Going back to Maine this summer!

[darthmacho]

Okay, so my WDW plans were a bust this year, so we decided that staying home all summer while waiting and saving for next year would be prudent. The only problem was that this plan really didn't sit well with me at all. Therefore, we decided another New England trip would be the way to go!

I'll be honest. With the exception of WDW, I could happily make a lifetime out of summer trips around New England, and if forced to narrow it further, NH or ME would suit me just fine.

We decided on Old Orchard Beach, ME, which narrowly beat out our other options, the White Mountains, NH and Mystic, CT. If I had the time and money, I'd visit all three!

Unfortunately, due to a late start and a variety of other issues, we weren't able to get into a prime spot near the beach, but we booked a delightful looking hotel in nearby Biddeford. This is good because we actually only plan on spending one or two of our six days (weather permitting) on the beach anyway. What the hotel lacks in character, it makes up for in convenience and amenities, not to mention I got a $40 a night government discount!

Aside from the beach, famous pier, and nearby amusement parks, we are considering a whale watch , a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game, the Portland Children's museum, and Maine Wildlife Park as options. I'm also hoping to stop by York on the way home to visit the Nubble Lighthouse for sentimental reason. (We went there last summer.)

I can't wait to start making more concrete plans. Only 8 weeks to go!

Anyway, sorry for this rambling post, but I got kinda excited after thinking that we'd be home all summer.

Tell me what you think!

[dolphinmickey9170]

Isn't that funny, we are going to ME in July to OOB and staying in Biddeford as well.....with Intercot friends, DWHUBBY and DisneyWhirled. Great choices. Hope you have a blast!! Have a red hot dog for me. You should check out the Portland Headlight in Cape Elizabeth, it's an awesome lighthouse you see pictures of all over the place.

[Dsnygirl]

Your plans sound awesome... we are headed to Maine this summer, too!! We usually spend a week up off of Brunswick on Orr's Island, with an overnight stop on the way there in York, my "home away from home". (grew up going there every summer -- but our cabanas on the rocks overlooking the Nubble are long gone... ... and we lived in Nashua, NH for 6 years, so we were there as often as we could be -- I miss that!!)
But, we decided to take the girls on a longer trip to Disney this year in December, so we gave up our week in heaven for another week in the same, just a totally different kind of week!
But, like you, staying home all summer didn't feel right, so we're doing a 3-night/4-day trip to York, staying at the Katahdin Inn on York Beach. (The big yellow farmhouse overlooking the beach, on the right as you're at the beach - you should try it sometime, the prices can't be beat - even in-season, their rooms are $129/night -- off-season, they drop as low as $69!!)

Anyway - I hope you guys have a terrific time... we haven't been to OOB yet, but someday hope to visit it!

[GrumpySue]

Wow, we are going to Maine too 4th of July week. We are staying in Kennbunkport at the Cabot Cove Cottages and both my brothers have rented homes nearby with their families. We do this every year - we had a house in Maine growing up and spent a lot of time there. It is really beautiful up there. We also visited the White Mountains in NH this past winter for the first time, and I'm sure we'll be back - it was great.

[darthmacho]

Isn't that funny, we are going to ME in July to OOB and staying in Biddeford as well.....with Intercot friends, DWHUBBY and DisneyWhirled. Great choices. Hope you have a blast!! Have a red hot dog for me. You should check out the Portland Headlight in Cape Elizabeth, it's an awesome lighthouse you see pictures of all over the place.

I'm a bit obsessed with lighthouses right now after our visit to the Nubble Last year, so Portland Headlight is on the top of my "must do" list. It's my goal to visit every lighthouse in NE in my lifetime.

We'll be visiting Portland at some point, so stopping by the lighthouse should be easy to fit in.

Thanks for the reply. Enjoy your trip too!

[darthmacho]

Your plans sound awesome... we are headed to Maine this summer, too!! We usually spend a week up off of Brunswick on Orr's Island, with an overnight stop on the way there in York, my "home away from home". (grew up going there every summer -- but our cabanas on the rocks overlooking the Nubble are long gone... ... and we lived in Nashua, NH for 6 years, so we were there as often as we could be -- I miss that!!)
But, we decided to take the girls on a longer trip to Disney this year in December, so we gave up our week in heaven for another week in the same, just a totally different kind of week!
But, like you, staying home all summer didn't feel right, so we're doing a 3-night/4-day trip to York, staying at the Katahdin Inn on York Beach. (The big yellow farmhouse overlooking the beach, on the right as you're at the beach - you should try it sometime, the prices can't be beat - even in-season, their rooms are $129/night -- off-season, they drop as low as $69!!)

