Reply to What to do in Portland, ME before going to Acadia?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here. Since we'll be flying into Portland and Acadia is 3+ hours north, I'm not sure that driving to Kennebunkport makes the most sense. Is there anything we can do that's between Portland and Acadia?

Or would it make sense to stay in two different places in Acadia? Is it big enough to warrant doing that (the way that Yellowstone is big enough that it makes sense to do that)?[/quote]

There is lots to do and see between Portland and Acadia.

Spend one day in Portland and the surrounding area. Do a schooner cruise, visit Fort Williams State Park, take the ferry to Peak's Island for a day.  If it's a beautiful day, go to the beach in Cape Elizabeth or Scarborough.

When you leave Portland, drive north to Freeport where you can visit Wolfe's Neck State Park and Winslow Park.  Or you can skip that and continue on up the coast to Bath where, if it's before 2 PM, you can have a great lunch at Mae's Café. The Maine Maritime Museum is interesting and could include an outing on the Kennebec river if that's of interest to you.

Nearby Popham Beach is spectacular and worth spending the day.

Continue with the coast to Damariscotta.  Visit the awesome secondhand bookstore there, then drive down the Pemaquid Peninsula to the Lighthouse Park, where the views are great and there are some interesting things to visit.  The rock formations and views are spectacular. If it's a nice day you can spend some time at Pemaquid Beach.

As you leave Damariscotta, stop at Round Top Ice Cream for delicious treats.  Then drive another 15 or 20 minutes to Waldoboro, where you can have something to eat at Moody's Diner. Blueberry pie!  Whoopie pies!

Rockland is a little way north from there and has a wonderful art museum, which I know you're not interested in, but the Puffin Project is also in Rockland and if you like animals and science, it's pretty fascinating. Ideally you would be able to do a cruise to see puffins, but August is not the season for that.

https://www.audubon.org/seabird-institute/projects/tufted-puffin-conservation-pacific-northwest

Past Rockland is Camden, which I think is overrated honestly, but you can drive up Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park for panoramic views.

Keep driving north and just past Lincolnville is the town of Belfast, Maine, which is worth a stop for a meal and a walk.  It has a genuine feel to it which in my opinion Camden lacks.

Acadia is about an hour and a half north of Belfast. Enroute, stop in Bucksport and visit Fort Knox, one of Maine's best-preserved coastal forts.  Take the elevator up the Penobscot Narrows Observatory for 360-degree views of the river and bay.

I hope this is helpful.
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