Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

DidDunMegasploded t1_jd6ij4g wrote

South Portland. It's got its issues but things like Bug Light and the Greenbelt and nostalgia keep me coming back.

8

JediMasterPopCulture t1_jd6py2f wrote

York because it’s beautiful and in York Harbor it’s peaceful watching the boats go in and out.

5

figment1979 t1_jd6z7tn wrote

Boothbay Harbor - seems like a very “chill” town and some incredible food. Views from the footbridge are amazing.

27

bls06820 t1_jd73fij wrote

Hmm Belfast or Lubec. Belfast is your quintessential New England village with shops to explore. Lubec is very quiet but hey you can see Canada from your deck. Both have spectacular views especially Lubec.

40

agentpoopybutthole t1_jd7ad5m wrote

York. I lived there for a little while, and it is beautiful. I like long sands. Short sands has like it's own little town, which is neat. And of course, the lighthouse. It's a cool place

7

hike_me t1_jd7hmzc wrote

I live in Bar Harbor but the over the top tourism gets to you after a while.

I kind of like Castine. Lots of historic homes and way more low key and less touristy.

17

Henbogle t1_jd7jnnp wrote

Eastport. A community with economic challenges but they are not going down without a fight. Gorgeous area, lots of trails, beaches, nice camping nearby, whales!

30

Lieutenant_Joe t1_jd7lb5e wrote

I really like Belfast, but Winter Harbor is also dope (largely cuz of the name, but not exclusively). Also a real big fan of Harpswell. Lots of good coastal trails in that town. And it has my favorite bridge.

13

vgallant t1_jd7obz7 wrote

I live just outside Belfast so It has zero charm for me, really. I really like Stonington. Matinicus is one of my favorites too, but harder to get to.

1

Lissma t1_jd7ohxb wrote

Rockland. I have very fond memories of spending Father's day weekend there with my mom, sister, and nieces (but ironically not my dad) going sailing.

9

MiddleRecognition224 OP t1_jd7qwwl wrote

Mine is Ogunquit. Walking along Marginal Way and shopping at Perkins Cove makes a nice summer day. Especially when all the flowers are in bloom along Perkins Cove.

13

fezzik4652 t1_jd7s3z0 wrote

What type of feeling are you looking for, I would have to say that Boothbay Harbor is mine, a nice “quaint” little town with shopping, a waterfront, and good restaurants. If your looking for views/ walking on the beach I’d say York, Cape Elizabeth is nice for Fort Williams and 2 Lights State park, along with lots of rocky areas to climb

3

MiddleRecognition224 OP t1_jd7sjr8 wrote

Replying to fezzik4652 (#2,303,218)

I agree with you 100%! I’ve been to Boothbay and it’s really nice! Especially the Botanical Gardens and the Harbor. York and Cape Elizabeth is nice as well. But my favorite walkway is Marginal Way in Ogunquit. Beautiful shoreline, shops and restaurants along the way, and lots of great shoreside hotels/motels.

5

Expert_Drama9374 t1_jd7sw4q wrote

Lubec, Home of the Easternmost point in the US. The Sunrise comes up first there. So Beautiful. Bay of Fundy, Highest Tide swells in the world. My Mom Lives there.

25

VinceGchillin t1_jd7ta9b wrote

Replying to hike_me (#2,302,367)

I worked at MMA in Castine for a few years. It is a pretty chill place, a few decent places to eat in the summer and some great views, especially from the Dyce Head lighthouse. Also, highly recommend the Compass Rose bookstore there!

6

Character_Screen_265 t1_jd7tvgm wrote

My favorite is Castine. So much history, signs everywhere walking around the town. I love their little sheltered beach - Wadsworth cove beach (even though it's not quite sand, it's not all rocks so that's a win in Northern Maine). Not sure about shops or food, I only go there as a day trip. It's just a nice chill town to visit and you don't feel mobbed by tourists because it's not just off a major road.

5

itslizawithaz t1_jd7uwnh wrote

I love Damariscotta personally and am surprised it hasn’t been mentioned yet! I’m moving back there this summer. 🥰

30

Tight_Procedure t1_jd7vxbn wrote

Replying to MiddleRecognition224 (#2,303,323)

It varies by time of year.

