Places to go, things to do, places to camp, in ME

[hacimsaalk]

our troop is currently in the process of planning a trip up to ME for next year. does anyone have any ideas for places to go, or places to stay or anything like that??

thanks

micah

[fritz1255]

Follow this link to the Appaclachian Mountain Club website: http://www.outdoors.org/lodging/lodging-facilities.cfm
Not sure if you are "married" to the idea of going to Maine - most of their locations are in New Hampshire, as the map will show. Same diff if you live in PA. If you stay in their huts, they will supply food and some rudimentary bedding, not to mention not having to pitch tents every night. Lots less planning if you are coming from a far away location.

[207TR47]

Being a Maine native I can suggest lots of places to go. What are you interested in doing, how long will you be there, how many people, and all other pertinent info???

[hacimsaalk]

207- The older scouts are leaving the night before the rest and going to Ashland, ME to canoe the Aroostook River. The rest of the guys are going to Bar Harbor (AKA "base camp"). from listening to them, they would like to do a variety of things- fishing, hiking, biking, amusement park (singular ), whale watching, beach combing, basically anything outdoors, with maybe a museum or the such thrown in. We are going to be up there from roughly the 17-22 (we are leaving the 16th and hopefully getting home the next sunday ). there will be 6 scouts and oh, we'll say probably 7-10 other people (family, chaperones, etc). B/C of gas, we would like to stay in the area (nothing over an hr or 2). Currently we are also looking for a campground w/running water flush toilets, and possible a shower (not 100% neccessary).

the guys that are headed to Ashland are looking for a hole-in-the-wall hotel to stay at on the 1st night (friday night) so that we dont have to unpack tents, only to sleep in them for 4 or 6 hrs and pack them up again. so, any ideas would be welcome there too as well. (btw- we are coming from PA, if that helps at all )

Thanks

Micah

[207TR47]

Micah, When you hit the ME/NH state line you are approx. 7 to 8 hours to Ashland and 5 hours to Bar Harbor. There are many private c.g.'s on Mount Desert Island. Acadia National Park administers a large CG-called Blackwoods. There is lots of easy "mountains" to climb there. I delivered packages for an overnight courier on MDI for a year and can get around but you may want to invest in a DeLormes Maine Atlas and Gazeteer. It will provide you with info on camping, museums, natural and historical places of interest, hiking, the best road map ever, and even canoe paddle strokes! Not too many amusement parks. One in Saco (1 hour from state line). As for Ashland theres not much up there but trees and farms. You may have to do some exploring for a motel but there are some. Maybe in Patten. Beautiful scenery up there. And don't forget, us "Mainuhs" eat the claws on a lobster right up to the body, then we peel the top from the bottom, split the chassis in half, and start digging for the meat between the "hips" to make lobster rolls. And we eat our steamers whole-neck and all just don't forget to pull the skin off the neck. Dip in the cleaning broth, then vinegar, then butter, then chew! Yummo. the 207.

[Ridge Runner]

I may be getting in late on this one....but from Ashland, it's only a short drive to Ft. Kent and free camping at the Block House. You can't miss it, just turn right at the light, then a left before the bridge....

Also, after running the Aroostook and you've still a bit of time and the skills (advance to expert), consider running the Grindstone rapids on the East Branch. Also easy to get to.