@NewEngParent I’m glad you wrote that…because after all the looking at the map and various photos, the little communities surrounded by water are what’s pulling at me the most. I love rugged wilderness too, but I’m really wanting (and I think my daughter is wanting) to absorb the atmosphere of the region more than any particular destination. I think it will be a trip of serendipidous wandering more than anything. I’ve just reserved a place for three nights near Bar Harbor, so that gives two full days for Acadia and environs…but leaves wiggle room for stopping in the the coastal towns getting there. Looking into the Penobscot/Chastain area now. Islands sound intriguing.
For those into gardens the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden in Boothbay has quickly become one of the WORLD’S great gardens, according to several gardening publications. Having been there several times it blows me away.
I haven’t been to Maine in 3 years but If you don’t want to venture too far north I second the vote for Blue Hill and Castine.
Castine is like a postcard, with easy hiking trails that have spectacular views of the ocean. Walking around the town in the summer is like walking through an ocean side garden.
Pentagoet Inn & Restaurant was excellent for a fancy dinner and the Castine Inn is lovely, has a garden and prices start around $200.00 a room in season. The Manor Inn is an interesting restored 19th century mansion with beautiful ocean views from most rooms, a little less $ than Castine Inn but noisier with a younger crowd (there was a party with fireworks one night when we stayed there).
We took a sailboat tour on the Guldive, saw seals bald eagles and D got to pilot the ship.
If you want touristy wth dessert stop at Wild Blueberry Land on Route 1 in Columbia Falls.
I think the best views of the rugged Maine coast are in Cutler on the Cutler trail (Cutler Coast Public Reserved Land) but that is pretty far up the coast.
Have a wonderful time.
+1 to Boothbay’s Coastal Maine Botanical Garden.
In terms of Wiscasset, it is quaint and worth a pitstop if you are traveling along Route 1 (famous lobster rolls at Red’s Eats if the line isn’t too long) but to me it is not worthy of an overnight with just a week. It’s a river town not a oceanfront town. To me, a trip to Maine’s coast should be spent primarily taking in the iconic open water, oceanfront, rocky shoreline views.
You will enjoy your time in Bar Harbor/MDI area. You will get a great taste of Maine and can always come back for more!
@SnowFern agreed, I love those trails, Lubec, Eastport, etc. & Castine/Blue Hill are really wonderful places.
@MADad so true (Boothbay’s Coastal Maine Botanical Garden), around Christmas time they host a festival of lights like thing which is really magical with the snow around.
@inthegarden you’ll have a great time. Visiting Maine in the Summer… actually anytime except during a massive snowstorm… is great. You can always come back, or send your D to college here (Colby, Bates, Bowdoin, Unity, MMA, COA, UNE, UMF, UMO…etc.).
Bath and Boothbay are fun especially if you have any interest in shipbuilding.
I feel it rains…and you are in Boothbay…and you like local artisans…check out this place…about 30 minutes inland from Boothbay.
@MaineLonghorn, we were able to get the last available room in the Seacroft Inn on our dates (one of the last for the whole month of July, in fact…it’s a miracle she had that opening for the nights we’ll be there. Thank you, thank you for this suggestion…it wasn’t in any other listing I saw…and I can’t think of any place more charming (especially at that price) and just steps from the pedestrian path to the water and town. Had to cancel my previous reservation (with a small penalty) but so worth it. Now I’m getting excited!
In a moment DD and I will finalize our priority list and make the rest of the reservations …the Maine Maritime Botanical Gardens, the Thuya garden and a whale-sighting boat from Boothbay are tops on my list (plus a few other things…) Thanks everyone! Will update soon…
@thumper1, Thanks for the Tandem Glass link …that’s very pretty…and I do like local artisans very much. Will definitely spend some time in the area…I’ve just reserved a place in Boothbay Harbor for a night (as well as a boat cruise if the weather does hold…)
I’m paying close attention as we are heading to Bar Harbor for 7 days in early September.
We are looking forward to lots of Lobster, hiking and biking.
@inthegarden, please report back on some of your favorite activities around Acadia.
@1214mom, I’ll do that! I’m grateful for all the great advice I’m getting. Do you already have accomodations? (assuming that most people don’t do things at the last minute like this!)
Just reserved a place on Penobscot Bay, a little past Camden. I happened to call the hotel directly to ask a question, and the owner gave me a $30 discount that I hadn’t asked for or hinted at! He seems to be a source of information for all kinds of things to do in the area, so I guess it pays to be a little chatty. He told me i was making a mistake by spending so much time in Bar Harbor instead of the Penobscot Bay area. I said, “live and learn”…we may be back.
@inthegarden, yes, we booked a week through VRBO in early January. It is right by the harbor, and has its own park8ng space, so hopefully we can walk to lots of things. It was actually pretty inexpensive compared to what we are used to. It’s definitely not a resort, but looks fine.
@1214mom, yes, I noticed a lot of places that rent by the week that seem like good deals,often more economical than by the day, but it wasn’t in the plans for us this time. Maybe we’ll do that on another trip if we identify a favorite area. I’ve been impressed (even searching this late) how many very nice clean modest and safe-looking places there are…I really expected coastal Maine to be almost unaffordable wfhen I started looking…but rooms and cottages are going fast. I’m lucky I got serious about it when I did. In a few days most will likely be gone.
If you have time drive up to Pemaquid Point/New Harbor and visit the Lighthouse there
You can also do whale watches/puffin cruises out of New Harbor.
@inthegarden, so glad you got a place at the Seacroft! It’s not fancy but it is charming and such a fantastic location. I am very surprised you were able to make reservations there! 
I discovered it one day when I went for a walk from the very fancy B&B my mom reserved for us one year. I went in and got a brochure and it’s my go-to place now.
One of my lovely memories of Maine was when I booked a lovely B&B @Kennebunkport for my parents and my toddler. The two men who owned the hotel showed us how each room was unique, with lovely antiques. I looked at my toddler, and asked if they could recommend a chain hotel. They let me out of the reservation, and called ahead for 2rooms for us at a chain. We did eat at their restaurant.
Bar Harbor Brewing Company, Blueberry Ale
Blurberry icecream in southwest harbor, quieter side of Mt. desert island
@Maine Longhorn, I’m surprised too! She had very few openings left for the month, and only one three-day block left…coinciding exactly with my dates. How often does that happen? I have you to thank. Since you live in Maine I take it as quite an endorsement of the place
@bookworm, that’s really funny!
Yum! Great to know, @DoinResearch.