Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you do with the dog when you stop? One person doesn't go in?

We do not always travel with our dog but decided to this time (our dogs are family and we enjoy their presence!), so we will see how it goes. DH usually does not love shopping so he may hit up a a park while the kids run around at a playground and I go in a store, for example. If we can eat outside pup may sit with us if allowed. If we are outdoor sightseeing, and it is allowed, dog comes with. We usually try to get to the destination quickly so the pup can be wherever we are staying. This is just such a long drive I want to break it up. Often not everyone is into the same things too so maybe we can break up some.

Definitely look at google maps before getting too set on any suggestions here. Some are very off route and in places that are prone to awful traffic.

If there’s any interest in civil engineering, my kids (to my surprise) enjoyed the Penobscot Narrows Bridge, which has an observation deck.

Portland is a great day-visit city. It has a civil war era fort that may be of interest.

Belfast, ME has a great lunch restaurant, Chase’s Daily, at which we always stop.

If your dog does OK off leash and the timing works, we enjoy stopping for lunch at the Winslow Dog Park in Westport CT. There are good takeout places nearby (granola bar, a poke place, pizza) and then we sit on a picnic table and eat while we take turns giving the dog some exercise. It is just a few minutes off of 95 (or the Merritt). I would definitely not go to RI - you want to get off 95 at some point!

Anonymous wrote:What do you do with the dog when you stop? One person doesn't go in?

We do not always travel with our dog but decided to this time (our dogs are family and we enjoy their presence!), so we will see how it goes. DH usually does not love shopping so he may hit up a a park while the kids run around at a playground and I go in a store, for example. If we can eat outside pup may sit with us if allowed. If we are outdoor sightseeing, and it is allowed, dog comes with. We usually try to get to the destination quickly so the pup can be wherever we are staying. This is just such a long drive I want to break it up. Often not everyone is into the same things too so maybe we can break up some.

What do you do with the dog when you stop? One person doesn't go in?

Anonymous wrote:Boston is the obvious choice given the history interest. It’s about an 8 hour drive so a good stopping point (I think it’s another 5 or so to BH from Boston).

We did this.

We stayed at this motel about 15 minutes drive from Bar Harbor about 10 years ago.

It was convenient enough and cheap and it is pet friendly. We saved hundreds over more central hotels that were a bit odd in their own way.

https://www.acadiasunrisemotel.com/motel-policies

I'm sharing because they allow dogs and they do have a pool.

We liked:

Whale watching
The Diver Ed boat (for elementary schoolers)
The view from Cadillac Mountain
The Bar at low tide
A lumberjack show
An earlier incarnation of the Oceanarium
https://theoceanarium.org/

I also recommend NPS Ranger talks which are often at campgrounds at night. You'd have to plan for this and be willing to do night driving on darkish roads. Schedules are probably findable on the web.

Camden Maine is a great spot to stop! Don’t sleep on Blue Hill - you can climb the mountain from Blueberries For Sal and pick berries on the way. It’s pretty close to Bar Harbor though.

Anonymous wrote:Bar Harbour is filled with homeless. Have fun.

Of all the times I’ve been up there, I’ve never noticed a homeless person.

And you spelled it wrong. It’s “Harbor”.

Anonymous wrote:Boston is the obvious choice given the history interest. It’s about an 8 hour drive so a good stopping point (I think it’s another 5 or so to BH from Boston).

Good points!

Anonymous wrote:Newport is a great place to visit- the beaches nearby are comparatively warm water and the mansion tours are great. Boston has lots of history, sights, and an aquarium and is good for a day or two. Portsmouth (NH) is a cute town but I don't think it needs a full day. Maybe a lunch or dinner stop with some walking arounf the harbor/old town area. Portland is a fun town and you could spend a day there. Good food.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

Anonymous wrote:Newport is out of the way. Boston is a good suggestion but may be hard with a dog.

If you don’t want to go into Boston you could check out Old Sturbridge Village (a colonial “living history” place) or see what Lexington and Concord has to see these days (obviously there are the NPS sites but maybe for the 250th they have a bit more?)

We may do another Airbnb if we can, so we can explore without the pup.