Maine Coast Explorer

Begin your stay in this delightful and friendly city by putting on your walking shoes and exploring at your own pace, The Freedom Trail, a 3-mile walking tour of 16 historic sites from the Colonial and Revolutionary Era. Alternatively hop on the famous Old Town Trolley Tour, as this allows you to hop on or off at any of the scheduled stops, covering over 100 points of interest including Boston Common, Copley Square and the cobbled streets of the pretty neighbourhood of Beacon Hill.

Relax and enjoy the ‘Covent Garden style’ atmosphere of Quincy Market with all it’s great shops and irresistible food stalls and restaurants – a perfect place to rest your walking shoes! Boston’s numerous museums and art galleries are also available to you, in addition to a vast choice of great restaurants. Experience and enjoy the friendly welcome for which the people of Boston are well known.

After breakfast collect your hire car at a convenient Downtown Boston location and head north over the Massachusetts border toward Kennebunkport in Maine. En route stop at Salem – best known for one of the most notorious periods in American history when, in 1692 hundreds of men, women and children had their neighbours put on trial as practising witches and wizards. Whatever the true cause of the accusations the one certain thing is that the phenomenon has become a cottage industry here and is now a home for many psychics. Salem also has its own Heritage Trail that takes you to museums and the Witch House where pre-trial investigations took place. When you reach the Kennebunks, stop in the National Register Historic District Village, where the walking tour begins at the Brick Store Museum.

After a leisurely breakfast continue your journey on into Maine. Continuing along the coast from Portland your next port of call will be the pretty resort town of Booth Bay Harbor. Spend this afternoon relaxing or take one of the many boat trips out on the harbor or to nearby Monehegan Island to see the resident Puffins.

Ranked as one of the Top Ten National Parks in North America, spectacular Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island is the first place in the US that the sun rises each morning. A series of carriage paths stretching some 57 miles allow you to leisurely explore the park on foot or by car. Apart from the scenery, you can also indulge in a wide choice of exciting activities, such as canoeing, coastal kayaking, mountain climbing, biking and horse riding. For nature lovers many bird and wildlife tours are also available here, giving you the opportunity to see puffins, seals and whales. Filled with old mansions, shops and restaurants bustling Bar Harbor itself is a historic 19th century town located at Park’s entrance. Don’t miss the 20 mile scenic drive along the Park Loop Road that passes Jordan Pond and Cadillac Mountain. Also, make sure you stop by the Hulls Cove Visitor Center to pick up useful information about Acadia National Park.

The Jewel of Maine’s Coast, beautiful seaport Camden has a stunning harbor full of boats that has been the setting for many movies. Visit Camden Hills State Park from where you will be rewarded with one of the best views of the Maine Coastline, even stretching as far as the Acadia National Park on a clear day.

Today travel to lovely Ogunquit where you can take a leisurely walk along the Marginal Way, a magnificent mile long footpath which follows the edge of the Atlantic atop rugged cliffs. If you have time you could also take a stroll around the fine shops and galleries of Perkins Cove.

As you depart Maine today, you will have the perfect opportunity to do some last minute shopping at famous Kittery Outlets – home to over 120 stores. Continue on to the Historic Seaport community of Portsmouth in New Hampshire. A working port since colonial days , this friendly town is still a treasure trove of history as well having a bustling restaurant scene. Be sure to visit Strawberry Banke – a collection of 42 buildings in one of America’s oldest neighbourhoods.

Enjoy another leisurely morning in Portsmouth or Salem, before heading back to Boston to fly home later today.