Itinerary

I Tapped Out on Lobster

Seven days on the Maine coast, Portland up through Acadia and back.

From the full write-up at abhiroams.com/blog/i-tapped-out-on-lobster/

Read the full post →

Before you go

Cadillac Summit Road: Vehicle reservation required and they sell out. Book in advance. The 7am slot gets you a near-empty summit.
Bass Harbor Head Light: Small parking lot. Arrive before sunset or you will be waiting for a space and miss it.
Beehive Trail: Do not look it up first. It sounds far scarier online than it is on the rock.
Rental car: Four people plus luggage does not fit a compact. Book the minivan.
Best value meal: Limon Grille, Bar Harbor. The emptiest restaurant on the block and the best thing we ate all week.

Day 1

Portland to Camden

Stops

L.L. Bean flagship, Freeport

Eat

High Roller Lobster Company, Portland

Stay

The Country Inn at Camden Rockport

The sun sets late in summer here, so an evening arrival still leaves time for a stop or two.

Day 2

Rockland, Camden, then up to Acadia

Stops

Main Street Markets and Atlantic Baking Co., Rockland
Camden Hills State Park and Mount Battie lookout
Bass Harbor Head Light Station for sunset

Eat

Camden Deli
Beal's Lobster Pier, Southwest Harbor

Stay

Southwest Harbor, Acadia

Day 3

Cadillac Summit and the Beehive

Stops

Cadillac Summit Road, 7am entry
Beehive Trail, roughly 3 miles with scrambling
Great Head Trail, flat
Echo Lake Beach

Eat

Jordan Pond House for the popovers and blueberry soda

Weather can shut the views down entirely. Leave a later day free to redo the Park Loop Road.

Day 4

Mansell Mountain and Long Pond

Stops

Mansell Mountain Trail, steep 3 mile round trip
Kayaking on Long Pond, about 2.5 hours
Agamont Park, Bar Harbor, for sunset

Eat

Limon Grille, Bar Harbor

Day 5

Park Loop Road, take two

Stops

Thunder Hole and the Park Loop Road
Northeast Harbor botanical zen gardens
Bar Harbor pier

Eat

Colonel's Restaurant and Bakery

Day 6

Schoodic, the refuge, and Bangor

Stops

Schoodic Head, about an hour east of Acadia
Maine Coastal National Wildlife Refuge, 1.5 mile loop
L.L. Bean outlet store

Eat

Mason's Brewing Company, Bangor

Stay

Courtyard Marriott, Bangor

Last Day

Back to Portland

Stops

Portland Head Light

Eat

Flatbread Company, downtown Portland

Parking downtown took us 30 minutes. Build in the buffer before a flight.