Way, way OT—Travel to NH, VT, and ME

[WEP6to12]

Looking for any local advice or help from previous travelers on best method to vacation in upper New England. We looked at cruises but they spend time in Boston/Cape Cod which we have done so we may plan to drive. Any great spots we should pit on the itinerary? TIA.

 

[Nitt1300]

How much time will you have? That's my favorite part of the country. (And I grew up in Maine)

 

[Midnighter]

Looking for any local advice or help from previous travelers on best method to vacation in upper New England. We looked at cruises but they spend time in Boston/Cape Cod which we have done so we may plan to drive. Any great spots we should pit on the itinerary? TIA.

Mid coast Maine. We do a week there every year. Nantucket too. What are you looking to do?

 

[WEP6to12]

See the landscape, visit must see places, eat a lot of lobster, get to Portland which we just saw listed as one the best small city culinary destinations.

 

[WEP6to12]

How much time will you have? That's my favorite part of the country. (And I grew up in Maine)

Mid coast Maine. We do a week there every year. Nantucket too. What are you looking to do?

Pretty set on a week/8 days.

 

[Headlock]

If it works for your time, a car trip or train ride up Mt Washington is incredible. It is the highest point in the Northeast, and the temperature swing from bottom of the mountain to the top is enormous. The view is over 5 states and Canada.

 

[Midnighter]

See the landscape, visit must see places, eat a lot of lobster, get to Portland which we just saw listed as one the best small city culinary destinations.

Portland is great; plenty of good restaurants and comforts of a small city. We are mostly around Rockland/Rockport/Camden which is slightly north of Portland. Acadia isn’t far from there (about two hours drive) and you need reservations for Cadillac Mountain (book in advance). Parking is a nightmare. Camden is wonderful - small town Maine with great sailing by day (we like the Schooner Appledore) and golf/spa at Samoset Resort. We always do a drive to The Lost Kitchen in Freedom for the fried chicken lunch (best fried chicken I’ve ever had) otherwise it’s a lottery to eat dinner there during the season. Mt. Battie in Camden has a couple of hike options and the view of Penobscot Bay from there is tremendous. Let me know if you need more specifics.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/dining/the-lost-kitchen-maine-erin-french.html

 

[Midnighter]

For Vermont we like Stowe with Burlington as an option for day trips or overnight stays (we stay at the Hotel Vermont near Lake Champlain). Boat tours and bicycle rides around the lake are great, and plenty of good dining spots. Can be a bit grubby in parts though. Lahey Center is cool for kids, and Skinny Pancake is a great breakfast/brunch option. Be careful on Mondays though - many places are closed so dinner can be bit Hunger Games. Book in advance. We found this awesome authentic fondue place in Stowe that was amazing. Ben & Jerry’s and Teddy Bear Factory worth the trips. As are the local ciders/beweries.

Home - Swiss Fondue By Heinz - Stowe, Vermont

Welcome to Swiss Fondue by HeinzChef-Owned & Operated Since 2013At Swiss Fondue by Heinz, we are a small, family-run restaurant offering a refined dining exp...

www.swissfonduestowe.com

 

[NedFromYork]

Wolfeboro, NH on Lake Winnipesauke

 

[Nitt1300]

Pretty set on a week/8 days.

Good- generally the further north you get the better it is- with the exception of the coast of Maine. I'd suggest including Burlington Vt- great food town. The drive up RT 100 from Wilmington to the north country is scenic and will take you though some typical VT villages. There are some really scenic notches further north.

NH is wonderful, from the lake's region into the White Mountains- Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch are nice drives, the Cog Railway on Mt Washington or the Crawford Notch train out of N, Conway are memorable- and Lake Winnipesaukee is nice as well. If you want to avoid crowds, N. Conway may not be your cup of tea. We generally use Lincoln NH as our base when in NH.

Maine- what is there to say? Lakes, mountains and the seacoast- it's all good. The Rangely Lakes and even more so the Moosehead Lake areas are less traveled. Bar Harbor and Camden are lovely but full of tourists. I'd go further up the coast given time- but you can't go wrong anywhere.

 

[Nitt1300]

Oh- and if you HAVE to go to Freeport for LLBean, go at 1AM- Freeport is full of people from NJ and NY during the day.

