Coastal Maine & Acadia

Today you will arrive in Portland, Maine. Guests who have purchased their airline tickets through YMT will be greeted by a YMT representative and transferred to their hotel. Famous for its picture-perfect lighthouses, delightful historic district, world-class museums, and a thriving culinary and craft beer scene, Maine’s largest city is a definite contender for America’s coolest port town. Spend the evening relaxing or exploring Portland on your own. Take a stroll along the waterfront to enjoy gorgeous views of Casco Bay, and ask anyone you see in bright orange overalls how the lobster pots are doing. Curious guests can say hello to bigfoot and learn all about the Mongolian Death Worm at the International Cryptozoology Museum.

Start the day at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, which invites visitors of all ages and abilities to create and explore meaningful connections to plants and nature at their own pace. The gardens have been named one of Maine’s top attractions, and you’ll have plenty of time to experience the incredible grounds. Continue to Bar Harbor, which has retained much of its charm from the glory days of the 1900s when it became a popular vacation destination for America’s richest and most powerful families. Look for Cadillac Mountain towering above the breathtaking forest and rugged shores of Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor’s beautiful next-door neighbor. Enjoy a night on your own in this delightful town. (B)

Spend the day surrounded by natural splendor at the breathtaking Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park is a 47,000-acre Atlantic coast recreation area primarily on Mount Desert Island. Its landscape is marked by woodland, rocky beaches, and glacier-scoured granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the East Coast. Among the wildlife are moose, bear, whales and seabirds. Start off at Hulls Cove Visitor Center, then set off with YMT’s Tour Director for a scenic drive on Park Loop Road. See Beehive, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliff. Stop at Cadillac Mountain for a short and very easy hike to Cadillac Summit. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in the charming town of Bar Harbor. (B)

Spend the day surrounded by natural splendor at the breathtaking Acadia National Park. Acadia National Park is a 47,000-acre Atlantic coast recreation area primarily on Mount Desert Island. Its landscape is marked by woodland, rocky beaches, and glacier-scoured granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the East Coast. Among the wildlife are moose, bear, whales and seabirds. Start off at Hulls Cove Visitor Center, then set off with YMT’s Tour Director for a scenic drive on Park Loop Road. See Beehive, Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, and Otter Cliff. Stop at Cadillac Mountain for a short and very easy hike to Cadillac Summit. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in the charming town of Bar Harbor. (B)

Head to Lincolnville, where you will be invited in to Cellardoor Winery’s 200-year-old barn. A designated host will guide you through three classic food and wine pairings featuring Cellardoor’s most popular wines partnered with cheese, salami, and chocolate. Enjoy lunch on your own and free time in Camden, an idyllic, seaside town where you can enjoy the beautiful views of Mount Battie while simultaneously enjoying views of Penobscot Bay. Take a one-hour lobstering and lighthouse cruise to learn about the traditions and history of Maine’s famed lobster (“lobstah,” as the locals say), which are caught using unique sunken pots. Check into your hotel in Rockland where you can relax on your own. (B, appetizers)

Spend the morning on the water as you discover the Damariscotta River’s wildlife and history, and learn about the role it plays in the oyster farming that makes this tidal river world famous. Watch the harbor’s playful seals, and learn about how oysters are harvested as you visit several oyster working farms to learn how to dig into these local delicacies with an oyster shucking lesson. (B)

Spend the day exploring Portland on an unforgettable city tour. Start in the heart of Portland on bustling Commercial Street, where you will see the United States Custom House, Eastern Promenade, Portland Observatory, and the Eastern Cemetery, which was established in 1668 and is the city’s oldest site. Continue down Congress Street, where you will see the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and the First Parish in Portland Unitarian Universalist Church, which was built in 1825 as a terrific example of Federal period architecture. Pass by the Wadsworth Longfellow House, which was built in 1785 and was the childhood home of American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the colorful Arts District, Portland Museum of Art, One Longfellow Square, and the elegant Victoria Mansion. Stop by Portland Head Light, Maine’s most iconic lighthouse, and see Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, Bug Light Park, Liberty Ship Memorial, the John Ford statue, and finally the Old Port. The rest of day is yours to enjoy however you wish. (B)

Spend the day enjoying Portland at your leisure. Fabulous dining, museums, and pleasant strolls are as easy to come by as lobster pots in this endearingly small city–and we encourage you to indulge! You’re invited on an optional afternoon whale watching cruise, and the evening’s dinner is an included farewell feast. (B, D)