Looking for sight-seeing ideas for driving up coast of Maine

Quote from ropiv : Flying in and out of Boston - September 24 through October 1. Bulk of the time is going to be spent driving along the coast of Maine. May or may not go to Acadia National Park, as I've been there before - though we will be driving that direction, and will likely make it to at least Bar Harbor. Primarily, we're looking to drive along the coast, seeing the harbors, lighthouses, eating lobster, etc. I have about a zillion travel books from the library, plus the internet, of course. But am still looking for additional specific ideas on things to do (going through all the travel info can be overwhelming.) We primarily like nature-related stuff: i.e., hiking, state parks, out-door stuff, etc. If anyone has any gems to suggest, I would appreciate. Thanks!

Oh wow, you are in for a real treat. That is one of my very, very favorite parts of the country, well, actually, the world.

I will give you an outline of what we normally do when we're up there, but feel free to ask questions or ask for elaboration on any of the points I mention. Also, all of the lobster places I mention are lobster shacks that sell lobster rolls (among other things). That's all I eat when I'm up there. Even McDonald's sells lobster rolls. If you're wanting recommendations on a lobster pound, I'd either look for someone else's advice here or ask the locals when you get there. I've been to some years ago, but that was so long ago, I don't remember where they were or what they were called.

You'll want to take I-95 to Hwy 1. We usually take I-95 all the way up to around Portsmouth or Kittery, then jump on Hwy 1 just to make better time from Boston.

From there, take Hwy 1 to Hwy 9 just past Wells. In Wells is a very popular diner called The Maine Diner. You may want to check it out. I think it's overrated, but a lot of other people really like it.

Hwy 9 will take you right up the coast. This is where you want to be and you'll want to make sure you have your camera ready because there are a ton of shots you'll want to get of small towns, lighthouses, the rocky coast, etc..

Next stop is Kennebunkport. It's a very nice little town with plenty of expensive shops. If you want a souvenir from here, look around and you'll find the cheaper shops. Shirts in this town range from $10 to $85 or more. Here is your first lobster stop: The Clam Shack [theclamshack.net]. First, let me get this out of the way, I think the two best lobster rolls (and I've had a lot of them) in the country are here at The Clam Shack and at Red's Eats in Wiscasset. The difference between them is the lobster at The Clam Shack is warm while it's cold at Red's, the rolls at The Clam Shack are butter and griddled, while at Red's they're not, and the amount of meat you get at Red's is more than the amount that you'll get at The Clam Shack. Oh yeah, and the line at Red's is almost always long - as in up to an hour or more long, whereas the line at The Clam Shack is usually 5 or 10 minutes or less. The last time I was at The Clam Shack (last year) it seemed like he cut back on the amount of lobster that was going on each roll. But, nevertheless, I still make it a point to stop there at least once per trip. Overall, I think The Clam Shack takes Grand Champion because, despite it's lower portion size of lobster, their rolls, which make up more than half of the sandwich, are better than Red's and their lobster is warm, not cold.

Eventually, in West Scarborough, Hwy 9 will join Hwy 1. In Scarborough hit Hwy 207 towards the coast, then Hwy 177 up the coast to Cape Elizabeth where Two Lights lighthouse is. This is a beautiful lighthouse where you'll get plenty of fantastic pictures.

From here you can either stay on the roads (Hwy 1, Hwy 88, etc.) that hug the coast or you can do what we do and jump on I-295 and head up to Freeport. Freeport is home to L.L. Bean's headquarters. Being into nature, hiking, and outdoors stuff like you are, you should check out the store there. It's very nice, big, and full of fun outdoors stuff. You may also want to spend some time walking around Freeport. It's a very nice town.

(By the way, all along the way there are little fingers that stick out into the ocean that you can certainly get off the main road and check out, I'm just sharing with you what we usually do when we're there.)

Whichever way you go, make your way back to Hwy 1 in Brunswick and take Hwy 1 through Bath to Wiscasset. This is another very cool town. This is also home to the other lobster shack: Red's Eats. Red's is right on the water. Again, be prepared to wait in line up to an hour or more depending on the time of day you go. There is another lobster shack right across the street from Red's that will have a much shorter line. Do not, I repeat, do not be lured by the song of the siren across the street calling to you to get out of the line at Red's and get in their much smaller line. There's a reason why the line at Red's is always super long and the line at the place across the street is always short.

