Even closer, crane beach in Ipswich is nice and just a day trip from boston

Anonymous wrote:Ogunquit is about 90 minutes from Boston. The town is really cute, and the Marginal Way is gorgeous.

This is a good suggestion and could be done as a day trip from Boston and avoid the Maine hotel prices. If you don't mind going just a bit further but not all the way to Portland, you could go to Kennebunkport if you like quaint little towns, or Cape Elizabeth. On Cape Elizabeth you can go to Two Lights State Park, which is classic Maine coast and then have lunch at The Lobster Shack, where you can eat lobster rolls and climb on rocks. You could even get up early from Boston, go straight to Cape Elizabeth, and stop in both Kennebunkport and Oqunquit on the drive back to Boston. It would be a long day, but a doable one.

If you don't want to push yourself, the beach at Qgunquit is nice and the Marginal Way is a nice Maine rock walk. You can stop at the Kittery Trading Post on the way back to Boston. My teens like to stop there.

We did this! Portland is an awesome city with great independent boutiques, breweries, and food. Peaks island is a short ferry away and was a perfect day trip- you can rent a golf cart to see the island which is beautiful. There are also close in Maine beaches for another day trip.

Anonymous wrote:Be warned that Maine hotels in any area remotely near the coast will be absurdly priced in July.

This is true. Even Motel 6 caliber places in armpits like Lewiston and Auburn will cost a fortune. I know first hand.

Wherever you end up, be sure to stop in at Shoppers True Value in South Portland to meet Daniel and Bigfoot: https://www.instagram.com/shopperstv/?hl=en

Be warned that Maine hotels in any area remotely near the coast will be absurdly priced in July.

It depends what you want. Portland is a nice city with great food. As others have said, there are pleasant destinations south of the city.

Ogunquit is about 90 minutes from Boston. The town is really cute, and the Marginal Way is gorgeous.

We took our kids to Cape Cod after Boston.

But if you want Maine, Old Orchard Beach is nice and not far from Boston.

Portland

We have an unexpected free week in July, so are going to try and sneak in a quick, relatively inexpensive getaway (we already have our "big" family trip planned). I found some really cheap airfare / hotel rates in Boston and thought that would be fun with our 10 & 13 year old, esp as the latter is doing American history in school this year. DH wants to work in a side trip to Maine. Where would you suggest we look? Would almost certainly need a hotel as I'm sure the Air BNBs are long gone.