca Phe Sua Da or French/Vietnamese drip coffee.

Looks like we will get the map out and start scouting our trip to include where we want to stay. I wish it was easy as putting down some roots for a few days in one place and then going back and forth - but I don't think
that will work. We really want it to be a nomad trip - wandering around, staying where we find it interesting, moving on if we don't.

If we did stay in one place - any suggestions?

I'm beginning to see that Maine has so much to offer we need to this to be our first trip of many more.

I do love a good B&B - does anybody have any suggestions? I've been burned before with mildewy rooms and weird B&B keepers. One in San Diego comes to mind and it still gives me the shivers.

Looks like we will get the map out and start scouting our trip to include where we want to stay ... If we did stay in one place - any suggestions?

I'm beginning to see that Maine has so much to offer ... I do love a good B&B - does anybody have any suggestions? I've been burned before with mildewy rooms and weird B&B keepers.

LL Bean is open 24/7 for one's outdoor needs year-round, just sayin ... Okay, start checking out prices via hotwire & priceline for your dates of travel - Maine is a relatively "huge" area to cover - won't comment on the B&B's itself. But, even some of the top/highly rated 3 stars+ chain hotels have had issues with mold & mildewy smelling hallways and rooms in & around Portland, ME (which tend to have largest # of properties across the price tiers, availabilities & competitive pricing) Some of them closed for the winter months and operated on a seasonal basis, so I would checked out the comments carefully (I reviewed one of them on TA myself 2 summers ago).

For the busy & short summer months, restaurants & shops have longer hours - but for May, some of them might still be closed or on a limited schedule - good idea to call ahead & confirm (the Danny's near our hotel was 24/7 with the $2-$4-$6-$8 specials then ...)

If you stay a bit further north closer to Freeport, you can do some of the places on a day trip, still lots of driving & traffic on the Turnpike. Have fun planning it. :D

Analise - wow, this is fantastic, I have much reading to do and plans to be made for our trip.Glad to help. Feel free to fire away any questions. :)

If we did stay in one place - any suggestions?

If you were to base in Freeport or Bath, there is a lot to see within a 90-minute drive of each... and you'd be returning at night to a town with restaurant options, not marooned in the middle of nowhere. Those are both good mid-coast bases. As I said earlier there's a good Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport, and there are other respectable choices in Bath. The one great recommended destination too far from those places to do as a day-trip is Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island. If you plan to stay up there over Memorial Day weekend reservations would be essential.

I do love a good B&B - does anybody have any suggestions? I've been burned before with mildewy rooms and weird B&B keepers.

That can happen in Maine. I'd caution you not to book anywhere without reading some positive objective reviews online. And Analise took me to task for this observation in another thread, but I'll repeat that not all B&Bs in the region are child-friendly. I don't think you said how old your daughter is, but some of these places are old, creaky, and silent, and filled with guests who can be described likewise. Be fair to the girl, who I like already because of her views on lobster. :)

Lodging in Maine can be a bit of a gamble all the way around. At the junction of US 1 and Route 27, the road to the Boothbay peninsula, there is a place called the Cod Cove Inn. Must sound great in The New York Times travel section. But as my brother and I joked for years driving past it... there are no cod, there is no cove, and it's not an inn -- it's a motel overlooking Maine's most-traveled, congested, bumper-to-bumper trunk road. Crafty marketers, those Downeasters.

If you were to base in Freeport or Bath, there is a lot to see within a 90-minute drive of each... and you'd be returning at night to a town with restaurant options, not marooned in the middle of nowhere. Those are both good mid-coast bases. As I said earlier there's a good Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport, and there are other respectable choices in Bath. The one great recommended destination too far from those places to do as a day-trip is Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island. If you plan to stay up there over Memorial Day weekend reservations would be essential.


Bangor is easily within an hour of MDI (and close to Moosehead Lake) Drive is pretty nice too, and there's plenty of lil restaurants along the way.

I've been looking up hotels and B&B's - wow, there's a lot to think about.

Guess my daughter and I will get pen and paper and decide how to go
about this and where to stay.

If you were to base in Freeport or Bath, there is a lot to see within a 90-minute drive of each... and you'd be returning at night to a town with restaurant options, not marooned in the middle of nowhere. Those are both good mid-coast bases. As I said earlier there's a good Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport, and there are other respectable choices in Bath. The one great recommended destination too far from those places to do as a day-trip is Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island. If you plan to stay up there over Memorial Day weekend reservations would be essential.