  • October 7 to March 6 Cadillac Mountain, Bar Harbor, Maine
  • March 7 to March 24 West Quoddy Head Lighthouse Lubec, Maine
  • March 25 to September 18 Mars Hill, Maine
  • September 19 to October 6 West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Lubec, Maine
24

likes_sawz t1_jd82tvy wrote

Georgetown, because of Reid State Park. We used to go there a lot when I was a kid, many happy memories.

3

Cockatiel_Animations t1_jd82ubp wrote

I've been to Bar Harbor most, but I've been to Belfast and South Portland on a few occasions. That being said, I'm partial to Bar Harbor. Mostly because of nostalgia.

1

hike_me t1_jd8370y wrote

Replying to mnews7 (#2,303,899)

It seems like more restaurants used to be open in the winter, and Bar Harbor has gotten a lot more seasonal as year round renters were displaced when their landlords all converted to AirB&Bs

8

6byfour t1_jd87280 wrote

Old Orchard. I like fat, drunk motorcycle chicks with 3rd degree sunburns eating clams by the pound.

27

Seyword t1_jd8bub7 wrote

PORTLAND

It’s not perfect but it’s unique combination of job opportunities and amenities can’t be beat. Anyone who was lucky enough to snag a home pre-pandemic has no plans of ever leaving.

5

Sixfeatsmall05 t1_jd8ckc5 wrote

Damariscotta- plenty of parking, shopping and food choices. Completely walkable downtown area that you can see in a couple of hours. Good location for side trips to Bristol, Christmas cove or boothbay.

8

Dizzyluffy t1_jd8ic4j wrote

Bar Harbor. May be a super rich town now but it’s still nice. Grew up in Belfast and I hate it there.

2

sjm294 t1_jd8jpqi wrote

Replying to likes_sawz (#2,304,033)

We used to go there too. I loved it there and we would spend hours. I would get the worst sun burns. My mom would slather Noxema all over me and I would have fever dreams. So it was always the best day with the worst night 😂

3

shopgirl56 t1_jd8m5cc wrote

Love damariscotta & rockland for city- friendship & pemaquid for country

7

_elisheba_ t1_jd8m6wi wrote

Boothbay Harbor/East Boothbay.

Very blessed to have a generational summer cottage there, and some of my family lives there year round. I've been going there my whole life. It's my happy place ❤️

1

mqqj2 t1_jd8ph2w wrote

Boothbay Harbor - so peaceful, near the botanical gardens, I love browsing the touristy shops

3

Skippyandjif t1_jd8wnjz wrote

Bath because my family lives there, and I used to live there! A lot of good memories. I really miss the antique stores though, those were so awesome…and Harbor Light cafe… I remember having quesadillas there when I was like 6 and then bothering my mom constantly to go back there because, well…quesadillas! Lol

2

WalkerBRiley t1_jd9jtl7 wrote

Rockland used to be, because...you know...hometown and all.

But it's been taken over almost entirely by private art galleries over the course of the last decade or so.

I think the nail in the coffin for me was changing the Navigator Inn to the much more boring and forgettable Rockland Harbor Hotel. Let's just keep ripping more of the character out and replacing it with art galleries, I guess.

Most of it isn't even good art to begin with. It's all Wyeth imitations.

2

Soccermom233 t1_jd9k5dq wrote

I like how wiscasset smells?

But i don't have a favorite town.

3

jinnaquyn t1_jd9o347 wrote

Eastport or Lubec. It's hard to choose because they both are awesome. I live in Cutler, so I'm close to both of them! Gotta say, it sure is nice living somewhere beautiful!

3

JuliaNATFrolic t1_jd9yixx wrote

Camden.

Wonderful hiking, wonderful food, wonderful library, wonderful harbor, wonderful lighthouse, wonderful ducks, and I have a free place to stay there. Thanks MIL!

10

saxy_for_life t1_jda5em9 wrote

My favorite that I've been to so far is Rockland. I like the harbor and the proximity to Camden Hills, but I like the downtown better than Camden. Plus walking the breakwater is really relaxing.

