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Hey, youz Mainers!

Andrew

Andrew

Resident Redneck
Joined
May 20, 2020
Member Number
420
Messages
280
Cliff notes: The Mrs and I moved to NY state from our lifetime on the west coast to check it out, and wish to explore Maine.

Where to go, off the beaten path because crowds suck!



Like the cliff notes say, we moved out here in 2018. No regrets, but originally we were going to move to Maine.

Im looking to check it out soon, if Covid rules allow. Portland is a google map estimate of approx 6hrs from me, so most likely an overnight stay in that area.

Any of you folks know off any off the beaten path/touristy unnoticed areas to check out?

We will likely check out Portland for a bit just to do, but likely wont stay in the hustle and bustle for an extended time.

I lived in a tourist town growing up (Ojai CA) and then Prescott AZ (tourists) plus my WM route had me in Sedona AZ three to four times a week. I hate tourist crowds (hypocrit much!? 😁)
 
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Ive spent 20 years covering maine while my grandpa lived there went up 2-3 times a year im full of touristy shit info. most of my time was spent in portland as area as my point of takeoff. Send me a PM Ill give better details. I spent most of it wandering around checking out lighthouses different harbors, waterfalls, covered bridges, a paul bunyan statue, different forts, and one town to see moose. Also covered alot of Vermont and new hampshire and as far west as lake champlain a couple times. I have tons of photos hence the reach out too me in message and I can text to you then fill up here.
 
What do you want to see? Other than woods and beaches there isn't too much else that's not touristy shit. Little things but nothing crazy. I'd drive up the coast then head north shoot your way back across the middle of the state to NH and then on to VT. You'll see plenty and maybe even find what your looking for. What are you looking for?
 
Im not looking for anything in particular, other than a Lahbstah Roll :smokin:. Just checking out the state.

I came this far, I need to hit ME before leaving.
 
Maine can be a crap shoot. I've done it a few times on the motorcycle. Decent chunk of it is closed off by private logging companies. For the coast, you have Rt1 and only Rt1. That's a boring ride. You have RT11(?) the airline route where you have fully loaded trucks cruising at 115mph. Far north, Madwaska, Lubec, and whatnot is nice. Quiet town type stuff. In the Allagash they have check ins and check outs due to the desolation.

You want a quiet, calm, place full of nature? Vermont. I could spend entire weeks on the dual sport travelling through the woods camping out. I can't speak on the whole Covid thing, but Vermont is absolutely gorgeous. My wife's side of the family own a few thousand acres and we visit there a couple times a year. If I had the choice, Vermont would be where I'd go for sure.

For the lobster roll, the seafood place on Bailey's Island is a hot spot.

Caribou was nice. Aroostoocook State Park was immaculate. Madawaska was nice, but I got stuck there for half a day because they were having some form of parade. Spent a night in Campobello camping on the beach which was awesome.

But yea, once you started headed west in the northern part, its pretty much all closed off. I don't think I'll do Maine again unless I head to Campobello again.
 
Good to know.

Vermont is on the short list as well. Im only placing ME first because I have come this close to being there, I mentally have to finish the goal.

Im picking up my travel car today. 2017 Honda Civic. With three kiddos, and a wife, the ole YJ is out for travelling :laughing:, and my 04 Super Duty CCSB Diesel rides like, well an 04 SDCCSB diesel.
 
I've lived in New England the majority of my life (sans two years in MD for work). I rarely go to Maine.

In the summer it's full of Massholes trying to go the beach or woods. Winter is cold coast and cold woods. Also a woman from New York just got eaten by Great White in Maine. She was cold and decided to swim in a wet suit...

Vermont is full. Of New Yorkers currently. Stay in your own fucking state and stop leaving your trash and shitty attitude behind :flipoff2:

I couldn't even get ice cream on Sunday without listening to a husband / wife on a Harley argue about "who's on line". It's "in line" you fucks. You're "in line" for ice cream.

Also if I see one more fucking yellow plate doing under the speed limit in the passing lane while not passing anyone, I'm going to lose it. One almost got my full cup of coffee to the side of his car last week.

I love VT. The tourists sincerely ruin it. Many locals to ME and NH feel the same.
 
TiTRD said:
I've lived in New England the majority of my life (sans two years in MD for work). I rarely go to Maine.

In the summer it's full of Massholes trying to go the beach or woods. Winter is cold coast and cold woods. Also a woman from New York just got eaten by Great White in Maine. She was cold and decided to swim in a wet suit...

Vermont is full. Of New Yorkers currently. Stay in your own fucking state and stop leaving your trash and shitty attitude behind :flipoff2:

I couldn't even get ice cream on Sunday without listening to a husband / wife on a Harley argue about "who's on line". It's "in line" you fucks. You're "in line" for ice cream.

Also if I see one more fucking yellow plate doing under the speed limit in the passing lane while not passing anyone, I'm going to lose it. One almost got my full cup of coffee to the side of his car last week.

I love VT. The tourists sincerely ruin it. Many locals to ME and NH feel the same.
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I'm go'in to take thah cah to Rawchestah and wait on line fah ice cream.
 
I spent 4 nights in Portland with the wife in September. Lots of fun, good bars and beer. There are a ton of craft breweries, and just bar hopping was a lot of fun.
Check out duck fat in Portland. Good food and good beer.
we did the schooner sunset trip, that was fun. Bring your own food and drink and help them sail the boat.
We really liked the cryptozoology museum. Small but fun to spend and hour in.
The other place we like to visit in Maine is the Belgrade lakes area. Off the beaten path, small town feel but lots of big money. Belgrade lakes golf course is one of thee top 10 most beautiful courses in the country. Originally built by the owner of dexter shoe so he could have a pga golf course to play while he was at his summer home.
 
