Have a vacation to Maine scheduled at the end of the month- we get to borrow a friend's house near Kennebunkport. Problem is, we've done this trip in years past, and just the local beach/wildlife might not cut it for a full week since we've seen it all before. Went to Acadia last time, definitely doing that again for at least one day. What else should we plan on doing/seeing? Outdoorsy stuff is the goal, especially if we can involve the dogs.
Only thing I can think of is to go to LL Bean land (Freeport) about a half hour north of Portland. Other than that, I got nothing.
See if George W.H. will take you for a ride in his speedboat.
If you can make the hike out to it Baxter state park and Mt. Katahdin is not only beautiful but where you come on the edge of civilization, aside from that coastal Maine is great.
Also have you checked out owls head museum?
I'm itching to go to Highland Mtn Bike park, but I'm not sure that'll be much help with dogs...
trucke wrote: See if George W.H. will take you for a ride in his speedboat.
I knew a woman who grew up with 41's daughter. Her mother's rule was "don't get in the boat if Mr. Bush is driving".
I used to live in Portland. Bradbury Mountain State Park in Pownell is a nice place for short hikes with dogs. Also, Two Lights State Park on Cape Elizabeth is a beautiful place to hang out.
http://www.allagash.com/
http://www.mainebeercompany.com
https://shipyard.com/
http://www.risingtidebrewing.com
http://peakbrewing.com/category/our-brews/
Owl's Head Transportation Museum is well worth the drive.
Visit the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad Co. & Museum in Portland. Famous 2ft railroad.
Go fishing. Go to the easternmost part of the USA mainland USA (Alaska is furthest actual West, East and North, really) just to say you've done it.
I was born in Maine so I'm partial to the Brunswick area which has a nice walk way by the water and outdoor seating for dogs which I love anywhere and leave a big tip if they do. Crescent beach, Bear Pond Park, Rain Pond, and Old Orchard Beach have some fond memories. There are some roads that are heavily policed and ticketed and some that are not. One of my favorite roads to speed on has a section that feels like you're on the water, I looked out the window and seen a beaver swimming next to me, but you have to be careful of people fishing from the road with their parked cars. Right after is a hill if you carry enough speed you can catch some air, not off the ground but enough to feel it. Take Maple St in Monmouth to Cobbosseecontee Rd. Do the speed limit once you hit Hallowell Rd and you can follow to Hallowell where there is some nice local pubs and a walk way by the river. I've always preferred fresh water and Moose to the ocean.
We went kayaking in the areas just south of Booths Bay and had a great experience.
Also there are some great boat trips in both the form of powered and sail boats. You can take the bogs there. Acadia has great hiking. I remember seeing a lot of dogs out there.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g143010-d108271-Reviews-Precipice_Trail-Acadia_National_Park_Mount_Desert_Island_Maine.html
Also if you want to get away from the majority of the tourists in ANP there is an island off of deer isle (where I grew up!) that you have to take a ferry to called Isle au haut that is an extension of the park, it is a great place to get away from it all.
http://www.isleauhaut.com/
EDIT: Deer isle/stoningtion is/are the next island down from bar harbor and much more of a working town.
JtspellS wrote: Also if you want to get away from the majority of the tourists in ANP there is an island off of deer isle (where I grew up!) that you have to take a ferry to called Isle au haut that is an extension of the park, it is a great place to get away from it all. http://www.isleauhaut.com/ EDIT: Deer isle/stoningtion is/are the next island down from bar harbor and much more of a working town.
Small world. My parents had friends in Stonington, and I spent a lot of time there in the summer when I was growing up (late 1970s). Fond memories of going out on the lobster boat (which was no joke - IIRC he won the annual lobster boat races several times with it), picnics out on some of the tiny uninhabited islands, and generally roaming around the coast.
Another vote for the Owls Head Museum of Transportation. Besides the cars (great collection of vintage MGs!) they have some neat WW1 airplanes, though I think they are mostly recreations.
Also, if you're going to Acadia, there is the Seal Cove Auto Museum on the west side of Mt. Desert Island. I missed it last time I was there, so I can't say much about it.
Get on the water, if you can. We stayed in Camden and took a sailboat tour around on a smallish boat. It was pretty neat. They have larger party boats, as well.
I hear Moose hunting is popular
Seriously, they are a concern.
You could check and see if there is a hillclimb, or something going on at New Hampshire Speedway. Might be some kind of down east car show, lighthouse tour going on. The British car clubs always do this kind of stuff. Then there is always searching the Maine Craigslist for stuff you want to take back home.
Eat a Ham Italian from Amato's.
Also, do not try to buy good pizza in Maine.
Woody wrote: Also, do not try to buy good pizza in Maine.
Belay that order. Otto's in downtown Portland is good pizza. Even recently appeared on a national "best" list. We ate there last fall and it was great!
I use to go to Maine every summer to go white water rafting with my friends. If you have time and are interested the Penobscot River is a lot of fun.
Woody wrote: Eat a Ham Italian from Amato's.
You will not find a place in Maine that knows what capicola and mortadella is, their idea of an Italian is a ham sandwhich with a salad on top.
Basil Exposition wrote:Woody wrote: Also, do not try to buy good pizza in Maine.Belay that order. Otto's in downtown Portland is good pizza. Even recently appeared on a national "best" list. We ate there last fall and it was great!
If you are going to MDI/bar harbor, there is a place in Ellsworth called finelli pizzeria and they make a mean New York style pizza as well as good pasta's, but yeah Maine does not do Italian food that well, should be eating local lobster anyway!
They do have a pretty damn good Gelato place in downtown Brunswick that the wife and I loved called Gelato Fiasco. It was so good we went a couple times on the last trip there.
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