That can happen in Maine. I'd caution you not to book anywhere without reading some positive objective reviews online. And Analise took me to task for this observation in another thread, but I'll repeat that not all B&Bs in the region are child-friendly. I don't think you said how old your daughter is, but some of these places are old, creaky, and silent, and filled with guests who can be described likewise. Be fair to the girl, who I like already because of her views on lobster. :)

Lodging in Maine can be a bit of a gamble all the way around. At the junction of US 1 and Route 27, the road to the Boothbay peninsula, there is a place called the Cod Cove Inn. Must sound great in The New York Times travel section. But as my brother and I joked for years driving past it... there are no cod, there is no cove, and it's not an inn -- it's a motel overlooking Maine's most-traveled, congested, bumper-to-bumper trunk road. Crafty marketers, those Downeasters.

Not to worry, daughter is all grown up....I'll tell her about your concerns for her!

Next week I have to go to Seattle and have reservations at the Lake House
Inn in Bellevue WA.....if it's anything like the pictures....we'll be really happy.
It was featured in a magazine....can't wait to hang out there.

If you were to base in Freeport or Bath, there is a lot to see within a 90-minute drive of each... and you'd be returning at night to a town with restaurant options, not marooned in the middle of nowhere. Those are both good mid-coast bases. As I said earlier there's a good Hilton Garden Inn in Freeport, and there are other respectable choices in Bath. The one great recommended destination too far from those places to do as a day-trip is Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island. If you plan to stay up there over Memorial Day weekend reservations would be essential.



That can happen in Maine. I'd caution you not to book anywhere without reading some positive objective reviews online. And Analise took me to task for this observation in another thread, but I'll repeat that not all B&Bs in the region are child-friendly. I don't think you said how old your daughter is, but some of these places are old, creaky, and silent, and filled with guests who can be described likewise. Be fair to the girl, who I like already because of her views on lobster. :)

Lodging in Maine can be a bit of a gamble all the way around. At the junction of US 1 and Route 27, the road to the Boothbay peninsula, there is a place called the Cod Cove Inn. Must sound great in The New York Times travel section. But as my brother and I joked for years driving past it... there are no cod, there is no cove, and it's not an inn -- it's a motel overlooking Maine's most-traveled, congested, bumper-to-bumper trunk road. Crafty marketers, those Downeasters.


What's your thoughts on Hwy. 1 - I wanted to use it most to see the small towns rather than the expressway. Would it be lots of traffic no matter
which we took?

I wanted to go for 5-6 days on a different weekend - she's the one that
insisted on Memorial Day...work, you know.

What's your thoughts on Hwy. 1 - I wanted to use it most to see the small towns rather than the expressway. Would it be lots of traffic no matter
which we took?

I wanted to go for 5-6 days on a different weekend - she's the one that
insisted on Memorial Day...work, you know.On Memorial Day weekend and weekends afterwards through Labor Day weekend? Route 1 will be VERY slow. On regular weekdays, it should be fine. If your plans don't change and you will be traveling from Friday to Monday of Memorial Day weekend, do your long distance driving on 295 and 95.

What's your thoughts on Hwy. 1...?

It really depends on how far north you are going. From the NH border up through Portland, use the Maine Turnpike. From Portland, stick with the coast: take I-295 to Falmouth and Freeport. Then, a few miles north of Freeport, you leave I-295 (which loops pointlessly back north and inland, taking you nowhere of interest) and follow U.S. 1 up the coast to all the destinations previously discussed: Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset, Boothbay (turn off on Rte. 27), Damariscotta, Waldoboro, Rockport, Belfast, etc., etc.

On the one hand U.S. 1 takes you through one charming town after another. On the other hand, as the only trunk road, period, it can be impassable on summer weekends, turning what you hoped would be a bucolic scenic coastal drive into a slice of hell.

The road itself is not especially beautiful actually -- between the village high streets it's a mixture of featureless scrub pine and low-rent retail (car dealerships, big-box marts, etc.). The traffic snafus occur because U.S. 1 is ten-mile straightaways designed for 60-70 mph punctuated by slow, snaky bits in thickly settled villages where you can't exceed 15 mph. So when volume picks up you can crawl for miles at walking speed waiting to pass through a village. The Wiscasset bit, where you snake through the village then bound down a grade to join a long two-lane bridge across the Sheepscot River, used to be excruciating for motorists until they replaced the bridge a few years ago, permitting slightly faster passage. It's STILL pretty bad, which is why Red's Eats at the foot of the bridge does so well in summertime. Carloads of people at their wit's end pile out at Red's saying the hell with it and drop $100 on lobster rolls and Cokes trying to get their good humor back.

It takes a lot longer than you'd think to cover ground in coastal Maine this way -- think 30 or 40 miles per hour on average, less on the weekends, as compared to the 60 or 70 mph you compute for freeway travel. Plan modestly, stay off the road weekend afternoons... in fact try to do your driving in the morning before the road thickens up.

