Suggestions Needed: Traveling to Maine, USA

This turned out to be a high quality (and quantity) trip guide, thanks to all of you!

Both my wife and I loves to interact with people living their lives whenever we go on travel vacations. Sounds like winter months are suitable for that.

And both of us are antique nuts 🙂 (the "junque" kind, not the sell-your-kidney-to-afford-it kind).

Now since I have all the experts chiming in, a question about timing:
Originally, I was planning for about 3 days to cover areas south of Boston (Newport, Martha's Vineyard), and 4 days to cover areas surrounding Portland.

Is this realistic? would it be better if I dedicate all 7 days to Boston, North MA, and spend more time north of Portland?
 
Tough one. Much as I love downeast Maine, I don't think I would skip Rhode Island and MV in favor of more time north. The tricky part is the time of year. I only know Newport and the Vineyard in the summertime.
 
I do have a lodging suggestion near Providence. My wife and I spent a lovely long weekend at the Johnson & Wales Inn a couple of years ago. Run by J&W the college, and staffed entirely with their hospitality students. Very convenient, if ugly, location (in Seekonk, MA) and reasonable rates. You will not notice that those kids are still learning.
 
Tough call, you could easily do a full week in either of the locations. If you do decide to see Newport and Martha's Vinyard, you may want to consider the beach and lighthouse at Chatham on the Cape as well as a walk along the beach at the National Seashore. Certainly the traffic will not be as much of an issue as a Memorial Day through Labor Day vacation period.

With that said the coast of Maine can be spectacular and you could spend the whole time and visit all the nooks and crannies along the coast. Some beautiful and spectacular views. If you make the northern route a week long stay you may want to stretch your legs and make it up to Bar Habor and the Arcadia National Park.

Enjoy your vacation and report back with a couple of photographs!
 
^ Penobscot Bay. Now we're talking Maine.

It sure is lovely up there. We have a property on Deer Isle. However, that is quite a bit of driving. Minimum 3.5 hours Boston to Rockland, 5+ hours to Acadia. Stop for lunch and pull into a few antique stores along the way and the day is over before you know it.
 
I used to live in Maine and even married a Mainer. It doesn't really feel like Maine until you get North of Portland, frankly I would pick a town and just explore locally for the day rather than driving all over the place. Portland is fascinating, any working boatyard-docks are interesting. The seafood will be better than Summer too. Antiquing around Portland should be good too.

I'd note that some of the classic Summer hotels may not have the greatest Winter heating systems, I'd probably opt for a characterless chain (Hampton Inns) in the off-season just to know it would be dependable.

But if you power through and get up to Rockland-Camden-BarHarbor, then you're in Maine.
 
batterytypehah! said:
^ Penobscot Bay. Now we're talking Maine.

It sure is lovely up there. We have a property on Deer Isle. However, that is quite a bit of driving. Minimum 3.5 hours Boston to Rockland, 5+ hours to Acadia. Stop for lunch and pull into a few antique stores along the way and the day is over before you know it.
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Really?? We have a place in Stonington; we were there just this weekend. Seven hours from Hartford, where we live; well worth it. Definitely -- forget southern Maine; Down East is where the real Maine is to be seen. (I spend more time deciding which cameras to bring than packing clothes.)

We'll need to connect up on Deer Isle sometime.
 
batterytypehah! said:
^ Penobscot Bay. Now we're talking Maine.

It sure is lovely up there. We have a property on Deer Isle. However, that is quite a bit of driving. Minimum 3.5 hours Boston to Rockland, 5+ hours to Acadia. Stop for lunch and pull into a few antique stores along the way and the day is over before you know it.
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KoNickon said:
Really?? We have a place in Stonington; we were there just this weekend. Seven hours from Hartford, where we live; well worth it. Definitely -- forget southern Maine; Down East is where the real Maine is to be seen. (I spend more time deciding which cameras to bring than packing clothes.)

We'll need to connect up on Deer Isle sometime.
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Ok, which one of you are opening your doors at your properties for a family of three in March? 😀 😀

Just joking!
 
drewbarb said:
(snip) While you are there, you must visit Pemaquid Point. It's one of the most beautiful and picturesque spots in the mid coast, and Pemaquid lighthouse is one the most photographed on the east coast. (snip)
If you go there and are looking for a great place to eat nearby, New Harbor is classic picturesque village two minutes up the road from the point. We always eat at ...
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Pemaquid is one of my favorite place also. Probably more out of habit than anything else, but we eat at Shaw's. Can't go wrong with either.
 
Originally Posted by batterytypehah!
^ Penobscot Bay. Now we're talking Maine.

It sure is lovely up there. We have a property on Deer Isle. However, that is quite a bit of driving. Minimum 3.5 hours Boston to Rockland, 5+ hours to Acadia. Stop for lunch and pull into a few antique stores along the way and the day is over before you know it.
Really?? We have a place in Stonington; we were there just this weekend. Seven hours from Hartford, where we live; well worth it. Definitely -- forget southern Maine; Down East is where the real Maine is to be seen. (I spend more time deciding which cameras to bring than packing clothes.)

We'll need to connect up on Deer Isle sometime.
Click to expand...


Really?? We have a place in Stonington; we were there just this weekend. Seven hours from Hartford, where we live; well worth it. Definitely -- forget southern Maine; Down East is where the real Maine is to be seen. (I spend more time deciding which cameras to bring than packing clothes.)

We'll need to connect up on Deer Isle sometime.
Click to expand...


When I was a kid we used to go up to Stonington every summer to visit family friends. I haven't been in years, but I think the family is still there, still hauling lobsters. I have fond memories of those visits.

(Just looked at in Google Street View; their house on W Main St and the town look just as I remember them.)
 
Just want to pop in and give y'all an update:
Well, I'm in Maine now 🙂
It can't be much more gorgeous, the weather is sunny and beautiful clouds through out the days. It's cold, but not terribly so.

Photo-wise, I don't think I've shot a single subject or scenes this many times, just because I want to make sure that I got at least one keeper (hehe...). Beautiful is an understatement. I've shot 4 rolls of 35mm and 3 rolls of 120, and this is just day 4 out of 9.

Gear-wise, I ended up bringing the Fuji GA645wi for no-fuss-no-muss medium format goodness, OM-3 with 24mm and 85mm (both f/2), M4-P, and Ricoh GR1s which has officially replaced my XA4 as the just-in-case trip camera.

I have some shots from my E-P2 (the only digital we brought and basically my wife's). But haven't got time to edit them yet.

Gotta go. Oh, and so far, all the advices I got here has been very useful to prepare us. Thank you.
 
First up, the Tugboat.
Of all the types of boats I've seen in my life (not many), tugboats are always one that has that endearing look 🙂

6833137854_2bac7465b6_z.jpg


I have several shots on film from this angle, this one is just a digital "proof of concept."
 
What an amazing March to be in the NE! The weather is great this week.

More photos, and when you get back share your experiences. Where did you go? Good restaurants and hotels. Best places for photography.
 
We are indeed blessed weather-wise.
Today we saw a gray day for the first time.

I'll post on a separate thread when I got home.
Good news is almost all of my film shots are C-41 (which is very unusual for me), so I can just drop them at Costco and start scanning.

6983560249_b97e8db65b_z.jpg

"Wish y'all were here"
 
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