charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Thanks. Will take a look and maybe have a few beers.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Thanks for your response. We have been to Portland a few years ago and loved it. This trip we are meeting some family there and “glamming”. I’m not so sure I won’t be checking into the nearest Marriott within a day, but we will see..

By the way glamming is at sandy pines. You get a large tent with a king bed, ac/heat, electricity, fire pit, and a couple of other amenities. Community bath...I am not a camper but this is what the family selected that is setting up the trip...maybe I CAN rough it for a few days. No tv, kitchen, bathroom, etc.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Thanks. I’m sure we will have to visit the pier 77 restaurant. It sounds perfect.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

Thanks for your reply Andy. Bobs clam shack sounds like a perfect lunch site on our adventures out.

gary35243

I'll be driving to Kennebunk traveling from Alabama in September. Can anyone give me some tips (via PM) to make my trip less stressful and aggravating? Many thanks in advance!

DHooch

A cheap, whole-in-wall, but delicious lobster place is Nunan's Lobster Hut. It's a few miles out of town. They used to serve lobster, chips and drinks, but, the lobsters were right off the boat, when in season. We loved it!

As far as photos, Kennebunkport is a quaint little town with a lot of tourists.

Enjoy!

foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas

I was born and raised in Kittery, Maine. If you are driving and going on the Turnpike, Rt 95, as well as others, when you cross from New Hampshire into Kittery, Maine stop at Warren's Lobster House on the right as you enter Kittery. they are right on the water and boats can tie up and park and eat. The lobster there has always been wonderful. While growing up, my friend's dad was the head chef. He is long dead now, but the food continues to be great. Moved to Texas for 30 years, back to Maine for a decade, back to Texas. When anyone came to visit, we took them there for lobster. When we go back we always go there. Can't miss. Enjoy the others as well.

Bluefish Loc: Berks County, PA

Belted Galloways in PA, marvelous creatiures!

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foggypreacher Loc: Dickinson, Texas

Absolutely, Bobs Clam Shack is legendary in Kittery, Maine. They have been there a very long time and serve the best clam rolls, lobster rolls, and fried clams. Enjoy Maine.

BudsOwl Loc: Upstate NY and New England

If you do a scenic route, I doubt that you will get from Hershey to Kennebunkport in 7 hours. I live near Troy, NY and drive to Ogunquit in about 4.5 to 5 hours using New York 7, Vermont 9 and New Hampshire 9 and 101, to Strantham, and then a local roads to Portsmouth and I-95 and then into Maine. My wife and I have been doing this 2 or 3 times a year for over 30 years. I detest the Mass Turnpike and 495 which is about a 4 hour trip from my house. From my house to Hershey is about a 4 hour trip (my daughter lives in Enola so I go down there frequently). You have had a lot of good suggestions of places to visit and eat from our fellow hoggers so I won’t add any more. Enjoy Maine
Bud

MDI Mainer

Be warned that after the intersection with I-87 (the NY Thruway) I-84 soon turns into one of those horrid urban highways that twists and turns around a host of pre-existing neighborhoods, often with a 50 mph speed limit and multiple exit and entrance ramps in close proximity.

For speed I'd stay on I-87 to I-90 (Mass Turnpike) then I-495 to I-95 -- in my experience it's worth the extra time and miles. Plus you have good rest stops on the Thruway and Mass Pike (but also tolls).

Or if you have good weather, daylight and want a more scenic route w/less truck traffic take I-84 to the Taconic State Parkway to I-90 etc.

Even more spectacular scenery if you head east thru the Berkshires on Mass Routes 2A and 2 (The Mohawk Trail) from I-91 to I-495, instead of going east on I-90, but you have to like steep grades and hairpin turns!

Bud's route from the Troy area (easily accessed by going a bit north on I-87 past I-90) is great too.

For food, Mable's Lobster Claw in Kennebunkport was a favorite of the Bushes, and I can say from first hand experience is excellent, as is the Maine Dinner in Wells, and I fully concur that Bob's Clam Hut (not Shack) in Kittery is a fun and tasty stop. Next door to Bob's is the Kittery Trading Post, one of the best sporting/camping/adventure activity stores in New England.

If you get a chance, the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in Wells is a good photography destination.

Southern Maine is beautiful, and the beaches are wonderful, but you have to head a bit farther north, say to Owl's Head State Park in Mid-coast, if you want the iconic "rocky coast of Maine" scenery.

Lastly, if you have access, either by subscribing to the magazine (about $10/year) or on Amazon Prime, the Weekends with Yankee shows have some great tips for visiting Maine and New England in general.

Hope you have a great trip.

MDI Mainer

BTW I think the term is "glamping" not "glamming."

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

you are right...auto correct that i did not catch...thanks for the reply and correction...

AndyH Loc: Massachusetts and New Hampshire

The Mass Pike on weekdays near commuter hours, or on vacation weekends is not a place you want to be.

Andy

MDI Mainer

Agree. I was in the process of adding that caveat when I got timed out of edits! Ditto for I-495 as you traverse the towns north of Boston.