Another Maine question - drive from BOS toward the coast to Bar Harbor advice needed

[zentraveler]

We are going to Southwest Harbor, staying at Harbor Ridge for a week at the end of April spend some time in Acadia. I lived in Connecticut for several years a long time ago but loved the time I had in Maine. But am adjusting this trip to account for 40 years that have elapsed and the fact that I am now on the west coast.

We are planning to fly to BOS and drive to SW Harbor the next day. We will land around 4 pm and have booked a generic Marriott in Peabody for that first night but I have realized that landing at 4 pm gives us an hour or so for a reasonable night there so we could venture farther (considered just driving to Portland but two ambitious for us after a long day getting to BOS). Considering around Portsmouth, NH as a more scenic interesting place to land for the night. Any other ideas?

 

[WaikikiFirst]

there was a thread on this about 6 mos ago. I voted the 2 you list: Rt 1 Peabody or then Portsmouth. Most people voted to spend the night in Logan, which ... never mind.
Kittery is just past Portsmouth and the hotels may be closer to the highway? I don't remember. Been a long time but I remember the "scenic" part of Portsmouth being at least a couple of miles from the rotary on I95. There was a thread you can search for

 

[zentraveler]

there was a thread on this about 6 mos ago. I voted the 2 you list: Rt 1 Peabody or then Portsmouth. Most people voted to spend the night in Logan, which ... never mind.
Kittery is just past Portsmouth and the hotels may be closer to the highway? I don't remember. Been a long time but I remember the "scenic" part of Portsmouth being at least a couple of miles from the rotary on I95. There was a thread you can search for

Thanks @WaikikiFirst - more fabulous info. Some great Maine threads here. Portsmouth it is. And I have not been to New Hampshire in years .

 

[andre10056]

I guess it all depends on how you feel after your arrival, but I, myself, would not plan on a long drive after already flying cross country and then waiting in line for a rent-a-car. I would prefer to drive nearby to a nice hotel to spend the night, enjoy an ocean view, perhaps a subway trip into Boston, maybe even take in a Red Sox game.

Revere Beach is minutes away from Logan Airport, the Marriott there is direct oceanfront, and is right on the Blue Line at Wonderland Station. Minutes to downtown Boston, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, the North End, Cambridge (Harvard Square), Fenway Park, etc.

In fact, assuming there would be some value in getting a rent-a-car the NEXT day rather than your day of arrival, the subway train that comes into Airport Station on the Blue Line goes direct to your hotel at Wonderland Station in a matter of single digit minutes. Return to Logan the next morning (again, in a matter of minutes; have the hotel hold onto your bags) to get your rent-a-car.

https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/bossr-springhill-suites-boston-logan-airport-revere-beach/overview/

 

[missyrcrews]

Just remember that it will be quite cool still. I dearly love the end of April/first of May here in Maine...but it can still be cold. You are traveling at a time of year when tourists will be at a minimum. Well-played! Some places won't be open yet...but the fun is in finding the year-round spots that the locals go to. And Acadia is beautiful any time of year! Have a great time planning!

 

[amycurl]

I have vivid memories of the pic of the tennis team shoveling two feet of snow off the MDI high school courts so their season could begin…on April 1st.

So, yes…it can still be “quite cool.”

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[arch53]

My vote would be the Hampton Inn and Suites in downtown Portsmouth, NH. (see link below). Much nicer than a typical Hampton Inn and downtown Portsmouth is a great spot to visit. The hotel is about only 10 minutes from the last NH exit on I-95 before the Portsmouth- Kittery bridge into Maine. It will probably take you 1 hr and 15 minutes from Logan assuming no major traffic issues on Route 1 around Boston. Far preferable (IMHO) to a generic Marriott [or other brand]. right off the highway. And a great little city to wake up in.

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/psmdnhx-hampton-suites-portsmouth-downtown/?SEO_id=GMB-AMER-HX-PSMDNHX&y_source=1_MjA4MzE3My03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D

 

[zentraveler]

I guess it all depends on how you feel after your arrival, but I, myself, would not plan on a long drive after already flying cross country and then waiting in line for a rent-a-car.

We have preferred status on a few car companies so we never wait in line, but this idea of driving anywhere is looking like a no-go for my husband. He wants to stay at the airport Hilton - at least at this point. Thanks for the other info but we are just going straight into Maine.

 

[zentraveler]

My vote would be the Hampton Inn and Suites in downtown Portsmouth, NH. (see link below). Much nicer than a typical Hampton Inn and downtown Portsmouth is a great spot to visit. The hotel is about only 10 minutes from the last NH exit on I-95 before the Portsmouth- Kittery bridge into Maine. It will probably take you 1 hr and 15 minutes from Logan assuming no major traffic issues on Route 1 around Boston. Far preferable (IMHO) to a generic Marriott [or other brand]. right off the highway. And a great little city to wake up in.

https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/psmdnhx-hampton-suites-portsmouth-downtown/?SEO_id=GMB-AMER-HX-PSMDNHX&y_source=1_MjA4MzE3My03MTUtbG9jYXRpb24ud2Vic2l0ZQ%3D%3D

Looks great and I am defintely with you on where I wake up, but (see previous post), sounds too far to drive for DH and for many others over the posts who think setting out is too much after travel to the east coast. So we may have to stop for breakfast on our way north.

 

[missyrcrews]

I have vivid memories of the pic of the tennis team shoveling two feet of snow off the MDI high school courts so their season could begin…on April 1st.

So, yes…it can still be “quite cool.”

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

The year I moved to Maine from Missouri, my sister came to visit for her spring break from college. Her flight back was April 1st. Cancelled due to a major snow storm. My poor mother: "Where in the world have you moved to that it snows in APRIL?" Little did she know we sometimes get snow in May!

 

[andre10056]

We have preferred status on a few car companies so we never wait in line, but this idea of driving anywhere is looking like a no-go for my husband. He wants to stay at the airport Hilton - at least at this point.

I don't blame him as I, too, would want to rest after a long flight.

What makes the airport Hilton an "airport" Hilton? A shuttle bus takes you to the nearby hotel. That's precisely what the Marriott Revere Beach is and does.

The difference is that you're surrounded by excellent restaurants (there's even a Tripadvisor category: 10 best restaurants near Wonderland Station). And #1 on that list, and number #7 of 82 in Revere, is seafood restaurant Dryft right outside the door of the hotel. I don't know what restaurants are numbers 1 through 6 but Dryft is outstanding.

Or, if you're feeling adventurous, hop on the subway also practically right outside your door and head into the North End for Italian food or Chinatown for Chinese and Vietnamese...or any one of hundreds of destinations and restaurants in the Boston area. All accessible in a clean, safe subway system filled with families including parents with kids in strollers.