My Trip to Maine

[Delarage]

I spent a week on Mt. Desert Island. I actually saw very little political activity. One Trump sign, one Biden sign, one Susan Collins sign (along with a "Make America Great Again" sign on the same house). Didn't see any Gideon signs, but she was running good radio ads. I only heard one Collins ad (claiming Gideon's husband took advantage of PPP and should thank Collins).

Several radio ads about a hydroelectric plan (that Collins apparently opposes).

I'm glad I didn't see a lot of Trump crap....the place is SOOOOOOO steeped in natural beauty and peacefulness that I would've been seriously bummed out. I did have to pass the Collins / MAGA sign frequently b/c it was near where I was staying.

Maine has to be all about nature---and therefore vote for Biden (who actually gives a shit about nature, unlike 45).

[magicarpet]

1. YUP...

Maine has to be all about nature---and therefore vote for Biden (who gives a shit about nature).

[jpak]

2. Usually Bar Harbor is shoulder to shoulder crowded this time of year

Did you eat good?

[Delarage]

5. It was crowded

But not crazy-crowded. Everywhere we ate was great---"Eat a Pita" in Southwest Harbor was our favorite---they have a blueberry bread pudding that was amazing. Ate at a Thai place, an Indian place, a Lobster place, and a wood-fired pizza place (Blaze). It was all amazing. I'm sad my friends moved from PA but I'm glad I have a good reason to visit often

PS. Everyone wore masks (except one guy who went into the "Freshy's" gas station without one when I was in there. They even had free mask bins (mailboxes, actually) set up throughout Bar Harbor.

[jpak]

6. I'm so jealous

Glad you had a good time (and I live in Maine)

[Delarage]

8. Thanks!

What a great state!

I'll fly from Philly to Bangor next time. I drove this time b/c prices were really high (I guess because of summer). Prices drop a lot in the fall, so I'll plan better. But 600+ miles with the requisite nightmare traffic around the George Washington Bridge in NYC brought me back to reality

[jpak]

9. Try I84 I81 to Mass Pike to I495 in Mass to I95

Avoids NYC and Bean Town

[Klaralven]

10. I-95, Garden State, NY Thruway, Sawmill River Parkway, I-684, I-84, Mass Pike, I-290, I-495, I-95

Around NYC and over the Mario Cuomo Bridge which is now finished.

Avoid rush hours on the Garden State Parkway and New York Thruway. Hartford, Worcester and I-495 in the Merrimack Valley can be congested at the wrong times.

They now seem to be pretty well done with the multi-year construction project on I-84 through Waterbury.

[Delarage]

11. Thanks

I depended on Google Maps on my phone and it chose GWB as "fastest." It was kind of standstill at times. I will take out a good old-fashioned map and follow your advice!

[Klaralven]

14. You can get the route with Google directions using Google maps in the browser

Click, hold and drag the route from the GWB to the Mario Cuomo. Click, hold and drag the route from I-95 in Bridgeport to I-84 in Danbury, Connecticut.

The route from Philadelphia to Bangor goes from 533 miles to 550 miles, and the time increases from 8:17 to 8:33. But it is a much more pleasant drive, and the variation in time due to city traffic tie-ups should be less.

To bypass Hartford on the south, a variation is to take I-619 through Meriden to I-91 and then go north to CT-15 and cross the Connecticut River via the Charter Oak Bridge to connect with I-84 again in East Hartford. However, a month ago, they were doing a lot of construction on the I-91 to CT-15 interchange.

[Delarage]

15. Thanks again!

I just saved this tip. 17 mile difference, 16 minutes? Not bad to keep moving. Plus, even though the GWB route was pegged as the "fastest," a lot of unhappy updates popped up ("Traffic is slowing down....) so I doubt it is ever really the fastest unless you're driving through at 2 am. And I planned my trip so I'd have daylight the whole time because I hate driving at night...especially if it rains, as it did 60% of my trip up.

[BannonsLiver]

3. Terrific post.

[riversedge]

4. Thanks. Glad you saw the beaty of Maine. I was there many moons ago and it is

beautiful.

PS--I hope they kick Collins OUT of office.

[mitch96]

12. Same here. I was there in the mid 70's.

Found a place just before the season and it was relatively inexpensive. Got lobsters right off the boat. Loved Mt Desert Island and Acadia park. Years later my good friend moved to Portland and we would visit for a week or so. Portland is a neat small old town. The virus put a stop to our trip this year...
m

[OAITW r.2.0]

7. We don't call it Vacationland for nuttin!

In Central ME, a lot fewer Trump signs than the last time. I see that as progress.