Day 1
Boston Arrival
Depart London Heathrow – 12:45
Arrive Boston – 15:35
Journey Time – 7 hours 50 minutes
On arrival we recommend that you DO NOT collect your car but rather take one of the metered cabs (your approx fare will be $25 – this is not included in your prepaid holiday cost) from the airport to your hotel. We recommend this as you will be tired and will only pay high fees to park the vehicle during your 2 days in the city. Of course if you do prefer to collect your vehicle on arrival or would like us to arrange private transportation for you to your hotel, this can be done for an additional cost.
In a city filled with interesting things to see and do, the Freedom Trail is the highlight of Boston for visitors. The 2.5 mile red brick walking trail leads you to 16 nationally significant historic sites, every one an authentic American treasure. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1958, when the wrecking ball threatened several important places, the Freedom Trail today is a unique collection of museums, churches, meeting houses, burying grounds, p
arks, a ship, and historic markers that tell the story of the American Revolution.
You can take a self-guided tour or one of the many tours available through the National Park Service. Tours begin every half hour from the park visitor center at 15 State Street opposite the Old State House. If you prefer to ride, you can take a trolley tour, which is an unofficial guided tour, but does include many of the most important sites along the Trail including Old Ironsides, the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church. Plan to stop and eat at Faneuil Hall, once the primary meeting place for America’s revolutionaries. It is now a bustling market of restaurants and shops.
Overnight – Boston
Day 2
Boston
Your first day in America’s most historic and cultured city. You will find Colonial and Revolutionary history on every step of the Freedom Trail, along the decks of Old Ironsides, charging up Bunker Hill, and on the cobbled streets of Beacon Hill.
Today we suggest exploring Boston’s famous ‘The Freedom Trail’ which is a 2.5-mile walking trail through Boston that connects 16 of the country’s most important historical sites linked to the American Revolution. Lively and informative costumed characters travel the Trail during the summer. These characters are fun and engaging for children of all ages (from 5 to 75!) and act as ambassadors to the era of America’s founding and the birth of our country’s freedom.
Since there is so much to see and do in Boston, you may want to explore the city with a Go Boston Card in hand which provides admission to a whopping 33 attractions in Boston proper and many more in the region. In town the pass includes a Two-Day Beantown Trolley Tour Pass on the big red trolley that takes you all over town with 19 stops near more than 100 sites, Boston Duck Tours, New England Aquarium, Museum of Fine Arts, Liberty Fleet Tall Ships Adventure, Charles River Boat Tours, the Old North Church and more.
Overnight – Boston
Day 3/4
Kennebunkport, ME
86 Miles
Pick up your car in Boston and enjoy a scenic drive on the Essex National Heritage Area Scenic Byways takes you north through Salem, site of the famous witch trials in 1694, Marblehead, Ipswich, and Newburyport. From there, you’ll be travelling the Coastal Byway to Hampton Beach and Portsmouth on your way to Kennebunkport. The old coastal towns of the Kennebunks and the surrounding region have a storied past in shipbuilding. In the Golden Age of Sail in the 19th Century, Kennebunk shipyards built hundreds of wooden sailing ships that traveled around the world to trade. Kennebunk’s Brick Store Museum has a well-rounded collection of marine paintings, including newly restored ships’ portraits and those of their captains. You can expect to see the wide array of ships built here, where they went, what they carried, and who sailed upon them. If you’re up for a short walk the Kennebunk National Register Historic District Village walk begins at the Brick Store Museum and continues on Main Street. In Kennebunkport the Kennebunkport History Center, located at 125 North Street, offers a glimpse into the past. Here five buildings, including a shipwright’s office, comprise the history center campus and present a good perspective of seafaring life in the colony. During your stay take a drive along Ocean Avenue, following the rocky shore on a scenic drive that takes you past many fine old mansions, among them the summer home of former US President George Bush, seen on Walker Point.
Overnight – Kennebunkport
Day 5/6
Lincolnville (near Camden), ME
116 Miles
Leaving Kennebunkport after breakfast you can spend the morning and perhaps have lunch in Portland, first stopping to view historic Portland Head Light (commissioned by George Washington) on Cape Elizabeth, four miles south of the city. Like many port cities Portland’s early days had everything to do with the sea, ships and maritime trade, but now it is recognized as one of the most livable cities on the East Coast. Small in size, it takes great pride in its huge civic center, two major art museums and a renowned symphony orchestra. The Old Port District, along Commercial Street on the waterfront, is a quaint village-within-a-city where old boat building shops have been transformed into boutiques and some of the finest restaurants on the Maine coast. Here the cobblestone streets, brick sidewalks and old lamps retain a 19th century charm. After you leave Portland perhaps stop at Freeport to visit the L.L. Bean store, famous for anything to do with outdoor sports, where you’ll find rugged clothing and anything else that you may need for your later journey into Maine’s interior. Your route to Lincolnville parallels the coast passing the college town of Brunswick, where Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and then Bath where you may wish to visit the Maine Maritime Museum displaying the past prosperity and achievements of this historic shipbuilding town. You cross the Sheepscot River at Wiscasset, popularly known as “the prettiest village in Maine” and often used in films depicting a typical New England town before arriving at Lincolnville, your home for the next two nights. Nearby Camden is a classic coastal town and a popular summer resort attracting sports enthusiasts who enjoy sailing and windsurfing, while others are attracted to the beauty of the town, whose harbor is a photographers and painters dream. Over the years Camden has been a favorite of the wealthy who have contributed to and sponsored its Opera House and Public library and the area also has a strong history of artists, writers and craftsman. The beauty of the rugged coastline invites creativity and independence. Nowhere is this more evident than in the local art and craft galleries and the nearby town of Rockland is home to a collection of beautiful treasures at the Farnsworth Art Museum. With its nationally recognized collection of American Art, the museum is also home to an exclusive display of Jamie, Andrew and N.C. Wyeth’s well-known paintings and other works. Strolling the streets of the neighboring towns is enjoyable just on its own, but along the way you can’t help but notice the beautiful display windows along Main Streets in Camden, Rockland and Belfast. Along with fine crafts, art and antiques you will also discover the charming and relaxed nature of these harbor towns as you chat with shop-owners and artists. Among the fine jewelry, nautical artifacts, books old and new and savory treats, you are sure to find wonderful treasures to bring home. A drive to Mount Battie, part of Camden Hills State Park, is also a worthwhile diversion for at the summit there is a stunning 360 degree view of inland rivers and lakes, Penobscot Bay and Camden Harbor. End your day in Camden relaxing in a harbor-side pub overlooking windjammers and fishing boats.