I should note that if you wanted to push all the way up to Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island, direct, U.S. 1 is not the fastest route by any means. in that case you'd stick with the Maine Turnpike inland, all the way to Bangor / Brewer, then drop down to the coast via U.S. 1A via Ellsworth. (The coast kind of rises to meet you as you travel northeast.) A dull and unscenic drive but hours faster than chugging along the coast on U.S. 1. Perhaps you might think of doing a loop, zipping up to Acadia this way, seeing Bar Harbor, Mt. Cadillac and the national park which are all wonderful, then driving U.S. 1 south along the coast during non-weekend days?

Portland to Bangor via 1 in January takes about 3 to 3.5 hours
Portland to Bangor via 295/95 takes roughly 2 hours (I've done it in less, but watch out for the state patrol around Augusta, they've taken to the air).

I'm local to PWM and have a few thoughts. I'm lousy at suggesting touristy stuff (I will throw in a pitch for Portland, def. do not skip on your way up the cost) so I'll defer to the others on that sort of thing, but from a logistical perspective (I do IT for a company with 46 sites around the state, so I have to travel around quite a bit)...

- I agree entirely with the others who suggested reservations. Memorial Day weekend is the "kickoff" of tourist season, and thusly everything is jammed with summer residents as well as weekend tourists. You could perhaps get away with this in the Portland area (though you might end up in a boring chain hotel in the 'burbs) and perhaps Bangor. Elsewhere it would be a very dicey business.

- Route 1 is, mostly, a very pretty drive but as other have said it can back up to an extreme degree. The same can be said for the local routes that link from US1 to some of the larger tourist areas (offhand, ME27 to the Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor area, and ME3 though Ellsworth and into Bar Harbor/MDI).

My suggestion (assuming you decide to visit one or more of the coastal towns, which I would tend to suggest doing), would be to use freeways (I95/I295) whenever possible, and get your dose of US1 on the trip to and from those towns. The freeways are generally pretty clear even during the busiest weekend (with the possible exception of 95 from the border up through Portland, and even then it's not THAT bad), whereas US1 can be a parking lot.

I agree with the recommendation to take 95 to US1A to access Ellsworth/Bar Harbor/MDI. That is the highest capacity route by far, although the final stretch on ME3 from Ellsworth to most of MDI can be slow/busy as well as deceptively long (if you need to use a restroom or get gas, there are a number of unremarkable but well placed gas stations and stores in the final stretch through Ellsworth).

Speaking personally, I had to make a service call to our site in Bar Harbor a couple of days before July 4, left my apartment in Portland at 4AM to get ahead of the tourists, and still found downtown Bar Harbor to be packed when I arrived at 7:15. (I did beat the traffic, but I could see it starting to filter in when I got back to Ellsworth at 9 or so).

An alternative route to that area is to take 95 to the Augusta area, then exit to ME3, and follow that across to Belfast and it's junction with US1, then follow the concurrent US1/ME3 north. This will take you across the Penobscot Narrows Bridge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penobscot_Narrows_Bridge_and_Observatory), which I personally think is a really neat and attractive piece of engineering. It also bypasses many of the tourist town bottlenecks further south.

One more note - when heading Augusta north, it's generally preferable to use 295 vs 95 when possible (295 is a spur running from South Portland to Gardiner) as it's not tolled and is (in my personal opinion) better maintained. 95 also takes a slightly longer and more boring route on that stretch.

It really depends on how far north you are going. From the NH border up through Portland, use the Maine Turnpike. From Portland, stick with the coast: take I-295 to Falmouth and Freeport. Then, a few miles north of Freeport, you leave I-295 (which loops pointlessly back north and inland, taking you nowhere of interest) and follow U.S. 1 up the coast to all the destinations previously discussed: Brunswick, Bath, Wiscasset, Boothbay (turn off on Rte. 27), Damariscotta, Waldoboro, Rockport, Belfast, etc., etc.

On the one hand U.S. 1 takes you through one charming town after another. On the other hand, as the only trunk road, period, it can be impassable on summer weekends, turning what you hoped would be a bucolic scenic coastal drive into a slice of hell.

The road itself is not especially beautiful actually -- between the village high streets it's a mixture of featureless scrub pine and low-rent retail (car dealerships, big-box marts, etc.). The traffic snafus occur because U.S. 1 is ten-mile straightaways designed for 60-70 mph punctuated by slow, snaky bits in thickly settled villages where you can't exceed 15 mph. So when volume picks up you can crawl for miles at walking speed waiting to pass through a village. The Wiscasset bit, where you snake through the village then bound down a grade to join a long two-lane bridge across the Sheepscot River, used to be excruciating for motorists until they replaced the bridge a few years ago, permitting slightly faster passage. It's STILL pretty bad, which is why Red's Eats at the foot of the bridge does so well in summertime. Carloads of people at their wit's end pile out at Red's saying the hell with it and drop $100 on lobster rolls and Cokes trying to get their good humor back.

