Hoops12751 Loc: Lexington, KY

I am planning a trip up into Maine before we head to Nantucket this September. I am looking for any information on Kennebunkport and the coastal area for great photographic locations or points of interest. Also, any info on great places to stay and eat would be appreciated. I have been through Olgonquit, but no farther north and figure that there is a vast wealth of knowledge among the hogger community from which I can learn. As always, thanks on advance!

bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Don't miss Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Stunningly beautiful. You may need to hang around Acadia for several days if the weather does not permit good photos.

Haydon

Beside the amazing rock formations by the ocean, lighthouses are great to photograph and Maine has a plethora of them.

One of the most picturesque and photogenic is Penequid Point. I believe it can be found on most Windows 7 machine as a wallpaper.

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=504

Here's another link listing all the lighthouses in Maine.

http://www.lighthousefriends.com/pull-state.asp?state=ME

I can't vouch for any of the others. I found in general, research is needed to find whether their accessible as frequently they're a lone soul in an unapproachable location.

Mmatu

I love the daily lobster boils! There is a lot of activities. Whale watching
(Take warm clothing is is cool on the Ocean) Bah harbor, Acadia National Park, if you love lighthouses there is many, some of the most beautiful
In the US.

pecohen Loc: Central Maine

Just south of Brunswick there are two peninsulas that are worth exploring. The more photogenic is really a series of islands connected with bridges. Bailey Island is the island that you'll probably most easily find on a map. I've never stayed there, but here ( http://www.logcabin-maine.com/ ) is a link to a place I thought I'd like to stay some time.

The other peninsula is to the west. There are some good scenes at the very tip of it (and some great restaurants) but not so much along the drive down to the very end.

Further north, Camden is a great little town with a beautiful harbor; if you take a tour of the harbor you may get a good shot at a lighthouse. I'd consider spending a night in Camden if that works into your schedule. Fort Knox and the observation tower are worth a stop if you are going up the coast and the along the peninsula below is pretty. Stonington has another great harbor and there are boats going to the nearby islands from there. Once here, you are right at the edge of Acadia national park and you don't want to miss that.

rdgreenwood Loc: Kennett Square, Pennsylvania

I'm pretty sure that Bailey and Orr's Island are just north of Brunswick, but if you take a right just after the former airbase, now an "air park" or some such, you'll find the road out there. They're worth visiting.

You really should drive up to Camden; it's a tad overrun by tourists but does offer some great photographic opportunities. When we go there, we tend to stay just north of there in Lincolnville Beach. We stay at the Spouter Inn, the only B&B we've ever stayed at that offers you a menu to select from for your next day's breakfast. It's the best B&B we've ever stayed at. If you're going to Bath, The Inn at Bath is excellent.

As for sights, make sure you take that drive out to Bailey/Orr's Island, as it will give you a great sense of the lobster fisherman's culture. A bit farther north, you might want to check out Coastal Botanic Garden in Boothbay. Selected as the top public garden in the country, it's a wonderful treat and only a spit and a holler from the Camden area. I'm a garden photographer, so I don't make such recommendations without giving thought to the photographic opportunities to be found.

On our last trip, two years ago, we stayed in Lincolnville Beach and found that both Acadia and Boothbay were within easy reach for perfect day trips. We're heading west this year, but I envy you. Have a great trip.

Shellback Loc: North of Cheyenne Bottoms Wetlands - Kansas

You could spend a year in Maine and not see everything - beautiful state - lived there 5 years at the Naval Air Base in Brunswick and didn't see all there was to see -

Fort Popham - about 15 min from Bath on Rt 209: http://www.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/doc/parksearch/search_name.pl?state_park=&historic_site=40&public_reserved_land=&shared_use_trails=&option=search

Portland Maine - Fort Williams Park has the oldest light house in Maine - a photographers dream park: http://www.fortwilliamspark.com/

And don't forget the covered bridges of Maine: http://www.coveredbridgemap.com/me/

One thing to note - when the colors change, the state of Maine has a population growth of tourists that is in the thousands - many cruise ships arrive and the roads are bumper to bumper to the islands - you will be traveling on 2 lane roads and if anything happens on the road, you are stuck until it clears... generally that does not happen, but be prepared...