 

[Midnighter]

Portland is great; plenty of good restaurants and comforts of a small city. We are mostly around Rockland/Rockport/Camden which is slightly north of Portland. Acadia isn’t far from there (about two hours drive) and you need reservations for Cadillac Mountain (book in advance). Parking is a nightmare. Camden is wonderful - small town Maine with great sailing by day (we like the Schooner Appledore) and golf/spa at Samoset Resort. We always do a drive to The Lost Kitchen in Freedom for the fried chicken lunch (best fried chicken I’ve ever had) otherwise it’s a lottery to eat dinner there during the season. Mt. Battie in Camden has a couple of hike options and the view of Penobscot Bay from there is tremendous. Let me know if you need more specifics.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/dining/the-lost-kitchen-maine-erin-french.html

I’ll add there is a candlepin bowling alley in Rockport that is awesome. Place probably hasn’t changed since the 70s. They have an arcade and kids lanes and if you’re not familiar with cadlepin bowling its with tall, thin pins and a small ball (you get three throws per frame). Will transport you to the 70s in an instant. So fun.

Google Search

 

[WEP6to12]

I’ll add there is a candlepin bowling alley in Rockport that is awesome. Place probably hasn’t changed since the 70s. They have an arcade and kids lanes and if you’re not familiar with cadlepin bowling its with tall, thin pins and a small ball (you get three throws per frame). Will transport you to the 70s in an instant. So fun.

Google Search

Fabulous. Sounds like Duck pins which was televised from Baltimore decades ago.

 

[WEP6to12]

Good- generally the further north you get the better it is- with the exception of the coast of Maine. I'd suggest including Burlington Vt- great food town. The drive up RT 100 from Wilmington to the north country is scenic and will take you though some typical VT villages. There are some really scenic notches further north.

NH is wonderful, from the lake's region into the White Mountains- Franconia Notch and Crawford Notch are nice drives, the Cog Railway on Mt Washington or the Crawford Notch train out of N, Conway are memorable- and Lake Winnipesaukee is nice as well. If you want to avoid crowds, N. Conway may not be your cup of tea. We generally use Lincoln NH as our base when in NH.

Maine- what is there to say? Lakes, mountains and the seacoast- it's all good. The Rangely Lakes and even more so the Moosehead Lake areas are less traveled. Bar Harbor and Camden are lovely but full of tourists. I'd go further up the coast given time- but you can't go wrong anywhere.

Thanks! Fabulous info. Greatly appreciate the info. Thanks for sharing.

 

[WEP6to12]

I’ll add there is a candlepin bowling alley in Rockport that is awesome. Place probably hasn’t changed since the 70s. They have an arcade and kids lanes and if you’re not familiar with cadlepin bowling its with tall, thin pins and a small ball (you get three throws per frame). Will transport you to the 70s in an instant. So fun.

Google Search

Thanks. That is great info. Appreciate your info. Thanks for sharing!

 

[royboy]

Portland is great; plenty of good restaurants and comforts of a small city. We are mostly around Rockland/Rockport/Camden which is slightly north of Portland. Acadia isn’t far from there (about two hours drive) and you need reservations for Cadillac Mountain (book in advance). Parking is a nightmare. Camden is wonderful - small town Maine with great sailing by day (we like the Schooner Appledore) and golf/spa at Samoset Resort. We always do a drive to The Lost Kitchen in Freedom for the fried chicken lunch (best fried chicken I’ve ever had) otherwise it’s a lottery to eat dinner there during the season. Mt. Battie in Camden has a couple of hike options and the view of Penobscot Bay from there is tremendous. Let me know if you need more specifics.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/dining/the-lost-kitchen-maine-erin-french.html

Agree with Camden. The water and nearby mountains are spectacular. Schooner rides are good experience.

As to Acadia, it's amazing, but can get crowded at peak travel times. The network of carriage roads is great for hiking or biking. Consider the "other part" of Acadia which is a different entrance onto to the Schoodic Peninsula. Much less crowded. AI Overview:
The Schoodic Peninsula is the secluded, mainland section of Acadia National Park, located near Winter Harbor, Maine. Drawing only 8% of the park's total visitors, it offers rugged pink granite headlands, quiet biking trails, and stunning views of Mount Desert Island without the crowds.

 

[WEP6to12]

If it works for your time, a car trip or train ride up Mt Washington is incredible. It is the highest point in the Northeast, and the temperature swing from bottom of the mountain to the top is enormous. The view is over 5 states and Canada.

Great suggestion. Thanks for the info!

 

[FGDreadnought]

Great suggestion. Thanks for the info!

Mt. Washington is a great trip and area to visit in the Presidential Mountains, see the Mt. Washington Inn. Northcentral Maine, visit Baxter St. Park. See the Moose in Sandy Stream Pond, climb Katahdin and the final miles of the Appalachian Trail, (if you have an adventurous spirit), great scenery. Northern New England is a wonderful place to visit and find adventure.

