Maine Coast Itinerary

Day One

Start your tour at the Old York Historical Society in York where you may visit seven historical buildings dating back to the mid-1700s. Costumed interpreters provide period programming to help you learn about 18th Century life. Your next stop is Stonewall Kitchen in York where you can view the production facility for these Maine specialty foods. Drive up the coast to a Kennebunkport where you can peruse dozens of specialty shops and have lunch on your own. After lunch, climb aboard an historic trolley at the Seashore Trolley Museum for a ride along their three-and-a-half mile track. This museum boasts a collection of trolleys from throughout the world. From Kennebunkport, continue northward to the Portland, ME area. Before checking into your hotel, see how chocolate is made at Haven's Candies in Westbrook. Dinner and overnight in Portland/South Portland.

Day Two

Start the day with a City Tour of Maine's largest city and learn about the history of this lovely port city. Visit the childhood home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of America's most famous poets, and the historic Portland Headlight a lighthouse commissioned by George Washington. A short drive to Freeport and you're at the home of L.L. Bean. Take some free time to shop at Bean's flagship store and more than 100 brand name outlets throughout the community. Your next stop is Bath, ME and the Maine Maritime Museum where a guided tour describes Maine's important contribution to the world's shipbuilding industry. Maine has many quintessential harbor villages and Boothbay Harbor is no exception. Upon arrival, you'll check into your hotel and get ready to take a scenic harbor cruise to view the working waterfront, rocky coastline and lighthouses. Afterwards, enjoy dinner theater at the Carousel Music Theatre. Dinner and overnight in the Boothbay Harbor area.

Day Three

From your waterfront accommodations, wake up to the sounds of the fishing boats chugging out to sea as fishermen head out for another day of work on the water. The historic village of Thomaston is your first stop for the day. Browse the Maine State Prison Showroom with its outstanding handmade wooden gifts and furniture. Your next stop is the Owls Head Transportation Museum which has one of the finest collections of pioneer-era aircraft and automobiles in the world. More than 100 historic aircraft, automobiles, bicycles, carriages and engines are on permanent display. Continue up coastal Route 1 to the village of Camden where you have free time to browse the unique shops and dine at one of the many restaurants. Bar Harbor is your next destination where you can visit the Abbe Museum and its collection of more than 50,000 objects representing 10,000 years of Native American culture and history in Maine. Tonight, visit the Great Maine Lumberjack Show for exciting lumberjack competition such as speed climbing, axe throwing, chopping, sawing and much more. Dinner and overnight in Bar Harbor.

Day Four

In the morning, explore Acadia National Park on the Loop Road. Visit Thunder Hole, and view the breathtaking Otter Cliffs before driving to the summit of Cadillac Mountain and its spectacular vistas of Frenchman's Bay. Following the tour, you will have free time to enjoy Bar Harbor's shops and restaurants. In the afternoon, optional excursions include a whale watch trip or a visit to the Wendell Gilley Museum of Bird Carving in Southwest Harbor home of the world-renowned wooden bird carver by the same name, Seal Cove Auto Museum with more than 100 vehicles and 30 motorcycles, or the Mount Desert Oceanarium in Bar Harbor where you can visit the lobster museum, lobster hatchery and take a marsh walk tour. Dinner and overnight in Bar Harbor. Travel home.