PGHphoto Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

I would entertain the meet-up ! Will be there Sept 16 - 23. Right now it looks like we are flying into Boston, picking up my brother-in law and driving to Surry. Also a possibility that my wife and her parents will fly into Augusta while I go to Boston and drive up from there with brother-in-law to pick them up and save them 3 hours of the drive. Seem to be some good car rental rates (under $400 total for the week).

Who's up for it ?

MtnMan Loc: ID

I checked on the park campgrounds. You can only reserve six months ahead so we need to wait till next month to reserve. It looks pretty full already for RV spaces through Labor Day, but then opens up. Plenty of tent spaces. There may be a rush for Oct RV spaces as they open up.

Off to the Panama Canal next Tuesday so will check again when back April 7.

(This retirement stuff is hard work!)

I'd be delighted to meet some UHHers if schedules coincide. I'm now thinking of seeking to be there Oct. 8- 15. (I need to shoot an Elk before we leave Idaho. That shot does not involve cameras.)

dennisallard Loc: Southern Maine

We would most likely use one of the local campgrounds.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

The place I stayed is the Wonder View Inn, a "sister" to the Blue Nose Inn. It's rates are lower than that, with lowest at $99, next at $119. Their off-season rates start October 10 until October 19 [for some reason rates go up after that!]. The room was in one of the Courtyard buildings, not sure if it was the main one or the upper. It is worth checking out.

If I can convince my husband to go, it certainly would be fun to meet up! Best to go while the foliage is still brilliant, I was there the week of the 16th.

Susan

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

That looks like a good location in my book, got to talk to wife.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Well we went up with a group on a bus tour, so maybe they made arrangements with the Park Rangers to use a room. It's been too many years to remember, but I thought the Park Dept. was involved, maybe I'm wrong, but I remember the meal and the bill. I didn't trust our brakes and transmission going up and down the mountain. Apparently we were not privy to any reasonably priced fish restaurants with friendly people serving us in or near Bar Harbor. There were no fast food restaurants allowed because they wanted to have a monopoly on over-priced low quality food sources owned by locals. A few fast food chains in town would have destroyed the local restaurant economy.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

You need to remember that your trip was 20 years ago. A lot can change. The town is currently full of places to eat, not exorbitantly priced, and decent food. Service is good, wait-staff are efficient and friendly. The counter-people in the hotels are also friendly and helpful. It is very probable the people and the town have adapted over the last 20 years to being a tourist destination and treat you well so you will come back again.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Very true. With the internet and yelp and google online reviews, etc., it's a different world. None of that existed a couple of decades ago.

SusanFromVermont Loc: Southwest corner of Vermont

So true! It gets a bit complicated at times, but it does make things easier for some things. At least we have been able to adjust over time, although there has been an increase recently in how fast things are changing...

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

We've always driven our own car , gives us flexibility in itineraries, sights , and restaurants, Maine in general does not encourage a lot of chain restaurants, no Red Lobster, no loss there, I do remember a few burger joints, not high on my list, some Dunkins, nice to have around, and lots of good diners, thumbs up. Over the years we have had maybe 2 bad meals in Maine, some more expensive, some quite inexpensive. All this talking is making me want to go back soon, Bob.

Lance Pearson Loc: Viriginia

I spent two weeks on the coast towing and using my 16' kayak and loved it. did Cadillac Mountain, kayaked into the harbor among the Hinkley yachts at Southwest Harbor then around to Somes Sound, the only fjord east of the mississippi. I also took a day and went up to foggy Quoddy Head light...furthest E. point of the usa and looked out over the Bay of Fundy and shot that. I then went on with passport in hand over into Canada and visited the Roosevelt summer home at Campobolo which is still immaculately preserved and about two miles over the border on the island in New Brunswick. All within easy reach of the Acadia park area. I found the town near acadia to be really touristy, bar harbor I think it is...but all up and down the coast there are interesting towns. Frequent the docks and take colorful photos of the many colors of stacked lobster pots or the boats coming in with lobster. Take photos of getting a fresh steamed lobster dinner on a deck over the water or just one of the zillion and one lobster shacks that are everywhere. I have a bunch of really good photos. In Portland one day I went into an artist's coop in downtown and bought a ceramic piece from the artist who made it...if you have time Maine is fabulous. The last day I went inland to Bangor and the next day up to Baxster State Park and cruised just outside until I found a big bull moose up to his armpits in water about 20 yards from me and photographed him until he got irked and stormed away with more power than anything I've ever seen.

One day I took the ferry with my bicycle over to Vinylhaven Island, rode the island on my bike and had lunch there then returned and put the bike on the trailer with the kayak and took off to my next destination.

Don't hit one and pay attention to the moose warning signs when driving!

dennisallard Loc: Southern Maine

Sounds like you did our state justice, Lance. I have yet to see Baxter State Park.

Lance Pearson Loc: Viriginia

First time there and I had two weeks. I have about 500 really good photos as memories. Baxter is fun, home of Mt Khatadin the terminus, or one of them, of the AT. I liked it up there...lots of ponds and water and there was this fantastic young big moose....

The only thing which puzzled me was not the famous reticence of the people, they were fantastic, but I begin to notice that every pickup had a snow plow attachment point on the front bumper......

Lance Pearson Loc: Viriginia

and lobster to die for.....and some terrific people enjoying them on the wharf over the harbor....freshly steamed

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dennisallard Loc: Southern Maine

If you spend a winter up there you'll understand the snowplows. Not so bad in the southern regions where I live.