Where's the Best Town to Stay?

My friends %26amp; I (4 people) are looking to go to Maine for Memorial Weekend. None of us have ever been to Maine before, so we%26#39;re not sure where to go. We would like to stay in a cottage and as close as possible to the water and with plenty of nature trails . We were also hoping to be in walking distance to restaurants. Any suggestions?

Where's the Best Town to Stay?

Look up info for Camden, NE. It%26#39;s about 80 miles north of Portland. Last year my wife and I were there and had a great time at a cottage at Glenmoor By The Sea. It fit%26#39;s most of your request but it%26#39;s about 4 miles to Camden and 2 miles to Lincolnville Beach, so walking to town is out. Between the resort and Camden is Mt Battie. Hike up, drive up either way the view is beautiful of Camden Harbor.

Camden itself is a GREAT little walking town. Nice little restaurants and shops but most of all a spectacular harbor. PLUS there are reasonable charters out of there for a two-three hour schooner sail or lobster trap cruise or island tour or lighthouse tour.

It just about my favorite 4-5 day long weekend.

Where's the Best Town to Stay?

Bar Harbor is great too. I believe, It%26#39;s the 2nd most visited national park in the U.S. It%26#39;s about 4 hours from the southern border. If you can wake up for the sunrise, you can be the first to see the sunrise for the continental U.S. There are many walking and bike trails all over the island. There are hotels scattered throughout the island.. You can get a hotel in the town of bar harbor so you%26#39;ll be near the restaurants,nightlife and small souvenir shops or get one on the outskirts off the ';loop'; that tend to be cheaper.

As for the much-quoted statistic that Acadia National Park is the second most visited park in the nation (second to Smokey Mountain National Park), that%26#39;s never been true. It%26#39;s always been down at seven or eight. It is, however, one of the only national parks or monuments that is east of the Mississippi.

That being said, I think the place for a Memorial Day weekend in Maine is very definitely Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. There are lots of cottages to choose from. Bar Harbor Cottages is near the water and quite nice. However, most of the various cottages are in the countryside whereas the restaurants and shops and bicycle rentals and kayak tours and boat trips are right in the village of Bar Harbor.

The Manor House, right across from the water on West Street in Bar Harbor, has several detached cottages that are nice. You would have your own space and still be able to walk to everything.

If it%26#39;s merely cooking facilities that you are interested in, check out the efficiency rooms at Atlantic Oakes or the Quality Inn.

If you%26#39;d like to see an over-choice listing of cottages in the Bar Harbor area, go to this web page:

acadiamagic.com/acadia-lodging/cabins_cottag鈥?/a>

Ditto on Camden and Bar Harbor. Both excellent choices. If you don%26#39;t mind being in the car another 2 hours, go to Bar Harbor. If not, Camden is still a treat with plenty of hiking in Camden Hills State Park. (Ask the locals for advice on accessing the trail to the top of Mt. Battie from town.)

In either place, definitely try to stay right in town; being Memorial Day weekend the prices should be much more affordable than in mid-summer.

Have a great time!

Thank you guys so much for all the information! This has been so helpful. After everyones comments it looks like we will be going to Bar Harbor (but we%26#39;re driving from New Jersey, so that will make our drive 4 hours longer!) But we%26#39;re all very excited, thanks again for all the help!

Sunday,

I can think of 3 good options.

Bar Harbor/MDI- which has been mentioned

Camden area= also mentioned

Freeport area- This would cut off almost 3 hours from driving. The southern freeport area is absolutely gorgeous and is very close to the walking friendly shopping downtown. Bradbury State Park is very close and has a few trails too.

From Northern NJ, you%26#39;ll looking at approximatley 6 hours (to Freeport) driving (give or take 1 hour depening on route and driving habits.)

Acadia was the 10 most visited National Park in Maine in 2007 according to the National Park Service - home.nps.gov/applications/release/Detail.cfm鈥?/a>

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Chris Christensen

http://AmateurTraveler.com

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