Maine Travel and Tourism Questions and Answers

Are you planning to visit Maine and have Maine travel and tourism questions? You are not alone. Since "The Vacationland State" is so large and geographically diverse, planning a Maine trip can at times seem daunting.

So, to help you out...

...Great-Maine-Vacations.com will be happy to try to answer questions about Maine travel.

Of course...

...I don't know ALL there is to know about the best Maine vacation spots...

...the best places to visit in Maine, and the best places to stay in Maine, so...

When I cannot answer a question with first-hand knowledge...

...I will do my best to refer you to a place with specialized knowledge in your area of interest. In the interim, my Maine travel and tourism page also has info.

Please note... To reach Great-Maine-Vacations.com for non-travel related questions, please use my Contact form.

Archived Maine Travel Questions and Answers

Lots of other great Maine questions have also been asked. Here, from the archives, is just a sampling of some of those Maine Q&A's...

Maine travel and tourism questions about Bar Harbor and finding fresh Maine lobster...

My wife and I have never been to Maine but would like to the end of this month. Is the Bar Harbor area a nice place. Is fresh lobster available all along the coast or are specific area better for lobster?

Liz's reply: I visited Bar Harbor for the first time last summer and absolutely loved it. However, I would definitely include a trip to Acadia National Park, as part of the visit - being sure to drive the Park Loop Road (with its fantastic views) and if you are up to it, catching sunrise atop Cadillac Mountain.

I am not sure if you have seen these pages on my site for Acadia National Park Maine and Cadillac Mountain Maine. You may find them helpful.

As for the lobster... Yes, you will find fresh Maine lobster wherever you travel along the Maine coastal vacations. There are hundreds of places - take-out stands, casual dining and fine dining restaurants, with all kinds of lobster items on their menu.

I hope this helps and that you have a great trip.

Follow-up Maine travel and tourism questions about where to stay in Bar Harbor and visiting Portland, Maine...

Thanks. Where did you stay? Would rather go to Portland or some other area?

Liz's reply: My trip to Bar Harbor was a last minute decision, leaving me with few choices as to where to stay. Basically, the only available rooms were either at expensive waterfront properties, or at a handful of less expensive small mom and pop motels. For this particular trip, since I needed only a clean and comfortable room, within walking distance of downtown Bar Harbor, I choose the latter and stayed at the Aurora Inn - www.aurorainn.com.

The motel suited my needs perfectly for that particular trip and from a cost savings standpoint, I would do it again! The manager was extremely helpful in guiding me as to how to prioritize my time in the area. It was a good choice.

If being downtown in Bar Harbor, or having a water view is important to you, there are a wealth of other hotels in the area (both downtown and a few miles from it) that I am sure would be great places to spend a few nights. If you haven't already, you may want to visit the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce website, "Where to Stay" link, at: www.barharborinfo.com.

As for Portland, Maine versus Bar Harbor, or other areas...

Not knowing what your likes or dislikes are, it is not possible for me to say which is preferable. From my own perspective, they are both great, as Portland offers an easy opportunity to explore the coastline, with dozens of scenic nooks and crannies to explore to the north and south of the city.

On the other hand, Bar Harbor provides dramatic vistas of the mountains and sea coming together that you will not find elsewhere in the State. Bar Harbor can be a true nature lovers paradise.

I hope that I have not confused you more than helped!

Maine travel and tourism questions about Wells Beach, Maine - whale watching, activities, and spas...

My wife and I will be staying near Wells Beach starting October 10th. Can you direct me on whale watching and other coastal activities? My wife would like to also visit a spa one day if any are nearby.

Liz's reply: The Activities and Recreation page of the Wells Beach Chamber of Commerce website - wellschamber.org/activities.cfm - has listings that may be of use to you, for Maine whale watching cruises near Wells, Wells Beach activities and events, and spa locations.

Many boat lines stop services after Columbus Day weekend, which runs from Oct 9th to the 11th, this year. Therefore, you will want to check schedules closely.

Thank you for your inquiry and I hope you enjoy your trip!

Maine travel and tourism question about Sebago Lake cruise boats...

I am attempting to find the name of the cruise boat that leaves from Sebago lake and travels through the Locks to Portland. Could you provide me with the correct information so I may contact them.

Liz's reply: I wish I knew the answer, but unfortunately I don't. You may want to contact the Sebago Lakes Chamber of Commerce. You can find their contact information on their website at: www.sebagolakeschamber.com/index.html.

Maine travel and tourism questions about where to visit after Portland, Maine meeting...

I am attending a meeting in Portland the week of September 20th. I am bringing along my husband and 2 boys ages 7 and 9. We are from GA and are very much looking forwarding to going to Maine. I found your website but there is so much information and I don't know where to start.

We are planning on renting a car and just going to drive the last part of the week. Where do you suggest we go? We thought about going into Canada and my husband would love to go to Boston if we had time. We love pretty scenery, water, parks, wildlife, etc. Since we are bringing the boys along, we want to do this as economically as possible. We will need places to stay along our trip. We will have about 3 full days to explore. I will continue to check out your website but any help would be great too!!!

Liz's reply: Portland, Maine - what a great city to be in to attend a meeting. And, from there, it is really easy to explore much of Maine. As you say, it's hard to know where to begin planning a Maine trip. There is so, so much to do and see.

Some of my favorites are to the north of Portland...

...Boothbay Harbor, Camden, Port Clyde and, the place I find most impressive, Mount Desert Island with Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The Park can also be a very economical place to visit, as some of it is free, and the Park Loop Road (the scenic drive winding around the Park) has a fee, but the charge is per vehicle, not per person, and the entrance pass is good for several days.

Google Maps shows a driving time of 3-1/4 hours from Portland to Bar Harbor. Depending on traffic, it could be closer to 4 hours. You will find an incredibly beautiful national park there (the only national park in Maine). If you were to go there, and your kids and the weather allow it, sunrise on top of Cadillac Mountain is not to be missed!

As for Canada and Boston, I do not have a lot of personal knowledge of Canada, other than a few vacations taken in Montreal. However, for nearly twenty years I lived just an hour north of Boston, visiting the city often. It is a wonderful, historic city to visit - lots of fun! However, if you plan to stay in the city, it could be very pricey. On the other hand, it can be less than a two hour drive, making it an easy day trip from Portland.

I hope this helps out a bit. Enjoy your visit!

Maine travel and tourism question about all you can eat lobster Winter Harbor Maine...

I'm thinking of visiting Maine in August 2010. I noticed that there is a Lobster Festival in Winter Harbor this year. Do you know of a restaurant or lobster pound that has an all-you-can-eat lobster deal?

Liz's reply: Unfortunately I do not know if there are any restaurants in the Winter Harbor area that will have an all-you-can-eat at that time. You may want to contact the Schoodic Chamber of Commerce, which encompasses Winter Harbor, with the same question. Their website is www.acadia-schoodic.org.

They do not appear to have many restaurants as members; however, they may be able to help you out. If you go, I hope you enjoy the Winter Harbor Lobster Festival.

Maine Frequently Asked Questions - Maine FAQ's

Maine is a pretty interesting state, and it is not just Maine travel and tourism questions that people want answers to. For anyone curious about...

• What is the Maine State flower?
• When did Maine become a state?
• What is the capitol of Maine?
• What is the Maine State animal
• What is the Maine State song?

...I have put together a page of "Interesting Facts About Maine".

You may want to have a look. You too may be surprised to learn how many thousands of islands dot the coast of Maine!