Wow—so lovely! I can’t wait! Thanks so much to everyone for sharing these excellent tips! The red is so vivid! I’m pleased we will be spending some time in and around Acadia and Bar Harbor as well as Portland. Donuts and cider sound fun!
The avatars look like postcards—so pretty! I think we will catch a lot of lovely foliage!
The smell is wonderful too. Pine and old leaves, with woodsmoke in the distance.
My friend took the pic in my avatar on Saturday in the Adirondacks on their way to their camp near Saranac Lake.
I’m in southwest Connecticut and travel along the shoreline (to southeast CT) fairly often. We do not have much of any color yet – although here and there one spectacular tree. I personally like it at about 50% when the bright colors contrast with the dark green. But we’re not there yet! We are hearing that the colors will be spectacular when they do arrive – but we need to get some cold snaps.
Such lovely avatar photos! Thanks! I’m thinking of getting some recycled nylon sail products as gifts. They look lovely and it will be nice to have repurposed sails.
Any other wonderful unbreakable Maine products that will make great gifts? The holidays are not too far off.
Real maple syrup. Sure, you can get it anywhere, but it’s certainly very New England. And in Maine, blueberry anything (but for jam, try to get a taste first.) Great cheeses. Imo, not worth it to stop at Stonewall Kitchens. Try for small specialty shops with local products. State of Maine Cheese is one, in Rockport, Rt 1. There’s something in BH. Aim for places where local farmers provide.
Ok. I was thinking of recycled sail products too. They sound and look cool. Looks like they won’t take up much space and would be unique gifts.
Maybe here: https://www.flowfold.com/shop
If you don’t want liquids, you can get maple sugar candy which is not something folks in HI likely get.
I vote for a consumable gift.
Thumper, I find that candy too sweet. I use to buy a dozen top grade maple syrup and some for my baking, then I found I could buy the same in the airport. (Not the cooking variety).
My kids did the Bowdoin, Colby, & bates last weekend. I couldn’t think of anything as a gift. So, I’m following this thread.
I also find the maple syrup candy too sweet and they have pretty reasonable maple syrup at Costco and Sam’s locally. Good thought though.
I actually love Stonewall Kitchen’s store in York. Lots of free samples!
I’m asking the locals. Would it be worthwhile for Himom to visit LLBean?
When I went, they had a discount store and I got great bargains.
Yeah, but you’d be buying local farm Maine syrup in Maine.
Beats Whoopie Pies.
And Costco does carry rip-stop products (nylon, parachute material.)
Locally made wooden cutting boards (but heavy.) I love the locally made artisan dish towels, hand screened. I don’t use them (woe to the young friend who tried once.) I just hang them and look at them and remember. My fav is a screened print of a Lupine. If this sounds too touristy or grandma to some, too bad, lol. 
How about seeing if @Consolation can recommend local high quality chocolates. I know they have chocoaltes in HI, but this would be her rec, something that she likes, with her experience.
Just about anything you buy in Maine can be shipped to you. Yes…I know there is a surcharge for shipping to HI.
The LLBean store is fun to visit, and really it’s on the way to Portland from Bangor. I would make the stop…not necessarily to find bargains in the outlet store (I thought that closed) but because that flagship LLBean store is sort of fun. Just fun to poke around.
Yes, the maple sugar candy is sweet…but you know…you do not need to eat a whole piece at once!
The maple syrup at our Costco is not from Maine…it’s from Canada.
Really…enjoy your trip…see the sights, take pictures, drive west towards the mountains.
I wouldn’t think twice about gifts. This trip is for you.
We went to Freeport on our honeymoon, to go to LLBean!
Chocolates sound yummy—@consolation—any suggestions?
I do like the idea the merchandise is made from recycled sails—seems more environmentally friendly than just using new nylon.
“Ok. I was thinking of recycled sail products too. They sound and look cool. Looks like they won’t take up much space and would be unique gifts.”
My niece used recycled sail gift bags for all the guests at her wedding. She filled them with all sorts of Maine products. I wish I couid remember all of them, but I only remember the candied blueberries.
The bags are very sturdy.
@emilybee—Any idea where she purchased her recycled sail gift bags? Those sound great!
i just looked and the tag is on the bag.
Company is Sea Bags Custom House Wharf
1-888-210-4244 or www.seabags.com
Mine has a gift tag with room for 8 names on the back with “Recycled To “ and “Date” on it. You’re suppose to keep recycling it. Obviously. I haven’t done that!