Trip to Maine

Hi,

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to see and do in Maine mid October? We are 4 female friends on a short break, staying in Boston and are hoping to spend a day in Maine. Is it feasible to spend a day there and what form of transportation is best to use?

Thanks

Trip to Maine

I assume you won%26#39;t have a car. Not to worry. You could take the Downeaster (Amtrak) train from Boston%26#39;s North Station for a very relaxing trip. http://www.amtrakdowneaster.com/ There is also a Concord Trailways bus that leaves from Boston%26#39;s South Station. The buses are very clean and there is a movie shown en route. concordcoachlines.com/maine_bus_schedule.htm

The Amtrak stops at several stations in Maine, you don%26#39;t necessarily have to go all the way to Portland. The train stops in Old Orchard Beach which is a very touristy area which might be fun for a day but read about OOB before you select it as it doesn%26#39;t appeal to everyone.

Trip to Maine

A day isn%26#39;t much to spend in Maine, but if that%26#39;s all you have, I think the previous poster%26#39;s idea of taking the train up from Boston is a good one. If you plan to spend a night here, why not take the train to Portland and spend a night at the Regency or the Portland Harbor Hotel in the Old Port?

Hi Sheffydoo,

If possible, rent a car out of the Boston area. With the 4 of you splitting the costs it should be affordable and worth it and you%26#39;ll get to see a whole lot more.

From Boston, its only about an hour to the Maine border and town of York. Take route 128 and then get on route 95 which will take you through New Hampshire for about 15 minutes, and then you%26#39;ll be in Maine.

First get yourself a really good road map of Maine before you head up. Then when you%26#39;re actually on the road, take the exit into York and look for signs for the Visitor%26#39;s Center. Gather up some of the wonderful tourist maps and brochures that show all the coastal routes, restaurants, hotels, and what to see and do, etc. These will help you navigate and give you ideas on an itenarary and how to get to various places.

Overall, I%26#39;d suggest driving the coastal routes of route 1 and 1A through and around York, which eventually will take you into Cape Neddick, Ogunquit, an then the Kennebunks. Driving the back roads along the coast will give you a true taste of the southern Maine coast.

They%26#39;ll be lots of places you%26#39;ll want to stop, so head out very early in the morning.

If you took the Maine Turnpike once you arrived in Maine, you could also drive straight to the Kennebunks and get off at that exit, explore and then take your time driving south and back to Boston along the coastal routes. Taking the pike and driving the speed limit of 65, should take you about 1 1/2 hours or maybe a slight bit more to get to the Kennebunks.

Here is a list of places you might want to stop and spend some time or explore:

I%26#39;ll start w/the southern most town of York. Get off route 1 and get on coastal route 1A. You%26#39;ll see very pretty homes, waterways, beaches and the various villages of the York. Stop in the York Harbor area, park and walk the Cliff Walk. It%26#39;s worth the time to stop as it runs along the ocean with beautiful summer cottages on the west side and open ocean on the east. Without puttering too much, the entire round trip walk might take you about an hour, if that.

Next stop, the Nubble Lighthouse, and then just north of there you%26#39;ll drive through Cape Neddick. Very pretty area with beautiful older homes, inlets, and open ocean views. You could have lunch at the Cape Neddick Lobster Pound on Shore Road, which is a delightful place with wonderful views and good food.

Eventually by staying on the Shore Road, you%26#39;ll enter Ogunquit. Find a place to park either downtown or near the beach and walk the beach or the Marginal Way (which is another cliff walk high above the ocean with great views and well worth it). Or stroll the village for a bit.

From Ogunquit get back on route 1 and head towards the Kennebunks. You%26#39;ll need a good map in order to travel along the shore and beaches as route 1 doesn%26#39;t necessarily take you along the water. Stop and check out president Bush 41%26#39;s summer home at Walker Pt. Enjoy the downtown, beaches and beautiful area.

In order to get back to Boston in a timely manner after puttering up along the coast, look for signs for route 95 or the Maine Turnpike and head south towards Boston. You%26#39;ll be back in the Boston area in about 1 1/2 hours or so.

If you want to check out Portland (about a solid 2 hour drive from Boston on the major highways of route 95/Pike/295), it might be worth your while. It%26#39;s a lovely small city on Casco Bay. Lots of happening places there with cafes, bars, restaurants, art galleries, museums, etc. However, if you%26#39;re spending lots of time in Boston, a beautiful, historical city itself, it might be a nicer contrast to visit the small coastal villages in Maine as suggested, rather than another city. Up to you!

One more suggestion, purchase a copy of Christina Tree%26#39;s %26#39;Maine: An Explorer%26#39;s Guide%26#39;. It would be well worth the money even for just a one day trip as she gives siteseeing itenary%26#39;s w/good directions, accomodations and restaurant recommendations as well as the best places to shop.

Good luck and have fun!

cozyharbor

Thanks for all the information, will be looking into the suggestions.

I totally agree with cozyharbors suggestions.

Have a nice time%26amp;enjoy the views,some leaves are starting to change color too, you should enjoy your trip either by car or train,but I%26#39;d take a car.