Southern & Central Maine Touring Itinerary

Day One

Start the day with a City Tour of Portland, Maine's largest city including visits to the childhood home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one of America's most famous poets, and the Portland Headlight, the historic lighthouse that was commissioned by George Washington. A short drive to Freeport and you're at the home of L.L. Bean. Take some free time to tour 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. Dinner and overnight in the Boothbay Harbor area.

Day Two

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 Farnsworth Art Museum to view the works of popular 18th & 19th Century American artists and the Farnsworth Homestead, an 1850s Greek Revival home. 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. Dinner and overnight in Bar Harbor.

Day Three

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 explore Bar Harbor. Optional excursions include a whale watch trip a visit to the Wendell Gilley Museum of Bird Carving in Southwest Harbor home to 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.

Day Four

It's time to leave the rocky coast behind and visit Maine's inland countryside. Your first stop is the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor. Exhibits include automobiles, trucks, trains, early snow removal vehicles and other vehicles that are sure to bring back some memories. After a leisurely drive though Maine's rolling hills you arrive in Skowhegan for lunch and the chance to see the 62-foot-tall wooden Indian that watches over downtown. After lunch, visit the Margaret Chase Smith Library where you'll learn about the life of the country's first woman to be elected to both houses of Congress. Travel from Maine's foothills to the mountains en route to Rangeley. While visiting the Rangeley area, take in the ever-popular moose safari. Dinner and overnight in Rangeley.

Day Five

Wake up to the scent of evergreen forests and fresh mountain air and board the coach for a relaxing drive to the Washburn-Norlands Living History Center. The Washburn Family was one of the great political dynasties of the 19th Century and they lived on a beautiful farm in central Maine. The interactive Laugh & Learn program at Norlands includes lunch and will teach your group a lesson in history and fun. Poland Spring, Maine is the next stop. The bottlers of Poland Spring water host the group next at Poland Spring Preservation Park. Learn about the water company and the history surrounding the region by touring the Museum and Spring House, Maine State Building, and All Soul's Chapel. A small caf~ inside the museum provides some tasty treats for a rest stop. Your day ends with dinner and overnight in Portland. Travel home.