Overnight – Lincolnville
Day 7/8
Bar Harbor, ME
71 Miles
Bar Harbor, once the summer playground for America’s millionaires in the early 20th century, is one of America’s quintessential destinations, where the Maine coast and Acadia National Park are absolutely integral to the town. The Maine coast was actually discovered by European explorer Giovanni da Verrazano. He named the region L’Acadia while in 1604 French explorer Samuel de Champlain discovered Mount Desert Island, (l’Isles des Monts-deserts), so named because it looked so bleak and forbidding. In the 1820’s the island was settled by Massachusetts colonists branching out, with most engaged in farming, fishing, lumbering and shipbuilding. It wasn’t long before the glories of Mount Desert became well known and regular steamers were running to the island from Boston and New York. Hotels were built, followed by the great estates of the Rockefellers and Morgans who along with the Fords, Astors and Vanderbilts began summering in Bar Harbor. The wealthy were attracted by the deep water, perfect for yachting, and the natural beauty of the area which includes scores of smaller islands in the waters of Blue Hill Bay and Frenchman’s Bay. Fearing that the scenery could be ruined by development, money was raised to buy the endangered land and presented to the Federal Government with a promise that it be maintained as a National Park for all to enjoy. The Acadia National Park covers 35,00 acres footpaths are laid so that any walker can find a suitable trail and there are 50 miles of bridle paths, the gift of J.D. Rockefeller Jr., with stables that rent horses. The most spectacular view is from the summit of Mt. Cadillac, the highest mountain on the Atlantic Coast, with grand views at every bend on the road to the top. To really enjoy this magnificent park, first stop for an orientation at the Visitors Center on Rte. 3, directly north of Parkloop Drive.
Overnight – Bar Harbor
Day 9/10/11
Moosehead Lake, ME
121 Miles
If Stephen King is one of your favorite authors you could stop in Bangor to see his house in a quiet street near the downtown area before continuing to Moosehead Lake the sparkling jewel of Maine set in a region legendary for its abundance of outdoor activities amid stunning natural beauty. It’s also a place to unwind and relax, a true “get away from it all” experience where during the day you can do as much or as little as you like, and at night, under the darkest skies on the east coast, marvel at every star, planet and constellation that are all clearly visible. For daytime adventure schedule an exciting white water rafting trip with a hot, grilled lunch served to you on the shores of the river. Rent a kayak or canoe and spend the day or just a few hours paddling amid the unspoiled beauty of Moosehead Lake and its surrounding lakes. The region offers spectacular hiking and there are more than a dozen exceptional hikes in the area that offer well marked, well worn trails with lake and forest vistas sure to thrill. Take a scenic drive and from the comfort of your car there’s an excellent chance to view moose, especially at dusk and dawn in the months of June and July.
Overnight – Moosehead Lake
Day 12/13/14
Prout’s Neck & Crescent Beach, ME
167 Miles
Regretfully it’s time to leave Moosehead Lake with another chance for fabulous shopping at the more than 100 outlet stores in Freeport as you drive back to the coast and Prout’s Neck, one of the most spectacular settings along Maine’s ruggedly beautiful coastline. With its wealth of natural beauty and abundant wildlife, Prout’s Neck has long been an alluring destination. Discovered first by Native American Indians who came by canoe to fish the sea, Prout’s Neck, Maine was colonized by English settlers in the 1600s. The area’s rocky coast and dense pine forest made it appear dark from the water, inspiring the name Black Point. Just a few minutes drive from your hotel you come to Cape Elizabeth and Crescent Beach State Park where the signature feature and namesake is a mile-long, crescent-shaped beach ideal for strolling and sunbathing. Here the relatively warm waters and light surf make swimming, sunbathing and boating a pleasure while between Crescent Beach and adjacent Kent Cove State Park there are wooded coves and rock ledges with trails for walking and nature watching. The magnificent ocean views and many recreational opportunities make a stay here a fitting end to your “Just Maine” holiday.
Overnight – Prout’s Neck & Crescent Beach
Day 15
Crescent Beach – Boston – Home
107 Miles
A sad farewell to Maine’s beautiful coast as you drive back to Boston’s Logan International Airport for your flight home.
Depart New York – 21:30
Arrive London Heathrow – 08:05 (Next Day)
Journey time – 6 hours 35 minutes