It takes a lot longer than you'd think to cover ground in coastal Maine this way -- think 30 or 40 miles per hour on average, less on the weekends, as compared to the 60 or 70 mph you compute for freeway travel. Plan modestly, stay off the road weekend afternoons... in fact try to do your driving in the morning before the road thickens up.

I should note that if you wanted to push all the way up to Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island, direct, U.S. 1 is not the fastest route by any means. in that case you'd stick with the Maine Turnpike inland, all the way to Bangor / Brewer, then drop down to the coast via U.S. 1A via Ellsworth. (The coast kind of rises to meet you as you travel northeast.) A dull and unscenic drive but hours faster than chugging along the coast on U.S. 1. Perhaps you might think of doing a loop, zipping up to Acadia this way, seeing Bar Harbor, Mt. Cadillac and the national park which are all wonderful, then driving U.S. 1 south along the coast during non-weekend days?

Can't tell you how much I appreciate this - gives me a better idea of what to plan for as far as timing our escapades. Going that slow would drive me crazy - better, like you said to use the turnpike more.

I'm local to PWM and have a few thoughts. I'm lousy at suggesting touristy stuff (I will throw in a pitch for Portland, def. do not skip on your way up the cost) so I'll defer to the others on that sort of thing, but from a logistical perspective (I do IT for a company with 46 sites around the state, so I have to travel around quite a bit)...

- I agree entirely with the others who suggested reservations. Memorial Day weekend is the "kickoff" of tourist season, and thusly everything is jammed with summer residents as well as weekend tourists. You could perhaps get away with this in the Portland area (though you might end up in a boring chain hotel in the 'burbs) and perhaps Bangor. Elsewhere it would be a very dicey business.

- Route 1 is, mostly, a very pretty drive but as other have said it can back up to an extreme degree. The same can be said for the local routes that link from US1 to some of the larger tourist areas (offhand, ME27 to the Boothbay/Boothbay Harbor area, and ME3 though Ellsworth and into Bar Harbor/MDI).

My suggestion (assuming you decide to visit one or more of the coastal towns, which I would tend to suggest doing), would be to use freeways (I95/I295) whenever possible, and get your dose of US1 on the trip to and from those towns. The freeways are generally pretty clear even during the busiest weekend (with the possible exception of 95 from the border up through Portland, and even then it's not THAT bad), whereas US1 can be a parking lot.

I agree with the recommendation to take 95 to US1A to access Ellsworth/Bar Harbor/MDI. That is the highest capacity route by far, although the final stretch on ME3 from Ellsworth to most of MDI can be slow/busy as well as deceptively long (if you need to use a restroom or get gas, there are a number of unremarkable but well placed gas stations and stores in the final stretch through Ellsworth).

Speaking personally, I had to make a service call to our site in Bar Harbor a couple of days before July 4, left my apartment in Portland at 4AM to get ahead of the tourists, and still found downtown Bar Harbor to be packed when I arrived at 7:15. (I did beat the traffic, but I could see it starting to filter in when I got back to Ellsworth at 9 or so).

An alternative route to that area is to take 95 to the Augusta area, then exit to ME3, and follow that across to Belfast and it's junction with US1, then follow the concurrent US1/ME3 north. This will take you across the Penobscot Narrows Bridge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penobscot_Narrows_Bridge_and_Observatory), which I personally think is a really neat and attractive piece of engineering. It also bypasses many of the tourist town bottlenecks further south.

One more note - when heading Augusta north, it's generally preferable to use 295 vs 95 when possible (295 is a spur running from South Portland to Gardiner) as it's not tolled and is (in my personal opinion) better maintained. 95 also takes a slightly longer and more boring route on that stretch.

I should have gone with my first thought and not on a Holiday weekend!
I will certainly use your suggestions - this is exactly what I was looking
for - I didn't want to start this journey all happy and find myself in the
doldrums bumper to bumper.

I'll look for places to lay our heads at night, and take to 295 when we can to get to places faster.

I was looking at foodnetwork for a road map looking for not to be missed
places to eat - so many places, so little time.

I should have gone with my first thought and not on a Holiday weekend!
I will certainly use your suggestions - this is exactly what I was looking
for - I didn't want to start this journey all happy and find myself in the
doldrums bumper to bumper.

