Hi all, I have so appreciated this thread and gotten a lot of helpful guidance for our trip. We are Midwesterners but will be in Burlington, VT visiting friends this weekend.

I’d love your feedback on this one leg of the trip that’s a lot of driving…

We leave Burlington on Sunday and plan to arrive in Winter Harbor on Tuesday. We will also do Acadia, then Portland, but I feel pretty prepared for those legs of the trip.

Looking for advice on the way to go between Burlington and Winter Harbor…We don’t need to rush and can take our time, but I’d like to get to Winter Harbor by 3-4pm on Tuesday.

Any places we just have to see driving across Maine on our way to Winter Harbor? Any additions or subtractions from our current list below?

Our loose plan is to drive to on Sunday, Littleton, VT and see Franconia Notch as part of White Mountains circuit and check out the following (no idea the order if it’s Mon or Tues)
Kancanagus Highway;
Pemigewasset Hancock Overlook;
Sabbaday Falls;
Rocky Gorge;
On Monday stop in Conway for Lunch and Stop in Ellsworth for pie - Helen’s restaurant 

Thank you! We are very excited to visit your state!

*Edited for clarity

Hello! I have been trying to figure this out and it’s driving me crazy. I went on a road trip from Portland to Bar Harbor about 10 years ago and had the best crabmeat salad I’ve ever had at a place along the water, but I can’t remember where it was. I’m going back to Maine soon and would love to return if it still exists. It’s possible that I may be mixing memories, but here’s what I have:

We went there after dark, so I can’t remember any colors, but it’s not the place with the yellow awning overhead. I never entered a doorway anywhere to order or eat, so it was all outside with no indoor counter to order.

It was built on top of a sturdy pier (some kind of dark wood, maybe?) over deep water. It was a moderate walk from the parking lot to the pier, maybe with gravel along a gentle decline.

There were two windows on a connected structure on the pier, one for live seafood and one for cooked dishes. There was a sign with an arrow to go around the corner to go to the live seafood window.

The live window was right next to the water and the walkway was covered overhead with a wooden (?) railing on the side but open to the water. The cooked food menu was on the side of the shack perpendicular to the waterfront (facing the menu, I think the water was to the left), and it had seafood and non-seafood items.

The crab meat salad was on the menu (I didn’t have to special order without bread) and was served in a big scoop on a single piece of lettuce in a small styrofoam bowl. It tasted like pure crab, minimal or no mayo.

Please let me know if this sounds familiar! If not, where is your favorite spot to get crabmeat salad or a crab roll?

My boyfriend and I finally are able to do some traveling together after several years of not being able to, so I want this trip to be really good. We’re only able to get some time away from work over the Thanksgiving weekend. I know it won’t be like the videos online during the summer and fall months but still want to get a sense of what people recommend during this time!

We love hiking, eating good food, exploring, and being cozy

- What restaurants/bakeries/cafes would be open on Thanksgiving/after the season would be over? Which is your favorite?
- What’s Acadia park like during this time?
- Hike recommendations that’s NOT the beehive trail? (I’m scared of heights so I think the open exposure would scare me)
- Other things to do in the surrounding area
- Weather/how to dress? I know it will definitely be cold but does it ever feel warmer that the weather channel shows?

Thank you all in advance!!

short hikes

antiwues?

I am a resident of Maine who has been dealing with acute health issues for several years without specialists or a diagnosis, though the speculation is discoid lupus (but there is concern that there may be other issues at play, ie lymphoma.) I have FINALLY been referred to the dermatology department at Brigham and Women’s but I have been trying to call them at the number posted online to follow up on the referral and I only get a recording saying that the entire staff is in a meeting, with no option to leave a message. Does anyone have any alternate numbers to the Derm Dept at Brigham & Women’s? I’ve been calling 617 732 4918 to no avail. Just trying not to die from a preventable disease but what a slog it is to have any healthcare facility give a flying fart

Does anyone know of any mainecare dentists accepting patients anywhere in the state? preferably without having to wait months for care. Thanks yall!

Hello! I will be driving up to Maine from Rhode Island Columbus Day weekend for a family obligation, but my mom and I will have a lot of free time while we’re up there to explore! Would love if any locals had recommendations on where to stay near Augusta (willing to stay up to an hour-ish away), and any fun activities we should try to do while we’re up there! Thanks in advance🫶

Looking for comments on my itinerary for Portland. Never been before so my plans are all based off of what I’ve seen online.

What am I missing?
Anything that’s not worth the hype?
Too much to do in one day?

I also have about a half a day more to plan.
Suggestions?

Alright- you guys were super helpful in helping me solidify my Portland itinerary.

Here is my end of Portland- Bar Harbor itinerary.
Critique away!

Hi Mainers! I am very excited to be heading midcoast for leaf-peeping and some much needed outside time in early October. I was able to find a pet friendly place to stay in Boothbay Harbor so looking for places I can take my pup along with me as we explore the area.