Anyway - I hope you guys have a terrific time... we haven't been to OOB yet, but someday hope to visit it!

When we visited York last year, I thought to myself that I could easily make it a "home away from home," so I can totally understand your love for it.

I couldn't get enough of the Nubble myself. The thought of a room overlooking it sounds exciting. Some day I'd like to stay at the Anchorage (We had to stay next door at the Sea Latch because we got a late start with our plans last year too) so that I can have a balcony overlooking the beach and the Nubble in the distance.


Thanks for the reply, and enjoy your visit.

[darthmacho]

Wow, we are going to Maine too 4th of July week. We are staying in Kennbunkport at the Cabot Cove Cottages and both my brothers have rented homes nearby with their families. We do this every year - we had a house in Maine growing up and spent a lot of time there. It is really beautiful up there. We also visited the White Mountains in NH this past winter for the first time, and I'm sure we'll be back - it was great.

I haven't been to Kennebunk, but we might take in a whale watch out of there, so maybe it will be our first visit.

I can't wait to go to the White Mountains in the fall or winter some day. All my visits have been in the summer. I love New England!

[Tinkerfreak]

I'm so happy to hear that you guys love Maine and I want to welcome you to my wonderful state. We live 20 minutes from Brunswick and my DH builds and remodels houses on all the islands in Harpswell Orr's and Bailey Islands as well as Cundy's Harbor. No matter how many times I see the coast of Maine it is just as beautiful every time. I hope you all have a wonderful time here.

[chick20679]

I'm so happy to hear that you guys love Maine and I want to welcome you to my wonderful state. We live 20 minutes from Brunswick and my DH builds and remodels houses on all the islands in Harpswell Orr's and Bailey Islands as well as Cundy's Harbor. No matter how many times I see the coast of Maine it is just as beautiful every time. I hope you all have a wonderful time here.

Agreed!
Hope everyone has great vacations in 'vacationland'!!
We've had beautiful weather lately, and although the ocean is still abit cold, it's starting to warm enough to actually go IN.

Please, let us Mainers know if you need any help in your travel planning.


See ya real soon!

[Dsnygirl]

I'm so happy to hear that you guys love Maine and I want to welcome you to my wonderful state. We live 20 minutes from Brunswick and my DH builds and remodels houses on all the islands in Harpswell Orr's and Bailey Islands as well as Cundy's Harbor. No matter how many times I see the coast of Maine it is just as beautiful every time. I hope you all have a wonderful time here.

Hmmm.... I'll have to keep you guys in mind if we ever get a chance to build on my mom's land in York...

We've had beautiful weather lately, and although the ocean is still abit cold, it's starting to warm enough to actually go IN.

... I'll never forget the first time I took my DH to Maine... and went running into the ocean... he ran in after me, then stopped dead in his tracks, with this PRICELESS look on his face... I think he immediately thought he'd married an ice princess, as he would go no further than his calves (although he does now, 15 years later... ) and couldn't figure out how I'd just run in so far!!

Can't wait to get there...

[DisneyDog]

We went to Wells Beach a few years ago and had a very nice vacation. My DS who was about 3 at the time, really enjoyed getting wet in the ocean. My BIL took him in. There was no way I was going in! Ha ha. Way too cold for me. But, my Florida-born little guy didn't mind the cold water. I swear, he was a fish in a previous life. He'd swim in a puddle if I let him!

[ChipDale2708]

I guess Maine's the place to be this summer! We're going in the middle of August to Bar Harbor. I have never been there - never seem to make it past the shopping in Kittery... We're only spending 4 days up there but plan to do a whale watch and drive out to Campobello Island. It looks really quiet out there. I'd love any ideas about Bar Harbor and the island from any Maine residents!

[darthmacho]

I guess Maine's the place to be this summer! We're going in the middle of August to Bar Harbor. I have never been there - never seem to make it past the shopping in Kittery... We're only spending 4 days up there but plan to do a whale watch and drive out to Campobello Island. It looks really quiet out there. I'd love any ideas about Bar Harbor and the island from any Maine residents!

How exciting! At the moment, my dream outside of WDW vacation is to go to Bar Harbor. I've done a fair amount of research and there's a LOT to do there. I hope someday to spend a good two weeks there on vacation. I hope you have a great time, and please let me know how things worked out. Maybe write a trip report?