I'll look for places to lay our heads at night, and take to 295 when we can to get to places faster.

I was looking at foodnetwork for a road map looking for not to be missed
places to eat - so many places, so little time.Also, 295 is the free interstate past Portland heading to Augusta. Have fun planning your trip!

Also, 295 is the free interstate past Portland heading to Augusta. Have fun planning your trip!

There's one toll just before Augusta, right where it goes back into 95. it is $1, and has an ezpass/ipass lane.

There's one toll just before Augusta, right where it goes back into 95. it is $1, and has an ezpass/ipass lane.

There's actually a trick to avoid this toll, if you're going from 295 NB to 95 NB (and don't have an ezpass) - exit to the West Gardiner service plaza (last exit before the toll, bear left at the end of the ramp), and just as you enter the building there are kiosks which will print a toll voucher that will cover the cost of the toll. They are ostensibly for folks who came in on 95 who are continuing onward, but I have never had an issue using them coming on from 295 (there is no way to tell where you came from once you exit, as the same plaza serves both freeways).

Unfortunatly this trick doesn't work southbound, as the service plaza exit is after the toolboths.

Obviously a selective call as to whether it's worth the effort to save a $1 toll - I personally just integrate it into my routine and take the opportunity to stop for a coffee.

There's one toll just before Augusta, right where it goes back into 95. it is $1, and has an ezpass/ipass lane.That's the toll to get back on 95/Maine Turnpike after 295 ends.

There's actually a trick to avoid this toll, if you're going from 295 NB to 95 NB (and don't have an ezpass) - exit to the West Gardiner service plaza (last exit before the toll, bear left at the end of the ramp), and just as you enter the building there are kiosks which will print a toll voucher that will cover the cost of the toll. They are ostensibly for folks who came in on 95 who are continuing onward, but I have never had an issue using them coming on from 295 (there is no way to tell where you came from once you exit, as the same plaza serves both freeways).Interesting. I'll still pay the $1 on my EZ Pass but always good to know. Thanks.

While looking for rooms around Kennebunkport I found The Tides Beach Club...WOW, anybody ever stay there? The rooms are right up my
alley, the price not so much!! So cute - what a place. For some reason
on one part of their website the rooms look all the same, but it you go
to ROOMS it shows really nice ones.

This suggestion might require some driving endurance for the first day/night, but on Memorial Day weekend, you might want to go as far north as you plan to (Acadia?), and then work your way back south as you go.

Since it is Memorial day weekend, people will be going north all weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun), possibly creating backups all along the way as you go North. It is not nearly as bad as it used to be, but it is a very big weekend because every is opening summer camps, running errands, hauling extra trailers/boats, etc. Then when you try and come back south on Monday, you will then run into everybody exiting the state.

If go north first, then south you will be going against traffic for most of the weekend. Then on Monday, you will be in southern part of the state and much, much easy to get back to airport (or wherever).

Just a suggestion, other people can chime in on what they think.

Thanks.

Castine is perhaps my favorite coastal town. It's less crowded than perennial favorites such as Camden, but still quintessentially coastal Maine.

Completely agree. Also, Stonington is a great place as well. There was a thread on Maine last summer that had info about Maine in general and some about Castine in particular. I like that whole area, north of Camden, south of Acadia, a lot. Less crowded but just as beautiful.

This suggestion might require some driving endurance for the first day/night, but on Memorial Day weekend, you might want to go as far north as you plan to (Acadia?), and then work your way back south as you go.

Since it is Memorial day weekend, people will be going north all weekend (Fri, Sat, Sun), possibly creating backups all along the way as you go North. It is not nearly as bad as it used to be, but it is a very big weekend because every is opening summer camps, running errands, hauling extra trailers/boats, etc. Then when you try and come back south on Monday, you will then run into everybody exiting the state.

If go north first, then south you will be going against traffic for most of the weekend. Then on Monday, you will be in southern part of the state and much, much easy to get back to airport (or wherever).

Just a suggestion, other people can chime in on what they think.

Thanks.

Great - I hadn't thought of that and it sounds so much better and makes a lot of sense. Now to decide how
far up north to go.

Completely agree. Also, Stonington is a great place as well. There was a thread on Maine last summer that had info about Maine in general and some about Castine in particular. I like that whole area, north of Camden, south of Acadia, a lot. Less crowded but just as beautiful.

I'll see if I can find the older thread. I know it will be crowded that weekend, but these towns sound perfect. I may have to
wait on the Acadia areas for another trip.

Great suggestions!

Hope they have some of those great food trucks wherever
we go....and I have to try a lobster roll, they look so good.

