Looking for costal Maine holiday ideas

[summilux]

My family is thinking about renting a cottage on the Maine coast this summer. Two years ago we went to the Schoodic and really enjoyed ourselves. We stayed in Corea, a small fishing town, and that was really nice but we didn't care much for the Bar Harbor or Freeport experience. We are looking for something rugged, rural and away from the Mass-holes. All the better is there is a rocky coast and some crashing surf. We'd probably be happy going back to Corea but any suggestions north of the Schoodic? We'll bring our bikes but epic cycling is not necessary.

[echelon_john]

Check out Deer Isle/Stonington. Quite rural, quiet, none of the crowds/crap you get in Bar Harbor/Freeport in the summer. A few loops to ride, nice arts community in Blue Hill up the road.

[profkrispy]

+1 on Deer Isle. We're heading there this Summer at the end of July.

[Bob Ross]

+2 on Deer Isle; did a vacation there ~15 years ago and had a wonderful time just crawling over rock-covered shorelines and exploring forests and kayacking and star-gazing and stuff.

Not sure if they accomodate tourists or if it's a residents-only kinda place, but Monhegan Island was even more awesome in that Iconic Maine Coast way.

[summilux]

Thanks, Deer Isle sounds perfect.

[mainemike]

swan's island-perfect
isle au haut-also perfect

[Eddie]

Might be a bit more refined than the experience you seek, but check out the Inn at Ferry Landing on Deer Isle. My buddy's family runs it.

[summilux]

swan's island-perfect

From their website: "It is not for those who depend on a high level of outside entertainment, for we have no theatre, no boutiques, no country club..." My kinda place. My kinda grumpy.

[davids]

I don't know if you've got kids or not but this place is my idea of heaven on earth:

Family Summer Camp Corporate Retreat Center Medomak Washington Maine

Not on the coast, but on a lake. And despite what they'll tell you the cycling in that area is safe and wonderful.

If this looks interesting to you at all, you can contact me via PM for more details. My family spent seven summers there and, after 3 summers away, I still miss it.

[EDS]

I don't know if you've got kids or not but this place is my idea of heaven on earth:

Family Summer Camp Corporate Retreat Center Medomak Washington Maine

Not on the coast, but on a lake. And despite what they'll tell you the cycling in that area is safe and wonderful.

If this looks interesting to you at all, you can contact me via PM for more details. My family spent seven summers there and, after 3 summers away, I still miss it.

That looks like fun. Have to file this one away for when my daughter is older.

[SteveP]

mass holes? really?
would those be the folks whose $$ keep the northern states solvent? or somebody else.

i guess i am one cause i live in mass.

[AJPM44]

mass holes? really?
would those be the folks whose $$ keep the northern states solvent? or somebody else.

i guess i am one cause i live in mass.

Ahhhh summer time, when the influx of Canadians arrive that won't speak English and never tip.

[summilux]

Ahhhh summer time, when the influx of Canadians arrive that won't speak English and never tip.

And keep asking for the washrooms (ou les toilettes).

[mnoble485]

I'm reviving this thread kind of. My wife found cheap flights from Tampa to Maine and we have always thought a road trip along the coast of Maine might be fun. I tried reading on line but then used the search function of the forum. Any thoughts?
Flights are into Bangor and we would rent a car there and return for flight home. Probably a weeks worth.

Thanks,
Mike

[Jonathan]

Bar Harbor is the easy choice. You would never be disappointed. I like Monhegan after the day tourists have left. It's really near heaven. Castine and New Harbor are both great places to rent a kayak and get a lobster to be eaten outdoors at a picnic table. Camden and Boothbay are nice.

[nrs5000]

If you are near Bath, head down to Five Islands for your Lobster Roll.

[davids]

Bar Harbor is the easy choice. You would never be disappointed. I like Monhegan after the day tourists have left. It's really near heaven. Castine and New Harbor are both great places to rent a kayak and get a lobster to be eaten outdoors at a picnic table. Camden and Boothbay are nice.

Jonathan is right.

The Maine coast is actually enormous, since it continually zigs and zags north & south.

You could do a lot worse than sticking to the Penobscot Bay area, with Rockland & Camden to the southwest and Acadia to the northeast. Lots and lots of beauty, but Bar Harbor/Acadia Nat'l Park is a particular favorite of mine. Castine is a stereotypically NE town - if you're not from around these parts you might consider it exotically beautiful. If you're a New Englander, though, it looks like the next town over...

You could also head southwest of Rockland/Camden. That coast is a little less popular (but still gorgeous) and that also puts you within a reasonable distance of the "big city" of Portland. Portland is almost as hip as Portland these days.

[s_curran]

I havent spent much time north of the Rockland/Camden area, which is pretty beautiful. We are heading up to Acadia this weekend and camping and riding for 4 days though this weekend, can't wait, I haven't been since I was really young. I have spent a lot of time in Boothbay Harbor and Bath, both pretty nice places. I would consider going to Portland, since its a cool old city, with awesome food, but wouldnt plan on going south of there, unless you just want beaches, and even if you do, Popham, and Reid state park are both pretty nice and near Bath. Hermit Island Campground is amazing, if thats your thing.

I'll report back with some Acadia/Bar Harbor stuff soon.

[jdp211]

Bar Harbor is the easy choice. You would never be disappointed. I like Monhegan after the day tourists have left. It's really near heaven. Castine and New Harbor are both great places to rent a kayak and get a lobster to be eaten outdoors at a picnic table. Camden and Boothbay are nice.

I'll second this. My family have been going to New Harbor for the better part of the last two decades and its a lovely little town. A nice beach, mostly quiet, plenty of rental properties around. A bit of a drive into Damariscotta, which is a bit more built up, but really nice to be removed from society a bit.

[stlhenrys]

Another vote for:

Rockland
Camden
Bar Harbor/Acadia NP

Plus:
Owl's Head lighthouse
A Portland Sea Dogs MiLB game


And if you're willing to hoof it out there:

Monhegan Island (paradise)
Baxter SP (farther north and inland a good few hours, but one of the best parks I've ever seen)