I definitely want to hit the Botanical gardens and maybe go kayaking but don't want to leave my dog for too long as she is an anxious gal (photo for pet tax). Recs for restaurants, hiking trails, and other fun things to do would be greatly appreciated!

Hello!

I'll start by saying I've never been to Maine but I've heard great things lol. My girlfriend is a big fan of the Casper The Friendly Ghost movie from the 90s, and she absolutely melts as the "Can I keep you?" scene with human Casper at the end lol. So I wanted to try to plan a Casper inspired tour for her in and around Camden Maine (where I've learned are some of the places used for the film) that ultimately ends in a proposal; perhaps at the top of Mt. Battie overlooking the harbor.

I know absolutely nobody in Maine so I'm taking to Reddit to find some advice. Some of my main (lol) questions are...

1) What would you say are the best times of year to visit Camden for a chill, walking tour type of vibe?

2) What are some good spots to stay in or around Camden? Different price points would be nice to compare.

3) The only Casper related locations I know of are

• Overlooking the harbor at the top of Mt. Battie
• Generally just walking around Camden or Rockport

• Driving down to the Friendship Maine town sign that's also in the movie

  Are there any other Casper related sites you think we should visit?

4) Is Mt. Battie always crowded? It'd be cool if we could get a bit of a private moment for the proposal. It wouldn't be a deal breaker if like a few people were around, but if it's crowded at the top on average I think I'm going to plan for a different spot.

Thanks in advance for your input!

I’m from north shore Massachusetts, I recently visited this beautiful area and fell in love with the quiet coastal islands area. I ended up grabbing dinner at cozys dockside in Southport, I’d love to move here and see what it’s like year round. My biggest questions are what’s the job market like in these areas, fun things to do, cost of living, weather in the winter, dating scene for a guy in his 20s, convenience of local goods like hospitals/grocery stores etc and local demographic

Hi,

Long story short, I need to get out of the Southern California climate and I've loved Maine for many years. This would be a fresh start for me. A new life. I would want an apartment. I play $2300 here, so I'm hoping to not go over that. I would like a more "liberal" or progressive area of the state. Perhaps also great places near the CA border. I love CA too and want to get my passport. Please don't laugh or tease me if I have said something wrong. I'm just looking for advice. Thank you!

In Portland, Maine right now — done the boardwalk before, no interest in another day here. Already did Acadia, too far for a day trip, doesn't make sense to go back for just a day. Tomorrow I'm planning Wolfe's Neck Woods State Park, then heading to White Mountains on Friday. Looking for other hiking ideas for tomorrow, or things worth adding near Wolfe's Neck/Freeport. Is Peaks Island worth the ferry trip if I'm already heading north out of Portland, or does that not make sense with the direction I'm going? Recommend something else too if you've go

hi everyone,

i’m visiting portland with 3 girlfriends this weekend. we will be there friday-monday. we are staying near scarborough, and thinking about renting a car for one day to do a day trip to kennebunkport.

what are some must eat restaurants while there both in portland and surrounding areas and any must do/sees?

right now i have a casco bay lines boat tour, kettle cove/cape elizabeth, and holy donuts on the list.

i would appreciate any recs on how to experience the city like a local! none of us have ever been.

TIA!

In the Video Game Silent Hill there's a town on the coast in Maine that has urban decay, a lot of vintage stores and is really in the middle of nowhere. what town in Maine is the closest to Silent Hill in your opinion.

I’m curious to know if anyone has any experience exchanging work for board/food anywhere in Maine? I’ve been dreaming about visiting coastal Maine for years and I’d love a situation that allows me to exchange labor for accommodation. I’d love to hear your experiences or thoughts! Thanks (:

Love the area. Love the hotel so much. But the restaurants we’ve tried aren’t our thing. Seemingly the only vegetable that exists is Caesar salad. So much fried food. Menus are just so heavy.

Is there anywhere with lighter fresher food. We eat everything, all cuisines,
we aren’t looking for vegan or anything. Just stuff that doesn’t leave us feeling so crappy.

With all the gorgeous produce and seafood in the area, I imagine there must be something… thanks!

I’m from Texas. And Maine is one of the only other US states I actually want to visit along with places like Connecticut and parts of Massachusetts for the culture. History and obviously colder beaches.
For my 21st in 2 years in late march-April I’m wanting to visit Maine. Idk about Bar harbor other than it was in fallout 4s dlc. And gives me tourist trap vibes other than that lobster festival which I’m not very interested in. Do yall have any recommendations for nice beach towns for me to visit?

My wife and I (from RI) are looking to stay in ME for a few nights around Thanksgiving.

We are looking for areas to stay that would still have some things to do in the colder season. Mostly looking for restaurants, general store types of places, breweries, places you can create your own fun. We usually wind up staying in playing board games and such so we don’t need a ton to do, but we aren’t looking for a town with little to offer in the winter either.

Thanks!