Boston/Bar Harbor Vacation

Need a little help planning a vacation in New England in a few weeks. My wife and I have both spent a decent amount of time in Boston and we've been to Bar Harbor before. I've spent lots of time in Portsmouth, NH and other parts of NH. But I'd like to get some input on other places to hit along the coast between Bar Harbor and Boston. We'll have the kids with us.

Flying into Boston and headed north up 95. We'll probably hit Portsmouth at lunch time and just tool around. Is there anything great around Kittery? We'll head up 95 to Bar Harbor via Bangor.

Four nights in downtown Bar Harbor. We've got a private harbor cruise, a whale/puffin watching tour, and bicycling in the national park planned. I've currently planned the hike out to Bar Island, jumping off the ledges along 102, Beal's Lobster Pound in SW Harbor, sunset at the top of Cadillac Mountain. I'm probably going to hike The Beehive solo. Kids are too young to paddle a sea kayak for any meanignful distance, which is why we have the harbor cruise planned aboard a sloop. I expect to hit the Cranberries and Baker Island then. Any other good hike or restaurant suggestions? I'm going to need a place to watch the USA v. Germany match too and liked Lompoc Cafe, but can't remember if it had TVs.

Headed back down the coast and will spend the night somewhere. Not sure where. I'm sure Portland is a cool place, but what is there to DO there? Will hit Kennebunkport, hopefully at high tide for maximum wave splash, but what other towns are most worthwhile? We might take Highway 1. Undecided. We are unlikely to make it out to Gloucester.

Into Boston on Sunday morning and will have the better part of three days for Swan Boats/Public Garden/Boston Common, Tea Party Museum (Row 34 for a meal), Freedom Trail/Paul Revere's House/really skinny house, Mary Baker Eddy Musem/Mapparium/maybe the Museum of Fine Arts, Duck Tour, Red Sox v. Cubs. Is there anything else I should be doing in Boston that is especially kid friendly? Not really interested in the Aquarium or Children's Museum unless we find that there is an interesting exhibit.

Help me all knowing Yankees.

I would say you should take a day and drive to Cape Cod, but that's the opposite direction. Still, the national seashore and some of the smaller beaches are definitely worth the trip.

For soccer bars, I took a buddy to see an Arsenal game at Lir in Boston back in January, and shit seemed legit. There are a couple of good soccer pubs on Boylston (Copley area) in Boston. It sounds like you're going to be in Maine at that point, though, so.

Yeah we'll be in Bar Harbor at that point still. Cape Cod will be another trip.

the greatest lobster/steamer shack in the world is 20 minutes from kittery. If you care I will look up the name I forgot.

Yes, that information could be pivotal.

http://www.chaunceycreek.com/

Bread on the lobster rolls sucks but that's not what you are there for. Steamers are great, setting is great. Whole lobsters are better than the rolls which are fine. Ask them not to blast them because most tourists want their lobster way overcooked.

If you want to venture north of Portland I have other recs I can give. Portland is a great town.

also I am pretty sure it's BYOB friendly. They definitely don't sell booze but I saw some massholes drinking shitty chardonnay

BiffTannen said:

I'm sure Portland is a cool place, but what is there to DO there?

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Great food in Portland now. ITC could point you in the best direction, but at the very least it's a good spot for lunch and a nice stroll.

I'd say it's worth taking a detour to Cape Elizabeth if the grownups are into lighthouses. Portland Headlight is there, the most photographed lighthouse in the world, commissioned by George Washington. There's a big park and some old batteries there for the kids to run around, too. A few miles down the road is Two Lights, where you'll see two lighthouses at opposite ends of the same block, also a pretty neat spot and obviously unique. The Lobster Shack restaurant is definitely on the tourist circuit, but it's at a beautiful spot at the bottom of Two Lights, the food is pretty good, again a nice spot for the kids to clamber around on the shore. Wrap things up with awesome scoops and frappes at Kettle Cove Ice Cream. There are a couple of nice sandy beaches nearby, too -- your wife would probably like to see Crescent Beach and the Inn by the Sea.

South of the Cape is Old Orchard Beach, which is a shitty little carnival town, but it might buy yourself some time with the kids.

Even farther south is a nice stretch between Kennebunkport and Ogunquit, both really nice, upscale seaside towns. I prefer Ogunquit. They've got a great piano bar there; not sure if the kids are old enough for that. Either could be nice overnight spots. Outlets at Kittery are easily in reach for the wife. Speaking of outlets, Freeport is probably worthwhile if you care about seeing a massive LL Bean and/or shopping.

Chauncey is great. Is very much byob and other sides not on the menu.

Kittery also has a lot of outlets for shopping. Rye is gorgeous for a nice drive or day at the beach. Ogunquit is a nice beach town with a great play house if you want to catch a show.

Lake winne is awesome if you have time to make it up there, plus great mountains to hike.

As for Boston, I live in Somerville and they just opened up a legoland which is supposed to be awesome (going in a couple weeks). We also did a whale watch tour last weekend and it was incredible. Probably saw around twenty humpbacks.

BiffTannen said:

Need a little help planning a vacation in New England in a few weeks. My wife and I have both spent a decent amount of time in Boston and we've been to Bar Harbor before. I've spent lots of time in Portsmouth, NH and other parts of NH. But I'd like to get some input on other places to hit along the coast between Bar Harbor and Boston. We'll have the kids with us.