When you're done at Red's, make sure to hit Lear's Ice Cream right next door (down a stone stairway). The owner's, Ron and Pam, are wonderful people. Much, maybe all, of their ice cream is scratch made. They truly care about making great ice cream for their customers.

Once you're done at Red's and Lear's, you can take Hwy 1 across the bridge then immediately turn south on Hwy 27 to go down to Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor. You can get some wonderful pictures here too.

From there, come back up Hwy 27, hit Hwy 1 (east) back up the coast to Damariscotta. This is another wonderful small town. There is an old pharmacy with a lunch counter that I like to go to to get shakes from called Waltz Rexall Drugs. When you're there, ask them if they're making their pumpkin shakes yet (I'm pretty sure they will be) - they're great. In October (from 29 September to 8 October - so you'll be there!), they have a giant pumpkin decorating contest called the PumpkinFest and Regatta [damariscottapumpkinfest.com]. You'll be able to walk along the street and see everyone's giant (and I mean giant - as in hundreds and hundreds of pounds giant) pumpkin. They also have a regatta where people have made boats out of giant pumpkins and race them in a regatta. They also have pumpkin boat making, underwater pumpkin carving, the pumpkin catapult, pumpkin pie and dessert eating contests, among other fun things. It's an absolutely wonderful way to get into the fall spirit.

Once you're done in Damariscotta, hit Hwy 129 heading south towards the coast (or you can go before you go to Damariscotta as Hwy 129 is right there at Damariscotta) and Pemaquid Point lighthouse. Come down Hwy 129 about 4 or 5 miles then turn off onto Hwy 130. This will take you to the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse is one of my very favorites to take pictures of - it it simply gorgeous with it's rocky coast, ocean spray on the rocks, and beautiful flowers and grass surrounding the lighthouse. When you're there, make sure to walk down the rocky coast to shoot back up at the lighthouse so you get the rocky coast, the ocean crashing on the coast, and the lighthouse up in the top of the frame. This makes for a gorgeous shot.

Before or after you go to the lighthouse, right next door (only a chain-link fence separates the two properties, is a restaurant called The Sea Gull [seagullshop.com]. They have fantastic breakfasts (I've only eaten breakfast there) and have oceanfront seating. You'll be sitting closer to the ocean (with a gorgeous view of the lighthouse right next door) than you probably ever have before. If you don't choose to eat there, I'd at least walk in and check out the view from the oceanfront dining room.

From here take Hwy 130 back up about 3 miles to Hwy 32. Take Hwy 32 to New Harbor (less than a mile down) where you'll find The Cupboard Cafe [thecupboardcafe.com] who serves scratch-made, big, warm, amazing cinnamon rolls.

From here, go back to Hwy 130 up to Hwy 129, back up Hwy 129, to Hwy 1 east/north to Rockland. In Rockland you'll want to check out the Prison Showroom [maine.gov]. This place is fascinating. The Maine State Prison prisoners make handcrafted things out of wood (furniture, boats, cutting boards, various craft designs, etc.) and the state sells these woodwork items in this showroom. It's a state program that allows prisoners to participate in the free enterprise system by making things then having the state sell them in this showroom which, in turn, earns the state money that goes towards their "room and board" expenses, and crime restitution, and child support. The prisoners in this program are granted much more freedom than those not in the program - which is why inmates from across the country try to get transferred to the Maine State Prison. The customer service (people behind the counter) is all active prisoners with guards in the showroom at all times. It is a surprisingly very comfortable atmosphere with very, very nice people (both guards and prisoners) staffing the place. Any of them are more than happy to help you with any questions you may have or any help you might need. The story behind this program is just fascinating. Do yourself a favor and stop by there and ask the guard about the story behind the program.

From there, head down Hwy 73 a couple of miles to Owl's Head Lighthouse.

