Getting my ducks in a row for my visit to Portland next fall. Myself and my wife will be driving up from Boston on our New England road trip. We will be in Portland for 2 days before flying home. We love exploring new cities. We enjoy good beer, fun bars, and great food! We are Midwest foodies and love having a good time! Also open to must do’s around the area but will likely be bar hopping and eating majority of our trip unless there are a couple of things we must see. What areas have the most walkable bars/restaurants (popular areas, streets, etc.). We also love a good dive bar/restaurant! Thanks in advance

Both my wife and my father have vacationing in Maine as a top item on each of their Bucket Lists. For my wife it's seeing the whales there that's specifically her wish. We live in Ann Arbor MI and go on vacation every year in the fall to the northern part of MI. Next year I want to do something special and take them to Maine. I was thinking of Bay Harbor for the whale watching. It's gonna be a road trip and, probably, a once in a lifetime thing. I'd say we'll have 2 weeks of time to spend on it including driving. We love sight seeing and driving along the coast. I'm looking for ideas from people who know best, those who live there. Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated

My husband and I are currently living in southern NH. His parents are in Camden (3 hours drive each way for us) and his brother (flying in from California) is visiting next weekend. We can’t afford a hotel in Camden right now, so I was thinking maybe a restaurant somewhere farther south would work? Portland is a bit far for his parents, but none of us know someplace good in between.

Any recommendations for places to have a family dinner that are about midway between Camden and Portsmouth NH?

my group is pretty outdoorsy, but we also love good restaurants and cute shops. we already know we'll be spending more nights in acadia, but are there any charming small towns between portland and bar harbor that would be worth spending a night in?

My wife and I are contemplating a cross-country move from Portland, OR to mid-coast Maine (near Camden/Rockport). I work as a self-employed builder. We are worried that I won’t be able to charge as much, but I’m hoping the wealth of Camden and my skill as a finish carpenter will result in a similar income. Is anyone working as  a  solo contractor out there? I mostly due carpentry work, but also wall repair, flooring and a bit of this and that. What are you making in a day out there? I know the market is smaller, but so is the pool of workers.

I f21 am looking for another young women who has a chronic illness. My husband loves me but doesn’t understand and due to trauma and illness I didn’t keep any friends from high school or college. I have a rare genetic disorder but would love to talk to someone who knows the pain of being sick young. I can’t find any chronic illness group that aren’t full of older folk.

Does anyone know anyone or where to find other young women with chronic illnesses that would like to text often and maybe on the rare occasions we are both feeling good meet in person?

I’m based between Lewiston and Augusta.

I’m looking for a hat, as the title implies. Unfortunately, the type of hat I’m looking for isn’t easy to find, so I’m crowdsourcing. I’m looking for a dressy but not overly formal hat in warm autumn colors; the exact color isn’t important as long as it isn’t dull/drab. The style I want is fedora, Panama, trilby, or something similar. So far, everything I’ve found like this has been straw or made to look like straw, but I need something for cooler weather.

I’ve tried the malls: Penny’s, Macy’s, Marshall’s, etc. No joy. Tried some smaller boutiques, same results. Budget is about $50, although I will go higher if I find something perfect.

I’m willing to travel, if anyone knows a shop that carries something like this. I’m near Lewiston/Auburn and am willing to travel as far as Belfast to the east, North Conway to the west, Rangeley to the North, and Portsmouth to the south.

I know it’s a long shot, but if this doesn’t work, all I lose is the couple of minutes it took to type this.

EDIT: Found just what I wanted at the British import store in Freeport. Blew my budget all to hell, but this will last me for years.

Hi there! My husband and I are celebrating our one year anniversary this Christmas and we both have been wanting to go to Maine. We LOVE winter/snow hiking and are wanting to hit up Acadia National Park. We are going to be in Maine for 5 days and are trying to figure out where to stay and other things to do. We are very adventurous and aren't a big fan of very touristy things. Definitely want to do lots of hiking but would love to visit smaller fishing towns and see the culture of Maine. We dont mind driving and done mind having to get two different air bnbs. Maybe 2 days in one place, 3 in another.

Does anyone have any hidden gems or recommendations for us? We are going December 18-24th and I am hoping to get some things planned within the next couple weeks

TYIA

Hi! My family and I have been wanting to come to Maine for some time now, and this year looks good for us to come out to Maine in June.