Born and raised in Maine. UMaine graduate. Been living in RI for over 20 years now.

1.) Portland is a cool little city but basically just another liberal cesspool. The whole of York and Cumberland counties should be ceded to MA.
2.) Lobster Roll: Reds Eats in Wiscasset.
3.) On the coast, if you want to avoid mobs of tourists then avoid places like Freeport, Boothbay, Camden, and Bar Harbor
4.) On the coast, places worth checking out Bath/Brunswick area including adjacent coastal communities such as Harpswell (Bailey Island) and Phippsburg (Popham Beach). Damariscotta/Bristol, Mount Desert Island (but avoid Bar Harbor)
5.) Up North, check out North Maine Woods areas such as Katahdin Ironworks and Gulf Hagas. Some nice day hikes in the mountains with nowhere near the mass of humanity seen in the White Mountains of NH. For example look up Screw Auger Falls. BTW, most of that private logging land in Northern Maine mentioned above is open for recreation. But its vast and you don't just drive through there in a Civic filled with people. Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park is also a great hike.
6.) Moosehead Lake area including Greenville, Rockwood. The best white water rafting in the East can be found in The Forks.
 
what part of New York did you move to? thinking seriously of leaving the West Coast and doing the same.
 
You got a Civic for a road trip car with 3 kids and 2 adults?
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Ya, they were out of stock on their Prevost Bus inventory????

Thanks for the info thus far, starting a note page on my phone.
 
My wife and I love Maine we have been their a few times on Vacation, we plan on moving there when we go semi-retired or full retired. We would be moving their now but as far as I can tell the job market in Maine is crap.

We have been to Ogunquit, southern coastal Maine, check out Nubble lighthouse and Ogunquit beach.

Kennebunk and Kennebunkport are cool peaceful little towns.
Walkers Point is the Bush compound, you can't get to it but you can see it from the mainland.

Edgecomb, Booth Bay beautiful area if you like to hike.

Ellsworth, Bar Harbor, Acadia national park, if we move to Maine Ellsworth is a place we will be looking to move.

Have not been to this area yet but will on the next trip, I want to check out the abandoned Eagle lake steam engines.
https://www.maine.gov/dacf/parks/dis...sh/index.shtml
 
what part of New York did you move to? thinking seriously of leaving the West Coast and doing the same.
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I am in Delaware County.

Would I do it again? Yes/no. We bought our home/town sight unseen. Unfortunetly, NYC owns the two local lakes, therefore no boating allowed other than Kayaks, Canoes and such. Bummer.

We looked into at a house in Whitehall, which may have been a better fit with wanting another boat, but that house the realtor was playing too many games, so we pulled the contract. I wasnt playing games 2500 miles away, sight unseen.

The town/Village is nice. 2500 people approx, which is a breathe of fresh air coming from 225k and growing.

So far, so good. I dont predict retiring here, but the kids prefer it out here to back out west, and we own our home free and clear (thanks to Californians invading Prescott, we had equity)
so, no plans to leave for a while.

NY gun laws suck, no way around that. The Gov. Sucks, same as CA, but its very conservative out away from the large cities.
 
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My wife and I love Maine we have been their a few times on Vacation, we plan on moving there when we go semi-retired or full retired.........
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we were looking around Kennebunkport for homes, well that area, I believe Kennebunkport was a bit pricey.
 
Eric said:
Born and raised in Maine. UMaine graduate. Been living in RI for over 20 years now.

1.) Portland is a cool little city but basically just another liberal cesspool. The whole of York and Cumberland counties should be ceded to MA.
2.) Lobster Roll: Reds Eats in Wiscasset.
3.) On the coast, if you want to avoid mobs of tourists then avoid places like Freeport, Boothbay, Camden, and Bar Harbor
4.) On the coast, places worth checking out Bath/Brunswick area including adjacent coastal communities such as Harpswell (Bailey Island) and Phippsburg (Popham Beach). Damariscotta/Bristol, Mount Desert Island (but avoid Bar Harbor)
5.) Up North, check out North Maine Woods areas such as Katahdin Ironworks and Gulf Hagas. Some nice day hikes in the mountains with nowhere near the mass of humanity seen in the White Mountains of NH. For example look up Screw Auger Falls. BTW, most of that private logging land in Northern Maine mentioned above is open for recreation. But its vast and you don't just drive through there in a Civic filled with people. Mount Katahdin in Baxter State Park is also a great hike.
6.) Moosehead Lake area including Greenville, Rockwood. The best white water rafting in the East can be found in The Forks.
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Basically just go anywhere farther than the Massholes are willing to drive for a weekend. I'd say you should be North and/or West of Naples at all times.
 
Andrew said:
we were looking around Kennebunkport for homes, well that area, I believe Kennebunkport was a bit pricey.
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Saco Biddeford Old Orchard would be more practical cost wise. If you don't mind inland check out Gray and Windmere. Like I said I spent 20 years going there to visit probably racked up at least 20k miles of traveling during those trips.
 
I live like 2.5 hours from maine(SW NH) but hardly go there, cant really recommend much other than "liberty tool' in liberty. Sweet old place FULL of old 2nd hand tools, mostly good quality stuff not chinkanese shit. And I think in old orchard beach theres a place called "congdons doughnuts" monster doughnuts and fuckin good too.
 
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