Question for the New Englanders

[SandlapperGT]

Wife and I are planning a trip to the great NE at the end of July.

We are flying in/out of Boston and would like to make it up to Bar Harbor. We arrive the afternoon of July 29th and depart Boston the morning of Aug 3rd.

Not enough time to see and do everything. Right now the thought is to arrive Monday afternoon and drive about an hour to hour an half up the coast stopping for dinner along the way. Hit Bar Harbor for a day/night, and then be back in Boston Thursday night or Friday morning.

The challenge is never having been there before what is must see/do, and how much time to spend. Example, is Salem worth it? Kennebunkport?

I've heard some good restaurants in Portland, and several good seafood places between Boston and Bar Harbor. Heard the walking tour and USS Constitution and worthwhile in Boston. Would love to hti some of the historic sites, some of the coastal towns, and also more local/less touristy stuff.

Would love to hear suggestions for what we should hit, and what is over-rated.

Thanks in advance!

Jamie

[NoBones]

Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the Combat Zone....
Go ahead ask this cracker how I know !

Almost forgot "The Mohawk" in Shirley, MA.

[erebus]

Originally Posted by NoBones

...Combat Zone....

Combat Zone has been gentrified out of existence.
No more Jacks Joke Shop!!!

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by erebus

Combat Zone has been gentrified out of existence.
No more Jacks Joke Shop!!!

Jack`s Joke Shop haha.

The Constitution still have tours?

I would hop off at Newburyport and take A1 and 1 all the way up. Lots of beautiful
architecture and ocean scenes along the way.


You will see working hahbahs and gentile towns.

Learn to say wicked pissah before you go.

Lived in Maine all your life?
Nauuuuught Yetttt.

[cdavisdb]

If you like naval history, the Constitution in a fascinating tour.

[erebus]

My wife and I live on Cape Cod, but every year (for about 25 years now) we rent a house in Bar Harbor for a week. Used to work for Acadia National Park too, way back in the "ancient times".
Keep in mind it's a long drive from Boston to Bar Harbor. (about 3.5 hrs)

From the Cape we usually zing up the coast to Portland for the night, and then bomb up the rest of the way to Bar Harbor from there. Taking 295 out of Portland and then getting on Rt 1 (Old Boston Post Road) in Brunswick.
Then we toodle up Rt 1 to Mt Desert Island.
Takes a little longer than just staying on the highway but not much (about a half hour more), and the scenery is amazing. Lots of little towns to stop in too. Bath, Wiscasset, Rockland, Camden, Belfast jump to mind.

Belfast has some great restaurants, a walking trail along the waterfront that goes right through one of the biggest boatyards in Maine (Front Street Shipyard). Their Travelift is impressive!
Bath has the Bath Iron Works where they build destroyers etc for the Navy, and just down the road is the Maine Maritime Museum. Really neat museum. Bath has been a boatbuilding harbor for a very very long time. They have a full scale mock up in wireframe of a six masted schooner built on the museum grounds back in the 1800's.

Portland restaurants we like: Flatbread Company (stone oven pizza on the waterftont), Duck Fat (good fries etc. usually long line), Honey Paw (kind of an asian noodle kind of place), J's Oyster (seafood, also on the waterfront) Becky's Diner (Diner Breakfast).
Portland has a nice walking path from the old waterfront part of town down along the harbor for a short bit. Nice after dinner walk. Good views of boats at mooring and the harbor islands.

Bar Harbor Restaurants we like: Lompoc Cafe (brewpub, one of our favorites. Outside seating and a bocce court), Havana (sit outside and have tapas and drinks, insides kinda fancy), Rosalies (pizza), Jordans (Breakfast), Galyns (Fine dining, good steaks and lobster).

While in Bar Harbor you have to go into Acadia National Park and at least drive the loop road. Lots of places to pull off and see amazing views and climb around on the rocks. You can also stop at The Jordan Pond house and have tea (or coffee) and popovers on the lawn (or lunch). Can get really busy though.
You can drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. I recommend daytime and again after dark for an up close view of the milky way (bring a flashlight).
If you want to do some hiking let me know and I can give you a greatest hits list of short hikes. Its pretty rugged country tho, so need to be prepared for hiking. Casual walks can be taken on the 50 plus miles of beautiful Carriage Roads. I can also give you a greatest hits of those too if you want to do some strolling. Might have to venture out of Bar Harbor for most though.

Outside Bar Harbor:
Asticou Terraces in Northeast Harbor. Beutiful old manicured gardens built on the cliff faces overlooking the Harbor.
Asticou Inn. Also Tea and Popovers (not as busy as Jordan Pond House) sit on the deck overlooking the harbor. Gorgeous...

I could keep going (and going and going and going), but you'd need to take the summer off to finish the list!

Have a great trip!

Oh, yeah:
Salem - meh
Kennebunkport, cute, but there are better towns to visit further up the coast.

[Islandtrader]

Originally Posted by erebus

Its pretty rugged country tho, so need to be prepared for hiking. Casual walks can be taken on the 50 plus miles of beautiful Carriage Roads. I can also give you a greatest hits of those too if you want to do some strolling.

Check your pm

[SandlapperGT]

Thank you SeaCrafters for the great advice!

[bumpdraft]

If you go to Acadia, we enjoyed the Seafood Ketch restaurant that’s next to there.

[SailorChlud]

Depending on your desire for swimming, Hit Reid State park, Georgetown Island, for a swim in their tide pool (it warms up when full - great for little kids and lounging) or swim in the 60 degree ocean all in the same place. Five Islands Lobster Pound afterwards. Or the fort at Popham Beach (south of Bath from route 1) has a great beach too. and the fort tour is fun as well.