Nexa and other folks in land of the lobstersFollow

I need some advice on trip to Portland Maine at the end of the month for my Aunts memorial service / mass. Sounds like my sisters are thinking of driving up from here and homes in South and Northern NJ. Two of my girls would like to go with me, though they barely remember their great aunt and would most likely take daughter's convertable. I'm concern about how comfortable I would be in a car that distance and rather fly or take a train.

So what are roads, train station and airport like in around Portland? Were the best place to stay without breaking my piggy bank. I need to check out my Marriott rewards program for any deals I could get, since I'll be staying at an Marriott Inn for 4 nights next weekend for Balticon.

Cheap places to eat and were to get best lobsters is also important information. No matter how we get to Portland, I'll be using a wheelchair to get around.

Way past my bed time and sleeping pill wants me to stop fighting it. Didn't know my Aunt had died until after I took my pills for bedtime.

Well tomorrow Erin is going to dance and tumble for us at the dance/gym school class she been in for a year how. I will try to take pictures.

I almost always stay at the Holiday Inn by the Bay because it's a short walk to the Old Port without being high in traffic. The train from Boston, operated by Amtrak and called "The Downeaster" is extremely comfortable and the staff is very friendly. They have a dining car as well and I usually grab lunch when I take the train. The train station in Portland is right near the jetport and is also the bus station. There are always cabs outside at the stand, or you could see if the hotel you're staying at offers a shuttle. There are a hundred places to get lobster in the area, haha, you'll have no trouble. When I'm in the Old Port, I usually try to stop in to this little place right on the water by the docks...there's a deck out back and you can watch the boats and their crab cakes are really good. I forget what it's called though, you know the one I mean Anna? I swear it's called "Lobster Shack" or some other dive appropriate name.

Nexa

I'm going to look into train fare. I enjoyed my train trips to boston and Pittsburgh years ago. Though my stay in Pittsburgh was extended due to the fact that Ivan flooded the tracks back to Philly. I need to remember my Amtrak account info and see if my sister can get me a good price on the fare.

I'm disliking having to use my daughters mac book to post as I can't figure out how to get the spell check to show me the correct spellings, just that it doesn't like elnese.

I won't be home until Sunday Evening sometime and by then will just want to crawl into my bed most likely.

I'll see what daughters want to do about trip. Since only one can drive, it be rather icky for her, unless we can work something out with my sister and have the 2 of them drive. Hopefully they called my brother that doesn't have email and let him know the news too.

Meanwhile I best be making sure grandkids get baths and I clean up for recital.

How did I miss this thread?

The Lobster Shack is the place in Cape Eliz up by Two-lights. They got good food too.

Sounds like some of the best places were mentioned. Flatbread is my personal favorite, but it's not seafood. Fore Street is pretty inarguably the best place for fine dining, Becky's for breakfast. I like Casco Bay Brew House - they have a good chef. For lobster dinners I'll often take visitors to South Freeport to the Harraseekat Lobster Stand (not to be confused with the Harraseekat Inn and Restaurant). The Lobster stand is plunked down right there on the River mouths working Lobster Dock, so there's lots to watch - and it's a pretty area. This would be about 15-20mins north of Portland.

Anyway, pm me EC about specifics on any sight-seeing, restaurants, etc, if you want.