Flying into Boston and headed north up 95. We'll probably hit Portsmouth at lunch time and just tool around. Is there anything great around Kittery? We'll head up 95 to Bar Harbor via Bangor.

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Hit up the ol' Kittery Trading post, the poor mans LL Bean! Kidding, don't do that. You could, however, hop off 395 in Bangor and see the Paul Bunyan statue, if you're into dumb roadside americana. There's also a casino there. Driving from Boston to Bar Harbor? oof.

BiffTannen said:

Four nights in downtown Bar Harbor. We've got a private harbor cruise, a whale/puffin watching tour, and bicycling in the national park planned. I've currently planned the hike out to Bar Island, jumping off the ledges along 102, Beal's Lobster Pound in SW Harbor, sunset at the top of Cadillac Mountain. I'm probably going to hike The Beehive solo. Kids are too young to paddle a sea kayak for any meanignful distance, which is why we have the harbor cruise planned aboard a sloop. I expect to hit the Cranberries and Baker Island then. Any other good hike or restaurant suggestions? I'm going to need a place to watch the USA v. Germany match too and liked Lompoc Cafe, but can't remember if it had TVs.

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It sounds like you're hitting it around the end of June or near 4th of July? If you're going in the next 2 weeks, the crowds will probably be pretty suppressed, but if you're going in July, beware: The area around Bar Harbor will be like a zoo of WASPs and Acadia will be so full of people you'll have a hard time believing it's a National Park. Just be ready for slow drives and searches for parking.

Anyway, sounds like you have enough to kill 3 full days with the kids. I'm sure you can burn time at the beach though the water will be almost too cold go into unless it's somehow in the mid 90s. I would say that hiking to Bar Island is a waste of time unless that was for the kids. Jordan Pond has a restaurant with great food and there's a trail that circles the lake; it's a pretty view. As far as hikes go, Definitely do the Beehive, it's worth it. Depending on how old the kids are another awesome trail is the Acadia Mountain trail; it's on the western half of MDI and has great views of the sound and will be less crowded and possibly empty depending on when you go. I'd also recommend the Bubble Rock trail; it's also pretty easy and gives you some cool views of Jordan Pond and the park. As far as restaurants go, since you have kids my best rec. would be McKay's Public House. I'm pretty sure Lompoc is still open, though it was in pretty rough shape as of last year; that's probably your best bet for the game. They had soccer on when I stopped in.

Driving rte 1 from Bar Harbor to Portland will get tiring, especially since the area from Ellsworth to Camden is pretty, um, rural. But, the kids might enjoy stopping in Bucksport to visit the fort and check out the fancy bridge they built there. From there to Camden there isn't much to see except some 'antique' dealers. Rockland will probably be your best bet to find a decent hotel and the stretch from Rockland to Brunswick will be the slowest, since that's where all the tourists go to see the "maine coast". If you can make it and there are rooms, check out staying in Freeport; there may be a free concert at the LL Bean store (it's basically the whole town) and they usually get decent acts and it's free.

As for Portland, there is a nice art museum and there is a children's museum but I've never been to it. Walking around the downtown is kind of a nice afternoon for some shopping and a lunch. As far as the BDZ cape elizabeth rec, I'd definitely go to the lighthouse but otherwise you'll have seen cooler scenery elsewhere; it's mostly big houses.

PM me if you want recs for Portland restaurants; there are a shit ton of them in town

If you stop in the Camden/Rockland/Rockport area, Primo is a fantastic restaurant. Downtown Rockland has a few little shops and other restaurants and is a cute little town. My favorite lobster shack in Maine is also about 20 minutes south of Rockland - called Miller's.

Annisquam Massachusetts, in or near Gloucester

Have not been since my teens but I always loved going and visiting family friends there.

wfudkn said:

If you stop in the Camden/Rockland/Rockport area, Primo is a fantastic restaurant. Downtown Rockland has a few little shops and other restaurants and is a cute little town. My favorite lobster shack in Maine is also about 20 minutes south of Rockland - called Miller's.

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Primo's is definitely a good restaurant, especially given the stretch of towns. Might not be great with littler kids, though.

Thanks. Pos rep.

We're not much into the outlet shopping and while i wanted to go to the LL Bean outlet when I was up there ten years ago, I really don't have the desire to do so now. Thanks internet.

Will definitely check out McKay's Pub.

wfudkn said:

If you stop in the Camden/Rockland/Rockport area, Primo is a fantastic restaurant. Downtown Rockland has a few little shops and other restaurants and is a cute little town. My favorite lobster shack in Maine is also about 20 minutes south of Rockland - called Miller's.

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God, Primo is so good. But might not be the best for kids.

If you stay in Portland, a couple of restaurants the little ones might like include Duckfat for paninis and some of the best fries I've ever had. They have a homemade PBJ also. For lunch or dinner, the Portland Lobster Company is touristy but they'll prob like sitting on the dock to eat at picnic tables. Ditto the Lobster Shack at Two Lights, just south of the city, which is right by the ocean.

duckfat is solid; kid friendly, too. another nice late lunch/early dinner is Paciarino downtown Portland. Casual place, they make fresh made pasta and sauces every day and it's pretty inexpensive. really fun place, also kid friendly.

We fly home from Boston a few days before July 4, so we'll miss a significant part of the crowds at Acadia.

kick-ass craft beer bar in downtown portland:

http://novareresbiercafe.com/

Go somewhere warm with good looking people instead. Fuck the Yankee Face.