mffox Loc: Avon, CT

Maine offers too many photo ops. If you really want an experience, take a 4-5 day schooner trip on Penobscot Bay. A lifetime worth of photos.

Mark

kbk

Rockland Maine to see schooners,

dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

My travel buddy and I had to cancel our trip last fall due to health issues and I offered to share my planning resources with other Hoggers on a post dated July 27th, 2023. Perhaps these links will be of help to you. The first lists some websites that were helpful, and the second is the itinerary schedule including attractions and lodging. Good luck with your planning--and happy travels!
P.S. My buddy and I are once more planning to visit the Maine Coast this October.

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dmeyer Loc: Marion, NC

My travel buddy and I had to cancel our trip along the Maine Coast last fall due to health issues and I offered to share my planning resources with other Hoggers on a post dated July 27th, 2023. Perhaps these links will be of some help to you. The first download is for the websites that I researched, the second is the itinerary including attractions and lodging, based on flying in and out of Manchester, NH.

Happily, my buddy and I are on track to make this trip in October of this year. The only down side of not going last year was the damage from the January storms: Pemaquid only had damage to the bell tower; Marshall Point's walkway sustained damage, as did Spring Point Ledge; Rockland Breakwater had damage to the keeper's house and boathouse; and some of the iconic fish houses are gone, etc. This link will give you a better idea of what to expect. https://lighthousefoundation.org/2024/01/acting-in-the-wake-of-storm-damage-to-maine-lighthouses/


Hoping you have a great trip and safe travels.

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jjenk

Thank you all for your insights. They have been very helpful!

Handsome Hedgehog

Stay away from Old Orchard Beach. Lots of people roaming around getting fat on french fries and pizza. Parking is a problem unless you're willing to pay 25 cents for 8 minutes at a meter (meter cops are ticketing!) and lots more at private parking lots. The pier used to be a nice walkway onto the ocean where views of the beach north and south were great. But now every inch is taken by little shops selling t-shirts and junk food. Can't see any beach at all! My advice is to visit New Hampshire!

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

I'll second this recommendation. Depending on what you're after, obviously. Boothbay Harbor is a nice area with the Maine Botanical Gardens and the Maine Maritime Museum is in Bath. Camden is the quintessential harbor town and going a little further up the coast, there's the Owls Head Transportation museum and a Wyeth art museum in Rockport (or is it Rockland; I always confuse the two). Pemaquid point near Damariscotta has a very photogenic lighthouse and there are plenty of woodland hiking and coastal opportunities throughout.

I agree with the tourist comment, too.

Sergey

You will encounter crowds practically everywhere. Nevertheless, you will have tons of photo opportunities. I think you mentioned that you want to see the coast, so I'll stick to it.

Check out the Nubble lighthouse (Cape Neddick, York ME), Old Orchard Beach - the Pier (sunrise and blue hour) and Palace Playland (a small amusement park/carnival) next to it (blue hour), Portland Head Light, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Mount Dessert Island and Schoodic Peninsula of Acadia National Park, Lubec. There are little gems everywhere - Wells, Oganquit, Harpswell, Boothbay, Camden, it's impossible to name or visit them all.

If you get as far as Lubec, definitely check out West Quoddy Head Lighthouse (sunrise) and the walking trail there. If you hike, go to Cutler Coast Public Lands; there is a nice loop about 14 miles, half of which goes on the rocky coast with numerous ocean views (you can return back the same way as you came instead of hiking though the woods if you prefer coastal views). If 14 miles hike is too much, trails at Boot Head offer a few of similar views in 2-3 miles of much easier hike.

If you own a passport you can cross over the bridge from Lubec to Campobello Island (Canada). Someone mentioned Roosevelt Campobello International Park on the island (unfortunately it was closed for the season when I was there). Views of Lubec from Mulholland Point lighthouse (and nearby road) can be interesting in the evening. I enjoyed visiting Head Harbour Lightstation on the farthest end of the island. In my opinion it's worth visiting it during low tide so you could walk to the little island with the lighthouse. Just check the tides time table so you don't get stuck there for hours. You'll need to walk on the sea bottom from the main island (very slippery even in good hiking boots but no water during tide out - at least when I was there in October) and climb a couple of ladders. There is a bridge between last two islands but you sill need to walk on the rocky slippery bottom to get to the actual lighthouse. Views from the main island are limited.

There is so much to Maine it's impossible to see everything. I'd spend months and months there if I could.


Have a great trip