July Honeymoon in Maine?
December 24, 2009 2:51 PM Subscribe
What are some good places to Honeymoon on the east coast? See explanation.
My fiance and I are getting married in early June and want to go on our honeymoon somewhere in the northeast, near Maine. We would like to be near a beach but also near mountains for hiking and sightseeing. We would definitely like to stay in a private cabin with an affordable rate, near a cute little town that isn't too touristy but still has things to do.
Any ideas? I also hear that North/South Carolina have some neat places, so anywhere on the east coast would work, but we were thinking Maine for the mild weather.
Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!
My fiance and I are getting married in early June and want to go on our honeymoon somewhere in the northeast, near Maine. We would like to be near a beach but also near mountains for hiking and sightseeing. We would definitely like to stay in a private cabin with an affordable rate, near a cute little town that isn't too touristy but still has things to do.
Any ideas? I also hear that North/South Carolina have some neat places, so anywhere on the east coast would work, but we were thinking Maine for the mild weather.
Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated!
(and here's the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce if you want to check out hotels/see photos)
posted by oinopaponton at 3:02 PM on December 24, 2009
posted by oinopaponton at 3:02 PM on December 24, 2009
My husband and I honeymooned in a cabin in the Smokies (Townsend, TN, right near the border with NC) and it was perfect. Very affordable and very private, but with day trips into Smoky Mountain National Park and the cheesiness of Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg, if you are so inclined.
posted by something something at 3:34 PM on December 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by something something at 3:34 PM on December 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
Finger lakes in NY poconos area. don't think there's a beach, but beautiful seaside and hiking
posted by saraindc at 3:54 PM on December 24, 2009
posted by saraindc at 3:54 PM on December 24, 2009
Expanding on something something's suggestion, while in the Tenn/NC area, you could take a tour on the Blue Ridge Parkway [self link] through the western North Carolina mountains and perhaps spend a day in romantic Asheville.
posted by netbros at 4:24 PM on December 24, 2009
posted by netbros at 4:24 PM on December 24, 2009
I used to go to York, ME a lot as a kid. Its a cute little down by the ocean, really close drive to all sorts of things.
posted by mattsweaters at 5:13 PM on December 24, 2009
posted by mattsweaters at 5:13 PM on December 24, 2009
Finger lakes in NY poconos area. don't think there's a beach, but beautiful seaside and hiking
This comment doesn't make sense, on several levels. The Poconos are in Pennsylvania. Their beaches are next to lakes, as are the beaches of the Finger Lakes, which are indeed in New York. In that way, neither are "seaside".
The 1000 Islands might fit a number of your criteria, with beaches, mild weather, some hiking on the islands but also more in the Adirondacks. (I've not explored either of these latter regions much personally, but I hear great things!)
posted by knile at 5:34 PM on December 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
This comment doesn't make sense, on several levels. The Poconos are in Pennsylvania. Their beaches are next to lakes, as are the beaches of the Finger Lakes, which are indeed in New York. In that way, neither are "seaside".
The 1000 Islands might fit a number of your criteria, with beaches, mild weather, some hiking on the islands but also more in the Adirondacks. (I've not explored either of these latter regions much personally, but I hear great things!)
posted by knile at 5:34 PM on December 24, 2009 [1 favorite]
I don't have any town recommendations (I just moved to the NE), but wanted to let you know about HomeAway for cabin rentals. I have been looking at cabins and cottages for a week away in Maine with my boyfriend, and they have a lot of nice looking places in a wide range of prices. I haven't tried them yet, but you might want to check it out.
posted by apricot at 6:33 PM on December 24, 2009
posted by apricot at 6:33 PM on December 24, 2009
Early June in NC is actually still usually fairly mild, for what it's worth.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 7:14 PM on December 24, 2009
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 7:14 PM on December 24, 2009
Martha's Vineyard is my go-to place for this type of thing. It's not "near Maine" when compared to, say, parts of New Hampshire, but it's closer than the Carolinas, it feels like a retreat from the rest of the world, has some amazing food options, and has beaches and private cabins.
I can recommend specific places to stay based on budget, if you're interested -- shoot me a note. That sounds like I'm somehow a real estate agent or stand to benefit, so to be clear, I'm not. Just 20+ years of experience vacationing there, and a brother who did marry and honeymoon on the island.
posted by ellF at 8:08 PM on December 24, 2009
I can recommend specific places to stay based on budget, if you're interested -- shoot me a note. That sounds like I'm somehow a real estate agent or stand to benefit, so to be clear, I'm not. Just 20+ years of experience vacationing there, and a brother who did marry and honeymoon on the island.
posted by ellF at 8:08 PM on December 24, 2009
You should go to Lubec, Maine the easternmost point in the continental US. You should stay at West Quoddy Station [not technically IN a lighthouse but walking distance from one and an insane deal - I stayed there this summer and you can get a "room" with a real kitchen, internet and a view of the ocean for $95/night]. You should visit Acadia National Park and Campobello Island. I did a lot of this over the summer and was super pleased. If there's a way to stay in Acadia I'd consider it, but a lot of the smaller places to stay near it aren't as nice as being further north in Lubec.
posted by jessamyn at 8:38 PM on December 24, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 8:38 PM on December 24, 2009 [3 favorites]
Is Nova Scotia near enough to Maine for you? During my honeymoon, we stayed near the northern tip of Cape Breton Island at Markland Beach Cottages. It's on the beach, and near Cape Berton Highlands National Park. I recommend it.
posted by ShooBoo at 1:04 AM on December 25, 2009
posted by ShooBoo at 1:04 AM on December 25, 2009
Seconding Martha's Vineyard.
But, your description of a private cabin near a cute town also works for many places along the Maine Coast. Cottages to rent are easily found online (start with Craigslist); degrees of privacy vary. I'd recommend looking at the midcoast stretch around Camden and Rockland.
posted by beagle at 6:05 AM on December 25, 2009
But, your description of a private cabin near a cute town also works for many places along the Maine Coast. Cottages to rent are easily found online (start with Craigslist); degrees of privacy vary. I'd recommend looking at the midcoast stretch around Camden and Rockland.
posted by beagle at 6:05 AM on December 25, 2009
If you're Americans, you'll need a passport to get into Canada, and July is cutting it kinda close, otherwise I'd second Nova Scotia. Failing that, I second downstate Maine (York) and the NH seacoast. OTOH, if you're happy with lake beaches, then go Adirondacks! Lake
George has tons of cabin rentals, and I would guess Champlain does too.
posted by scratch at 11:48 AM on December 25, 2009
George has tons of cabin rentals, and I would guess Champlain does too.
posted by scratch at 11:48 AM on December 25, 2009
Oops, just noticed your honeymoon will be in early June. Forget Lake George--every year there's a big (but peaceful and "family-style") motorcycle rally there at that time. Probably too late already to book a rental anywhere near there. Go Maine!
posted by scratch at 11:50 AM on December 25, 2009
posted by scratch at 11:50 AM on December 25, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
That said, Portsmouth, NH is a great little seaport town with tons of character. It's right on the Maine/NH border, so it's a short drive to the nice beaches in Ogunquit and York (just don't expect the water to be warm!), and it'd be a 2 or 3 hour drive to the real mountains for hiking. For some reason it's not a huge tourist destination, so it's relatively quiet and cheap.
posted by oinopaponton at 2:59 PM on December 24, 2009 [1 favorite]