I keep hearing about ice cream - is it different up there or just the flavors or what?

I keep hearing about ice cream - is it different up there or just the flavors or what?

Because of the short season, New Englanders in general have this obsession with ice cream in the summer. And many ice cream "shacks" open in the summer - so it is this sort of ubiquitous thing where people go out at night to just have ice cream and chill. I am not sure it is better than else you can find, I think maybe people just romanticize the feeling ?

For Maine producers:
Round Top ice cream is considered the old standard and has a stand on Rt1 in Damariscotta.
http://www.roadfood.com/TheBest/NewEnglandIceCream/1-5659/round-top-ice-cream

Giffords ice cream is the main one that most places will be serving if you just stop into a place. It is from Maine and can be found in grocery stores:
http://giffordsicecream.com/flavors/ice-cream-stands/

If you like gelato, there is a place in Brunswick on Maine St and also just opened a place in Portland.
http://www.gelatofiasco.com/

Cheers.

These sound great....how could you not love ice cream anywhere, anytime!
Thanks!!

Because of the short season, New Englanders in general have this obsession with ice cream in the summer. And many ice cream "shacks" open in the summer - so it is this sort of ubiquitous thing where people go out at night to just have ice cream and chill. I am not sure it is better than else you can find, I think maybe people just romanticize the feeling ?

For Maine producers:
Round Top ice cream is considered the old standard and has a stand on Rt1 in Damariscotta.
http://www.roadfood.com/TheBest/NewEnglandIceCream/1-5659/round-top-ice-cream

Giffords ice cream is the main one that most places will be serving if you just stop into a place. It is from Maine and can be found in grocery stores:
http://giffordsicecream.com/flavors/ice-cream-stands/

If you like gelato, there is a place in Brunswick on Maine St and also just opened a place in Portland.
http://www.gelatofiasco.com/

Cheers.


Gonna also plug Garside's in Old Orchard Beach, and Martel's in Saco. Both homemade.

We love the Hartstone Inn in Camden and the Harraseeket in Freeport. You(not your daughter!) must try the lobster stew there in the Broad Arrow Tavern. Waking didtance to LLbean and outlets.

UPDATE - we did a lot of searching for places to stay. First we wanted to
stay 2 nights in one place, then 2 nights in another. But quickly realized
that with the Holiday that wouldn't work unless we were in a basic hotel.

We wanted a little charm.

Some of the cutest places went slipping through our fingers because we couldn't decide quick enough. But, then yesterday we found a great place in South Portland close to the water and it's perfect with 2 bedrooms, so cute, great neighborhood, and easy to venture north or south of Portland. Staying there
all 4 days as our home base ....can't wait for our mini-adventure in Maine.

Thank you all for your help and I've got quite a file to bring with me with places all highlighted.

My daughter wants to go to the flea market in Wiscasset - anybody heard of it or a better one?

Sounds like you did well. I'd be interested in knowing what property you're staying at, I wasn't aware there were any decent places near the water in SoPo.

But, then yesterday we found a great place in South Portland close to the water and it's perfect with 2 bedrooms, so cute, great neighborhood, and easy to venture north or south of Portland. Staying there
all 4 days as our home base ....can't wait for our mini-adventure in Maine.Good for you!

This is going to come off as hokie, but trust me, it's worth it. You'll be in South Portland? Stop by the Post Office. Yes, I'm serious. :) You will see an enormous mural completed just for the Post Office as part of FDR's New Deal spending spree. There is another one at the Portland Museum of Art ($10 admission) which is spectacular or you can walk into the South Portland post office and see it for free!

Read more about it: http://www.pressherald.com/archive/deal_2009-03-27.html

Here is a picture of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/4868870363/

Good for you!

This is going to come off as hokie, but trust me, it's worth it. You'll be in South Portland? Stop by the Post Office. Yes, I'm serious. :) You will see an enormous mural completed just for the Post Office as part of FDR's New Deal spending spree. There is another one at the Portland Museum of Art ($10 admission) which is spectacular or you can walk into the South Portland post office and see it for free!

Read more about it: http://www.pressherald.com/archive/deal_2009-03-27.html

Here is a picture of it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/auvet/4868870363/

Not one bit hokey - sounds great! Thanks! You never get this information unless someone in the know - knows!:D

Not one bit hokey - sounds great! Thanks! You never get this information unless someone in the know - knows!:DYou're welcome!

I just wanted to mention again regarding the police in the sky.
There was a checkpoint between Augusta and Waterville on Monday, and one between Bangor and Carmel on Tuesday. There were about 6-7 squad cars at each all with someone pulled over. So keep an eye in the sky from time to time. I haven't seen them out this early yet.