From there, head back up Hwy 73 back to Hwy 1 through Rockland. A mile past Rockland is the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. You will definitely want to stop here and get some fantastic pictures. Rockland sits in a harbor and the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse was built to signal boats of the breakwater that was build to shield the harbor town from the rough waters. The lighthouse is at the end of a mile-long breakwater and makes for some wonderful pictures - especially at sunset shooting back towards the harbor.

From Rockland, head back up Hwy 1 a couple of miles to Camden which is another very pretty harbor town. Camden sits on the harbor and the harbor is full of gorgeous schooners. This is another place that offers tons of gorgeous pictures from the schooners in the coast to the beautiful white churches amongst the trees covered in fall leaves, to the small streets that run through the town.

From there, you can head up to Bah Habah if you like.

Well, that about wraps it up. I'm sure there are plenty of other places to check out while you're up there, but this is the main route we take when we're up there.

Brian1,

I just want to say thank you for taking the time to write such a nice response. I read it this morning, but haven't had time to respond. The GF read it, and she was equally impressed.

The discussions around the lobster rolls reminded us of our trip to Philly, and the long lines for the cheese steaks, and the competition on neighboring street corners.

We're still trying to iron out all the details, but I'll be sure to post a reply when we get back, updating as to what all we did. We are already tasting those pumpkin' shakes, though.

Thanks again!

Quote from Brian1 : From there, take Hwy 1 to Hwy 9 just past Wells. In Wells is a very popular diner called The Maine Diner. You may want to check it out. I think it's overrated, but a lot of other people really like it.

I agree with you. Went there maybe 10 years ago or so. Waited a good hour for a table with my family, wasn't anything special.

Quote from ropiv : Brian1, I just want to say thank you for taking the time to write such a nice response. I read it this morning, but haven't had time to respond. The GF read it, and she was equally impressed. The discussions around the lobster rolls reminded us of our trip to Philly, and the long lines for the cheese steaks, and the competition on neighboring street corners. We're still trying to iron out all the details, but I'll be sure to post a reply when we get back, updating as to what all we did. We are already tasting those pumpkin' shakes, though. Thanks again!

You're more than welcome! I'm looking forward to hearing how it went and, if you're willing to post them, seeing any of you guys' pictures! Have fun!

Near Freeport is an attraction called The Desert of Maine. I tell you this so that you don't make the mistake of visiting it. Think roadside attraction in Florida 50 years ago, and you'll have a pretty good idea of what this offers. My favorite part was the plywood camels. 'Nuff said.

Bar Harbor is a wonderful place to stop at. It has a small town feel to it and has a gorgeous National Park (Acadia). Wonderful food and nice people.

Brian1, Your response is one of the reasons why I love Slickdeals! I am going to print your response and keep it for the next time that I go to Maine. Thank you for sharing! I was there a while back and went to Rockland for the Lobster Festival. I agree with you and Prig that the Maine Dinner is nothing special. Thanks, again, for your wonderful response.

Great advice! While I know it looks like you are already here in MAINE.... Just thought I would throw in my 2 cents.

In Cape Elizabeth I think the lighthouse that you actually want to look for is Portland Head Light at Fort Williams park. Two lights is another park down the road but the light house there is not obvious. In Freeport I would check out Wolfe Neck State Park if you have time and skip LL Bean. In Boothbay Harbor take a left at the only traffic light and drive all the way to the end of East Boothbay. Called Ocean Point (beautiful). In Camden, I love to drive to the top of Mt. Battie (It's a state park). You can see down to Camden Harbor easily.

I'm lucky enough to live in Maine and I enjoy all of these things almost every year! Have a great trip.

Brian1, thanks again for your great post. And thanks to everyone else who had a comment/suggestion.

We got back on Monday, and I've not posted because it just so happened that I came home with a cold. Nothing major, just felt BLAH for the past few days. But who cares....as it came upon me on the last day of the trip. Thank goodness for that.

We had a wonderful time on the trip, and we split our time between coastal Maine and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. If you can believe it, our favorite part of the trip (both my girlfriend and myself) was walking out to the Breakwater Ligthhouse in Rockland, Maine.

We ate tons of lobster, and now feel like experts on lobster rolls.

My goal is --- within the next few days -- to post a complete trip update.

Thanks again, all!