 

[Alphalion75]

Looking for any local advice or help from previous travelers on best method to vacation in upper New England. We looked at cruises but they spend time in Boston/Cape Cod which we have done so we may plan to drive. Any great spots we should pit on the itinerary? TIA.

I only have one item for you. Have dinner at the Union River Lobster Pot in Ellsworth, Me.

 

[RochLion]

If looking for a spot between say Portland ME and Bar Harbor ME, I'd recommend Boothbay Harbor. A quiet and quaint coastal town that's relaxing, but you'd kind of imagine running into Stephen King at.

 

[kgilbert78]

Fabulous. Sounds like Duck pins which was televised from Baltimore decades ago.

Similar--the pins are what is different.

 

[MacNit]

Looking for any local advice or help from previous travelers on best method to vacation in upper New England. We looked at cruises but they spend time in Boston/Cape Cod which we have done so we may plan to drive. Any great spots we should pit on the itinerary? TIA.

Acadia National Park…Bar Harbor,ME

 

[Thus Spake Mainer]

Portland is great; plenty of good restaurants and comforts of a small city. We are mostly around Rockland/Rockport/Camden which is slightly north of Portland. Acadia isn’t far from there (about two hours drive) and you need reservations for Cadillac Mountain (book in advance). Parking is a nightmare. Camden is wonderful - small town Maine with great sailing by day (we like the Schooner Appledore) and golf/spa at Samoset Resort. We always do a drive to The Lost Kitchen in Freedom for the fried chicken lunch (best fried chicken I’ve ever had) otherwise it’s a lottery to eat dinner there during the season. Mt. Battie in Camden has a couple of hike options and the view of Penobscot Bay from there is tremendous. Let me know if you need more specifics.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/01/dining/the-lost-kitchen-maine-erin-french.html

Mariner's used to be a great to eat in Camden. Then they got new owners and ruined the place with a new menu.

 

[Nitt1300]

Mariner's used to be a great to eat in Camden. Then they got new owners and ruined the place with a new menu.

Breakfast is very good.

 

[WEP6to12]

Similar--the pins are what is different.

Good visual. Not duck pins for sure.

Looking for any local advice or help from previous travelers on best method to vacation in upper New England. We looked at cruises but they spend time in Boston/Cape Cod which we have done so we may plan to drive. Any great spots we should pit on the itinerary? TIA.

Thanks for all the great info! Now I just have to figure out how to map all of this!

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Green Gables, The Witch Museum, Light Houses. Any where they sell lobster rolls and clam chowder. The Constitution.

 

[WEP6to12]

If looking for a spot between say Portland ME and Bar Harbor ME, I'd recommend Boothbay Harbor. A quiet and quaint coastal town that's relaxing, but you'd kind of imagine running into Stephen King at.

Thanks for the info!

 

[Dragons 62]

Kancamagus Highway is very scenic! Glidden Point Oyster Company in Edgecomb, Maine was fabulous! Fresh oysters for lunch washed down by a Narragansett beer(s). Von Trapp Brewing up near Stowe, Vt is great.

 

[Nitt1300]

Kancamagus Highway is very scenic! Glidden Point Oyster Company in Edgecomb, Maine was fabulous! Fresh oysters for lunch washed down by a Narragansett beer(s). Von Trapp Brewing up near Stowe, Vt is great.

There's nothing like running the Kanc on a sportbike-I've probably done it 50 times, and it never gets old

 

[northwoods]

In my thrilling days of youth and yesteryear the challenge was to drive the entire Kancamagus in the dark under only the light of the full moon --- with cars lights off.

 

[LMTLION]

If it works for your time, a car trip or train ride up Mt Washington is incredible. It is the highest point in the Northeast, and the temperature swing from bottom of the mountain to the top is enormous. The view is over 5 states and Canada.

This is the best advice. That entire White Mountains area is just gorgeous. Mount Washington is the most prominent peak in the east and has the worst weather on Earth by many measures. The Lakes region of NH is beautiful too. On the coast there is nothing like a Maine lobster. Portland is neat but you do have to dodge the many homeless now in the city.

 

[ApexLion]

Looking for any local advice or help from previous travelers on best method to vacation in upper New England. We looked at cruises but they spend time in Boston/Cape Cod which we have done so we may plan to drive. Any great spots we should pit on the itinerary? TIA.

Bah Habah, Kennebunkport, Portland, love Maine