2018 Official Maine Camping Guide - 87

RV DEALERS

Cruising through Maine
continued from page 86

Bay by ferry or take a drive through
the many welcoming communities
that surround the city. Just to the
south seek out the Portland Head
Light on the grounds of Ft. Williams
or track down the "best Lobster Roll
ever." No matter where you wind up,
it will be delicious - this is the heart
of lobster central. Looking for more
retail therapy? Head north on Rt. 1
or I-95 to Freeport, the home of L.L.
Bean and more than a hundred retail
stores, restaurants and outlets in this
cheerful village.
Cities & Towns: Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Pownal, Scarborough,
Westbrook and Yarmouth
Roads & Highways: I-95 & 295, Rt.
302, Rts. 25 & 26, US-1 & 1-A,
Rt. 77, Rt. 100, Rt. 9
Notable Features: The Old Port (on
foot); Sea Dogs, Red Claws, and Pirates, Casco Bay Lines, Eartha, Scarborough Downs, Longfellow House,
Audubon's Gilsland Farm,
The Victoria Mansion
Maine's MidCoast
While just a short drive up the coast
(along US-1 or I-295) from Portland,
Maine's MidCoast is a sparkling string
of pearls connecting visitors to our
coastal, maritime and seafaring past.
This region is peppered with some
of Maine's most visited and adored
towns, beaches and harbors. At
about 100 miles from stem-to-stern
(following the region's main artery
US-1 from Brunswick to the Penobscot Bridge Observatory) but constituting over 1,500 miles of rough and
beautiful coastline, the MidCoast offers untold activities for tourists and
families alike, including the dozens of
side trips 'down the point' and those
with countless adventures they offer.
This is the classic American tourist
ride - you might wander all day and
not travel far. Maine's MidCoast gives
meaning to the journey being an important part of the trip. Take heed:
In summer US-1 can sometimes slow

up travelers' pace in spots. Drivers
without a destination in mind should
consider taking the trip along any of
the nearly dozen fingers of land that
stretch out to the sea, and make certain not to miss all the opportunities
set at the head and heart of each of
the harbors and cozy ports along the
way. And if the land cannot hold you,
explore the Gulf of Maine and Penobscot Bay by Windjammer, a different
take on the many ways to see and experience this richly jewel-encrusted
coastline.
Cities & Towns: Brunswick, Bath,
Boothbay Harbor, Wiscasset, Damariscotta, Rockland, Rockport, Camden,
Belfast and Searsport
Roads & Highways: US-1, I-295, Rt.
17, and Rt. 3
Coastal Excursion Routes: Harpswell
(Rt. 123); Bailey & Orr's Islands (Rt.
124); Phippsburg and Popham Beach
(Rt. 209); Georgetown and Reid State
Park (Rt. 127), Westport (Rt. 144);
Boothbay Harbor (Rt. 27); Christmas
Cove (Rt. 129); Pemaquid and New

Harbor (Rt. 130); Round Pond (Rt.
32); Friendship (Rt. 220), Port Clyde
and St. George (Rt. 131)
Notable Features: Lobsters & Lighthouses, Reid State & Popham Beach
State Park, Pemaquid Point, Monhegan Island (an hour by boat), Maine
Maritime Museum, Whale Watches,
The Farnsworth Museum, Camden
Hills State Park, Windjammers
DownEast & Acadia
DownEast Maine and its several subregions offer one of Maine's most
spectacular driving tours. Drive the
100 miles from Buscksport to Lubec
along US-1 and you will be transported. For first-time visitors the
long list of superlatives heaped onto
DownEast & Acadia is well deserved:
more lighthouses on the coast - including the eight you can see by
boat along the Deer Isle Lighthouse
Trail; America's most popular National Park, America's easternmost
city (Eastport) and easternmost point
(Lubec), the country's highest tides
continued on page 89

MAINE CAMPING GUIDE * 2018

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of 2018 Official Maine Camping Guide