I just wanted to mention again regarding the police in the sky.
There was a checkpoint between Augusta and Waterville on Monday, and one between Bangor and Carmel on Tuesday. There were about 6-7 squad cars at each all with someone pulled over. So keep an eye in the sky from time to time. I haven't seen them out this early yet.

There seems to be one quite frequently at the Maine Turnpike exit 42 overpass in Scarborough - it's an unmarked conversion van sitting on the overpass and several squad cars lined up on the on-ramp.

You're especially a target with an out-of-state license plate.

I just wanted to mention again regarding the police in the sky. There was a checkpoint between Augusta and Waterville on Monday, and one between Bangor and Carmel on Tuesday. They've got police helicopters looking for speeders out there? Wow.

You're especially a target with an out-of-state license plate.

They've got police helicopters looking for speeders out there? Wow.

It is a white fixed wing something. (I think a Cesna. I know, bad Flyertalker!) It can be fairly easy to spot. Flies kinda low, straight along the highway. Turns goes the other direction. Turns. Etc.

All those painted white markers on the pavement (the ones perpendicular to the roadway) are marked in specific distances. They start timing when you cross one, stop when you hit the other. Speed is calculated on how long it takes you to go between the two.

The upside is that because of the distance, they can't see the tags. It is still upto the officer who actually pulls you over.

Anyway, if you're not near an airport, and there is a plane flying low and slow. You'll probably want to keep it around 70.

Thank you, WIRunner. What a great thing to know...in advance! ^

Good tips here. Enjoy your trip to Maine. As some say, the REAL Maine does not start until Washington County. :D

I was already up once this year, as my dad lives on Campobello. If you have time, or care to, visit Easport and Lubec. Memorial Day weekend is crazy but once you clear the Bangor area on the Airline (Rte 9), you're good. Cutler is beautiful, as well.

Good to know - we've been making so many plans I hope that we get to
see at least half. Only a few weeks away!

Thanks to everyone for being so helpful!

so, how was it?

How nice of you to remember me! The place we rented in South Portland was very nice, clean and comfortable and convenient. Easy walk to a great neighborhood bakery.

The weather couldn't have been better - low to mid 70's each day, and on
Saturday I swear it must have hit 85. Gorgeous.

Starting in Boston we stopped at several places - Portsmouth, Wells, Kennebunk, Ogunquit, did many antique places - so, so many - and said
we would stop for longer on the way back home.

The ports are just as pretty as I thought they would be, fresh clean air,
adorable villages. I was struck by the size of the homes, so many large
ones.

Did a lot in Portland - that city offers so many things. And loved the tour of the Observatory and the docent there. Beautiful views all around. Old Port
was a real draw for cute shops and good ice cream.

We went towards Booth Bay, Booth Bay Harbor a few times and finally stopped at Red's Eat's for a lobster roll which was to die for. I couldn't eat the whole thing.

The farthest north we went was Camden and we spent a lot of time there.

I want to thank everybody who added their ideas here, they were invaluable
and we had a wonderful time - daughter didn't venture into the lobster meals, but she loved it too.

Glad you made it to Red's in Wiscasset. I just drove past there two weekends ago; looked like they were doing good business. I'm pleased your Maine trip was a success.

Glad you made it to Red's in Wiscasset. I just drove past there two weekends ago; looked like they were doing good business. I'm pleased your Maine trip was a success.

This recent WSJ article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304022004577516701204095734.html?m od=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_5)included Red's as one of the top places to get a Maine lobster roll but noted that the wait can be about an hour.

This recent WSJ article (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304022004577516701204095734.html?m od=WSJ_LifeStyle_Lifestyle_5)included Red's as one of the top places to get a Maine lobster roll but noted that the wait can be about an hour.Thanks for the link! Reds and Five Islands definitely belong there. But Linda Bean? Are you kidding? It's frou, frou. Adding all kinds of seasonings (11 of them?) masks the great lobster flavor. Just look at the picture. A lobster roll goes on a hot dog bun with as little done to do the lobster as possible. If you want a little warm butter or mayo, that's up for a legitimate discussion. The Ramp Bar's lobster roll also looks "frou frou". If it has to be defined as "upscale", forget it. The lobster roll on a round roll looks interesting. Some purists would be angry with that. Not me. It's the lobster that counts. McPerkins Cove shows a wonderful looking lobster roll with upscale french fries. As long as they don't mess with a lobster roll, I don't care what the sides look like. :D

Reds & Five Islands? The best on that list. If the writer had gone further downeast of the midcoast, Thurston's in Bernard is up there with Reds & Five Islands.