3

Breezy207 t1_jdapd2i wrote

Chiming in for Castine. Off the beaten track, so no traffic and MMA gives a flavor to the town you won’t find anywhere else. Park your car and walk to Forts, the Lighthouse, the Wilson Museum, gorgeous old homes and gardens on the town commons, the beach at the backshore, hike in Witherle Woods, take a bioluminescent kayak tour-there’s even a great walking tour app! From Castine its a day trip to Acadia, Belfast, Camden and Rockland. And its on the Blue Hill peninsula so easy trip to Deer Isle and Stonington, lots of breweries, best bakery in the State, ‘nuf said…

2

Lady-Kat1969 t1_jdb7iw1 wrote

Heading up the coast from the south:

Damariscotta: The downtown is mall enough to walk around but has a lot of interesting places to see/shop. It's also quite pretty and has a lot of scenic areas within a reasonable drive.

Camden (in the off-season): Bigger but still walkable, also pretty with some good drives nearby, and one of my favorite buildings in the state is there. (Norumbega)

Northport: I love driving Shore Rd and wandering through the old Victorian summer colony.

Belfast: I love the Co-op and the whole downtown area. I haven't been able to walk the footbridge but I love that they have one.

Bucksport: Hate the bridge, love Fort Knox and the downtown. Especially Friars.

Castine: Beautiful, walkable, historic.

Southwest Harbor: Bar Harbor has its points despite the tourists, but when it comes down to it, I like SW Harbor better.

Machias: Okay, I've only been through a couple of times, but there's some good views and a few neat shops here.

Lubec: Only got here once and it was pissing down, but I would like to return and explore it properly. I liked what I saw.

2

EntertainmentThen937 t1_jdb9ciy wrote

Wiscasset. Gonna be stuck in traffic there might as well make it my favorite place.

2

Katcoffin t1_jdcos5k wrote

Georgetown because it is where I grew up! And it Has Reid State Park

1

tzarface t1_jdcsjb5 wrote

Wiscasset and Boothbay Harbor by far! Reasone: I was born in West Boothbay Harbor

1

Dizzyluffy t1_jdehk87 wrote

Replying to theaback (#2,308,452)

Eh it may just be my personal growing up experience. When I was a kid/teen there was nothing to do in town, especially in the winter. So many people turned to drugs and alcohol seemingly out of boredom. I’m not a “country” outdoorsy type of person and never felt like I fit in there. Also it seemed that the city council over the years had cared more about things like random art on the sidewalks than fixing the town proper. However, I will say Belfast has seen quite a lot of development in recent years with the new shipyard and other community projects, so there’s that.

Sorry I took so long to respond, didnt even see that I got a reply to this 😳

2

Extension-Ad-1997 t1_jdg393v wrote

Harpswell. Very quiet. Not touristy but close to everything. No tacky tourist shops or crowds. I came all the way from Seattle to show my wife authentic Maine .

1

Extension-Ad-1997 t1_jdg3ijx wrote

Replying to Seyword (#2,304,800)

I would love to own waterfront property for $250,000. I would love to be able to find a house for under $500,000 that is livable. Here in WA a undeveloped waterfront lot 1/4 acre in size is $300,000.

1

Extension-Ad-1997 t1_jdg4156 wrote

Interesting to read all your responses. I’m not from Maine but did grow up on the east coast. All the towns you mentioned seem very touristy. When you do a Google search for the best towns to visit in Maine most of the ones mentioned are in the responses. I like to go to the places the locals know about and don’t want the tourists to know. I had to do some searching but was able to find a few places.

1

intent107135048 t1_jdgwvlf wrote

Replying to Extension-Ad-1997 (#2,329,974)

Assuming you’re in good health and frugal, you’ll be able to live almost anywhere in the US on that income.

Eastport may be right for you but the only way to know for sure is to visit. The downsides are that it’s very far from the rest of Maine including proper medical facilities which a lot of older folks need.

1

Icy_Look_7332 t1_jdrnzow wrote

Belfast, because I grew up loving Perry's nut house and I love their vibe and Machias for WC because of Helens and UMM.

1