What time of year are you considering and what part? Sometimes the shoulder seasons are cooler but less crowded and still as beautiful. Acadia is a must see. We like Bar Harbor KOA Oceanside. Pricey, but you can't beat the sunsets nor the lobster bakes and pancake breakfasts they do. Bar Harbor is a fun, quirky kind of place but eat outside town at one of the lobster shacks along Rt. 3. In-town dining can be pricey and most of the restaurants aren't that great. Baxter State Park is way up as is Moosehead Lake but if you've got the time it's worth the drive. BSP has lots of restrictions so read up before you go there. For a lower key area try Poland Spring Campground in Poland Spring. More rustic but very nice, very family oriented. Southern Maine tends to be very crowded during peak season but this is where you find the best beaches (if you don't mind frigid water!). Ogunquit is also one of our favorite places but keep in mind there are a lot of alternative lifestyle people there.
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RV-less for now but our spirits are still on the open road.
We love Acadia, but equally love Booth Bay Harbor and Grey's Homestead Campground (the owner is a lobster man and you can order your lobsters for fresh catch, they will steam them for you). Just as nice is a swing in-land to Sabago Lake, just west of Portland. We haven't camped in that area as we had friend's the a cabin.
Of course just north of Portland is Kennebunkport if you want to see where the Bush's vacation. We drove past several years ago, you can see their compound some from the road that runs in front of it.
Since time isn't an issue, take your time and stop at several of the towns along the coast, we did that 5 years ago, took 4 days and made our way up the coast until we got to Bar Harbor...you could definitely extend it, we just were on a limited time frame. In our stops when we hopped the coast we included several of the light houses as well.
if you are considering a summer trip, the fireworks over Bar Harbor were great several years ago. There was also a private display over Somes Sound, you would need to check with the locals once you are up there to see if that display is still being done.
Good Sam Life Members. Camping with two young children in a 2007 Pilgrim fifth wheel (278BHSS) pulled with a 2002 F350.
We are looking to take a trip next May and all of the information I have found her is very helpful. We are looking at leaving from Pittsburgh and stopping in Connecticut somewhere for overnight rest break and then to Freeport, ME(she wants to go to LL Bean there)stay overnight somewhere and then head out to Bar Harbor. Probably looking at staying at Hadley's Point since Bar Harbor CG does not open until Memorial Day, plenty of things could change by then but this is still early in the planning stages and what I have been able to come up with so far.
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Lord no! I think it's probably one of the safest places on the planet! Some people are just not comfortable with the open displays of affection between same gender couples, of which there are many, as well as the presence of punkers, Goths, hipsters, etc. It's just a head's up that it is a place that attracts many different types of people in large numbers as well as families. I give the same warning about Provincetown, but there I no longer feel safe.
Crowe wrote: What an odd warning. Were you attacked?
Lord no! I think it's probably one of the safest places on the planet! Some people are just not comfortable with the open displays of affection between same gender couples, of which there are many, as well as the presence of punkers, Goths, hipsters, etc. It's just a head's up that it is a place that attracts many different types of people in large numbers as well as families. I give the same warning about Provincetown, but there I no longer feel safe.
Reminds me of Haight-Ashbury in the late 60's. People kicking back, hanging out with friends - enjoying life - not worrying about drive-by's and moronies with AK-47's and an agenda.
I wouldn't drive anything bigger than a motor scooter through Ogunquit. Not worth it. Nice town other than the traffic. You can dry camp in the public lot in Freeport then go to L L Bean in the middle of the night -- best time without crowds, though the Outlet Store, Bike and Ski, and the Home Store aren't open all night. The Flagship store and Hunt and Fish have no locks on the doors. Wiscasset is a horror for parking, but a great CG there called Chewonki. Red's is worth a stop just for the experience. Other favorite eating places are the Maine Diner in Wells and Moody's Diner in Waldoboro. Thomaston: Near enough to Rockland and Camden with our favorite CG -- Saltwater Farm. Searsport is a great town, but we didn't care for the CGs there. Bar Harbor -- KOA Woodside for us. Don't forget to go to the other half of Acadia NP which is called Schoodic Point. It's on the next peninsula north and well worth the trip -- very few people.
The Bar Harbor KOA is awesome--if you go to Maine you really should get to Acadia--the phrase "heaven on earth" comes to mind. You can buy a fresh lobster dinner right at the campground from a gentleman whose son Is a lobstermen. We wrote a lot about our Maine vacation at our family blog-- google lively little campers-you will find a lot of suggestions there. We also loved Camden Hills State Park-- the list goes on and on!
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