[SBETigg]

We'll be in Wells at the end of August. It's our second vacation home, with WDW rating first. I love it there. We alternate WDW years with Wells vacation years. Sounds like you're getting ready for a fun time, DarthMacho.

[tinkerbellybutton]

I too want to welcome you all to our beautiful state. I live in Brunswick, close to Cook's Corner. We have about equal distances between Bailey, Orrs, etc. and Popham beach and the two forts there. I consider myself incredibly blessed and if you ever want some inexpensive things to do around here, give me a shout. Have great trips, all of you

[TooGoofy]

Another Mainer welcomes you fellow Intercotees to our beautiful home state.


I've been to Bar Harbor many times and we also went to Campobello Island last summer. I'd be happy to give suggestions for dining and places to stay in the area. Just PM me or reply to this thread.

[DisneyWhirled]

Okay, so my WDW plans were a bust this year, so we decided that staying home all summer while waiting and saving for next year would be prudent. The only problem was that this plan really didn't sit well with me at all. Therefore, we decided another New England trip would be the way to go!

I'll be honest. With the exception of WDW, I could happily make a lifetime out of summer trips around New England, and if forced to narrow it further, NH or ME would suit me just fine.

We decided on Old Orchard Beach, ME, which narrowly beat out our other options, the White Mountains, NH and Mystic, CT. If I had the time and money, I'd visit all three!

Unfortunately, due to a late start and a variety of other issues, we weren't able to get into a prime spot near the beach, but we booked a delightful looking hotel in nearby Biddeford. This is good because we actually only plan on spending one or two of our six days (weather permitting) on the beach anyway. What the hotel lacks in character, it makes up for in convenience and amenities, not to mention I got a $40 a night government discount!

Aside from the beach, famous pier, and nearby amusement parks, we are considering a whale watch , a Portland Sea Dogs baseball game, the Portland Children's museum, and Maine Wildlife Park as options. I'm also hoping to stop by York on the way home to visit the Nubble Lighthouse for sentimental reason. (We went there last summer.)

I can't wait to start making more concrete plans. Only 8 weeks to go!

Anyway, sorry for this rambling post, but I got kinda excited after thinking that we'd be home all summer.

Tell me what you think!

Hope you have a wonderful trip! If you'd like some info on the hotel PM me and I would be glad to give you some as we live in Biddeford. Have you been to Old Orchard Beach? They really have made significant improvements in the area to make it a lovely place to visit.
Your plans sound wonderful!. If I can be of any assistance helping you plan (send you brochures or something), please let me know!!

[buzznwoodysmom]

Wow, I hope you all have wonderful trips. Maine is a state that I will see one day. There are two places that I have always wanted to see, besides WDW that is, Maine and New York City. If any of you do trip reports I'll be happy to read them. Have a great time!

[darthmacho]

Hope you have a wonderful trip! If you'd like some info on the hotel PM me and I would be glad to give you some as we live in Biddeford. Have you been to Old Orchard Beach? They really have made significant improvements in the area to make it a lovely place to visit.
Your plans sound wonderful!. If I can be of any assistance helping you plan (send you brochures or something), please let me know!!

Thank you for the offer, but I don't think we need any specific information, as we're getting quite a bit from on-line and through the mail.

One bit of advice I would like to ask is what to do when we want to go to the pier, the beach, and the amusement park? Will it be impossible to park? I imagine it is like York Beach, where you have to feed the meters? I was hoping to get a place right on the beach in order to avoid that mess, but we ended up in Comfort Suites because everything nearby was booked. We're happy with the place we got though.

Any tips or advice are welcome of course.

Thanks.

[DisneyWhirled]

One bit of advice I would like to ask is what to do when we want to go to the pier, the beach, and the amusement park? Will it be impossible to park? I imagine it is like York Beach, where you have to feed the meters? I was hoping to get a place right on the beach in order to avoid that mess, but we ended up in Comfort Suites because everything nearby was booked. We're happy with the place we got though.

Any tips or advice are welcome of course.

Thanks.

In OOB, there are several parking lots. There are meters, but that can be cumbersome. There are lots where you pay a flat fee for the day and you pay when parking the car. In my opinion, this is the best way to go.

People are coming and going all day, so you shouldn't have a problem finding parking in the lots. The meters can be hard to find.

Make sure you indulge in pier fries and Bill's Pizza...they are a local staple

The Comfort Suites is brand new within the last 3 years. We have gone swimming there during the winter...they let locals pay to use the pool.

Hope you have a wonderful time!!!