Eagle's Nest in Brewer has the best lobster rolls I've had. They do make theirs with mayo and lettuce, but it isn't gobbed down with either. The slaw that they serve is excellent. The downside? The restaurant is roughly the size of most people's foyer. But the view is excellent.

We're going to Portland for a few days. I hope the cheap lobster prices are still in effect. :p

We're going to Portland for a few days. I hope the cheap lobster prices are still in effect. :p
There was an article in the NYTimes recently indicating that the cheap prices weren't necessarily flowing down to the restaurant level (where the vast, vast majority of lobster is eaten). That said, a few weeks ago I drove from Portland to Bridgton (Route 25 to Route 114) and saw a triple lobster special for $19.99. My recollection is that it was pretty close to the beginning of my drive (i.e., close to Portland).

There was an article in the NYTimes recently indicating that the cheap prices weren't necessarily flowing down to the restaurant level (where the vast, vast majority of lobster is eaten). That said, a few weeks ago I drove from Portland to Bridgton (Route 25 to Route 114) and saw a triple lobster special for $19.99. My recollection is that it was pretty close to the beginning of my drive (i.e., close to Portland).I read that article along with a similar article in the WSJ; I think they were both published the same week. Both articles did state that there is a glut of softshell lobster. If that glut is still around, I hope that the lower pricing is reflected in the open-ended "market prices" of lobster at a lobster shack. I'm thinking Haraseeket Lobster in particular.

I'm thinking Haraseeket Lobster in particular.Hopefully I'm wrong, but I would have guessed that the better known lobster shacks would be the last to reduce their prices. Driving around, however, you'll see lots of markets selling live lobster at ridiculously low prices.

Hopefully I'm wrong, but I would have guessed that the better known lobster shacks would be the last to reduce their prices. Driving around, however, you'll see lots of markets selling live lobster at ridiculously low prices.Ok. Thanks.

I read that article along with a similar article in the WSJ; I think they were both published the same week. Both articles did state that there is a glut of softshell lobster. If that glut is still around, I hope that the lower pricing is reflected in the open-ended "market prices" of lobster at a lobster shack. I'm thinking Haraseeket Lobster in particular.

Last week $1.99 for soft shell ones ( ~ 1 lb) in Port-Clyde and $ 2.99 on Sprucehead island - both nearby Rockland

I bought hard-shell ones at Jess in Rockland ~ $5.00

In the Portland area they are anywhere from $3.49 to $4.99/lb

We refused to pay the overcharge for lobsters that restaurants want and know they can get due to the tourists.

Saw this last week before we went to Maine: http://www.pressherald.com/news/pay-rock-bottom-at-boat-top-dollar-at-the-restaurant_2012-08-10.html?searchterm=lobster+shack

I hate the Lobster Shack anyway but now this article shows even more why we avoid that place. They bilk the tourists.

We saw high prices all over the place so we bought $4/lb lobsters and went to a friends home for dinner. 2 lb lobsters for $8? Are you kidding? Also stopped at some farmers' stands for corn on the cob and had a great time all around. ^

We also enjoyed Pumpkinhead every evening at Dock Fore at Happy Hour. $1.95 draughts. Are you kidding? Plus they had fresh vegetables along with cheese and crackers as munchies. That Happy Hour is from 3-7pm daily, we liked very much!

We refused to pay the overcharge for lobsters that restaurants want and know they can get due to the tourists.

Saw this last week before we went to Maine: http://www.pressherald.com/news/pay-rock-bottom-at-boat-top-dollar-at-the-restaurant_2012-08-10.html?searchterm=lobster+shack

I hate the Lobster Shack anyway but now this article shows even more why we avoid that place. They bilk the tourists.

We saw high prices all over the place so we bought $4/lb lobsters and went to a friends home for dinner. 2 lb lobsters for $8? Are you kidding? Also stopped at some farmers' stands for corn on the cob and had a great time all around. ^

We also enjoyed Pumpkinhead every evening at Dock Fore at Happy Hour. $1.95 draughts. Are you kidding? Plus they had fresh vegetables along with cheese and crackers as munchies. That Happy Hour is from 3-7pm daily, we liked very much!

Apparently, no. They are not kidding. ;)

We will be arriving at PWM and driving to Castine. I just called the stores near Bucksport and they are selling softshell lobsters (~2lbs) for $6 a lb. I think that's high.
Are there any places along the road we should stop by where they are cheaper? We need 6 lobsters.

Most of the places along Commercial Street in Portland are right around $3.79 - $3.99/lb

http://www.freerangefish.com/

They are about 10 mins away from the airport

The prices I see on the website are for shipping to other places. I go past this place everyday - and today it was $3.99/lb