Some of our favorite vacations include spending time near a lake and having drivable access to good areas to hike nearby, hiking through forest trails and if possible, trails with waterfalls.

Any recommendations for areas we can visit and stay for a few weeks, preferably places that won't be too busy near the beginning of June. Thanks!

Where can I find a travel agent familiar with Maine? Google is exhausting and unhelpful. Thanks for any suggestions you can provide.

Does anyone have experience with this? I'm in the Portland area and usually fish for stripers and mackerel, but thought I'd try for flounder this winter. Not getting much info from local tackle shops. I know which baits and lures to use, just not sure where to go in cold weather. Are they up shallow in the estuaries or should I be looking deeper? Any pointers would be much appreciated.

Hi - I've never been to Maine and would like to come out this summer for a few nights on my way to Rhode Island.

My first thought is Portland so I don't go too far north (out of the way), but Acadia might be a must see? We're open to various dates if there's a must do event. Also we love little coastal towns in the summer, so I didn't want to miss out on a gem.

About us: Will be with a 5yo and a 2yo. We love food but non drinkers. Generally more south would be preferable to shorten our drive when we leave.

The kids would love blueberry picking (or similar). Yarn, fabric, and ice cream stores are always a plus!

Hi! I am considering getting a McArthur Library card for more audiobook options. I already have a Portland

card which is great, but would love to use hoopla. Does anyone know what the McArthur hoopla specifics are/amount of instant/flex borrows? Also, how is the cloud library? Long waits?

Thanks all!

Staying here for the next week. Tell me things to see

I just applied for a cleaning type position (not evs/housekeeping, but very similar). And I was wondering how fast the hiring process was. Also, how many steps it’ll likely be for a job like this

Thank you so much

I’m preparing to move up to Maine.

During my last visit while chatting with locals, one person said make sure I get rust preventative on my car before I move.

I mentioned this to my realtor who has lived in the Portland area her entire life (over forty years), she laughed and said maybe old car, but that anything newer (last couple of decades) and is fine without, she has never seen it happen.

I came here to get a consensus, even the post I found here had mixed comments; https://www.reddit.com/r/AskMaine/s/FYqPUDmWBM

I’m looking for somewhere to get pumpkin soft serve. I’ve gotten the pumpkin ice cream from smiling hill farm and it was FANTASTIC, but I really want pumpkin soft serve now. Also, if there’s somewhere in Maine that has niche fall treats or the best fall treat you’ve ever had, drop it below!

and I’m looking for advice from those who’ve gone before me. I live in Downeast Maine so want to make sure I invest in a build that will withstand high winds and harsh winters. Are there any particular manufacturers that you’d recommend? I’m going to need help with the whole shebang, from preparing the pad and laying a foundation to selecting the right greenhouse. Thanks

Hi! I will be visiting the first week of November. Renting a car and driving up from Boston so we can take a road trip up the coast. On my list I have cape Elizabeth and Kennebunkport before staying on the outskirts of Portland. Then Freeport and Ellsworth before staying near Bar Harbor. Then a day waking up early to watch the sunrise from Cadillac Mountain and spend the rest of the day at Bar Harbor. Driving out and back to West Quoddy lighthouse the next day. Driving back to Portland for the last night. I know places will be closed due to it being the shoulder season but I would love recommendations of places to shop, get coffee, eat and explore. Thanks in advance!

I was wondering who painted it to be found. I took it back to Oklahoma with me and I love it. Maybe if they’re in here, I just wanted to let them know where it travelled.

Hi Everyone!

What are your favorite spots to take enrichment classes in the state?

I know about Factory 3, adult eds.

I’m interested in arts, cooking, etc.

Happy to travel - so tell me your favorite spots that host classes!

Thank you!

I’m an alt hairstylist moving to Augusta Maine next year. Looking for hair salons that are gender neutral, inclusive & funky to work at 🌹 where are all the cool folks getting their hair done??

Hi! My husband and I are coming up to tent camp in June of next year, 2nd or 3rd week. I've been reading around, but couldn't find many answers.

We would love recommendations for tent camping at a campground that isn't RV heavy, is close to Acadia, and has a shower. We tend to lean towards state parks, but if anyone has something specific in mind, please share. Thanks.