There are wool outlets in Maine and Freeport Maine is home to LL Bean so if you like to shop for outdoor clothing or equipment, you're in the right area.

There is a maritime museum in Bath, Maine that is extremely interesting - it does cost to enter but we enjoyed it... http://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org/

Aerial America by the Smithsonian Channel is an outstanding overview of the state and may give you some ideas on what you want to see. Here is their website for the Maine video (the lighthouse showing is the one at Fort Williams): http://www.smithsonianchannel.com/sc/web/series/701/aerial-america/136451/maine#harbor-island-mans-inhumanity

Dining - we found that the small restaurants and cafes in the out of way places offered the best prices. It will be tourist season and the "choice" eateries will adjust their prices accordingly... However, there are occasions when one wishes to splurge a little and we found "A Taste of Maine" (http://www.tasteofmaine.com/) on the island was excellent - the food was great with a spectacular view off the patio.

Enjoy your trip...

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

I used to go to the area around the Saco River, Hollis Center, Salmon Falls, etc. and it's nice smooth curvy roads with colors so bright you'll need sunglasses to drive! Awesome. Lot's of quaint little towns with lots of friendly people.

tmicro Loc: Walkertown,N.C.

Portland's Old Port is a nice place to visit. Lots of boats and vessels of all sorts. Portland head light/ Fort Williams park is also nice.
This is 40 minutes north of Kennebunkport. You have not mentioned how far you want to travel but the other great places mentioned are further north and during tourist season could takes hrs and hrs to get to.

marcomarks Loc: Ft. Myers, FL

The area I mentioned is also only about 15 miles northwest of Portland. If I were to live in Maine that would be my chosen area. Close to a big city and some smaller cities but still very rural and natural. Close enough to the ocean to visit but far enough away to not be affected by bad ocean weather.

Billbobboy42 Loc: Center of Delmarva

Acadia National Park is a must. A friend of mine is a professional photographer and has visited Acadia many times. He stated that you could not see the whole place in a month. If weather permits, the top of Cadillac Mtn affords a super panorama view of the entire Bar Harbor port area.

MDI Mainer

September and October are the best times in Maine. The weather is wonderful, and the tourist population diminishes substantially after Labor Day (even a little before, now that many school systems start the Fall term before the holiday).

Here are two books that contain a lot of useful information for photographers:

http://www.amazon.com/Photographers-Guide-Acadia-National-Park/dp/0881508861/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396900970&sr=8-1&keywords=photography+acadia+national+park

http://www.amazon.com/The-Photographers-Guide-Maine-Coast/dp/0881505358/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_y

Our favorite hotel in Maine is the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport. Great accommodations with a classic New England Inn feel, wonderful food (the best breakfast buffet and afternoon tea ever), as well a very convenient location to explore the southern part of the state (e.g., 15-20 minutes to downtown Portland). Walking distance to the LL Bean "mother store" which is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year!

A bit farther north in mid-coast is the Samoset Resort in Rockland. Though we've never personally stayed there, many friends have and highly recommend it. Rockland is a neat town with many interesting features around the working harbor, a great museum, (the Farnsworth) and many excellent eateries, including one of our favorites, The Brass Compass. The lobster club sandwich there won a throw down against Bobby Flay. Rockland is a good base from which to explore the mid-coast seacoast towns and parks.

http://www.samosetresort.com/

http://www.harraseeketinn.com/

PS In my estimation, there is not too much difference in scenery between York/Ogunquit/Wells/Kennebunk. You need to go a little further north, at least to Owls Head, to experience a real difference in the coast line scenery. It's not quite Acadia, but there's a similar aspect and it's a lot closer to Massachusetts.

MDI Mainer

Meant to add, for the time closer to your visit, the state foliage guide to be found at:

http://www.maine.gov/dacf/mfs/projects/fall_foliage/index.shtml